If there is a story or script from one of your favorite soaps over the last three and a half decades that is most memorable to you, it’s probably because veteran soap writer, Michele Val Jean had something to do with it.

The current creator, head writer and executive producer of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates has been razzle dazzling us with some impressive cliffhangers in the infancy of the newest soap opera on the block which debuted back on February 24, 2025. Already in its second season, and recently renewed in a tremendous show of confidence by CBS for seasons three and four, this week its spotlighting the highly-anticipated crossover event when characters from The Young and the Restless arrive at Fairmont Crest airing now through June 12.

Val Jean has tenured history in daytime from: being a script writer for Santa Barbara (and breakdown writer), Port Charles, Generations, and lengthy run a few times at General Hospital where she served as script writer, breakdown writer, and at one time co-head writer of the ABC soap, to being a long-running script writer at The Bold and the Beautiful, to finally landing her very own show as its head writer with Beyond the Gates.

Photo: CBS

Earlier this week, Michael Fairman TV chatted with Michele at the Toast to Black Excellence event in Los Angeles, featuring cast members of Beyond the Gates and The Young and the Restless as a precursor to their multi-arc crossover event and asked Val Jean what has been her favorite story in soaps she has ever written for. She responded that she had a top three and they all happened to be from her time on General Hospital and in the 90’s.

GENERAL HOSPITAL CLASSIC STORYLINES

Michele revealed her top picks, “Elizabeth’s (Rebecca Herbst) rape, because that was personal, Kevin and Ryan (dual roles played by Jon Lindstrom), and Stone’s (Michael Sutton) death.”

When speaking of getting the opportunity to write for mild-mannered Dr. Kevin Collins and his psycho killer twin, Ryan Chamberlain, Michele explained, “I was always like a true crime person and Claire Labine (ex-head writer, GH) loved the vibe Jon Lindstrom and I has as writing and acting were concerned. Claire said, ‘Go with it. So, she basically let us work out who these characters were and I was like, ‘I finally have my own serial killer!'”

Courtesy/ABC

DOUBLE TROUBLE

“One of the first scenes I wrote for Ryan was in the police interrogation room and Mac Scorpio (John J. York) and Sean Donely (John Reilly) were standing behind him. He was sitting at this table and in his jumpsuit and there was a light shining on him and he started confessing to all these murders. It was like a 7-minute monologue and it went on and on. He had so many murders (piled up). and then at one point, he goes, ‘Wait, a minute!” He got confused about all the women he had murdered and I said ‘I love this character!'”

GH fans will recall Ryan debuted first in 1992, and then Kevin joined the main characters in 1993. Val Jean recalled, “When Kevin came onto the canvas, he was so arrogant. He thought, ‘Oh, I’ll go fix my brother.’ It took Ryan about five minutes to figure out who Kevin was. The next thing you know, Kevin’s in the middle of a mental institution going, ‘I’m not Ryan!’ And, Ryan’s out on a date with Felicia (Kristina Wagner) I think we must have killed Ryan off six times. That was fun!”

Photo: ABC

PERSONAL VANTAGE POINT

In 1998, Val Jean wrote Elizabeth Webber’s rape storyline. She notably based the controversial and critically acclaimed storyline on her own personal experience with sexual assault.

Michele reflected, “Elizabeth’s rape was really important to me because I was watching the Campus Disco in 1979 (when Luke raped Laura), and I was raped when I was 12-years-old. I know what rape looks like. I wanted to win Tony Geary (Luke) an Emmy because he hadn’t had one since 1983. I also wanted to call a rape a “rape,” and I wanted to heal myself, because back when I grew up on the south side of Chicago in the sixties, you didn’t go to therapy. You pulled yourself up by your bootstraps, and you went on. There was a trial and my rapist went to jail. Once that was over, there was no more talking about it. So, those were my three reasons for doing that story. I managed to do all three, and that was the most personally satisfying.”

Courtesy/ABC

STONE AND ROBIN

Perhaps, there is nothing more iconic and important, than the death of Stone Cates, who tragically dies of AIDS. The episode where he passes away with his girlfriend, a young Robin (Kimberly McCullough) who now has contracted HIV by his side, aired on November 29, 1995. Val Jean had noted on social media that it was both an honor and a heartbreak to write this episode.

BEYOND THE GATES EARLY FAVORITES

Now, Michele is setting new favorites in her repertoire with Beyond the Gates. She revealed that so far, there have been two standouts. The first, the violent altercation on a deserted country road where Martin (Brandon Claybon) fatally struck one of two racist white men with a tire iron to save his grandfather, Vernon Dupree’s (Clifton Davis) life and his own.

“I am most proud of Martin by the side of the road (story), because I didn’t think the CBS network would let me do it, but the network has been so supportive. I took a lot of personal satisfaction from that. I’ve never experienced anything like that! ” Another top pick?  I loved the anniversary party when Nicole’s (Daphnée Duplaix) marriage got all blown up!

So, are some of your all-time favorite storylines the ones Michele Val Jean chose? Elizabeth’s Rape, early Kevin/Ryan and Stone’s death on General Hospital? What about the racism storyline centering around Martin Richardson and the bombshell reveal on Beyond the Gates that Ted had an affair with Leslie and a child, which came to light at the anniversary party of Ted and Nicole? Let us know via the comment section below.

As had been teased, the Monday, June 8 episode of Beyond the Gates brought with the the identity of The Impaler, the long-talked-about head of the blood plasma ring that involved Grayson Perez (Jordi Vilasuso), Dr. Lia Whitmore (Cecelia Specht), got Derek Baldwin (Ben Gavin) killed and had Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) going under cover to nab the criminal.

Only in a major surprise and best kept secret, The Impaler turned out to be Joey’s Armstrong’s (Jon Lindstrom) younger sister, Heather, played by Ashley Jones! As we previously reported in April, Jones had joined the newest CBS daytime drama but we never knew what part she was playing until now.

This marks the first time in her veteran soap opera career she has played a nefarious evildoer. Previously, Ashley has been recurring as The Bold and the Beautiful as Dr. Bridget Forrester, portrayed Professor Parker Forsyth on General Hospital, plus got her soap start as Megan Dennison on The Young and the Restless. 

Courtesy/CBS

SIBLING RIVALRY

If you caught today’s Beyond the Gates, in story, as Joey was awaiting coming face-to-face with The Impaler, he instead gets paid a visit from a woman in a cloak that initially concealed her face. When she revealed herself, Joey knew exactly who it was … his sister.  Joey wondered how she is involved with The Impaler.

Apparently, it’s been a long while since the siblings had seen each other. Heather informed Joey she lived in London, and as Joey was trying to figure out the connection between her and The Impaler, she dropped the bombshell, “Oh, my dear brother. I am The Impaler.”

Joey initially laughed her off, until she explained she intentionally made everyone believe The Impaler was a man as a decoy. Suddenly, Joey realized this is not the same version of his sister he knew before, especially when she said, “I’m not the little girl you have to protect anymore. I’ve found my power.”

In the further backstory of the Armstrong children, Heather brings up how their father has used physical violence on Joey, while she dealt with his belief that a woman’s place is in the home, and raising children and to leave the mob business to the boys. As it turns out, Heather wants to work side by side with Joey combining forces to run their illegal activities. Later, when Joey admitted to Vanessa (Lauren Buglioli) that his sister had come to town. and he doesn’t really know of her true intentions, he left out the fact that Heather is The Impaler!

Photo: JPI

PLAYING A VILLAIN ON DAYTIME

Speaking with Parade, Jones said that she knew early on that she would be The Impaler, but wasn’t sure what that actually meant, “I hadn’t watched enough of the show, so I did a little research, explained Ashley. “I was like, ‘Oh, they talk about the Impaler a decent amount,’ and then I knew that I was somehow related to Joey Armstrong. So, I knew those two things, and I knew she was the head of a crime ring, and that was kind of all the information I got.”

Jones shared her enthusiasm to getting to play a villain on a soap, adding, “This is probably one of the more complicated characters I’ve ever played. There’s a lot to her,”  obviously, at this point, people will know she’s the Impaler. She’s kind of the villain. I haven’t played this in Daytime really ever.”

What do you think about the reveal of Ashley Jones as Joey’s sister, Heather being the notorious Impaler? It seems that Beyond the Gates as pulled off yet another shocker! Weigh-in via the comment section, but first check out the reveal from today’s episode.

It’s finally here! The bombshell week of all new episodes of Beyond the Gates begins on Monday, June 8 with the reveal of just who is the mysterious “Impaler.” That is  followed by Tuesday, June 9 when six of prominent residents of Genoa City arrive at Fairmont Crest for congressman Martin Richardson’s (Brandon Claybon) fundraiser.

However, as had been previewed, once Victor Newman (Eric Braeden), Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman), Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters), Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor), Devon Hamilton (Bryton James) and Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway) get to the major soiree, a tornado rips through the D.C./Maryland area trapping new friends, old enemies and loved ones together.

And as teased in Michael Fairman TV’s interview with Y&R’s Peter Bergman and BTG’s Daphnée Duplaix (Nicole), Bergman concluded, “Just when you think they just got through all this crazy wind, something happens that is just nuts!”

Now below take a look at the official Beyond the Gates spoilers for the week of June 8-12 below.

Monday, June 8
The identity of The Impaler is revealed. Vanessa leans on Dani to help alleviate her anxiety. Ted and Andre update each other on the current state of their romantic relationships. Leslie is determined to secure an invitation to Martin’s upcoming fundraiser.

Tuesday, June 9
Victor Newman touches down in Fairmont Crest. The Richardson-Smiths prepare for Martin’s fundraiser. Naomi talks to Dani about her fears for Jacob’s well-being. Meanwhile, Jacob locks horns with Elon at the station. Leslie crashes Mona’s event.

Wednesday, June 10 
Jack, Diane & Kyle Abbott along with Devon and Abby [Y&R] arrive at Martin’s fundraiser. Naomi convinces Ashley to join her at the club. A tornado strikes Fairmont Crest.

Thursday, June 11
The country club takes a direct hit from the tornado. Bill and Dani need to rely on each other while Eva and Kat are forced to work together. Hayley ends up in close proximity to someone surprising.

Friday, June 12 
Joey’s actions earn him favor with a VIP. Ted deals with multiple crises. The drastic measures one duo takes has extreme consequences. Anita spies something peculiar and then issues a warning.

Now below, watch the CBS promo for this week’s all-new Beyond the Gates.

Then let us know, who do you think will be revealed as The Impaler? Do you think anyone will die from Fairmont Crest during the tornado? Weigh-in via the comment section.