Anniversary halts: Beyond the Gates Two Scoops for the week of April 28, 2025

Hayley found out about Bill and Ted's excellent adventure on Beyond the Gates

Are y'all ready to go Beyond the Gates? This week Chelsea only grooved on one half of her throuple, Vanessa got caught out there by Doug, who knew she'd been cheating on him, and Derek began his cohabitation era with Ashley. But who cares about that! You want to talk about how Eva tried and failed to stop Leslie, who glowed up while she delivered Ted a blow-up at his anniversary party! RSVP to this invitation and let's find out what happened inside and outside the gates of Fairmont Crest!

We're goin' down to Alphabet Street

Taking a little spin around Washington, D.C. and its environs, Chelsea turned to Martin to talk about threesomes. Glory be that Martin made sure to let his cuz know that just because one is gay doesn't mean one is in an open relationship. He and Smitty are monogamous! Yay! Represent, y'all! That aside, Smarty Marty advised Chels to follow her heart, which was leading her toward Allison, but not her husband, Craig.

The usually confident Chelsea got heartwarmingly awkward trying to tell Allison that she felt her, but lucky for the purse designer, Allison reciprocated the emotion — and the intention to explore things between themselves outside of Allison's marriage to Craig. It's a lesson I had to learn the hard way: Open relationships are cool as long as everybody is on the same page with it. If not, that's when people get hurt.

Vernon worked on Anita to take the talent agent's offer of doing a comeback show, but Anita kept insisting her voice had succumbed to the ravages of time. Besides, she announced, if she were going to take the stage again, she'd rather do so with Tracy and Sharon, the other two-thirds of The Articulettes. Just one problem: Anita had burned them somehow and wasn't sure they'd even speak with her again, let alone sing!

Ooh, the intrigue! Anita wasn't completely clear whether the girl group's split happened before or after whatever it was Anita did, but I'm all for digging into the past and finding out. Also, I'm excited that Anita finally has her own storyline after simply playing matriarch and listening post for her fam these introductory ten weeks. I know, no matter what Anita decides, Tamara Tunie is gonna rock it.

Martin had another nightmare, but this one was so murky that no clues could really be gleaned from it. Grr, when are we to find out what Martin did? Not that I haven't been enjoying the suspense and build-up, but we seem to be in a holding pattern, and I need some movement. We did get confirmation that Smitty knows nothing about the act Martin committed that's causing the dreams, even if that seemed to be the implication all along.

Vernon rightly suggested that Martin get professional help! Unfortunately for him, the only shrink in the immediate GATES circle is Nicole, and Martin can't ethically go to mommy with this. Or can he? Maybe he can loop her in in some unofficial capacity; since she's family, she's not going to leak anything. Though mommy certainly has her own problems right now. Which we'll get to.

Then Derek and Ashley began Day 1 of living together, and though it was amusing that Ashley's mom, Jan, found Derek's giant moose head outside the door, I'm afraid this couple is still far too boring. Sure, they lanced over décor and how to maintain a closet shelf, but is this really all these guys are going to do? Hopefully the close proximity – and reduced proximity of Andre – will spark some kind of good story for these two. They deserve it. And need it.

Let me take you on an escapade

Elsewhere in the 202 (and its 771 overlay), Vanessa was in the hospital for some reason...something about a gastrointestinal reaction to bean sprouts? Wait – the last time we saw the McBrides, Doug was thisclose to telling his wife he was a gambler. What happened to that? Suddenly V's laid up and Doug's doting on her. I half expected her nausea to be morning sickness over carrying Diego's baby. Wouldn't that be something?

The McBrides' insertion into The Big Anniversary Reveal at first seemed random, unnecessary, and a bumper of sorts between the major action. But their presence did weave into things after Vanessa learned about Ted's cheating. Doug was aware that sometimes, marrieds strayed...”I wouldn't think I'd need to tell you that,” Doug told Vanessa calmly. Ooh, doggies! How ya like me now!

This wasn't the first time Doug brought this up; it was just the first time he was that direct. Too bad Vanessa once again used an opportunity to come clean to instead try to squirm out of the presumption and act like she was Miss Innocent. Never mind that the guilt might as well be tattooed on her face – it's just gotten redundant for her to not own up to things. Not that I particularly want to see this marriage saved, but Vanessa might be able to salvage things if she'd just tell Doug what he already knows.

We got a funny scene of Dani shooing Chelsea out after promising she'd come to Nicole's party, only for Andre to pad down the stairs clad in only a towel...which Dani pulled off as she followed him back up. How fun are these two? Dani did have an understandable, teeny backslide as she thought back to getting ready for a party with Bill, but when she came back to Andre standing there IRL, Bill was happily forgotten.

Dandre (Anni?) had their second convo about going public with their relationship. Andre was cool with however Dani wanted to handle it; Dani tabled the subject ahead of the party. I dunno...if there wasn't something significant going on, between them why would they want anyone to know about them? I think our GATES gatekeepers have finally seen this couple's potential, and it looks like they're about to take a big step.

As the country club began to fill with guests, Kat led Chelsea around looking for Anna...or Leslie...or whoever she was looking for. My only gripe with this was that, just before, Kat was snarky with Eva again, despite having made a big show of calling a truce at Eva's place. Maybe Kat shouldn't have bothered with the pretense. Now, I don't know what was more frustrating...that no one believed Kat about Eva...or that Kat had such a gripe with Eva in the first place.

Outside of catching Eva going through a desk drawer and some files – and catching Eva flirting with Tomás – what did Kat really have on her? It's always seemed odd that Kat took such an instant dislike to Laura's replacement. But I will give Kat the slack required after she met Leslie and put it together that Leslie was Anna. Jinkies! There's probably more effective ways Kat could have gotten real dirt on the Thomas women besides acting like one of “those darn” Scooby-Doo kids, but what can you do.

Back on Marigold Road, Bill and Hayley did their own cutting into the drama – only for their convo to turn to Ted. Bill and Ted (tell me you didn't think of the movie) had been friends, Hayley said, but Bill considered Ted to be as bad as the direct-in-line Duprees. Interestingly, Bill wouldn't say why...but Hayley's game of Twenty Questions only required about eight as she figured out that Ted had stepped out on Nicole.

Now, how would Bill know that? This was the first I recalled these husbands of Dupree women having any connection to each other beyond being in the same extended family. We'd soon get our answer...but in the meantime, I was a little disappointed that Bill's hand didn't shake even once. The symptom's cause is gonna be big, I have a feeling. Aw, well.

Bang bang into the room

Backing up a little, the previous day, Leslie spotted Martin and Vernon at Orphey Gene's and brought them a brownie, gushing over their political career and expressing gratitude for them making sure Bigfoot could hike in peace. Oh, and Atlantis was still underwater where it belonged, thanks to their efforts. I would have been totally lost had Leslie not admitted the week before that toying with the Duprees so they'd eventually realize she had been among them was part of her plan.

Something about encroaching further into the Dupree circle got Leslie thinking: hell with the anniversary party! She and Eva could extort mondo cash out of the Duprees first, making them think they were protecting Ted...then mother and daughter Thomas could blow Ted out of the water anyway. Now, that would have been a pivot for the ages. And a way to stretch out Ted's ultimate exposure while generating some major Dupree drama.

Not that 'I'm sorry it was only a story' psyche. After Eva stopped Leslie from terminating Ted at Nicole's awards gala, we didn't need another false denouement. As it was, we also didn't need another go-round of Eva trying to dial Leslie back and Leslie scowling at Eva, but another go-round we saw. As I've said before, Eva already had enough suspicions about Leslie, I'm surprised she didn't just agree with Leslie and go rogue...maybe finding out for herself how Laura ended up in a cast?

The tear streaming down Eva's face should have been enough for Leslie to clue in that her daughter was clearly not into the scheme anymore, but she la-de-da'd her way over to the country club anyway, having stepped back into “Sherry”'s shoes to get a job and therefore grab the key to a supply room. Leslie was to wait there until Eva texted her to make her grand entrance.

Okay, but the door to that room only locked from the outside? A bit convenient, I would have to say. Of course, that opened up the possibility of simply leaving Leslie trapped there and Eva blowing the whistle on her mom, but that didn't happen. And what fun would that have been? Probably about as fun as if Kat hadn't caught Eva attempting to unlock the door...after Eva decided to nix Leslie's plot once and for all.

But answer me this. If Leslie was locked in and only Eva could let her out...how on earth did Leslie manage to get herself out of the room? Because Leslie was gone, gone, gone when Kat burst into the space. The keyhole was on the outside, so Leslie couldn't have picked it. I know; details. It's just the show was so thorough with all the other deets during this arc, that's a pretty big one to let slip through the cracks.

Eva crossed the no-going-back line when she pled with Leslie to scrap the party revenge and just have Ted acknowledge his paternity of Eva privately instead of humiliating the man publicly. Leslie seemed to sense this paradigm shift as well, because, panicked, she warned Eva that Kat was coming and had her hide in the room. A-ha! The panic was an act, and just a reason for Leslie to lock Eva away. Nice twist. And not for nothin': that gown of Leslie's was fiyah beyond fiyah. Thanks, Ted!

If that's your boyfriend he wasn't last night

One thing GATES has definitely learned to do in a short time is A) put on swell, swanky parties and B) build up suspense during them. It happened with Bill and Hayley's wedding and Nicole's tribute night – but for real, the show really outdid itself with the Richardson's anniversary shindig. Especially when, after thanking Andre for understanding about his indiscretion with “Dana,” Ted clinked his champagne flute and got things started. Donkey Kong, we knew it was on.

It wouldn't be a soap prelude to disaster without those about to be subject to that disaster laying it on thick about how perfect their lives were. That tell is Soap 101, and Ted and Nicole personified it beautifully, building on the professions of love and harmony they'd been doling out to each other the last couple of weeks. Only this time, it was for all to hear.

The heavier the syrup, the more forceful the rug pulling! And I surely could feel that carpet starting to slide out from under the Richardsons' feet as newly introduced family friend Carleton heard Eva screaming from her glassware-laden prison and got the club staff to release the trapped assistant. Kinda hope they keep Carleton around. Just don't make him do the Carleton.

It all seemed to happen at once, and how glorious that it did. Eva rushed in and begged her employers to get the hell out before it was too late. But it was. Leslie and her freakin' faboo dress sashayed in, telling “TED-dy” (isn't Tricia Mann-Grant wonderful?) that “to know me is to love me.” When Ted commanded “Dana” to leave, Nicole realized that her husband knew the interloper. Except Nicole thought their uninvited guest was hospital roof jumper “Sherry” – even though “Sherry”'s hair was completely different. Come on, Nicole.

Then, after Eva implored “Leslie” to just leave, Nicole popped off with, “How many names does she have?” And I know a lot of you have been thinking that, too; it was hilarious. I also loved how Leslie toured the room, asking folks if there were smelling salts or cardiac paddles in the house, because after Nicole heard her truth, she was going to need to be brought “boom! Back to life!”

Can I just award an Emmy now to whoever writes Leslie's dialogue? (Michele Val Jean, that better be you.) But after the levity, the drama hit, and hard: Eva cried for someone to stop this woman who had been targeting Ted and Nicole and locked her in a closet. Yup – guess who's not celebrating Mother's Day next weekend? Martin and Smitty rushed to apprehend the trespasser (the gay boys to the rescue!), but Nicole called a time-out. The shrink was sure that “Sherry” simply needed some help.

Leslie chortled that “Sherry” had been “one of my better get-ups.” (I actually think the short, sassy wig of “Anna” might be the greater contender.) So now that truth was out. And how good was it that Naomi, who'd arrived late, got Chelsea to stop livestreaming the whole debacle? Apparently, whipping out her phone is so automatic for Chelsea that she'd forgotten for a moment that she was responsible for the “Gunslinger Dani” viralness. Nice bit, calling back to that!

Kat got Mona to confirm that Leslie and Eva lived together, and Vernon went into crisis mode, trying to cast Leslie as unwell and asking non-family guests to leave. This is another thing GATES has proven it does well: providing multi-character spotlights, especially during a large group scene like this one. But Leslie called Vernon out for his gaslighting gambit, and the first bomb she dropped was atomic: Ted had been her lover.

That's a typical enough soap revelation, but this one went deeper by creating a bit of fictional history that was out of nowhere but no less plausible: Leslie asked Martin if he remembered Ted taking him to a diner when he was little, where the waitress there had given him brownies. (No wonder Leslie presented the grown-up Martin with one the previous day! What foreshadowing!) And Martin did remember. Ted was already so busted.

In another slam-bang moment of follow-through, even if it was on a factoid we'd only gotten earlier in the episode, Leslie pointedly told Chelsea and Naomi, the ones who would be the most affected, that Bill had not only served as the lawyer who had pressured Leslie to leave town on Ted's behalf, but Bill had threatened to kidnap Leslie's baby and sell it on the black market if Leslie gave birth instead of having an abortion!

Duuuuude. There was no surface reason Bill needed to be involved in this story, but what a way of roping him in, and by opening such a huge can of worms, at that. We already know Bill's unethical side runs about as tall as the Washington Monument, and now the Hamilton daughters have a new, unsavory wrinkle to deal with. Dani, too, since this clearly happened while she was married to Bill.

The layering of story and detail has been so thick during this – it's not just Ted, Nicole, and Eva who are impacted, but almost the entire main cast around them. Yet Leslie wasn't through: she presented Eva to the crowd as Ted's daughter – and wasn't it just like Kat to run to Martin, grab his arm, and yelp, “No...no!” Nicole nearly melted into the ground like she was the Wicked Witch of the West and Dorothy had just thrown water on her.

What a world, what a world! Eva wasn't spared any shock, either – she had always been told by Leslie that Ted knew he had a daughter and couldn't give a crap about her. And here, Eva found out that Ted had gone through the years thinking Leslie had ended her pregnancy. So, though Eva had helped her mother literally set the stage for all the retribution, Eva turned out to be as much of a victim of it as everyone else. Who knew!

Ain't that a shame

So I just looked it up, and apparently the fallout from a nuclear bomb begins drifting to the ground within an hour of detonation (let's hope we never find out in real time, the way things are going). In Fairmont Crest, the dusting started in mere minutes. Nicole ran out, and Martin stopped Ted from pursuing her. We saw the temper that's been consistent in the congressman as he pieced together how Ted had used Boy Martin as a cover so he could see Leslie!

And now we know Martin's nightmares either have to do with him killing somebody, paralyzing them, or otherwise harming them, because Martin's rage was on full display as he tore his pop a new one, capping off the tirade by shoving Ted hard. Good thing for the plastic surgeon, there was a couch there; in that moment, would Martin have cared whether or not there was? Dude's a killah! And not just in the slang way.

Ted stopped Eva's subsequent approach (little soon there, Eva, ain't it?), but Eva implored her new old dad to at least hear why she had done what she had. Leslie was her mom, so how could she not believe what she had been told all her life about Ted coldly rejecting her? Speaking of rejection, it was time for Eva to pay the piper, and Leslie was piping.

After Ted ran off in search of Nicole, Leslie called it proof that Ted didn't care about Eva and seethed that “little girl” had chosen the wrong horse. Leslie then sauntered out, beaded gown swaying appropriately, and it became apparent in that moment that this mother-daughter duo was done. Leslie holds king-size grudges, and can you really see her forgiving Eva for trying to do an end run around her evening of vengeance? I can't.

Later, Andre, who's always had a soft spot for Eva, sat down with the new pariah and acknowledged that they were cousins. Also, Andre empathized with Eva's distress over not stopping Leslie, because Andre could have stopped her, too: he'd known about Ted's affair, and discouraged his unc from coming clean to Nicole about it. Man, Andre has grown so much as a character. Never thought I'd see this from the playboy shutterbug I met in late February!

The next moment was about as fraught as fraught gets. Though Kat and Ted believed Nicole was home taking a shower, Nicole showed up at the club while Leslie guzzled her champagne, about to shower Ted's mistress with verbal shrapnel. But Nicole was strangely yielding. She didn't want to fight Leslie for Ted, and she even conceded that Ted had gotten boring in the years since he'd dallied with someone as “vivacious” and “bold” as Leslie.

I was like, who is this woman saying Ted would be better off with Leslie? But, after the bait came the switch: It was Leslie's fantasy. Man, I got punked, and I loved every minute of it. I'm not gonna lie, though: I came up on soaps in the '80s and I was jonesing for a knock-down, drag-out, sequins-flying catfight between these two ladies, which I thought was about to happen. These brawls don't seem to be PC on soaps anymore. But if ever a scene had been set up for one...

I would have thought that Leslie publicizing Ted's misdeeds was the figurative house, not the foundation said house was built upon. But oh, what a foundation it already turned out to be just minutes after the explosion; we're gonna get a whole neighborhood of houses built on it. Bill is about to have a lot of explaining to do, since Naomi just texted him demanding answers about what Bill did to Leslie. If Bill's hand ain't shaking now, it's about to!

And when you apologize to your wife, and all she can do is shake her head, you know you are in the deepest of doo-doo. That's how Nicole left things with us – and Ted – and I'm actually surprised Nicole didn't drive or fly off somewhere. I know if my hubby were proven to be a cad after two decades, the first place I'd run wouldn't be home! But we have to see a Nicole/Ted showdown, and get ready, folks. It's a'comin'.

The Duprees proved themselves masters of damage control, as they once again convened following a crisis to determine how things should be handled. And it was during this I got a nugget that made Kat's immediate dislike of Eva make sense: Chelsea suggested that perhaps Kat sensed Eva was her half-sister! Now, Dani's response was that Eva was just a lying bitch, but something kicked Kat into preservation mode, and Chelsea's hypothesis totally works for me. I appreciate the blank filler!

You gotta be

Speaking of other aspects of the inevitable blowback from Leslie going nuclear...well, first, let's talk about Leslie! Dropping the bombshell of being a side piece and having a secret daughter isn't a crime...but running someone off the road and loading them up with potassium to cause a heart attack sure is. Nicole has already expressed a desire to find out how Laura came to be hospitalized, so I'm sure, fueled by Eva being Ted's child, Nicole's going to want to find out how Eva really came to replace Laura.

And it makes me sad, because Tricia Mann-Grant has been the star of this show (sorry, Dani!), and Leslie's either going to have to be carted off to jail, or go on the run to avoid that fate. With her tie to Eva cut, those are the only two paths for her. Leslie will probably be one of those villains who show up again in a year or two to cause trouble on a different score. I just hate to see her go now. She is diva.

And let's talk about going, shall we? Ted was an inconsequential character when he first started, and I wasn't all that impressed with Maurice Johnson's portrayal of him, either, because there was no there there. But now we've piled on the there! And Johnson has met the challenge of Ted's travails. Which is why I'm really fighting the idea of Keith D. Robinson soon stepping into the role.

I mean, I'm sure Robinson will be just fine, but we're in the process of weathering this storm with Ted, and it doesn't feel like the time to pull off a substitution like this. How/when is it gonna happen, anyway? OMG – how about if Nicole has Ted do plastic surgery on himself so she doesn't have to associate his current face with his betrayal? Hey, if the OG Dynasty could face swap with Steven Carrington...!

Finally, Eva's present journey is done, though her future possibilities are almost endless. Eva is a Richardson, and Ted already seems to be not entirely opposed to the idea of having her as his daughter. Then there's Kat, who had a moment of softening toward Eva as she saw Eva trying to stop Leslie; we broke from these two with Eva despondently telling Kat that she was right about her all along. Might they become real sibs instead of bitter enemies?

We only had three episodes this week (and one product placement bottle of Febreze), but what a three days it was! This was GATES' first truly huge bombshell, and I want to know what you guys think about it. Was it as kick-ass as I felt it was? Or did you think it needed improvement? Dish all in the comments below. And, until next we meet, my soapy reader, live your life beyond!

(Purchase Adam-Michael James' books on Amazon.)

(Listen to isletunes, AMJ's podcast featuring nothing but music from the artists of Prince Edward Island, Canada.)