Beyond The Gates Weekly Recap - 6/02

Monday

Tensions flared at Casa De Dupree as Sharon visited, making her disdain for Anita clear while being warm toward Vernon. Sharon confronted Anita for abandoning the family, accusing her of spreading lies and chasing wealth. Anita, regretful and ready to make amends, explained her silence, as she was unaware of many of the things Dante had done. Sharon wasn't interested in reconciliation but did stay for a tense snack of tangerines and cheese like they had back in the day. As she looked around the Dupree mansion, bitterness and jealousy took over, and she coldly reminded Anita that she was currently living Anita's nightmare of a modest life back in their neighborhood where she teaches music.

At the station, Jacob met with a forensics contact, Walker. Meanwhile, a significant moment unfolded between Martin and Ted. They had a heart-to-heart, discussing Leslie and Nicole. Martin, showing a more understanding side, apologized for his past behavior, marking a shift in their relationship.

At Orphey’s, Kat and Mona confronted Leslie, who laughed off their accusations and insisted on following Kat to the police station. Kat had the jacket she believed Leslie was wearing the night Laura was run off the road. After they left, Nicole and Mona pondered how Leslie fooled Ted. Mona is team Ticole; I can tell, and so am I, but only after time and healing have passed. Chelsea, still reeling from heartbreak, had a heart-to-heart with Vernon. She had given up on love because the examples around her made her lose hope, but he reminded her that love requires patience and effort. That if she looked around, she would see that she still has examples of healthy relationships.

Back at the station, Jacob is confronted by Kat and Leslie. Maintaining her innocence, Leslie requested a restraining order against Kat. Elsewhere, Ted visited Eva, offering his support. He doesn't trust Leslie and tells Eva to beware, but Eva seems reluctant to see Leslie as a threat.

Tuesday

Naomi dropped by Anita’s with a meaningful keepsake honoring the Articulates. Anita folds, telling her that the reunion is likely not happening. I love their scenes together.

Tomas updated Bill on what the women are up to at the firm, what the board discussed. Bill had other priorities, he also wanted Tomas to use his closeness with Kat to spy on family matters. He opened up about new tension with his daughters due to his role in the Leslie/Ted scandal. Over at Dani’s, Hayley walked in to taunt her with a pregnancy test. A vindictive moment that quickly turned into Hayley once again trying to be victim claiming she wanted to enjoy her pregnancy. That she would love it if Chelsea and Naomi accepted their baby sibling. Dani wasn't buying it and challenged her to take another test. The women go back and forth and Hayley is clearly outmatched. She finally leaves with the barb that she and Bill will name the baby Bill Jr. if it is a boy. Insert heavy eye roll.

At the hospital, Andre offered emotional support to Ashley, but his moment was interrupted by Derek, who swooped in with a shoulder of his own and to declare that he and Ashley are back together. Honestly, who cares?

Later, Leslie confronted Kat at Orphey’s, to warn her that Jacob’s ties to the Duprees will compromise the investigation. Kat wasn’t moved and called Leslie out for deflecting.

Wednesday

Anita came clean to Vernon, while Wig simmered in bitterness. Vernon defended her, but Anita told him not to excuse her choices. Sharon, now affectionately, or not, known as Wig by me and other social media users saw an opportunity to reclaim the spotlight and began plotting. She will use the reunion to relaunch her career. In the famous words of David Ruffin, "Ain't nobody coming to see you, Otis"; in this case, 'ain't nobody coming to see you, Wig'. If she were truly devastated by the loss of her friend, I could better understand but it wasn't the loss. It was pure jealousy and spite.

Dani, and Andre shared a post-intimacy heart-to-heart, with Andre pushing for something deeper. Dani is apprehensive, she has been hurt before. She knows that Andre's heart isn't completely with her and he doesn't deny it. I do love them as a couple and if they were to part ways, please do not pair him with Ashley. She is a bore that no one really likes. Find someone that he has chemistry with, he has it with Eva but they are related.

Meanwhile, Bill summoned Naomi to his office to announce Hayley's pregnancy which Naomi wanted no parts of. During their discussion Bill has a medical crisis. Naomi and Hayley rushed him to the hospital and learned that it was a possible TIA. He resisted staying, but Doug suggested neurology intervention. Dani came and was by his side much to Hayley's displeasure. Bill seemed to enjoy the attention but at the end of the day, Hayley is his wife. At Uptown, Chelsea ignored Naomi’s call. She is too captivated by a woman resembling Allison.

Kat updated Jacob on Leslie’s antics, but he reminded her he answers to the badge, not her. He assured her the investigation was tightening, especially with new video analysis. Let me just say, I know he is married but these scenes with Kat are beginning to make them my crackship.

At the hospital, Leslie, pretending to be French, tried to manipulate Shanice, who quickly saw through her act. Leslie dropped the pretense and tried turning Shanice against the Duprees, but Shanice held her ground, while accidentally revealing that it was Andre who has the footage.

Thursday & Friday

Ted and Nicole run into each other at the Uptown. They almost have a breakthrough but Leslie shows up and Nicole takes off. Eva has been helping Laura who doesn't understand some of the systems Eva put in place.

Kat crossed a line when she convinced Darius, a hotel employee, to let her into Eva's room by claiming she was sent by Eva, her sister. Once inside, she insulted Eva, calling her a “dad’s charity case.” She searches through her things.

Hayley remained anxious over Bill, who tried to reassure her despite his condition.

At Orphey’s, Tomas caught up with Eva, while Naomi updated Chelsea on Bill’s health during a meeting at the Uptown.

Tomas joined Eva at her hotel. She gave him a book. Kat hid under the bed where she found  the bag Eva stashed as leverage against Leslie. Bill, tried  to make love to Hayley, but passed out and Hayley called the ambulance.

Final Thoughts

Skipping the highlights and lowlights this week. I enjoyed this week and will say that it felt like a balance between filler and A stories. It wasn't just a filler week. I must say that I am a little disappointed in Anita's secret. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself but the meat lies with Dante. Hopefully, we will see more of that in the future because while it is a sad story, the Barbara reveal was underwhelming. I don't mind the story, I just don't think that it should have been the BIG reveal, just part of it. I understand how grief can cause us to take on the guilt and feel that we are responsible for the death of a loved one. So, I understood and Tamera delivered a heartbreaking performance. Still, from the way it was promoted as being something never seen before on Daytime, I expected an explosion and didn't receive a spark. This is Daytime Drama, not an afterschool special; and again, it would have helped if there were flashbacks to that time. They have done it with Leslie. Show, don't just tell.

Bill's story, it was a bit triggering for me as I have lost people to stroke and brain hemorrhage. I do like that it highlights how stubborn some can be when faced with a health crisis along with what can happen if it is ignored. We saw him ignore signs for weeks. While triggering, it is important to highlight, especially within the black community. However, it happened so soon after the debut, I feel like he will get to skate for his crimes because of his health. He will get his daughters back and maybe even the favor he had in the community because of his ties to Dani. It is a good tool for drama in soaps but it is an overused one.

Kat and Tomas have some chemistry but he has the better chemistry with Eva. He friendzoned her hard this week but I am okay with that. I have no desire to see two sisters fighting over a man. HOWEVER, Kat has her best chemistry with Jacob. I love Naomi and Jacob, I love that he is a good guy. That is the downside of having the young people paired off at the start of the show, you haven't tested their scene and romantic chemistry. Jacob and Naomi have it but they do not write for them. If you don't want me to ship Jacob and Kat then you should have been writing stories like this for Jacob and Naomi instead of saddling them with Dashley AKA Dullshley. I will leave it there.

Eva, Eva, Eva, Eva, I am so disappointed that she would hide the bag under her bed but more so that she would hide it in her hotel room at all. I am also irked with Kat's obsession with Eva being guilty when it is clear that Leslie is a crazy person who did it on her own. Kat's disdain doesn't just lie with Eva's betrayal, Kat is a daddy's girl and she doesn't want that spot rivaled.

Overall, good week. Looking forward to what unravels next week.