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.

Get ready for an action-packed story arc when several of Genoa City’s most prominent residents descend on Fairmont Crest for a fundraiser for congressman Martin Richardson’s (Brandon Claybon) campaign which kickstarts the four episode CBS daytime crossover event between Beyond the Gates and The Young and the Restless.

Beginning Tuesday, June 9 and airing though Friday, June 12 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, in true soap opera fashion, a tornado is heading straight towards the D.C./Maryland area and strikes during the soiree, putting everyone’s life in peril.

Participating in the crossover from The Young and the Restless are: Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman), Victor Newman (Eric Braeden), Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters), Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor), Devon Winters (Bryton James) and Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway). 

Photo: CBS

Now, as is soap opera tradition, when a tornado strikes your soap town, expect the story to be anchored on who is stuck with who? Is it an ex-husband, a former flame, a hot stranger, feuding sisters, anything and everything is on the table for this one, folks!

As a prelude to what fans will see, Peter Bergman and Daphnée Duplaix (Nicole Dupree Richardson, Beyond the Gates) visited the Michael Fairman Channel to give us the ultimate tease. Below are just a few nuggets we learned from the conversation.

JACK AND DIANE CAN’T SEEM TO FIND COMMON GROUND

Already on the outs with his wife, Diane, how does coming to Fairmont Crest impact a reconciliation between the two? Peter Bergman shared, “One would think you could build on that and that it would bring them closer together. A fellah can dream! Jack was hopeful that this little exit to Maryland might rekindle some things, might help things heal. However, Jack goes back to Genoa City fighting for his marriage.”

Courtesy/CBS

WILL NICOLE CHOOSE A MAN WHILE IN THE RUBBLE?

As for Nicole, she has been playing the field dating two men: Dr. Carlton Fitzgerald (Robert Christopher Riley) and Dr. Kial Rollins (Greg Vaughan), and she still has her ex-husband Dr.Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) wanting her back, might the epic tornado bring her some clarify?

Duplaix explained, “Nicole is still very much in, ‘I am having fun. I’m discovering myself. Do not give me any pressure. Don’t stress me out,’ mode. She does want to give her heart to somebody, but is still scared. So she’s like, ‘let’s just sit back and have some fun.’ As for Ted, I’m still friendly. I’m still kind (towards him).”

Both Daphnée and Peter reported they were most impressed by how Beyond the Gates was able to pull off a natural disaster ripping through Fairmont Crest, so the enormity of it could be played out on-screen in soapy fashion, but leveled up the Beyond the Gates way.

THE MAKING OF A SOAP OPERA TORNADO

“This was movie level quality on a daytime soap,” exclaimed Duplaix. “We used a completely different stage to be able to have the amount of people that we had in these scenes. It was pretty incredible and intense. I think everybody held their own from the front of the camera to the behind the camera, and I think the fans audience are going be not just surprised, but definitely satisfied.”

Twenty-five time Daytime Emmy nominee and a three time winner, Peter Bergman, certainly knows a thing or two about soap operas. Through the year, he has made no bones in previous interviews that he is a student of the genre and does watch other soaps and actors from those respective soaps. Peter was well aware that Beyond the Gates in its year and a half existence has delivered every time they have a major reveal planned.

Courtesy/CBS

ANOTHER SHOCKER IS ON THE WAY

Bergman agreed and added, “So, you are a brand new show. What do you know about what really works in daytime television? Let’s work the things that really work and those shows that have been on 50 years, are not looking for those moments. They’re just kind of keeping the whole thing going. These people are artistically and scientifically looking at what works. Beyond the Gates is a really clever show in that way. There are Cliffhangers left and right. Great idea.”

In the end, Duplaix and Bergman summed up what viewers are about to see best, with Peter giving us a major spoiler alert to be on the lookout for. “It’s all exciting. There’s twists, there’s turns. Things you’re definitely not going expect to happen,” stated Duplaix. “The thing that we are used to as far as natural disasters in the soap opera world are there, but the storylines around what you expect are going be really fun to watch.” Peter concluded with (and wait or it!), “Just when you think they just got through all this crazy wind, something happens that is just nuts!”

You can check out the full conversation with Peter Bergman and Daphnée Duplaix below from You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, followed by the official Beyond the Gates promo for the crossover event. We say, look closely at who’s with whom, and what is going down and compare notes from our interview with that, and let us know if you think you have some things figured out!

Now, are you looking forward to the crossover between Beyond the Gates and Y&R? what do you think will be the surprise twist at the end of the tornado episodes? Weigh-in via the comment section.