(SPOILERS) A Review of S1E46 of CBS' Newest Soap 'Beyond the Gates'
The most highly anticipated episode this season of CBS' newest soap opera Beyond the Gates aired today (Friday, May 2) and it did not disappoint.
Episode 46, which followed Dana aka Leslie's revelation at Ted and Nicole's anniversary party, brought out the most powerful performances of the cast, to date, particularly that of Trisha Mann-Grant (Dana/Leslie), Maurice Johnson (Ted), Ambyr Michelle (Eva), Brandon Claybon (Martin) and Colby Muhammad (Kat).
What started off as Dana/Leslie being an unwanted and not-invited interruption to Ted and Nicole celebrating their wedded bliss, quickly turned into a captivating and unexpected tear-jerking performance by Mann-Grant.
With the undivided attention of the entire room, Dana/Leslie detailed her romantic history with Ted, revealing a timeline of when and where she and Ted met (at the restaurant where she worked as a waitress where Ted would bring Martin) which was also revealed to be a year before Kat was born.
Meanwhile, the entire Dupree clan, and Mona (Karan Kendrick), were appalled at what they were hearing, with Nicole (Daphnée Duplaix) needing to be consoled by her mom (Tamara Tunie) and sister (Karla Mosley), and Kat feeling quite vindicated that her "sixth sense" about Eva had been right all along.
And while Dana/Leslie continued to spill the tea, going as far as to mention that Ted made her get an abortion and allegedly had Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett) threaten to kidnap her child if she didn't follow through with it, Ted vehemently denied all accusations - focusing only on explaining himself to Nicole, who, by now, had already stormed out of the party in tears.
At this point, there was an overall understanding that Eva should have told Ted everything weeks ago; that her last-ditch effort to try to stop Dana/Leslie and "save" Nicole and Ted was just not going to cut it. But through Ambyr Michelle's performance as Eva with trying to stop her mom, viewers also realized how much Dana/Leslie lied to Eva about Ted.
This storyline was intermittently cut by alternating scenes between Bill and Hayley (Marquita Goings) gossipping, something they have recently become known for, and Doug (Jason Graham) and Vanessa (Lauren Buglioli) discussing their outlook on infidelity while Vanessa was being discharged for what seemed to be a minor stomach bug.
And while Dana/Leslie finally got the satisfaction she had been yearning, by embarrassing Ted and Nicole in front of their loved ones, Eva was left in tears with no one to lean on, maybe except Andre, who is now her cousin, as Ted was also upset with her.
But the saddest scenes of all had to have been Martin physically expressing his anger at his father by shoving him onto a nearby couch, as the realization of the memories of Ted taking him to the restaurant where Dana/Leslie worked set in. And Kat refusing her father's embrace and leaving the house as he tried to explain himself. Both scenes are even sadder when viewers are reminded that Johnson won't be in his role of Ted for much longer, as the role is set to be recast by fellow actor and singer Keith Robinson (Dreamgirls).
The episode ended with Bill receiving a text from his oldest daughter Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) questioning him about the validity of Dana/Leslie's claims of kidnapping, and Dana/Leslie moseying her way into the Dupree family home.
And although the episode was the most explosive thus far, a huge part of me wishes Nicole would've channeled a little piece of Dani Dupree and slapped the mess out of Ted and Leslie or at the very least displayed more anger towards the situation than she did. Although... the way newcomer Dr. Carlton Fitzgerald, played by Robert Christopher Riley (Hit the Floor), was eyeing Nicole before the drama unfolded, Ted may have more than just his "ex" to worry about.
Still, viewers are in for a treat for the rest of the season as a preview of next week shows Nicole still being at a loss with all that's happened and Eva showing up at what appears to be Ted's door claiming she "had nowhere else to go".
Created by renowned soap opera writer Michele Val Jean, Beyond the Gates, which premiered February 24, is the first predominantly African-American soap opera on network television since Generations (1989-1991). It airs Mon-Fri 2pm EST on CBS and on Paramount Plus.
