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‘Beyond the Gates’ Named to ‘Entertainment Weekly’s’ List of ‘The Best TV Shows of 2025 So Far’

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: CBS

In a list that includes: Severance (Apple TV), Forever (Netflix), Matlock (CBS), The Gilded Age (HBO Max), Abbott Elementary (ABC), Dept Q. (Netflix) and The Pitt (HBO Max), daytime’s first new soap opera in over 25 years, CBS’ Beyond the Gates has made the list of Entertainment Weekly’s “Best TV Shows of 2025 So Far” – with June being the half-way point of the year.

Beyond the Gates is only about five-months old on-air having debuted back on February 24, 2025, as the first Black-led, hour-long, network daytime television soap opera. The series came in with a huge soap pedigree from its creator, head writer and executive producer, Michele Val Jean, having previously written for The Bold and the Beautiful, General Hospital, Generations, and Santa Barbara.

In EW’s assessment as to why Beyond the Gates should be on your list of TV shows to binge-watch, here is what they had to say on how the soap opera captured their imaginations and passed the muster with their critique below:

Photo: CBS

“Soap operas do the impossible. Working with a fraction of the budget primetime series get, soaps crank out 260 episodes of non-stop story a year. For those of us who grew up loving these shows, watching the networks slowly abandon the genre over the past decade has been painful. What a joy, then, to witness the birth of Beyond the Gates, the first new daytime drama since 1999. Created by soap legend Michelle Val Jean, Gates centers on the saga of the well-to-do Dupree family, pillars of society in an elite (and drama-filled) Black enclave near Washington, D.C.”

As to the storylines that have them tuning-in, EW shared, “It’s impossible to summarize everything that’s happened in the 80 episodes (!) since Gates premiered in February, but the soapiest highlights include: a love child revealed in spectacular fashion, and a marriage ruined! A steamy (and top-secret) May-December romance between a former supermodel and a playboy photographer! A promising young politician haunted by a violent incident from his past! To quote the late, great Gary Marshall in SoapDish: ‘This is soap opera!”’

Photo: CBS

Back in May, Beyond the Gates received its second season renewal from CBS, giving an affirmation to the show and the job well-done by its cast, writers and producers. The series continues its production at its studios in Atlanta, Georgia and is the only network daytime drama to film in the “Peach State.”

The cast includes: Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis, Daphnee Duplaix, Karla Mosley, Alex Alegria, Lauren Buglioli, Brandon Claybon, Timon Kyle Durrett, Sean Freeman, Ben Gavin, Marquita Goings, Jibre Hordges, Jen Jacob, Trisha Mann-Grant, Mike Manning, RhonniRose Mantilla, Ambyr Michelle, Colby Muhammad, Arielle Prepetit, Keith D. Robinson, Jon Lindstrom, Cady McClain and more.

Photo: CBS

What do you think of ‘Beyond the Gates’ becoming a favorite show in mainstream pop culture? Has it become one of your favorite shows of 2025 so far? Share your thoughts via the comment section, and in case you missed it, check out the Michael Fairman Channel’s brand new live interview with Trisha Mann-Grant and Ambry Michelle below.

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I love it so much and hope it had yhr staying power to become an institution!

But no one is watching

‘WE’ REALLY ARE!!!

It’s the best thing in daytime. I gave up 30 yrs ago watching soaps, but now BTG is my guilty pleasure! Love it!!!!
I now enjoy daytime tv!
It’s campy, cultured and great acting!

I watched a couple of episodes, but didn’t have time to invest in it daily. It was very well done from the sample size that I saw.

Love it

Absolutely love this show. I h been waiting for something like this ever since ABC canceled AMC and OLTL which were the first to include people of color on daytime tv. It’s about time history in the making.

I watch the show everyday and I love it it’s my new guilty pleasure

I love the new soap Beyond The Gates so much it has been my new guilty pleasure and I watch it every day

I am loving the show so much is awesome. The storylines are incredible. I’m especially loving the one with Martin, Vernon, Bill and the two dirty cops and Joey Armstrong. I can’t wait to see where that goes. It’s getting so good, and loving the continued rivalry between Kat and Eva those two remind me of Nina and Carly so much on General Hospital the continued rivalry it’s crazy and not only that but they are fighting over the same guy Tomas as well, and last but least the fake pregnancy that Haley is trying to pull girl bye.

No

My Husband and I watch together every day!! Our new guilty pleasure ❤️

Stop lying. The acting and writing is awful

The acting and writing has improved tremendously. It takes time for the cast to gel, but they’re doing an amazing job. Also, it’s seldom that you see people of color in this environment so it takes time. Give it a chance. They’re doing a great job. Keep up the great work guys.

I watched everyday for the first 2 weeks. I really wanted to like it; but, it just didn’t grab me. I wish them well.

Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Set to Air Week of Encore Episodes

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Next week, CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates serves up a week of repeats to shed the spotlight on some recent major episodes, in case you may have missed it, all before the 4th of July holiday weekend.

This is not the first time the newest network television soap opera on the block has aired a week’s worth of encore presentations. However this time, the episodes focus on the fabulous Cotillion storyline which is juxtaposed with the blood plasma ring warehouse shakedown which saw Derek Baldwin (Ben Gavin) get shot and eventually die.

Also included in the week is Grammy and Tony Award winner, Jennifer Holliday making a guest appearance on the soap, and singing an original song from the series musical supervisors team during the Duprees Easter brunch, and more.

Photo: CBS

Take a look at the rundown of what you will see next week on Beyond the Gates below.

Monday, June 29
The Duprees get ready for Samantha’s cotillion. Jacob meets with Ren. Ashley is in a panic as Grayson prepares for the worst. Bill questions Hayley about her past. Lia puts Derek in the hot seat.

Tuesday, June 30 
Grayson completes his assignment, but then all hell breaks loose at the warehouse. Samantha and Jessica make their cotillion debut while Nicole has to deal with an emergency.

Wednesday, July 1
Someone dies while a Platinum Deb is crowned. Vanessa questions Joey about the chaos of the evening. Tyrell and Jessica slip away for their first time together.

Thursday, July 2
Special Guest Star Jennifer Holliday sings for a friend. Nicole takes Kial to her family’s Easter brunch. Ted advises Carlton. Anita puts Anastasia in her place. Hayley feels like an outsider in a sea of Duprees. Grayson receives a threat. Naomi and Jacob find a way to connect.

Friday, July 3
Naomi and Jacob spend their anniversary apart—both remembering their love story from first date to wedding vows. Izaiah helps his brother out while Naomi leans on Ashley, Dani and Bill.

Beyond the Gates returns with all-new episodes starting Monday, July 6 where it will pick up right from where it left off following the Friday, June 26 cliffhanger.

So, from the encore episodes listed, which are you are you most enthused about seeing again, or do you wish there was no break from traditional all-new episodes? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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Beyond the Gates

RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Scores Third Most-Watched Week Since Its Premiere With ‘The Young and the Restless’ Crossover Event

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The tornado that ripped through Fairmont Crest and put the lives of the characters of Beyond the Gates and several from The Young and the Restless in jeopardy had viewers tuning-in for the week of June 8-12.

The highly-publicized crossover event kicked off on the Tuesday, June 9 episode of Beyond the Gates where six residents of Genoa City came to to visit the D.C./Maryland country club for a fundraiser for Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon), only no one expected a twister to tear into the proceedings, leading to several storylines intersecting as people were trapped with one another with Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) being the most severely injured and now requiring a liver transplant to survive.

According to the ratings report from CBS and Nielsen ratings and as supplied to Variety, Beyond the Gates brought in on average 1.8 million viewers throughout the wee. That is up 11% from its season-to-date numbers and it makes the crossover/tornado episodes its third most-watched week for the soap since Beyond the Gates premiered back on February 24, 2025.

Photo: CBS

A GENOA CITY TOUCHDOWN

With the strength of the story, its special effects and bringing over cast of the top-rated, The Young and the Restless which included: Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), Michael Mealor (Kyle Abbott), Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott), Susan Walters (Diane Jenkins), Melissa Ordway (Abby Newman) and Bryton James (Devon Hamilton), the Thursday, June 11 episode was the week’s most-watched.

According to the numbers, the Wednesday June 10 episode brought in the most total viewers for the week with 1.87 million (up 17% week-to-week), followed closely by the Friday, June 12 episodes which had 1.84 million watching.

Photo: JPI

Over on The Young and the Restless, the week of June 8-12, also saw an increase based on the early return that week of Shemar Moore as Malcolm Winters wrapping up his leg of the story where viewers learned he had a son Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) with Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox), and survived his bone marrow transplant surgery thanks to Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn).

Y&R scored 3.11 million viewers for the week up 2% from its season average with the June 8 and June 9 episodes featuring Moore averaging 3.2 million viewers and up 9% year-over-year.

So, did you enjoy the tornado episodes of Beyond the Gates and seeing the residents of Genoa City crossover to Fairmont Crest? Share your thoughts via the comment section on the latest ratings for the two CBS daytime soaps.

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‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Karla Mosley Weighs-in on Dani Dupree’s Love Life Endgame: Are You Team Bill or Team Andre?

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Last week, viewers of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates watched as a tornado ripped through Fairmont Crest. In its wake, people were trapped with one another or seriously injured.

For Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley), she found herself stuck in an elevator with her ex-husband, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). And wouldn’t you know, one thing led to another, and the two gave into their unresolved feelings for one another and did the deed.

Meanwhile, Dani’s current husband, Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) suffered a minor injury to his leg, and was worried sick in the ballroom because he had no idea where Dani was after the twister decimated the place. Eventually, Dani and Bill part ways go back to their families and act like nothing happened.

Photo: CBS

When Dani is reunited with Andre, he professes his love for her even more than ever. As for Bill’s current wife Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings), she could care less because she was making out with Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor, Y&R) in a closet at the country club!

THE TORNADO MAY HAVE CHANGED DANI’S HEART

For months, Beyond the Gates viewers have found themselves torn; rooting for Dani and Bill to get over themselves and get back together, or rooting for Dani and Andre, because its clear he truly loves her, even though their marriage may not have started out as the greatest love affair of all time.

Karla Mosley opened up to PEOPLE on Dani’s romance plight and who the writers of the soap might ultimately pair her with, expressing “I cannot say. I honestly have no idea.”

As it seems now, this triangle of Andre/Dani/Bill is about to heat up even more following Dani’s elevator exploits. However, according to Mosley, the popularity of Dani and Andre came as surprise to the writers, which has led to the romantic drama. “The writers did not think Dani and Andre were gonna pop off the way that they did,” explained Karla. “Originally, they thought Bill and Dani would be back together by the end of season one. And then it was like, ‘wait, what is happening?’”

Photo: CBS

WRITERS ARE TAKING THE PULSE OF THE FANS

The decision to not have Dani and Bill reunite within season 1 or half-way though season 2, Mosley shares is a sign of the times: “The old soap trope is the torn woman who goes back to her man. But I think there are enough women now who are like, I want to see her win.”

In the end, Karla believes that in this case, fans speaking up, can also translate to the writers room and influence their potential decision of who should be the ultimate man for Dani. She tells Beyond the Gates viewers,  “Keep talking about it, y’all.”

Meanwhile, questions remain: Could Dani and Bill’s elevator sex find her pregnant with his child, which would make this whole situation more messy? Stay tuned.

Now, let us know, who do you want to see Dani ultimately with … Bill Hamilton or Andre Richardson? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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