Entertainment Avenue: Beyond The Gates - Enter at Your Own Risk! Shape shifters, Secrets, Rich & Dirty Martinis..

Entertainment Avenue: Beyond The Gates - Fairmont is Fine Dining Drama!

Official Promotional Poster/CBS

Premiered earlier this year, February 24th 2025 starring Tamara Tunie. Clifton Davis. Daphnée Duplaix. Karla Mosley. Brandon Claybon. Mike Manning. Timon Kyle Durrett. Marquita Goings & Trisha Mann-Grant to name a few this CBS soap opera isn't just a history books entry but Michele Val Jean brings in some weighty storylines that aren't just in a glamorous setting of pour your drink on him for a trending moment that adds no character development. No we get the hard hitting tones that have even our favourite characters going through moments we wished they were better off without but it adds to the flavor. Herbs aren't always sweet.

Set in a Fairmont Crest, these gates aren't only filled with prestige, power but they come at a price unless your surname is Dupree but can influence bury a secret? This family always finds itself exposed by the sun and scorched by scandals whatever happened to basking? If it isn't Hayley Lawson finishing off a marriage that was on life support, it's Martin's nightmare inducing dark past that haunts him when he's most vulnerable; asleep and Leslie Dana Thomas unless she's playing pretend to further her plans and her crumble isn't pie it's a couple coming apart; Hello Ted & Nicole Richardson.

Strutting and strong performances that have you engaged to the onscreen happenings. The writing is outstanding,one show with a well thought out script, there's not a miss as the dialogue is just impeccable. Eva Thomas & Kat Richardson have quite the feud, always blazing the scene, they feed off each other so well. Karla Mosley brings in the done wrong and do revenge via crash out without leaving a dent, you feel for Dani Dupree and actually want her to bring down Hayley & Bill Hamilton who are true soap opera antagonists, they feign remorse for their actions yet are still together, talk about pleading not guilty and carrying on a life of crime on camera, I guess the lense of perception can be manipulated. Your view isn't mine. Need I say more?

Photocred: CBS (pictured - Ambyr Michelle as Eva Thomas & Marquita Goings as Hayley Lawson)

Maurice Johnson as Ted Richardson brought in elegance, class and a charm like no other, he commanded attention truly one of the best castings that the recast caught us off guard. What? He'll definitely be missed. I loved Nicole from the first episode, she's such a sophisticated soul, her wardrobe is magnificent. Her and Ted were the IT couple till once upon a Leslie or is it Dana? Ana? Trisha is a delightful villain giving you classic tropes with her fun spin, her portrayal is so compelling that you can't help but want to see more of her antics whether she's serving diva camp energy or lethal it's like genre bending that never feels out of place. 

Ashley & Derek have been receiving hate online but they just need to be blended in more with everyone else, aside from Naomi & Jacob they seem to be in their own world which is a huge flaw. They add in a nice mix to the show. Derek should've been rich, he has old money vibes and hopefully they get positioned better moving forward instead of written off. I want to love Hayley but everytime she speaks I'm like "Naomi & Chelsea please fight her for me, is she serious?" I have a love-hate relationship with Bill Hamilton, at times I hate it when Anita & Vernon best him but I also love it when Dani tells him off. Martin is refreshing because he isn't the basic boyscout who is noble and without a scratch but carries deep rooted drama that wants to surface instead of remaining suppressed, he even is able to be around his mother without her noticing he's in a battle. I applaud the writers for giving him a storyline that may challenge him morally. Smitty is definitely husband of the year and one of the sweeter characters of the show, Mike Manning brings in lighthearted and sincere energy where one longs for such a partner who is caring and attentive.

Photocred: CBS (pictured - Najah Jackson as Samantha Richardson. RhoniRose Mantilla as Chelsea Hamilton & Keith D. Robinson as Ted Richardson)

Vanessa is the spice of the show, she seems like a stunts woman who is risking it all on thrills and some things can't be replaced once broken but it's two breaking more than vows and Joey Armstrong is definitely pulling them apart, Doug needs to wake up before the sunsets on him. Because it'll only be nightfall with no guarantee of sunrise. 

Beyond The Gates is able to emphasize even the tiny details in family relationships, we get some broad and important conversations that don't come across as preachy but the characters actually make you consider certain aspects, a reflective storyline that isn't just for entertainment. The writers only let us down with Bill vs Naomi, we expected more and a tease should never be on the table unless later on they'll revisit this. Beyond The Gates is definitely a hoorah of daily drama we can't get enough of!!! Catch it on CBS weekdays at 2pm ET/ 1pm PT and stream it on Paramount Plus.

Cast: Tamara Tunie. Clifton Davis. Daphnée Duplaix. Karla Mosley. Brandon Claybon. Timon Kyle Durett. Marquita Goings. Mike Manning. Colby Muhammad. Keith D. Robinson. Trish Mann-Grant. Ambyr Michelle. Jibre Hordges. Sean Freeman. Ben Gavin. Jen Jacob. Alex Alegria. Arielle Prepetit. Rhoni Rose Mantilla & Lauren Buglioli. John Lindstrom. Cady McClain & Jason Graham.

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Entertainment Avenue 

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