Break all the rules: A Beyond the Gates commentary by Soap Central founder Dan J Kroll for the week ending October 17, 2025.
It’s the middle of October, so that can mean only one thing. The lives of those on Beyond the Gates are about to get flipped and turned upside down in a couple of weeks. Yes, November Sweeps is almost upon us. I’m honestly not sure if Sweeps is still a thing in the streaming era, but it does seem that soaps still craft their blockbuster storylines around these periods so I’m gonna (k)roll with it.
It’s still too soon to know exactly what those unpredictable residents of Fairmont Crest will do next month, but here are some of the early favorites based on betting at Joey’s casino. There will be a wedding, possibly a funeral, and with any luck, a super-sized smackdown served with a side of sweet potato pie.
Bill Hamilton must die
Well, the Hayley storyline sure did take a sudden left turn. But for as abrupt as the twist seemed to be, it also showed that, contrary to social media belief, the Beyond the Gates writing team is not making things up as they go. Thanks to a series of flashbacks, we learned that Hayley’s been working the long con for months: She was never pregnant, Randy helped his cousin (!) fake her very public miscarriage and bought a doctor to help “confirm” that she’d lost her imaginary baby. We even got a recreated glimpse of the first time Hayley met Dani and Bill, via their daughter Naomi.
I don’t want to be one of those I-told-ya-so-columnists, but there’s a first time for everything. In last week’s column, I pretty much pegged what Hayley has been up to. “I’ve come to the conclusion that Hayley set out to land Bill any way she could. I think breaking up his marriage was a calculated decision.” And way back at the beginning of August I asked, “Are [Hayley and Randy] sibling grifters who will try to kill Bill for his fortune or otherwise bilk him out of his money?” I got the familial connection wrong, but everything else was pretty spot on.
Coo, coo, ca-choo, Mrs. Shamilton
In spite of being able to predict what was going on, I have to admit that I’m still pretty shook by the plot twist. I think part of the reason is because I am rarely right about anything – especially since the Beyond the Gates writing team is pretty good with misdirection. I think another part of my surprise is actually hearing tartlet Hayley open her mouth and declare that Bill Hamilton needs to die. Assassin Barbie is a much more interesting look for her.
It was also jarring to find out that this is not the first scheme that Randy and Hayley have pulled. This one, though, is slightly different because Bill apparently lays it down in the bedroom. Good for him, but that was a piece of information that I really didn’t need occupying space in my brain.
I have another admission: I’m actually kind of bummed that Randy is not the henchman with the heart of gold that I thought he was. The way he was always looking out for Doug McBride made it seem like he had a conscience. Now I have to wonder if Randy can out-Joey Joey Armstrong. Interestingly, Joey was apparently the mark that Hayley wanted to take down over Bill. That would have been interesting to watch play out.
Eat the cake, Anna Mae
I am, however, left with questions. How long was Randy in the DMV before he started working for Joey? Randy seemed to be Joey’s head henchman, and I’d have to imagine that Joey didn’t make that appointment overnight. We know that Dani and Bill split before his last birthday, but how long before that was Hayley serving up her cupcakes to Bill, Dani and gym buddy Naomi?
Speaking of cupcakes, I sort of guessed that someone other than Bill would eat Hayley’s jacked up jackfruit cupcakes, but I didn’t think that the unintended target would spit the cupcake out. To me, that seemed to be the perfect setup to cause Naomi to have a miscarriage. That’s some of that misdirection that I referenced a few paragraphs back. But could Hayley have been any more suspicious with her loud exclamation that only Bill could eat her special cupcake?
How will it all end?
So, what happens next with Hayley? I’ve come up with three possible scenarios, but I’ve yet to decide which is the most likely to happen.
The first scenario has Bill being killed off, but I don’t see that as likely. Still, it’s possible because we don’t know how many Beyond the Gates actors only agreed to sign on to the show for a single season. I can, however, see Hayley being written out. The second scenario would see Hayley exposed as a grifter and carted off to jail.
The next scenario is slightly more complex because there are a few minor tweaks on how things could play out. All the variations involve Hayley managing to get her hands on some of Bill’s money. One possible outcome is that Hayley decides to forgo trying to kill Bill in favor of taking the money and running. Bill would never have to know that Hayley wanted him dead and he could be clueless and brokenhearted. In a few years she could return with a kid that he never knew he fathered and, potentially, start the con all over again.
A slightly different version has Bill finding out what Hayley has been up to and then giving her money to leave town so that no one finds out that he was fooled into uprooting his life for a con artist.
Actually, there is a fourth scenario, but I don’t consider it likely either. Hayley could decide to drop her scheme and move on to another, bigger/easier target somewhere else.
If the truth about Hayley becomes public, how will Dani, Naomi, and Chelsea react? Will it bring Dani and Bill closer or will she be so outraged that she writes her ex off for good? Will Bill’s daughters – who miraculously have gone back to calling him the world’s best father when only a few months ago they wanted nothing to do with him – feel bad for pop or will they tear up his PhDAD degree and toss his new wallet in a bonfire? Regardless of how you feel about Bill, Hayley, or any part of the storyline, what I like is that there are possibilities. So many times on soaps we know what the eventual outcome will be and it takes away the fun of playing the “What if…” game.
Juney From the Block
I can tell you with absolute certainty that I did not have June versus Leslie in a steel cage death match at Orphey Gene’s on my Beyond the Gates bingo card. But now that I know it’s a possibility, I am all in. More all in than Doug was in Joey’s secret backroom gambling parlor. Too soon? RIP Doug.
It is about time that LSD (that’s Leslie/Sherry/Dana for new readers to the column) gets as good as she gives. No, that is not some innuendo about her night with Ted at the hotel.
Don’t get me wrong: I love that Nicole has finally started pushing back at Leslie’s digs, but Nicole is still a little too “refined” to get down in the gutter with LSD. June, on the other hand, has quite literally been in the gutter. If you’re a regular reader, you’ll remember that a few weeks ago I questioned if the show was testing the chemistry between June and Ted. I haven’t figured out yet if that was another of the show’s infamous misdirects or if it might eventually go somewhere.
Leslie, however, has already decided that it’s going somewhere. It took June a moment to catch on to what Leslie was up to – mistaking LSD for Ted’s wife? Eek! – but it was worth the wait. When June turned her head to the side, licked her lips, and said, “You don’t scare me,” I sat up straight and leaned in toward the television.
Will Leslie’s threat that June needs to stay away from Ted actually make June want to pursue him? Or will June simply continue as is and intentionally drive Leslie nuts? Honestly, I don’t care what June does as long as it involves her needling LSD.
Beyond the Gates Speed Round
Here are some of the other things on Beyond the Gates that have me thinking.
Here’s what you can do with your advice…
I know that Nicole was simply trying to give Vanessa some advice, but her advice really did seem judgy. Admittedly, I am not sure how you tell someone, “You really shouldn’t be playing card table poke her with a mobster so soon after your husband’s death” in a nonjudgmental way. Nicole’s words of wisdom were spot on. I think it was just the delivery that didn’t stick the landing. Plus, Vanessa is still grieving and I don’t think that she’s ready to listen to reason. She’s still too busy beating herself up over Doug’s death.
The Joey Armstrong surprise
Another week, another Joey surprise. I think Donnell’s return to town has made Joey a changed man. Joey has drawn comparisons of his own upbringing to what Donnell is currently going through. Maybe Joey doesn’t want to see someone else turn out like he did. I mean, Joey even told Vanessa that she needed to repair her strained relationship with Nicole. Moments later, he told Vanessa that they needed to end their situationship. Of course, shortly thereafter they were practically knockin’ boots so maybe I am giving Joey more credit than he deserves.
SIDE NOTE: I wonder why Joey didn’t tell Vanessa that Donnell planned to drop out of college. Unless I misunderstood Donnell’s plans, that seems to be a crucial bit of information that was left out of Joey’s “I offered Donnell a job” schpiel.
Goodbye Eeyoredore, hello Theodore
It was nice to see Ted take an interest in his granddaughter’s life. Heck, he even seemed moderately interested in Chelsea’s life. I wish he’d have that same energy with Kat. It seems like Eeyoredore (that’s the nickname I am still testing out for mopey Eeyore-esque Ted) has decided that it’s easier to focus his time and energy on the people who don’t hate him. I guess it’s too much work to get the people who are mad at him to not be mad at him.
My Big Cozy Gay Wedding
Smitty’s proposal was clumsy. I think the show was going for romcom vibes, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. That said, everything after that was beautiful. I found Nicole’s visit with the grooms-to-be really touching and, thanks to the blue lollipops, really sweet. It was nice to see Martin acknowledge how his mom had helped him and Martin find their way back to one another. And when Smitty recited the Maya Angelou quote… ooh that got me. I am so happy that the Richardson-Smith family is back together.
It was a little disappointing that Kat couldn’t be at her brother’s ceremony because she was too busy chasing after some ding-a-ling. I guess now that Tomas can, um, get the job done for her, he’s more important than her brother.
It’s a miracle! No, it’s kind of ick
Is anyone else as mortified by Derek’s desire to want to do a “Surprise! I can walk!” reveal at his wedding? It’s like his mind is some weird Internet meme. Thank goodness Shanice is there to (try to) talk some sense into him. I have this nagging feeling that he is going to keep his progress from Ashley, do something dumb, get into another accident, and end up back at square one.
Private diner
Vernon and Anita’s date night was absolutely adorable. When Anita first entered Orphey Gene’s, why did I think she was going to say that it had been a long time since she’d dined with the commoners. Yes, it was somewhat predictable – I knew they would share a dance and I sensed June would dim the lights for them – but it shined a spotlight on love and who doesn’t love love? Plus, there were silly moments like “Vernita” needing to swap plates because June gave them the wrong meals.
SIDE ORDER: Please oh please oh please let Jackie Tyree, the Fauxnita impersonator, show up at the Dupree home for Thanksgiving. I think that would be comedic gold.
Caughtcha lookin’
I was tickled by the way Pamela (and Daniu) ogled Andre. The way he scurried away from Pamela was funny to me. This would never pass the smell test if two men were ogling a woman, so it should probably apply in a gender-reversed situation as well… but I still found it funny. Please don’t cancel me.
Caughtcha lookin’, part deux
Soap fans do, occasionally, like to think of themselves as smarter than the show’s executives and writers. I thought for sure that I was some sort of eagle-eyed quality control director when I spotted the price tag on the back of Naomi’s birthday gift for Bill. That was, until Chelsea called her out on it and I realized that it was all an intentional part of the storytelling. If it wasn’t and that was an ad lib, then RhonniRose Mantilla needs to be given an award.
Spa day, baby!
I like Naomi. Always have, always will. But I find myself questioning her judgment. She turned down the all-day spa day that Jacob arranged for her at the country club? What kind of sociopath does that?!
Baby Ashley Andrea is too cute for words. I would have loved to have been a baby wrangler on the Beyond the Gates set that day.
See ya next year
Congratulations to this year’s Daytime Emmy nominees and recipients. Just a reminder that because Beyond the Gates launched in 2025, it isn’t yet eligible for Daytime Emmy consideration. This year’s batch of Emmy contenders was chosen from material that aired in the 2024 calendar year.
BUT! As a preview to things to come, here’s a photo of Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree) looking absolutely gorgeous on this year’s Red Carpet. It is my hope that when 2026 (k)rolls around, I will once again be back on the Red Carpet to celebrate daytime’s best.
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).
“Are we becoming one of those disgustingly adorable couples, so inseparable we’re insufferable?”– Ashley to Derek as they talked about grabbing a bite to eat in the hospital cafeteria.
“She loves to blue the line between romantic and indecent.” – Pamela, as Dani and Andre engaged in a little TMI PDA.
You might be more comfy at a place that caters to high-maintenance types – June to Leslie.
“He’s a lawyer. He could take out a restraining order against you?” “For what? Wearing a wig and exploring my options?” – Eva, scolding Leslie for arranging a fake meeting with Tomas.
“Beware of gym friends bearing cupcakes.” – Dani back in the days when she and Hayley were friendly to each other.
“You didn’t make dessert. You masterminded punishment.” – Bill, in a comment directed as Hayley’s healthy but deadly cupcake.
“I am not going to let a piece of paper and some ink separate me from the love of my life.” — Ted to Nicole.
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.
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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 Masters is on deck with week with a new column called, Harpy Days.
To read more thoughts, opinions, rants, and raves about daytime television, be sure to check out our Editorial section.
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