Beyond the Gates: Why we need Leslie Thomas

On Beyond the Gates, Leslie and the Duprees are at war, and I’ve got to say I am loving seeing this battle. I’m not at all sad when the Duprees take a hit or two courtesy of Ms. Thomas.

Beyond the Gates and Love to Hates

A small family gathering consisting of Vernon (Clifton Davis), Anita (Tamara Tunie), and Nicole (Daphnée Duplaix) soon turned into how sick they were of seeing Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant) prance around with her money, thinking she belonged. I've lost count of how many times one of them has told her or said aloud that money won't buy her class. Maybe not, but it’s sure funding her opportunity seeking, that's for sure. This won’t be popular opinion for many, but seeing Leslie make her moves and occasionally get some hits on the Duprees makes me smile, not because the Duprees are evil and need to be punished, no, and not because I dislike them, because I don't dislike them.

It’s something far more straightforward than that. I just love the drama, and the script writers really have some great moments for Leslie, for example, the scene with Leslie at the club after talking to the Club president. Leslie is about to leave when she runs into Anita and Nicole, who are overjoyed to hear that Vernon has convinced the president and the board that Leslie's membership at the Fairmont Crest Country Club is no longer valid.

The conversation starts with Anita and Nicole acting so very high and mighty, and once again, money won't buy you class, Leslie, (I should really keep count), and so on and so on. Then Trisha Mann-Grant delivers like only she can. Leslie feigns being shocked and lets the two Duprees think that they have scored the last laugh, but alas, no. Leslie, in prime form, tells them they are very much mistaken. Her friend, the Club President, has given her a full membership owing to her endowing the Country Club with a new sports facility.

That's right, soap fans, the new Leslie Thomas Sports Center is coming in the following spring. Imagine a whole new building, with Leslie Thomas in giant letters all over the front of it. A shouse across the road shining gnome lights through Anita and Vernon's French doors, and to cap it off, the final middle finger to Nicole was when Leslie handed her Ted's tie, folded up, “for whenever you see him,” Leslie cooed. The look on the two Dupree ladies was one Leslie won’t forget for a long time.

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Sure, Leslie will one day pay for all of this, with interest, but for now, soap fans, we have quite the villain, don't we? For the pure joy of soapy drama and the genre, Leslie may not be the villain we wanted, but she sure is the villain we need.

Watch full episodes of Beyond the Gates weekdays on CBS or stream on Paramount Plus.

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