Plans Get Made. Life Happens. We Adjust.: A Beyond the Gates commentary by Soap Central founder Dan J Kroll for the week ending February 13, 2026.
Over the past thirty years, I’ve often been asked how I remain passionate in my writing about soaps. The honest answer is that it hasn’t always been easy. Do I still love the daytime drama genre? Absolutely. Have there been times when it’s been a challenge? Definitely. Often it doesn’t have anything to do with the shows themselves. Sometimes it’s a network executive or a publicist who makes things less than enjoyable. Sometimes it’s on-screen talent that causes the frustration. There will be a whole chapter about that in my memoir that I’ll probably never write.
I’ll use this column as an example. As I mentioned in my Best and Worst of Beyond the Gates columns (check out the links to read those columns), I chose to venture back into soapy journalism when Beyond the Gates launched. I didn’t like how the show was being covered by the soap press, so I decided to come out of my short-lived retirement and give the show the attention that I felt it deserved. What’s that expression? Something like, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” I love Beyond the Gates, so writing about it is fun.
You’re The Inspiration
Inspiration for the columns usually comes from the show itself. This week when Caroline said, “Plans get made, life happens, [and] we adjust,” that was all the inspiration I needed. I realized that what Caroline was saying was really just a very polite way of saying, “poo happens.”
When I thought about it more, I realized that everything we’ve been seeing on-screen lately on Beyond the Gates has to do with how characters are adjusting to life life-ing. Or in the case of one wig-wearing, anniversary party-crashing, panty-planting, nouvelle riche resident of Fairmont Crest, how they have not adjusted.
Ted and Nicole are adjusting to their lives as single people. Anita has had to adjust her life following a cancer diagnosis. Jessica has had to adjust her way of thinking about the debutante ball. Derek is adjusting to a life where he won’t be a firefighter, the only job he ever wanted to have. Jacob is attempting to adjust to working as an undercover agent. And Hayley is finding that she has to readjust her plans to murder her husband.
I’ve decided that we all need to get in on the fun. So I am offering some of my predictions about what I think might, could, or should happen in all of the storylines I talk about in this week’s column. If you want to join me, you can share your predictions in the Comments box below the column or on any of my social media feeds (Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and TwitterX.)
The Claws Are Coming Out At The Coming Out Party
Like Jessica, I will admit that I am suffering from a little bit of cotillion fatigue. I am thankful that the storyline was created because it’s been a teaching moment, but I need this ball to hurry up and get here.
I am assuming that this big social gathering is going to provide the month’s big dramatic moments. You can’t have a big gathering on a soap opera without some drama. The stage has sort of been set for at least a little tension with Anastasia claiming that her granddaughter will beat “little orphan Samantha” for the platinum deb crown or tiara or whatever they get for winning. I am also worried that Anita might suffer some sort of medical emergency during the event.
A lot of folks on social media have been clamoring for a new family to swoop in and serve as rivals for the Duprees. The rationale for that, it seems, is that every soap has had wealthy families squaring off, be it the Chandlers versus the Cortlandts, the Newmans versus the Abbotts, or the Hatfields versus the McCoys.
Another argument for a new family has been the LSD overdose – that’s Leslie, Sherry, Dana for new readers. Yes, Leslie now has enough money of her own to face off with the Duprees, but… been there, done that. I think it has been wise to put Leslie in other people’s orbits.
Let’s be honest, for as beloved and trailblazing as the Dupree family has been, there have to be at least a few people in Fairmont Crest who, for one reason or another, don’t like the Duprees.
America’s Next Top Debutante
Now, it seems that Anastasia Belleclaire has stepped up to the plate to be the first to express their displeasure with the Dupree family. Maybe it’s more jealousy than displeasure, but whatever the reason, Anastasia is the first to really speak up.
When we first met Anastasia, it seemed like she was there as a member of the Real Housewives of Fairmont Crest… someone who flitted in and out after making some sort of snarky observation. Based on how Anastasia has become more prevalent in story, she’s going for more than simply “friend of a housewife” status.
I don’t know how long the Anita versus Anastasia phase will last, but it’s already had some great moments. Does Anastasia have staying power? I don’t think she gives main character energy, but there is potential for her to stick around as a thorn in Anita’s side, especially if Samantha wins platinum deb. That’s the kind of thing that will set Anastasia on a path to do whatever she can to steal the Dupree family’s joy.
On the other hand, if Francesca – pardon me, Chessie — is named America’s Next Top Debutante, I can see Anastasia’s usefulness waning a bit. She’ll get the win she wants, perhaps peacock around for a bit, and then head back into obscurity. Or the victory could inspire Anastasia to seek out more wins at the Duprees’ expense. We’re gonna have to keep an eye on this one.
If I had to make a prediction right now, I’d say that Jessica is going to end up winning the platinum deb title. Why? Because she doesn’t want it.
Torn Between Two Lovers
It has been interesting to see the reaction to Nicole’s new chapter of dating. There seems to be an even split between fans who want to see Nicole and Carlton as a couple and those who want to see Nicole and Kial give it a go.
What I wasn’t expecting to see was the level of judging that’s going on. Nicole has been in a committed, monogamous relationship for possibly as long as three decades. I don’t think there’s anything unusual about her wanting to explore her sexuality and the options that are out there. Her job title and pedigree have absolutely no bearing on that.
I haven’t decided yet who I’m rooting for as both Carlton and Kial have their pluses and minuses.
Carlton Banks on The Past
I will start with Carlton because his name comes first alphabetically and my spell checker doesn’t freak out when I type his name. Carlton and Nicole have a history. They’ve known each other for years and their connection is strong. I truly believe that Carlton wants to be the man in Nicole’s life and he’s shown that with his strong flirt game.
The negative to all of that is the undeniable ick factor of having a man lying in wait for 20 years with the hopes that one day your marriage fails so that he gets a chance to shoot his shot. Also, I am not sure that Carlton is on the same page as Nicole in terms of not wanting a relationship right away. He claimed to be okay with seeing Nicole out on a date with Kial, but he gives me “we had sex and now you’re mine” vibes.
Beyond The Gates | Photo: CBS ©2026
I saw everything I needed to know about Carlton in his post-seeing-Nicole-kissing-Kial snit at the hospital. I get it. He wasn’t thrilled to see Nicole with another man, but Nicole has made it quite clear that she’s not ready to be exclusive to any one man. Plus, Carlton was already aware that Kial was in the picture. That’s no excuse to be rude to other people.
Kial, Rhymes With Dial
As for Kial, aside from the fact that the way he spells his name drives me nuts, he’s diametrically opposite to Carlton. I do not doubt for a minute that Kial is fine with having a no-strings relationship with Nicole. Whereas Carlton exudes swag, Kial has such a cool, laid-back attitude. He also seems to be a less possessive and territorial than Carlton.
I suppose the negative would be that Kial might be a little too laid back. Despite not wanting a relationship right now, I suspect that Nicole will want one at some point. I am not sure if Kial is at that point yet. The death of his wife is still relatively fresh and I can fully understand why he might not want to start something new. Plus, he’s been living here and there since his wife’s passing and he might not want to call one place home.
If I had to make a prediction, I’d say that it’s only a matter of time before Nicole ends up with both men in bed with her at the same time. I mean, it will probably be some sort of naughty dream, but I can see Beyond the Gates pushing the envelope a bit and going there.
But I do see Nicole realizing that she’s actually in love with another character on the canvas:
Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves
Hayley’s overacting at the hospital was hilarious. I’m sure it was written that way in the script, but that doesn’t make it any less funny. I kept thinking, “How in the world hasn’t anyone picked up on the fact that this is a scam?”
For a while, I thought that Naomi had picked up on the fact that something was a little off about Hayley’s mugging. It wasn’t so much what she said, but more so what she did. She hovered in the background with a curious, observant glare cast upon Lynette. I kept waiting for Naomi to ask Naomi to take her loooooong gloves off. Maybe I am just projecting my suspicions upon Naomi, but I could have sworn she wasn’t buying what Lynette and Hayley were selling.
I know that Lynette and Hayley are professional grifters, but I feel like one of them is bound to do something sloppy – perhaps even intentionally – to blow their plan to smithereens. Hayley made it a point to say that she lost a bunch of jewelry and her engagement ring during the “mugging.” We know that Lynette has Hayley’s ring. As for the other items, I assume they will be pawned at some point.
Isn’t there some sort of requirement that items over a certain value have to be reported to authorities? I know that things like car mufflers and copper wiring get reported because they are high-theft items. If a pawn shop has surveillance, which most do, Lynette couldn’t pawn any of the items herself. Of course, that assumes that she’d go to a reputable shop.
Are The Fairmont Crest Walls Closing In?
I can’t figure out what Lynette would have to gain by taking Hayley down. It’s not like she wants Bill or wants to assume Hayley’s life. We don’t know a lot about Lynette and Hayley’s past working relationship, so maybe Lynette has a score to settle. It raised my eyebrow when Hayley said that Lynette’s punch made them even for the things they’d done as kids… but Lynette replied that they weren’t “even close” to being even.
I like that the new Scooby gang of Caroline and Tomas are suspicious of Hayley’s actions. Both have already witnessed Hayley doing sketchy things, so maybe it’s only a matter of time before one of them puts the pieces together.
Plus, Randy also seems to be tiring of Hayley deviating from their best-laid plan. She took it upon herself to play fast and loose with the amount of mystery toxin that she’s been giving Bill. And, now she’s gone and gotten herself tangled up with Lynette again and gotten the police involved in looking for an imaginary assailant.
Hayley, you’re getting sloppy.
If I had to make a prediction, I don’t see Hayley being “found out” just yet. That will happen this spring, I think, maybe in May. I haven’t figured out how, but I think Hayley will somehow find a way to pin everything on Lynette.
DMV: Undercover
I still think that Jacob and Smitty’s involvement in this plasma theft sting is a bloody bad idea. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. They each have been warned numerous times about the dangers of going undercover or doing investigative journalism. You don’t get that many warnings without something bad happening.
It seems like Jacob is the most likely to be in the line of danger. I mean, he’s actually out in the wild interacting with the dangerous people. That’s all a red (market) herring, or at least I think it is.
I think it is more likely that something bad might happen to Smitty, if for no other reason than he has no family on the canvas. June is the latest person to tell Smitty that he needs to back off from looking into the Impaler. Smitty seems like he might have finally gotten the hint, but I also see him like a dog with a bone. I don’t know that he can simply give up on breaking a big story.
Kat no longer seems interested in finding out what Jacob and Smitty are up to, so the odds of her being caught in the crossfire have dropped. It’s not a zero-percent situation, but it feels unlikely.
Partners In Work, Not In Life
A quick aside, I am amused that the writers keep a lowkey sexual tension between Jacob and Smitty. No, I don’t think anything is going on or that anything will happen. But remember when Smitty said something to Jacob like, “I think there’s something we should do” and Jacob immediately thought he was being propositioned? Sir, why is that the first place that your mind went to? It happened again this week at Orphey Gene’s when Jacob grumbled about having to share his fries with Smitty. These two are like an old married couple!
If I had to make a prediction, I’d say that either Smitty or Jacob gets seriously hurt before the end of the month.
Beyond, Behind, and Beside The Gates: Speed Round
Here are some of the thoughts and observations about other things happening on Beyond the Gates.
LSD Versus Dark Derek
Beyond The Gates | Photo: CBS ©2026
I have to admit that I find the Derek and Leslie bickering scenes highly entertaining. These are two people who, at least on paper, shouldn’t be in scenes together. There’s no real connection there. So maybe that’s why it works. I know that I am pretty much on an island all by myself with this stance, but I think that Derek is much more interesting now that his relationship with Ashley is over.
In past columns I’ve rooted for Dark Derek to emerge and become a firefly/arsonist and I’ve even suggested that he should have been the one to go undercover in the so-called “red market” blood theft ring. Now, though, I am kind of wanting to see what happens if Derek gets hired to work at Leslie’s clinic.
If I had to make a prediction, Derek feeds two birds with one scone (that’s the PETA approved version of the old adage that involves a rock) and burns down Leslie’s clinic. We get Dark Derek and some rage against the LSD machine all in one. But seriously, I don’t see the clinic ever getting off the ground. I suspect Derek will eventually leave town to pursue other options.
America’s Next Top Model is America’s Last Top Model
Beyond The Gates | Photo: CBS ©2026
I will be interested to see what happens next now that Dani has agreed to be the face of Tatum Stewart’s new fashion line. Will she back out when she learns that Andre is the one who put everything into motion? If she does, that will be just dumb. It’s not like Andre forced or blackmailed Tatum. He brought up Dani’s name and Tatum realized it was a great idea. Or at least that’s what we’ve been told.
While hard to hear, I actually appreciated the reporter asking Dani if America was ready to see a model with “stretch marks and crow’s feet.” It was a legitimate question and far nicer than what social media trolls will probably say about Dani’s return to modeling. Dani’s reply was spectacular, filled with humor, sincerity, and truth. With apologies if this comes across inappropriate, but I’ve covered Karla Mosley’s daytime career for more than 17 years and she’s even more beautiful now than she was back then.
If I had to make a prediction, I see something derailing Dani’s return to modeling. What if Andre and Tatum have… a past? Maybe Dani learns of that past connection while on set for her first photography session.
BTG (Behind the Graphic)
If you’re wondering what inspired this week’s Beyond the Gates graphic, here’s the answer. The notepad is Smitty’s. It’s a screenshot from his meeting with Jacob at Orphey Gene’s. The grapes were used because Anita likened her grandkids’ dancing to “stomping grapes.” Anastasia likes her tea served with “two sugars and no mercy.” And the Stevie Wonder album? After Dani agreed to be the face of Tatum Stewart’s new line, Pamela referenced his album, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.” There’s more on that in the Lines of the Week section.
Quick Takes
• I still think that Madison and Chelsea are moving too quickly, but Madison said something that absolutely melted my icy heart. She shared her story of how she thought that being lesbian might mean she could not have the life she’d always dreamt of. “You [are] the dream I had buried,” Madison told Chelsea. Swoon. Was anyone else surprised that Madison turned down the research opportunity in Denmark? I know I was.
• The chemistry between Joey and Leslie is magical. I don’t mean any romantic or sexual chemistry. I think it’s nice to see Joey being the only person in town who won’t put up with Leslie’s shenanigans. The way he was annoyed when he realized Leslie was asking him for dating advice made me laugh out loud.
• It doesn’t matter if they’re gyrating and grooving or politely waltzing, seeing Anita and Vernon dance makes me smile.
• I would buy a front row ticket to see Kat step in and perform with the Articulettes.
• If I went to the hospital or doctor’s office and saw everyone making out, I’d find another hospital or doctor’s office.
• For a Friday in February “Sweeps,” this week’s non-cliffhanger ending was a little disappointing.
• I enjoyed watching Tomas and Caroline exchange dings. Caroline claimed that Tomas would not have been promoted to Junior Partner had he not been sleeping with Kat. Tomas, in turn, asked Caroline about her new Mercedes.
• I chuckled when Lynette said that one of her old marks had left her for “someone with bigger flotation devices.” I also laughed when Lynette referred to Dani as “Bill’s starter wife.”
• Another thing I was amused by was Samantha calling brother Tyrell part of the “Rhythmless Nation.” They are too young to know of Janet Jackson’s landmark album, so I am hoping that one of their dads had the good sense to make the kids listen to it.
• While it might seem like a small detail, I thought that the lighting in the alley meet-up scenes between Jacob and the contact guy was really, really good. We come to expect soap opera scenes to look a certain way. So when you get dabbled light or a different tone of light from a sunset, it just feels more in line with reality.
Beyond the Gates: Lines of the Week
The Beyond the Gates writing team seems to be having a little too much fun. Here are some of the lines of dialogue that tickled my funny bone or that I found memorable over the past week (and haven’t already mentioned in this column).
“Try it all until you feel like you’ve had enough.” — Vanessa’s dating advice to Nicole, and also what I say when I stand before the dessert section at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
“I feel like I’ve been sucked in a circle of hell I never knew existed.” – Joey, when he realized that Leslie was pumping him for info on Marcel Malone because she had the hots for the detective.
“She’s the other woman?”
“I hate that phrase.” — Derek upon learning that the woman Jan was telling him about was Leslie, and Leslie’s response.
“She’s not the kind of woman to hide in the shadows, unless she’s covering up a crime.” — Derek on Leslie.
“Maybe we can dangle him and bring all the nurses to the yard.” — Leslie’s flippant response about how she could utilize Derek at the clinic.
“I hope you and whoever your date might be, uh, enjoy the holiday as well.” — Ted ever-so-slightly shading Nicole about Valentine’s Day.
“This is me trying on this season’s not-too-impulsive look.” — Dani explaining why she hadn’t jumped on her new modeling offer.
“You know how I like my tea — two sugars and no mercy” – Anastasia upon learning that Samantha’s mother had been living “on the streets a hot minute ago.”
“The next time you see me, we’ll be Stevie Wonder — signed, sealed, and delivered, with a bow.” — Pamela, after Dani agreed to be the face of Tatum Stewart’s new fashion line.
Gatecrashers: Reader and Viewer Feedback
I love interacting with other Beyond the Gates fans. So I thought I’d create a section to share some of the comments I’ve received on my columns and social media posts. If you’d like to see your comments shared here, you can scroll down to the Comments section below this column and post away. You can also chat with me on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and/or TwitterX.
A lot of people are enjoying the addition of the Belleclaire family and all the potential drama that could bring. And Hayley and Lynette’s antics have also drawn some praise.
Follow my Random Acts of Dan
That’s all I have for this week’s My View From Beyond the Gates column. Thank you for reading and, as always, please feel free to share your thoughts on my column or Beyond the Gates in the Comments section below.
If you’ve enjoyed my column this week and want to see what I have written about Beyond the Gates in previous weeks, you can check those out in the My View From Beyond the Gates archive.
Have a penchant for gardening, interior design, or fixing up old houses? Check out my Manor Makeover series where I write about all of the things I’ve been up to here at Kroll Manor in Allentown, PA, over the past decade.
To keep up with all of the shenanigans I engage in on social media, please consider giving my a follow on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and TwitterX.
Life outside the gates
Two of my former Two Scoops columnists from Soap Central, Liz Masters and Tamilu, have joined me here on my personal web site — and they are still writing about General Hospital. Liz is on deck with week with a new column called, Dial K For Killow.
To read more thoughts, opinions, rants, and raves about daytime television, be sure to check out our Editorial section.
dan
