Beyond the Gates Weekly Recap 3-17

Beyond The Gates Weekly Recap (03/17 - 03/21/2025)

The week kicked off by picking up where we had left off the previous week. Nicole was curious about  Sheri, and Dani woke up from her drunken stupor. Let’s dive right in.

Nicole/Sheri/Eva/Ted

Eva tried fishing for details about Sheri, but Nicole wasn't budging, citing confidentiality. Eva agreed to help track Sheri down, unaware that Ted overheard. Ted is a disappointment, we knew that he likely cheated but, his sketchy handling of Leslie makes me side-eye him. However, we do love a sharp-dressed man in a turtleneck. Maybe it is the turtleneck. I'm split 50/50 on him, patiently watching it all unfold.

Ted confronts Nicole about Sheri, clearly uneasy about her intentions, but Nicole challenges him. Eva interrupts, announcing she couldn't reach the banquet manager. Andre drops in, seeking advice from Nicole about Ashley. Nicole is genuinely a good aunt.

Ted circles back again, insisting Nicole drop her search for Sheri. Nicole, believing fate intervened since Sheri was at her gala, isn't easily swayed. Ted hints that Sheri is dangerously fixated. Hmm—does Ted know Sheri's a bit... how did Martin Lawrence put it? "Crazyyy… deranged"? My patience with him will evaporate if he knows and isn't forthright. Eva overhears their conversation and is later surprised when Ted tells her to stop looking for Sheri.

Dani Dani Dani

Oh, Dani. Wakes up panicked after trashing Bill's home, drinking his expensive wines, and breaking a wedding photo. Thankfully, Pam arrives, keeping it real while cleaning up Dani's chaos, even replacing the wine. Just in time, too, since Bill and Hayley returned home immediately afterward.

Monday ends for Dani with a comforting makeout-turned-cuddle session with Andre. I'm reluctantly rooting for these two, though fearing the eventual fallout.

Andre/Ashley/Derek

Ashley tells Andre that they could never happen, leaving him heartbroken. Derek is discharged, and their continued flirtations fail to spark interest. Frankly, they're boring. Ashley might need a hot, cocky doctor to spice things up.

Martin and Family

Twins Samantha and Tyrel return from school, talking in a whisper. Smitty, the more involved parent, instantly picks up on the two's secretiveness. Samantha deflects attention by sharing that she's been asked out, prompting the family to reconsider her dating rules. Eventually, Tyrel admits his struggle with calculus but insists he has it handled.

The Audacitans

Bill and Hayley's honeymoon abruptly ends as Bill has a high priority client that needs him. Bill continued to try to impress his doe-eyed bride with dollar signs in her eyes by getting them escorted by police to a location where they would take a helicopter.

Returning home, Hayley instantly senses something amiss—cue dramatic eye-roll. Discovering that Dani was in their home messing with their things, Bill swears vengeance, but Hayley, conveniently forgetting Dani's punch, insists on confronting Dani herself.

Ashley boldly arrives at Dani's, flaunting her honeymoon happiness. Initially likable, Ashley's manipulative side emerges as she confronts Dani, disrespectfully calling her out and attempting intimidation. She still hasn't accepted accountability for her own actions. Though Dani remains cool, Ashley's newfound entitlement since marrying Bill has made her increasingly irritating.

Hayley later falsely brags to Bill about ripping Dani apart. My suspicion is that she is more fixated on Dani than she thinks. She wanted her life, and this week has increased my suspicion.

Tuesday Highlights

Dani and Chelsea share an emotional mother-daughter moment, though Chelsea hides her true intentions from Dani regarding a new endeavor covered by Ebony Magazine.

Marcel and Jacob bond slightly on the stakeout, though Marcel remains hard to read. Jacob, overeager, is ready to act before it is time, proving his rookie status.

Bill checks creepy Mike several times. He is increasingly creepy about Tomas' date with Kat and openly ogles Hayley. Meanwhile, Naomi meets associates planning a harassment suit—against none other than Mike, predictably enough. They choose for Naomi to represent them in spite of and because of her last name.

The Duprees

Kat, has a breakfast date with Tomas. Kat is not willing to introduce him to the family yet so they watch from afar. Chelsea discreetly asks Kat to hide their plans from Dani. Eva, welcomed by the Duprees, stirs jealousy in Kat. Kat reclaims her spot at the table, ending her date early. When Eva flirts with Tomas, Kat notices.

The Homewrecker

Hayley expects immediate country club service and storms out dramatically when delayed. Blaming the Duprees, she whines incessantly to Bill about her invisible status, oblivious to her earned disdain.

Tuesday ends dramatically: Vernon and Anita enjoy some romance. Kat confronts Eva and accuses her of wanting her life. She plainly tells her that her life is out of her league, and Tomas is too. Tomas radiates player energy, and Kat might be his next conquest. Please, no repeats of Zende/Nicole/Sasha. Bill vows to destroy the city for Hayley's respect. Meanwhile, Dani spirals alone, drinking herself into unconsciousness.

Wednesday Recap

Leslie pushes Eva to host an anniversary party to expose secrets, warning her away from Tomas. Eva successfully convinces the Richardsons to agree.

Andre finds Dani unconscious and expresses concern about her drinking. I'm fully on the "Dandre" ship despite fearing it's temporary. Andre later alerts Nicole that Dani might be struggling beneath her facade of happiness.

Hayley continues complaining about life as Bill's wife, revealing deeper envy toward Dani. Bill appeases her with expensive earrings, but her obsession with the respect and bonds Dani has is causing her to be unfulfilled even with the ring and the title.

Derek and Ashley remain dull, discussing careers over dinner without generating any spark.

Weekly Highlights

• Kat vs. Eva's rivalry heating up—I predict more drama when they learn they're sisters.

• Vernon and Anita's enduring romance is sweet, but are there secrets lingering.

• "Dandre" officially has me hooked. Writers, if you're reading, friends-with-benefits who are also trying to get over other people works well here. I say run with it.

Final Thoughts for Hayley:

• Dani's Queen Bee status is earned through deep community roots and respect. It is the community her family was instrumental in building. You betrayed her and the family in the worst way. You aren’t invisible, beloved; you are looked past. It is intentional. That is the shade of it all.

• There are more married women than side chicks in the community, perhaps. Once you wreck a home, to many of those women, you are forever a homewrecker.

• Your obsession with the good life you thought you were entitled to once you got your BFF’s father and your bonus mother’s husband led you to want to live in their community. Force said community to attend your wedding. Have the wedding at the country club. Your calculated attempts to insert yourself into Dani's world have backfired spectacularly. You made your bed—now hump in it.

Thursday and Friday's episodes were preempted by March Madness. Until next week!