Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Creator Michele Val Jean Shuts Down Fan Criticism on Story Direction: “Rest Assured We’re Going Somewhere”
In what has been an exciting time for the soap opera genre, earlier this year on February 24, CBS premiered the first new daytime drama in over 25 years with Beyond the Gates. The series became the the first Black-led hour-long network TV soap.
Beyond the Gates was created by Michele Val Jean (ex-General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful Et al.) who serves as the series head writer and executive producer. Recently, some fans and viewers have taken to social media implying that the new soap’s storylines lack a direction and the writers and producers haven’t thought through where their stories are heading.
Noting that nothing could be further from the truth, especially in the demanding world of daytime where Beyond the Gates is already taping two months ahead of air, Val Jean responded by taking to her account on X and expressed, “I love how some of y’all think we don’t plan this s—t out. Like we’re flying blind. You might not like where we’re going? But rest assured we’re going somewhere.” Val Jean then used the hashtags to punctuate her sentiments: “#BeyondTheGates #BTG #soapsingeneral #itscalledlongstoryforareason #taketheride #loveyallanyway”

Photo: CBS
Currently on Beyond the Gates, Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla) just hit the sheets with the new woman in her life, Madison (Kenjah), Martin (Brandon Claybon) is becoming more unglued about the mysterious busboy working at Fairmont Crest, who is actually keeping tabs on him. Viewers know that the Martin has been struggling with nightmares of a fateful night that has yet to be fully revealed. Dani (Karla Mosley) and Andre (Sean Freeman) may go public with their fling-turned -more-serious, Ashley (Jen Jacob) turned down Derek’s (Ben Gavin) marriage proposal, and Joey (Jon Lindstrom), Vanessa (Lauren Buglioli) and Doug’s (Jason Graham) relationships are more intertwined than ever, and more.

Photo: CBS
In response to Val Jean’s post on X, fan comments ranged from, “I just hope it’s worth it. I’ve seen other soaps and shows feel like they’re going somewhere only for storylines to have no payoff. I just don’t want to be disappointed again. I’m not a wait and see kind of person. I’m an err on the side of caution kind of person. Sorry.” Another wrote, “Spoken like a true writing legend. Thank you so much for the joy you have brought us as lovers of daytime. I’ve been watching soaps since 1993. Starting with ABC then CBS and NBC.” Another comment shared, “This show is firing on all cylinders! People aren’t used to normal sounding conversations on soaps anymore.”

Photo: CBS
Beyond The Gates is developed and produced by CBS Studios and the NAACP in partnership with P&G Studios a division of Procter and Gamble and airs weekdays at 2pm ET/1PM PT and streams on Paramount+.
So, what do you think about Michele Val Jean standing up to fans that she and her team, do indeed, have a clear direction of where all their stories and characters are heading on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Jesus Christ people!! We’re just shy of being on the air 5 months & ya’ll are bellyaching? Michele know what she’s doing. This isn’t her first rodeo.
Sheesh, give them and the storylines time to blossom into beautiful roses!
And I bet it’s mostly our people,they always hate to see there own people make it,the show is new and so far it’s the best
Sad she had to make the statement… but the fact so-called “fans” are questioning her, her position, and the serial as if they know it all, they needed to be called out.
This soap doesn’t get a free pass. All the other soaps are not off-limits to criticism from fans.
Exactly.
The dam show is new wait before the hell criticizing
The writing is better than your grammar.
Folks cool down! BTG is still a very good show. Michele Val Jean is an established writer. Josh Griffith could take lessons from her. I think there are many surprises ahead.
Was really surprised to hear that there was some chatter about fans not being pleased with some
Of the storylines and their direction. I’m loving BTG! Big cast, multiple stories, lavish sets. Feels like a nice return to soaps in their prime. I get it that they cannot please everyone all the time, that is an impossibility, but they’ve only been on air for a few months and they are doing great, in my opinion. When you tune in, you cannot tell that it is a new soap. proof they know what they’re doing! Think of all the greatness they’ve delivered in a few months time. I’m here for the ride, and am trying to diligently avoid any potential spoilers so I can throughly enjoy it.
Can’t wait to see what’s next! These stories seem to have legs and could result in multiple
Payoffs, and layers upon layers of future drama.
I’m hooked!
Exactly me tooooo
I truly support defying faultfinders and enemies! Continue the powerful writing , Michele!
More than likely they were probably determined to hate it from the start. It’s only been five months and every new show needs time to grow.
A waste of my time,it’s dirty, it needs to be put in the dirty shows not afternoon delite.
Dirty shows? Ok……………. But, what do you call Adam and Chelsea doing the deed in their office, with the blinds not drawn? Drew and Nina doing the same multiple times at Crimson? And, let’s not forget Drew again, but this time getting busy with Nina’s daughter in a child’s playroom! Should Y&R and GH be placed in the dirty shows??
And Cassie and her wife
I think they are jealous,they are beautiful black men and women you people are not used to that they so full of you know what
Then don’t watch hey the hell off
It’s probably too black for them
Yessssss
Exactly
I can’t stand people let the dam story strive it’s new, it’s fresh and right now it’s the best I absolutely love it, except for Derick and Ashley
I love this soap opera. I love the pace, the story lines, and how each actor is portraying their character. I would love to have a shot at playing a character. If you ever need a preacher, let me know, I have a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.. Our culture would love the worship scenes. Just a suggestion that would add another level to “ Beyond the Gates”.
Beyond the Gates
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Scores Third Most-Watched Week Since Its Premiere With ‘The Young and the Restless’ Crossover Event

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

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.
Beyond the Gates
Phillip Boyd Makes His Debut on ‘Beyond the Gates’ in Recurring Role of Dr. Miles Arnold

A new face emerged on today’s episode of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when actor, Phillip Boyd made his debut in the recurring role of Dr. Miles Arnold.
In story, Dr Arnold is a doctor and surgeon and on the June 16 episode, Miles had to sadly deliver some disappointing new. Neither of Eva’s (Ambyr Michelle) parents, Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) or Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) is a donor match for the life-saving transplant surgery Eva desperately needs.
Eva, among others, was injured in the tornado that ripped through Fairmont Crest and its devastating aftermath. She sustained critical injuries during the storm and was trapped with her half-sister, Kat Richardson (Colby Nixon).

Courtesy/CBS
Phillip Boyd recently appeared on The McCord List, where he talked about his career between working in Los Angeles and Atlanta and said about his latest acting gig, “Dr, Miles Arnold works in the hospital. There’s something that happens, a natural disaster and a lot of the characters on the show are at this event and something tragic happens and they’re rushed to the hospital.”
The actor is also appearing in the final season of Tyler Perry’s Netflix series Beauty in Black where he shows up in 7 episodes. Boyd previously appeared in short term roles on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives. In primetime, he also played the role of Mitch on 90210 and played Oscar in Tyler Perry’s The Haves and Have Nots for five-seasons.
So, so you think Beyond the Gates might make Phillip Boyd’s role bigger over time on the soap? Will Kat be the match that Eva needs? If not, who? Many people were ruled out on today’s episode. Drop you thoughts and picks for the donor via the comment section.
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