Maybe She’s Just Not That Into You<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve been pretty vocal about my opposition to Kat and Tom\u00e1s as a couple \u2013 and it has nothing to do with Kat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warp speed at which Tom\u00e1s was willing to sleep with Eva after he and Kat maybe, kinda, sorta broke up was alarming. And even before that, there was that time when he was willing to sleep with Eva because Kat wasn\u2019t ready to have sex. Plus, I think, as Bill hinted, Tom\u00e1s still has a thing for Eva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they got back together, I was willing to accept that maybe Tom\u00e1s really did have legitimate feelings for Kat. Then along came Bill with his dangled potential law firm partner carrot. The moment that Bill mentioned that the firm needed partners with stable homes and happy marriages I went back to questioning Tom\u00e1s\u2019 every move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019d like to believe that Tom\u00e1s asking Kat to move in with him was a natural progression of their relationship, but clearly it wasn\u2019t. Now that Bill showed Tom\u00e1s the other potential partner\u2019s flash mob proposal video, I expect Tom\u00e1s to up his pressure game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knowing Kat the way we do, she should be doing cartwheels over Tom\u00e1s asking her to move in with him. But she\u2019s not. Why? Is she really not that into Tom\u00e1s? Is she still distrusting of him because he slept with Eva? Does she want to have sex with other men before settling down (with the first man she slept with)? Does she know that I find Tom\u00e1s super slimy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First Kat claimed that moving in together would be “upping the intensity” of their relationship “by, like, 1000%.” I get that. It’s a big deal to share your space with someone. It’s entirely <\/em>different moving into someone else’s<\/em> space. Later, Kat admitted that she feared that living with Tom\u00e1s would expose him to the “real” Kat, flaws and all. That, Kat said, was someone that he might not like.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhatever the reason for the reluctance: Kat, trust your gut, girl. You were right about Eva being up to something, so don\u2019t stop listening to the little voice now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dani Dupree: Guru of the DMV<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It often seems to me like Kat is an afterthought to much of her family. I was glad that this week Kat seemed to get her relationship back on track with her brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are playing the \u201cDan J Kroll Commentary Drinking Game\u201d and selected \u201conly child\u201d as your special phrase, get ready to enjoy a tasty libation. I\u2019m an only child, so I can only imagine what it would have been like to have a younger sibling, but the idea of texting or talking to your sibling every day\u2026 is kind of sweet. It\u2019s like a built-in, biological BFF. For only children, we either talk to strangers, imaginary friends, or ourselves. I chose strangers, myself, and learning computer programming, but that\u2019s neither here nor there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I really enjoyed Dani and Kat, and their heart-to-heart chat in Wednesday\u2019s episode. A few months ago, I\u2019d have said that anyone taking advice from Dani was either crazy or destined to land in jail. But my how times have changed. Dani is now \u2014 against all odds \u2014 the sage, village elder. Clearly marriage to Andre has done wonders for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was nice to see Aunt Dani actually listen <\/em>to Kat. Her advice for Kat to accept that life will be messy and to put herself first was some of the best advice I\u2019ve ever heard on a soap opera. She also backed my advice from a few paragraphs ago: Kat needs to trust her gut. While Kat wasn\u2019t ready to hear it, I also liked Dani pointing out that her niece had found it in her heart to forgive Tom\u00e1s\u2026 but not Eva.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt was a valid point. Even more valid was Kat turning it around and asking if Dani was planning to forgive Hayley anytime soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While forgiveness might not be in the cards for either woman, I do think that Kat needs to somehow find a way to let go of the anger. It has had a negative impact on Kat\u2019s life and it\u2019s downright painful to see her turning into someone that she\u2019s not. Like Samantha said last week, I want Kat to be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Making A Scene<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Vanessa was not a very happy Winterfester this week. Then again, she was probably too tipsy to even know that she was unhappy. Or why she was unhappy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve been a regular reader of my column, you\u2019ll know that I\u2019ve been questioning whether Vanessa\u2019s feelings for Joey are real or not. If you\u2019re a newer reader, I\u2019ll give you to condensed version: At first, I thought Vanessa was working with the authorities to bring down Joey. Lately, I\u2019ve felt she is determined to make her relationship with Joey work because she feels guilty about Doug\u2019s death and doesn\u2019t want to be alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After watching the blonde drown her sorrows in martinis, wine, and whatever else made its way into her glass, I no longer believe that Vanessa is working to take Joey down. I\u2019m still wavering on whether she truly loves the guy or if she feels she has<\/em> to be in love with Joey to atone for being with him when Doug died.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI expected Joey to stand firm on his decision to not flaunt his relationship with Vanessa in public. He made a good point when he said that people might start to dig deeper into their connection if they were seen out and about together. Vanessa, though, also made a valid point when she said that being seen out together might make people less<\/em> inclined to think that they were hiding something. *Cough* Money laundering. *Cough*<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Boogeyman of the DMV<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
What I did not <\/em>expect was for Joey to sashay into the country club and very <\/em><\/strong>publicly plant a kiss on the widow McBride. I could almost hear Anastasia and the rest of the Fairmont Crest “snottiest… stiff necks” catching the vapors and passing out in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWill Joey and Vanessa\u2019s now-public relationship bring the scrutiny Joey feared? Will no longer hiding in the shadows bring Vanessa the joy she has been searching for? It\u2019s a soap opera, so I am sure it\u2019s \u201cYes\u201d and \u201cNo,\u201d respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before I forget, I laughed giddily when tipsy Vanessa stuck her tongue out at Leslie as she was escorted out of Winterfest by Ted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/251205-btg-graphic-01.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDoctors Without Boredom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Move over, Izaiah with a Z \u2013 Kial with a random I and A is here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had the opportunity to watch Greg Vaughan on\u2026 two\u2026 three\u2026 five<\/em> different shows now. In daytime, he\u2019s appeared as Diego Guittierez on The Young and the Restless<\/em>, Lucky Spencer on General Hospital<\/em>, and Eric Brady on Days of our Lives<\/em>. In primetime, I watched him on Queen Sugar<\/em>. Now, he\u2019s popped up on Beyond the Gates<\/em>. Even though he only appeared in a few episodes, I thought that Greg\u2019s work on Queen Sugar <\/em>was some of his best soapy work.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ll be upfront: I am still hoping that a Christmas miracle brings Ted and Nicole back together, but I am also fairly confident that will not be happening. If the Ted and Nicole days are over for good (or at least for now), I\u2019d be okay with Nicole and Kial testing the waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nicole Dupree, Phase Two<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Carlton always struck me as a little too arrogant. His swag game is strong, but\u2026 it clashes with Nicole\u2019s calm and steadiness. Sure, opposites attract and all that, but what Paula Abdul didn\u2019t tell you is that being too<\/em> opposite is not a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKial seems very grounded. He\u2019s dad of two grown children and a widower. He\u2019s traversed the globe, but the travels were done mainly because no place has felt like home since his wife\u2019s sudden death. Kial has tried to keep things relatively drama-free when Ted is around. So I don\u2019t see any immediate red flags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since every point has a counterpoint, Pam dropped me a line on Bluesky<\/strong><\/a> to say that\u2026 she\u2019s not feeling the Kial\/Nicole romance at all. In fact, she used the word \u201cEw\u201d to describe them. What seems to be the issue? \u201cThe awkward start they’re giving Nicole and Kial is a miss. Inexplicably in her house after a first date? Dropping by her office unannounced with a neck rub? Ew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nDropper It Like It’s Hot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I really want to know what is in this little bottle of potion that Hayley keeps shoving into her bosom and other various locations on her body. It\u2019s mildly funny to see her at every turn using that little medicine dropper to lace Bill\u2019s drinks. She\u2019s like a mad scientist or a contestant on the Great British Bake Off<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s even more amusing is hearing Hayley complain that Bill isn\u2019t dying fast enough only to have her flip out about him dying too<\/em> fast when she upped the dosage. Ma\u2019am, I\u2019m going to need you to pick a lane. Do you want him dead or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\nRather than call 9-1-1, Hayley called Randy. As a semi-professional grifter, Hayley should know that the cops would immediately check her phone records if Bill were to die under mysterious circumstances. Her calling the guy she randomly encountered at Uptown? Probably not the best alibi. Also, she knew Bill wasn\u2019t dead, so why did she assume he wouldn\u2019t hear her rather incriminating conversation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But who needs 9-1-1 when you can just smack the hell out of an unconscious person. It was like a 2025 remix to Cher\u2019s \u201cSnap out of it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/251205-btg-graphic-02.png\")
Marquita Goings (Hayley Lawson) slaps
Timon Kyle Durrett’s Bill Hamilton out of unconsciousness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nKill Bill? Maybe, Maybe Not<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
It does appear that the stage is being set for Bill and Hayley to part in some way, shape, or form. First Bill had some alone time with Vernon, and now he\u2019s had one-on-one time with a very insightful Anita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s been clear to anyone (even if they lack Anita\u2019s unaided 20\/20 vision) that something is up with Bill. On the surface, it seemed like he was just sad that Dani was no longer pining over him. Now it seems like more than that. Did his health scare make him take another look at his life? Has the fun of sexytimes with Hayley worn off? Or is it the low-hanging fruit: Bill wants what he can no longer have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s be clear: I do not think that Bill will be killed off any time soon. I also don\u2019t think that Beyond the Gates <\/em>would let go of Marquita Goings (Hayley). Does Hayley change her mind? Do she and Bill get a divorce? I can\u2019t envision Bill being single, but there isn\u2019t another available woman on the canvas that would work as a romantic partner for him (other than, obviously, Dani).<\/p>\n\n\n\nOn the other hand, Beyond the Gates<\/em> initially was only picked up for a 200-episode season. Maybe some of the original cast members have already booked just-in-case projects. That could<\/em> mean that every character is expendable\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrey’s Anita-omy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
But Anita Dupree is not one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the Gates <\/em>has done a good job of misdirecting and faking out viewers. That doesn\u2019t seem to be the case with Anita\u2019s multiple doctor visits. At first, it seemed like Anita\u2019s visits to the hospital were just routine or, as she said herself, part of her 50,000-mile tune-up. But Dr. Ahn\u2019s name has been mentioned way too many times for these visits to be routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you are playing the \u201cDan J Kroll Commentary Drinking Game\u201d and selected \u201cGrey\u2019s Anatomy<\/em>\u201d as your special phrase, get ready to chug. If you picked, \u201cI was almost a doctor,\u201d you can take a bonus sip.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI don\u2019t think we\u2019re going to have any sort of crazy medical mystery like we\u2019d see on a primetime series like Grey\u2019s Anatomy. <\/em>Let\u2019s be honest, Beyond the Gates<\/em> doesn\u2019t have enough hospital sets to do a full-blown medical mystery storyline.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot everyone knows this, but in another lifetime I was almost a doctor. I\u2019d wanted to be a doctor from the time I was in kindergarten all the way through college. I\u2019ve remained interested in medicine to this day. I suspect Beyond the Gates <\/em>is going to use its platform to explore the health crises that disproportionately affect Black women. Some of the things that come to mind are lupus, breast and cervical cancer, and diabetes. (You might recall that Greys Anatomy<\/em> did something similar with Bailey a few seasons back.) <\/p>\n\n\n\nI don\u2019t know if Beyond the Gates<\/em> would go down this road \u2013 especially during the holiday season \u2013 but I do think the show has a stronger commitment to telling real-life stories that have more depth than the traditional soap staples of love triangles and back-from-the-dead plots.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBeyond, Behind, and Beside The Gates: Speed Round<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here are some of the other things on Beyond the Gates<\/em> that have me thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWell, He Did Bump His Head<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\nLast week I mentioned that Derek makes decisions that are, at best, dumb. I heard from a few readers who thought that I was being a little unkind to the firefighter. This week, he strolled into the hospital using a hockey stick as a crutch. I rest my case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Naughty List<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
The double and triple entendres between Leslie, Eva and Vanessa were really funny. The Thomases wanted to talk to Vanessa about real estate, but she mistakenly believed that they were talking about her Heart Attach side business. So things got a little spicy when Leslie purred about how “it’s better to have more than you know what to do with than to be left with something that will never<\/em> meet your needs.” Vanessa was totally confused when Eva explained it was about her own needs, but rather the needs of the “whole community.”<\/p>\n\n\n\nI’d Like To Throw Your Momma From The Train<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
I liked the Laura\/Eva scenes. We haven\u2019t seen them together since Laura was released from the hospital and she asked for Eva\u2019s help in getting back up to speed as Nicole\u2019s assistant. It looks like Laura doesn\u2019t hold any sort of ill-will toward Eva. Obviously, the same cannot be said about LSD (that\u2019s Leslie\/Sherry\/Dana, in case you are a new reader.) There is still a part of me that wants to see mild-mannered Laura slap LSD the way that Hayley walloped unconscious Bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cop A Feel (Feel A Cop?)<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Marcel Malone seemed to clear up the question that I posed in last week\u2019s column regarding whether he was interested in Leslie or just trying to secretly take her down. This week, Malone insinuated that he was cozying up with LSD so he could lock her up and then retire. I\u2019m not fully buying it. Sure, Marcel is married but that means nothing. I think the guy is interested in Leslie\u2019s doughnuts, cakes, and other assorted goodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raffle Me This<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
It was cute when Ted mentioned that one of the raffle items at Winterfest was the chance to win a walk-on role \u201con that new soap.\u201d I like the slight breakage of the fourth wall. But more importantly, how did I miss the chance to bid on this? I could be Vanessa\u2019s newest hire! Or Bartender #6. I\u2019d also settle for the role of \u201cRandom feet passing by the window of Orphey Gene\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Extra! Extra!<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Speaking of walk-on roles, I was very<\/em> pleased to see how many extras were cast for the Winterfest party. There were new, unknown faces strolling in and out of nearly every scene. Since Winterfest was <\/em>the social event of the season, I am glad that there were people in attendance who were not a Dupree or Dupree-adjacent.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBeyond the Gates: Lines of the Week<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Beyond the Gates<\/em> 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t learn anything from a flawless runway.\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Dani\u2019s telling Kat that it is okay to make mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cMaybe a little burglar told you that\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Ted, after Shanice stopped him from telling Ashley of her fear of birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cDay drinking alone? How very last husband of you.\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Anastasia with another of her stuffy country club put-downs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cClarity is not only about physical vision\u2019\u2019<\/strong> \u2013 Anita, before telling Bill what she sees when she looks at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI\u2019m not a barista!\u201d<\/strong> — Hayley screamed this when Randy asked her how much of the secret potion she\u2019d given Bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Mona](\"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/251205-btg-graphic-03.png\")
Karan Kendrick (Mona Wilson), Darryl W. Handy (Marcel Malone), Trisha Mann-Grant (Leslie Thomas), and Destiny Love (Laura Peterson)
Beyond the Gates | Screenshot\/CBS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n“You may have come into some money, but you’re still a low-rent man-stealer in my book.”<\/strong> — Mona to Leslie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWhat the hell is going on between you and our attempted murder suspect?\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Elon to Marcel, with a question you don’t often hear asked in a police station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSometimes happy looks different than you think.\u201d <\/strong>\u2013 A reflective Eva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201c[He] should have told you how to be a good husband.\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Anita, responding to Bill\u2019s comment that he\u2019d learned how to be a good father from watching Vernon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cAnd exactly what area code is the North Pole?\u201d <\/strong>\u2013 Laura when Mona revealed that Santa Claus had hit on her and slipped her his number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cExcuse me, bartender. Please don\u2019t serve this woman any alcohol. She\u2019s obviously already high on something.\u201d <\/strong>\u2013 Naomi when Hayley suggested that everything had worked out for the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFollow my Random Acts of Dan<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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<\/em> in the Comments section below.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you’ve enjoyed my column this week and want to see what I have written about Beyond the Gates<\/em> in previous weeks, you can check those out in the My View From Beyond the Gates<\/a><\/strong> archive.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHave a penchant for gardening, interior design, or fixing up old houses? Check out my Manor Makeover series<\/a><\/strong> where I write about all of the things I’ve been up to here at Kroll Manor in Allentown, PA, over the past decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo keep up with all of the shenanigans I engage in on social media, please consider giving my a follow on Bluesky<\/strong><\/a>, Instagram<\/strong><\/a>, Threads<\/strong><\/a>, Facebook<\/strong><\/a>, and TwitterX<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLife outside the gates<\/h5>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/251212-gh.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTwo 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<\/em><\/strong> writing about General Hospital<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nLiz is on deck with week with a new column called, Bah Humbug<\/a><\/strong>. And in two weeks she and Tamilu will be offering up the special two-part Best and Worst of General Hospital 2025<\/em><\/strong> columns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whatever the reason for the reluctance: Kat, trust your gut, girl. You were right about Eva being up to something, so don\u2019t stop listening to the little voice now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dani Dupree: Guru of the DMV<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It often seems to me like Kat is an afterthought to much of her family. I was glad that this week Kat seemed to get her relationship back on track with her brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are playing the \u201cDan J Kroll Commentary Drinking Game\u201d and selected \u201conly child\u201d as your special phrase, get ready to enjoy a tasty libation. I\u2019m an only child, so I can only imagine what it would have been like to have a younger sibling, but the idea of texting or talking to your sibling every day\u2026 is kind of sweet. It\u2019s like a built-in, biological BFF. For only children, we either talk to strangers, imaginary friends, or ourselves. I chose strangers, myself, and learning computer programming, but that\u2019s neither here nor there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I really enjoyed Dani and Kat, and their heart-to-heart chat in Wednesday\u2019s episode. A few months ago, I\u2019d have said that anyone taking advice from Dani was either crazy or destined to land in jail. But my how times have changed. Dani is now \u2014 against all odds \u2014 the sage, village elder. Clearly marriage to Andre has done wonders for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was nice to see Aunt Dani actually listen <\/em>to Kat. Her advice for Kat to accept that life will be messy and to put herself first was some of the best advice I\u2019ve ever heard on a soap opera. She also backed my advice from a few paragraphs ago: Kat needs to trust her gut. While Kat wasn\u2019t ready to hear it, I also liked Dani pointing out that her niece had found it in her heart to forgive Tom\u00e1s\u2026 but not Eva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a valid point. Even more valid was Kat turning it around and asking if Dani was planning to forgive Hayley anytime soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While forgiveness might not be in the cards for either woman, I do think that Kat needs to somehow find a way to let go of the anger. It has had a negative impact on Kat\u2019s life and it\u2019s downright painful to see her turning into someone that she\u2019s not. Like Samantha said last week, I want Kat to be happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vanessa was not a very happy Winterfester this week. Then again, she was probably too tipsy to even know that she was unhappy. Or why she was unhappy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve been a regular reader of my column, you\u2019ll know that I\u2019ve been questioning whether Vanessa\u2019s feelings for Joey are real or not. If you\u2019re a newer reader, I\u2019ll give you to condensed version: At first, I thought Vanessa was working with the authorities to bring down Joey. Lately, I\u2019ve felt she is determined to make her relationship with Joey work because she feels guilty about Doug\u2019s death and doesn\u2019t want to be alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After watching the blonde drown her sorrows in martinis, wine, and whatever else made its way into her glass, I no longer believe that Vanessa is working to take Joey down. I\u2019m still wavering on whether she truly loves the guy or if she feels she has<\/em> to be in love with Joey to atone for being with him when Doug died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I expected Joey to stand firm on his decision to not flaunt his relationship with Vanessa in public. He made a good point when he said that people might start to dig deeper into their connection if they were seen out and about together. Vanessa, though, also made a valid point when she said that being seen out together might make people less<\/em> inclined to think that they were hiding something. *Cough* Money laundering. *Cough*<\/p>\n\n\n\n What I did not <\/em>expect was for Joey to sashay into the country club and very <\/em><\/strong>publicly plant a kiss on the widow McBride. I could almost hear Anastasia and the rest of the Fairmont Crest “snottiest… stiff necks” catching the vapors and passing out in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Will Joey and Vanessa\u2019s now-public relationship bring the scrutiny Joey feared? Will no longer hiding in the shadows bring Vanessa the joy she has been searching for? It\u2019s a soap opera, so I am sure it\u2019s \u201cYes\u201d and \u201cNo,\u201d respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before I forget, I laughed giddily when tipsy Vanessa stuck her tongue out at Leslie as she was escorted out of Winterfest by Ted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Move over, Izaiah with a Z \u2013 Kial with a random I and A is here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve had the opportunity to watch Greg Vaughan on\u2026 two\u2026 three\u2026 five<\/em> different shows now. In daytime, he\u2019s appeared as Diego Guittierez on The Young and the Restless<\/em>, Lucky Spencer on General Hospital<\/em>, and Eric Brady on Days of our Lives<\/em>. In primetime, I watched him on Queen Sugar<\/em>. Now, he\u2019s popped up on Beyond the Gates<\/em>. Even though he only appeared in a few episodes, I thought that Greg\u2019s work on Queen Sugar <\/em>was some of his best soapy work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ll be upfront: I am still hoping that a Christmas miracle brings Ted and Nicole back together, but I am also fairly confident that will not be happening. If the Ted and Nicole days are over for good (or at least for now), I\u2019d be okay with Nicole and Kial testing the waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carlton always struck me as a little too arrogant. His swag game is strong, but\u2026 it clashes with Nicole\u2019s calm and steadiness. Sure, opposites attract and all that, but what Paula Abdul didn\u2019t tell you is that being too<\/em> opposite is not a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kial seems very grounded. He\u2019s dad of two grown children and a widower. He\u2019s traversed the globe, but the travels were done mainly because no place has felt like home since his wife\u2019s sudden death. Kial has tried to keep things relatively drama-free when Ted is around. So I don\u2019t see any immediate red flags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since every point has a counterpoint, Pam dropped me a line on Bluesky<\/strong><\/a> to say that\u2026 she\u2019s not feeling the Kial\/Nicole romance at all. In fact, she used the word \u201cEw\u201d to describe them. What seems to be the issue? \u201cThe awkward start they’re giving Nicole and Kial is a miss. Inexplicably in her house after a first date? Dropping by her office unannounced with a neck rub? Ew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I really want to know what is in this little bottle of potion that Hayley keeps shoving into her bosom and other various locations on her body. It\u2019s mildly funny to see her at every turn using that little medicine dropper to lace Bill\u2019s drinks. She\u2019s like a mad scientist or a contestant on the Great British Bake Off<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s even more amusing is hearing Hayley complain that Bill isn\u2019t dying fast enough only to have her flip out about him dying too<\/em> fast when she upped the dosage. Ma\u2019am, I\u2019m going to need you to pick a lane. Do you want him dead or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rather than call 9-1-1, Hayley called Randy. As a semi-professional grifter, Hayley should know that the cops would immediately check her phone records if Bill were to die under mysterious circumstances. Her calling the guy she randomly encountered at Uptown? Probably not the best alibi. Also, she knew Bill wasn\u2019t dead, so why did she assume he wouldn\u2019t hear her rather incriminating conversation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n But who needs 9-1-1 when you can just smack the hell out of an unconscious person. It was like a 2025 remix to Cher\u2019s \u201cSnap out of it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It does appear that the stage is being set for Bill and Hayley to part in some way, shape, or form. First Bill had some alone time with Vernon, and now he\u2019s had one-on-one time with a very insightful Anita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s been clear to anyone (even if they lack Anita\u2019s unaided 20\/20 vision) that something is up with Bill. On the surface, it seemed like he was just sad that Dani was no longer pining over him. Now it seems like more than that. Did his health scare make him take another look at his life? Has the fun of sexytimes with Hayley worn off? Or is it the low-hanging fruit: Bill wants what he can no longer have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s be clear: I do not think that Bill will be killed off any time soon. I also don\u2019t think that Beyond the Gates <\/em>would let go of Marquita Goings (Hayley). Does Hayley change her mind? Do she and Bill get a divorce? I can\u2019t envision Bill being single, but there isn\u2019t another available woman on the canvas that would work as a romantic partner for him (other than, obviously, Dani).<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, Beyond the Gates<\/em> initially was only picked up for a 200-episode season. Maybe some of the original cast members have already booked just-in-case projects. That could<\/em> mean that every character is expendable\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Anita Dupree is not one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the Gates <\/em>has done a good job of misdirecting and faking out viewers. That doesn\u2019t seem to be the case with Anita\u2019s multiple doctor visits. At first, it seemed like Anita\u2019s visits to the hospital were just routine or, as she said herself, part of her 50,000-mile tune-up. But Dr. Ahn\u2019s name has been mentioned way too many times for these visits to be routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are playing the \u201cDan J Kroll Commentary Drinking Game\u201d and selected \u201cGrey\u2019s Anatomy<\/em>\u201d as your special phrase, get ready to chug. If you picked, \u201cI was almost a doctor,\u201d you can take a bonus sip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t think we\u2019re going to have any sort of crazy medical mystery like we\u2019d see on a primetime series like Grey\u2019s Anatomy. <\/em>Let\u2019s be honest, Beyond the Gates<\/em> doesn\u2019t have enough hospital sets to do a full-blown medical mystery storyline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not everyone knows this, but in another lifetime I was almost a doctor. I\u2019d wanted to be a doctor from the time I was in kindergarten all the way through college. I\u2019ve remained interested in medicine to this day. I suspect Beyond the Gates <\/em>is going to use its platform to explore the health crises that disproportionately affect Black women. Some of the things that come to mind are lupus, breast and cervical cancer, and diabetes. (You might recall that Greys Anatomy<\/em> did something similar with Bailey a few seasons back.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t know if Beyond the Gates<\/em> would go down this road \u2013 especially during the holiday season \u2013 but I do think the show has a stronger commitment to telling real-life stories that have more depth than the traditional soap staples of love triangles and back-from-the-dead plots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some of the other things on Beyond the Gates<\/em> that have me thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last week I mentioned that Derek makes decisions that are, at best, dumb. I heard from a few readers who thought that I was being a little unkind to the firefighter. This week, he strolled into the hospital using a hockey stick as a crutch. I rest my case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The double and triple entendres between Leslie, Eva and Vanessa were really funny. The Thomases wanted to talk to Vanessa about real estate, but she mistakenly believed that they were talking about her Heart Attach side business. So things got a little spicy when Leslie purred about how “it’s better to have more than you know what to do with than to be left with something that will never<\/em> meet your needs.” Vanessa was totally confused when Eva explained it was about her own needs, but rather the needs of the “whole community.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n I liked the Laura\/Eva scenes. We haven\u2019t seen them together since Laura was released from the hospital and she asked for Eva\u2019s help in getting back up to speed as Nicole\u2019s assistant. It looks like Laura doesn\u2019t hold any sort of ill-will toward Eva. Obviously, the same cannot be said about LSD (that\u2019s Leslie\/Sherry\/Dana, in case you are a new reader.) There is still a part of me that wants to see mild-mannered Laura slap LSD the way that Hayley walloped unconscious Bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marcel Malone seemed to clear up the question that I posed in last week\u2019s column regarding whether he was interested in Leslie or just trying to secretly take her down. This week, Malone insinuated that he was cozying up with LSD so he could lock her up and then retire. I\u2019m not fully buying it. Sure, Marcel is married but that means nothing. I think the guy is interested in Leslie\u2019s doughnuts, cakes, and other assorted goodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was cute when Ted mentioned that one of the raffle items at Winterfest was the chance to win a walk-on role \u201con that new soap.\u201d I like the slight breakage of the fourth wall. But more importantly, how did I miss the chance to bid on this? I could be Vanessa\u2019s newest hire! Or Bartender #6. I\u2019d also settle for the role of \u201cRandom feet passing by the window of Orphey Gene\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of walk-on roles, I was very<\/em> pleased to see how many extras were cast for the Winterfest party. There were new, unknown faces strolling in and out of nearly every scene. Since Winterfest was <\/em>the social event of the season, I am glad that there were people in attendance who were not a Dupree or Dupree-adjacent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Beyond the Gates<\/em> 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou don\u2019t learn anything from a flawless runway.\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Dani\u2019s telling Kat that it is okay to make mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe a little burglar told you that\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Ted, after Shanice stopped him from telling Ashley of her fear of birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDay drinking alone? How very last husband of you.\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Anastasia with another of her stuffy country club put-downs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cClarity is not only about physical vision\u2019\u2019<\/strong> \u2013 Anita, before telling Bill what she sees when she looks at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not a barista!\u201d<\/strong> — Hayley screamed this when Randy asked her how much of the secret potion she\u2019d given Bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “You may have come into some money, but you’re still a low-rent man-stealer in my book.”<\/strong> — Mona to Leslie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat the hell is going on between you and our attempted murder suspect?\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Elon to Marcel, with a question you don’t often hear asked in a police station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSometimes happy looks different than you think.\u201d <\/strong>\u2013 A reflective Eva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c[He] should have told you how to be a good husband.\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Anita, responding to Bill\u2019s comment that he\u2019d learned how to be a good father from watching Vernon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd exactly what area code is the North Pole?\u201d <\/strong>\u2013 Laura when Mona revealed that Santa Claus had hit on her and slipped her his number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcuse me, bartender. Please don\u2019t serve this woman any alcohol. She\u2019s obviously already high on something.\u201d <\/strong>\u2013 Naomi when Hayley suggested that everything had worked out for the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/em> in the Comments section below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’ve enjoyed my column this week and want to see what I have written about Beyond the Gates<\/em> in previous weeks, you can check those out in the My View From Beyond the Gates<\/a><\/strong> archive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have a penchant for gardening, interior design, or fixing up old houses? Check out my Manor Makeover series<\/a><\/strong> where I write about all of the things I’ve been up to here at Kroll Manor in Allentown, PA, over the past decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To keep up with all of the shenanigans I engage in on social media, please consider giving my a follow on Bluesky<\/strong><\/a>, Instagram<\/strong><\/a>, Threads<\/strong><\/a>, Facebook<\/strong><\/a>, and TwitterX<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/em><\/strong> writing about General Hospital<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Liz is on deck with week with a new column called, Bah Humbug<\/a><\/strong>. And in two weeks she and Tamilu will be offering up the special two-part Best and Worst of General Hospital 2025<\/em><\/strong> columns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nMaking A Scene<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Boogeyman of the DMV<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDoctors Without Boredom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Nicole Dupree, Phase Two<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Dropper It Like It’s Hot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Timon Kyle Durrett’s Bill Hamilton out of unconsciousness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nKill Bill? Maybe, Maybe Not<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Grey’s Anita-omy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Beyond, Behind, and Beside The Gates: Speed Round<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Well, He Did Bump His Head<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
The Naughty List<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
I’d Like To Throw Your Momma From The Train<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Cop A Feel (Feel A Cop?)<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Raffle Me This<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Extra! Extra!<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the Gates: Lines of the Week<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the Gates | Screenshot\/CBS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nFollow my Random Acts of Dan<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Life outside the gates<\/h5>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n