Beyond the Gates Recap for November 21, 2025: Laura finally bit back against Leslie and more WinterFest seeds were planted

Here's what went down Friday, November 21, 2025 on Beyond the Gates when Martin learned that politics and distraction made strange bedfellows, Tyrell wanted to give it the old college try, and Vernon put the needle on the record.

What happened on Beyond the Gates

On Beyond the Gates, fresh from liberally spraying Febreze around her office, Nicole found Carlton at her door. The psychiatrist sighed over how busy she was between maintaining her practice and preparing for WinterFest, which led Carlton to tell her she was incredible. Sensing Carlton's romantic vibes, Nicole reminded him that she wasn't ready to date anyone just yet, especially after Carlton invited her to accompany him to the big event.

Carlton was mindful of Nicole's position and clarified that he was asking her to WinterFest as a friend. He hoped that his beyond platonic intentions hadn't ruined their friendship, and soon the two were laughing over a previous WinterFest where Carlton had initiated a line dance and Vernon had jumped into it “looking like he was auditioning for Soul Train.” Both Nicole and Carlton conceded that they'd missed “this,” and when Carlton stated that Nicole deserved “a night where someone is thinking about your happiness” after everything she'd been through, Nicole accepted his invitation...as friends. “For now,” Carlton winked.

Martin lost a squash game to Vernon at the country club, but the congressman was glad for the chance to blow off some steam. He had been losing votes on the education bill he was lobbying for and realized he needed to get his head back in the game now that the mid-terms were less than a year away. Vernon noted that Martin had been a storm once, yet presently he seemed to only be going through the motions. Martin remembered how the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 had first motivated him to run for Congress; Vernon wondered where Martin's out-of-the-gate fire had gone.

Vernon understood that politics had been somehow designed to grind down those involved in it: he was certain that there had been times trailblazers John Lewis and Shirley Chisholm had wanted to quit. Martin wasn't worried about his political future, since his was a safe seat – but Vernon warned that insiders were predicting that Martin would be challenged by someone in his own party. Vernon suggested that Martin take the holiday and search his soul about how he wanted to proceed...and to prepare his family, since the fight to keep his post was sure to get ugly.

At the brownstone, Samantha whined about how she had no phone, no laptop, and no life thanks to her continued grounding. Smitty proposed they take part in a trendy virtual game, but Samantha blurted out that Tyrell wanted to be free for a video chat with Jessica later. Tyrell asked if Jessica could join them for Thanksgiving, since otherwise she would be stuck attending a “bougie brunch” with her parents. Smitty said he would talk to Martin about it in line with making sure Tyrell wasn't moving too fast with Jessica, after which Samantha snarked that their dads didn't want Tyrell sharing more than cranberry sauce with his girlfriend.

Tyrell retorted that he wasn't “stupid” like Samantha had been with Nathan, who was trash. When conversation turned to college applications, Tyrell mentioned UCLA, and Samantha finked that Jessica was also applying to that school. Smitty asked to speak to Tyrell alone, surprised at the teen's change of heart, since he had been talking about attending D.C.'s Banneker University since he was in middle school. Banneker was still a top pick for Tyrell, who was mindful that the institution was an HBCU (historically Black colleges and universities); he just wanted to keep his options open. Tyrell also knew that Smitty was going to advise him not to throw away his future for a girl.

Smitty empathized when Tyrell spoke of how much Jessica “got” him; she was driven, yet down-to-earth. The reporter told Tyrell that, if what he and Jessica had was real, it would survive them getting higher educations on different coasts. When Martin came home, Smitty covered for Tyrell, yet notified his husband that they had to talk.

Martin spiraled at the news that Tyrell was thinking about ditching Banneker for UCLA because of Jessica, but Smitty did his best to stem the eruption. He pointed out that UCLA was still a good school and reminded Martin what had happened the last time he had impulsively acted out, going to Tyrell's principal and embarrassing the boy. Martin mellowed and thanked Smitty for again being the voice of reason, agreeing that they should monitor the situation with Tyrell and guide him when needed.

Mr. Richardson changed the subject to Vernon dropping his “political bomb” on him. Mr. Smith recognized that any opponent Martin might face in his election would do their best to dig up dirt on him and their family, but Smitty also avowed that he hadn't just married Martin, he had married “the mission.” Martin agreed with Vernon that he needed to find his passion again, promising Smitty that he would put their family before politics as he ventured forward.

Laura briefly encountered Anita at Orphey Gene's, on her way to work on presentations for WinterFest. Leslie, also in the diner, threw a scare into Laura by suddenly approaching her and joking that people would think Leslie was stalking her. Once the rattled Laura excused herself, Leslie sat down at Anita's table uninvited and presented her with the invitations she'd been tasked to complete. Anita warned Leslie not to mess with Laura again, while Leslie smirked that “affair” was the key word in the “family affair” Anita declared WinterFest to be.

Though Leslie seemed to boast that the trust Anita had funded for Barbara had elevated her station, Leslie appeared more genuine in thanking Anita for also making it possible for Eva to be financially secure. Anita's own wall came down a bit when Leslie took a call about Peaches, who was beginning her clinical trial. “I'll hold a good thought,” Anita offered before Leslie returned to toying with her and asking for more WinterFest work.

Later, Eva came to the diner looking for Leslie, with whom she was supposed to have lunch. Eva was annoyed that Leslie had taken off without contacting her until Anita explained that Leslie had needed to attend to Peaches. Understanding, Eva took the moment to express regret to Anita about her part in destroying Ted and Nicole's marriage, even after Anita determined that Eva had only been collateral damage in Leslie's plan.

The two discussed Eva getting closer to Ted; Eva was happy that Ted was such an upgrade from her stepfather, Alan, who had treated her like she had been nothing more than her mother's baggage. Anita found some compassion for Leslie, who had had to raise a child without a stable partner. Both Anita and Eva were grateful that Mrs. Dupree had such a loving and loyal mate in Mr. Dupree.

Meanwhile, at the country club, Vernon called Sharon, barely able to wait until their next get-together...since the last one had been “one for the record books.”

Leslie nearly ran into Laura getting off the elevator at Garland Memorial, enjoying the fact that Laura seemed to be a frightened little girl. Finding strength, Laura glared that she was “a grown-ass woman” and that Leslie needed to “get out of my damn way.” Laura refused to be afraid of Leslie any longer, firm in her knowledge that Leslie had tried to kill her twice and was only walking free because the police hadn't found enough evidence to make charges stick. Leslie threatened to file a defamation suit against Laura, then growled that, if she had wanted Laura dead, “worms would be feasting on [her] rotten flesh.”

Laura was horrified, but Leslie burst into laughter and claimed she had only said those things to see Laura's reaction. Leslie proposed a truce and extended her hand just as Nicole walked up wanting to know what was going on. Leslie smiled that she and Laura had only been comparing notes about WinterFest, but, after Nicole escorted Laura into her office, Laura was so unnerved that she asked for anxiety meds to deal with Leslie.

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Nicole advised against prescriptions but opted to teach Laura some coping mechanisms so she could better handle Leslie's taunting. And, Nicole said, she was proud of Laura for standing up to Leslie. Outside at the nurses station, Leslie encountered Carlton, who was none too pleased to have to speak to the woman. Leslie decided that becoming acquainted with her would benefit Carlton, as they had a mutual desire to ensure that Ted and Nicole didn't reunite.

Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS and streams on Paramount Plus. Next week, new episodes will air Monday, November 24 and Tuesday, November 25, while reruns will be featured Wednesday, November 26 and Thursday, November 27. The show will be pre-empted entirely on Friday, November 28 before returning to all-new episodes on Monday, December 1.

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