In review: The first two weeks of Beyond the Gates

It's crazy, but true – Beyond the Gates has only been on for a mere two weeks! At the rate we as a society adapt to the new these days, it may be hard to believe that we haven't had the Duprees, Richardsons, Hamiltons, and their crew around a lot longer. It's also hard to believe that before its February 24 premiere date, there hadn't been a new soap since 1999. And the arrivals from inside and outside the gated community of Fairmont Crest have certainly left their mark in only half a month. Now, maybe you're the type who waits to pick up a drama or comedy until they've seen some reviews. Well, wouldn't you know, that's what we're here for! Join us for a look at novice sudser Beyond the Gates as it is so far!

Dani's refusal to let go of ex-husband Bill has driven much of the drama on Beyond the Gates

A soap opera is an entire world of characters and events that intertwine and connect in multiple different ways; the longer a show is on, the richer its tapestry. So, after no a new daytime drama for 26 years, there's an entire generation of folks who don't realize that building such a world is no mean feat. This is the work Beyond the Gates had cut out for itself in its first episode, where it needed to not only have us make the acquaintance of its 20 main characters but also give us some idea of who they are, and at what point in their lives we were joining them.

The initial couple of episodes were a bit of a mix that way, with some Fairmont Crest denizens being introduced to us in an organic way, which allowed us to learn about them by what they do. Others were presented through stories told by other characters, with backstories being recited to us. Then there were folks who first graced our screens without a name being attached to them, which left some viewers feeling a little lost, only being able to memorize faces to keep track of who's who.

Fortunately, the show seemed to steady itself in this regard fairly quickly, and before the first week was over, it was like those opening bumps never happened. We got at least the framework of how most of these characters were drawn, with much of the overarching story revolving around the travails of one lady – former fashion model and housing development heiress Dani Dupree. She was clearly and immediately established as a volatile woman scorned, someone who felt pushed to extremes by the imminent marriage of her ex-husband, Bill Hamilton, to the mistress he'd left Dani for, Hayley Lawson. Within the first five episodes, Dani had punched Hayley and threatened Bill with a golf club before smacking him in the face, culminating in Dani pulling a gun on Hayley and Bill at their wedding.

But at the risk of casting Dani as simply an out-of-control hothead, the scripts have wisely given Dani moments of tenderness with her parents, Dupree matriarch and patriarch Anita and Vernon, and a fun side through Dani's steamy romps with ladykiller photographer Andre Hamilton. Through it all, portrayer Karla Mosley has been on fire, exploring Dani's layers and making us feel empathy as she struggles through the loss of her 30-year marriage. Without Mosley's mastered balance, Dani would already be just another soap vixen – or soap psycho, depending how one views the frequency of her outbursts.

Another cut above in the developing canvas of Beyond the Gates is Dana “Leslie” Thomas. While she shares being a wronged woman with Dani, Leslie's plans for revenge have made anything Dani's done look tame. Having long ago been abandoned by her lover, plastic surgeon Ted Richardson, who bounced when she became pregnant, Leslie kicked things off by running an innocent girl, Laura, off the road and putting her in the hospital so she could have her daughter, Eva, replace Laura as the assistant of psychiatrist Nicole Dupree...who just happens to be married to Ted.

Though the original plan was for Leslie to let Eva do the heavy lifting, Leslie has become increasingly unpredictable – the last two episodes saw her faking a suicide attempt (as “Sherry”) so she'd have a chance to meet Nicole, then toying with Ted when he realized that Leslie was back years after he'd paid her to disappear. And to say Trisha Mann-Grant is a hoot is the understatement of 2025 so far. Under her guidance, Leslie coos and oozes, Leslie smiles and sneers, Leslie does everything she does with just a hint of delicious glee. Leslie is already proving herself to be a classic soap villain, the kind that you can't wait to see what she does next.

Rounding out a trio of striking storylines so far is the comparatively simmering but still compelling saga of Congressman Martin Richardson. That he's gay and raising two adopted children with husband Smitty is remarkable for television as a whole, but in the world of Fairmont Crest, that marriage is given the same importance as everyone else's...by not calling attention to it. It just is. Martin also seems to have a short fuse and has apparently done something that could cause the whole Dupree dynasty to implode – to the point Vernon and Anita granted Bill's request for that family to attend his wedding for fear Bill would learn what Martin did.

Martin is plagued by nightmares that come with gunfire, and just this week he tried to attack Bill – in a police station, no less – for having Dani arrested. And whatever Martin has done, there's a feeling that Bill knows what it is, anyway. That this arc is developing slowly just makes it all the more juicy. Now, Martin is not the best spouse – he's demanded that Smitty not return to his job as an investigative reporter because the political optics are better if Smitty just stays home as a househusband – but that goes to show that every relationship has issues, no matter how those in it identify.

Beyond the Gates: A sophisticated soap

It's early yet, so it's hard to accurately gauge the soap's pacing and how it should or shouldn't be calibrated – plus, I'm old school; I much prefer the tantalizing build-ups of the '80s, '90s, and '00s to the instant gratification rushing of the '10s and '20s. But the writing on Beyond the Gates so far is smart and sophisticated. It's snappy and often layered, modern, and not repetitive. Of course,e the show has a uniquely Black voice, with a Black creator and a Black-led cast, and absolutely, the opportunity is taken to give that voice license. We're reminded of the fight for civil rights, mostly through Vernon's pre-Senate history, and the need to protect those rights given today's backslide into discrimination against all non-White, non-straight communities. But the show doesn't hit us over the head with it.

Beyond the Gates is proudly Black and deserves to be; it's the only time daytime has put Black families in the forefront since Generations went off the air in 1991. But the best part of this soap is that the problems these characters face are not limited to the Black experience – they're relatable on all levels. Cardiac surgeon Doug has a gambling problem, and his neglected wife, realtor Vanessa (who happens to be White), is sleeping around on him. Jacob is a detective faced with the impossible choice between helping his wife's family or honoring his badge. Hayley is the other woman who regrets hurting the Duprees but wants to be accepted by them. Newbie nurse Ashley starts her career with self-doubts but begins to find her way delivering a baby in an elevator. And model/social influencer Chelsea wants to design purses with her cousin Kat but is afraid to tell micromanager mom Dani that she wants to leave the runway.

If anything, these and other less prominent characters haven't had as much of a chance to grow as the Danis and the Leslies have, but they haven't exactly been backburnered; only Latin hunk Tomás, whose sole action so far has been to ask Kat out while attending boss Bill's nuptials, has basically been ignored. Now that the big push from the Hamiltons' “shotgun” wedding and its fallout is subsiding, the additional characters who populate Fairmont Crest are gradually seeing movement in their own arcs and showing promise in them. Already, this isn't a show that concentrates on a handful of people at the expense of everyone else.

You want love in the afternoon? Beyond the Gates has love in the afternoon. Aside from the aforementioned heated hijinks between the hot-and-cold Dani and her sometime lover Andre – who gets his jollies with Dani while pining for Ashley – Dani's daughter, Naomi, had her first scene via a sexy bed roll with cop husband Jacob. (No, handcuffs were not used, but they were brought out.) Firefighter Derek, who met us wearing an apron over his muscled torso, has been able to get funky with Ashley despite the unforgiving nature of their schedules. Behind her husband's back, Vanessa tried to pick up a man for some naughty role-playing and then got horny with personal trainer Diego. And Chelsea got together with a couple for a three-way! There's no lack of sultry goings-on here, regardless of skin color – though it remains to be seen if gay marrieds Smitty and Martin will get their turn. This would be daring, particularly because they're an interracial couple, but it seems to be something that American audiences, at least, still aren't ready for.

The look of a soap can be as important as what characters do and say because it can tell a story all by itself. Beyond the Gates is not lacking in this department, either. The sets are stunning, whether the living room of the opulent elder Duprees, the more middle-class digs of Leslie and Eva, or the social status-defying environs of diner Orphey Gene's, which welcomes everyone. The lighting is bright but not garish, and the cinematography is crisp and clear, almost adding a movie quality to the proceedings. Plus, the show occasionally lenses outdoors, adding a refreshing feel when they could easily confine scenes to their Atlanta studio.

Finally, naturally, there's the fashion! Yes, we have flash in the bolder patterns of what Hayley, Chelsea, and Eva wear, but even the more subdued wardrobes of Nicole and Leslie translate as elegant as the queenly attire Anita robes herself in. Our Black ladies are also allowed to express themselves by changing up their hair on the regular, a feature of that culture usually held back on television in general. But hot looks aren't simply reserved for the women – Bill shows off tailored suits while Ted dons form-fitting turtlenecks and Andre wears more casual clothes that often have an edge to them. Those of you whose soap-watching experience is enhanced by what looks good to the eye will not be disappointed.

Beyond the Gates has eleven episodes to its credit as of this writing. Overall, on a scale of 0 to 10, I would give this burgeoning soap a 7.5. A slightly conservative number, perhaps, but that's only because we're just barely two weeks in and things have yet to fully take root. The show did surpass General Hospital in its time slot over its debut week, so viewers have indeed been willing to take a chance here, which is only right. Beyond the Gates has a lot to offer. And this is one soap fan who very much wants to keep following these messy, wonderfully diverse characters to find out where they're going to take us – and one who would very much encourage all soap fans to do as well.

Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS and streams on Paramount Plus.