Don\u2019t have time to read the entire Beyond the Gates<\/strong><\/strong> column? You can now stream an audio\/podcast version of this commentary \u2014 complete with off-script silliness, bloopers, interviews, and more. And it\u2019s totally free to download or stream. SPOTIFY<\/a><\/strong> | APPLE MUSIC<\/a><\/strong> | AMAZON MUSIC<\/a><\/strong> | iHEART RADIO<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you read last week\u2019s column<\/strong><\/a>, you might remember that I wondered if Hayley might soon become the victim in a whodunnit. There are certainly enough people who might want her gone to make for an entertaining murder mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This week, I thought we were about to have a \u201cWho Kidnapped Hayley?\u201d mystery instead. Just about everyone that might want her eliminated would also have reason to want to make her disappear. That idea of a mystery was quickly shot down when we saw that Marcel was the gloved assailant. That has me wondering\u2026 what exactly is next for Hayley Hamilton, Val, Blythe Fairbrook, or whatever name she wants to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think it\u2019s still possible that Hayley doesn\u2019t make it to see 2027. Even if she does, I can\u2019t see how she\u2019d do it in the DMV. It just doesn\u2019t seem plausible that after all Hayley has done, she\u2019d stay in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. But this is a soap and stranger things have happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only possible scenario that I\u2019ve come up with is that Leslie somehow convinces Hayley to stick around so that they can be festies<\/em> \u2013 that\u2019s another Krollism that I\u2019ve come up with. It\u2019s short for \u201cfaux besties.\u201d LSD, speaking of Krollisms (that\u2019s Leslie\/Sherry\/Dana), convincing Hayley to go shopping with her was great comedy. Hayley wanted no part of it \u2013 until Leslie revealed that she\u2019d be picking up the tab. The way they linked arms, I thought they were about to go skipping down the Yellow Brick Road. The only thing that would have made it better was if there was an actual shopping montage \u00e0 la Pretty Woman.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t like to think the worst of people \u2013 but we are talking about a con artist and attempted murderer. There is nothing to prevent Hayley from blabbing what she knows about \u201cthat night\u201d even after getting paid. It was nice to hear Joey be the voice of reason and point out that KKKenneth was also paid off and still caused problems. There is also no way to definitely prove that Hayley will have destroyed every copy of the incriminating recordings. So how do you convince someone who appears to be so unflappable that you are deadly serious?<\/p>\n\n\n\n You bring out a sketchy cop with a reciprocating saw and march him into in a plastic-covered room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the past 19ish months, we\u2019ve heard about how Vernon Dupree is a peaceful man, a man who understands that violence begats violence. He\u2019s the patriarch of the Dupree family, a lecturer, a former Senator, and an activist. And, in another life, he was also a pastor<\/strong><\/a>. I don\u2019t know who the man was that we saw on Wednesday, October 7, but he was a sight to behold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On social media<\/strong><\/a>, I referred to that incarnation of Senator Dupree as \u201cEvil Vernon.\u201d It wasn\u2019t necessarily implying that he was an evil man, but more of a nod to the old evil twin trope of soaps. Whatever you choose to call him \u2013 one person who replied<\/strong><\/a> to my tweet called him \u201cVernil\u201d \u2013 it seems that not-playing-by-the-book Vernon was a big hit with fans. I\u2019ve posted some of what viewer were saying in the Feedback section at the end of the column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the Daytime Emmy nominations were announced earlier this year, a lot of Beyond the Gates<\/em> viewers expressed their disappointment, among other emotions, that Clifton Davis did not receive a nomination in the Lead Actor category. At the time, I said that I wasn\u2019t necessarily surprised because Vernon had not really had any big story moments in the entirety of Season 1. Yes, there was the storyline about \u201cthat night,\u201d but that was more Martin\u2019s story. I suppose you could also count the secret music lessons made to look like an affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even in Season 2 of Beyond the Gates,<\/em> Vernon has yet to be given a storyline of his own. He might be the only character on the show to have not had that sort of featured performance. I\u2019m not sure why that is. There are any number of reasons that could explain it \u2013 and social media has crafted quite a few of them. Whatever the reason, I know that I always enjoy getting to see Davis shine in the moments when he is front and center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did we really think that Vernon was going to allow Marcel Malone to chop up Hayley into even littler bite-size pieces? In hindsight, I don\u2019t think I did\u2026 but in the moment I wasn\u2019t absolutely certain. It\u2019s 2026. The world is a crazy place and I think Vernon would have been forgiven for snapping for a few moments. His entire family was being threatened by Hayley. Everything that he helped build was on the verge of crashing down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even after Hayley was kidnapped and threatened with being turned into a human jigsaw puzzle, I wondered if she was really, truly scared. We\u2019ve seen Hayley\u2019s theatrics before. Any doubt that I had was quickly wiped away when we saw how jittery and panicked she was after being released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the common complaints I see on social media is a grumble that the Duprees have yet to be shown as the powerful family described to us in the show\u2019s logline. After all, they haven\u2019t even been able to prevent Leslie from building her \u201cshouse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I agree and disagree with that. Yes, I think that a powerful family probably could have gotten Leslie booted out of Fairmont Crest. I also think that there are different levels and different interpretations of what \u201cpowerful\u201d means. There are plenty of real-world examples of supposedly powerful people being taken down by \u201cregular\u201d folks. I also believe that there would be little drama if the Duprees were always easily able to squash any threat that was headed their way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the first time in their marriage, Andre gave Dani a piece of his mind. I kind of have to wonder what\u2019s taken him so long. He has been more than accommodating regarding Dani\u2019s attachment to Bill. I don\u2019t know many married folks who have been this understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What I thought was the most interesting part of their spat\u2026 actually, let me wind that back. The least surprising part of Dani and Andre\u2019s spat was that they ended up in bed. I love that they have a healthy sex life, but I wish it didn\u2019t seem to be a bandage for all of their marital woes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, back to what I thought was the most interesting part of their disagreement. It was Andre asking Dani if she wanted to go back to Bill now that he was free. If you have been anywhere on social media over the past year or so, you\u2019ll have noticed that there is a general consensus that it\u2019s only a matter of time before Dani and Bill get back together again. And if you\u2019ve read any of my columns in that same timespan, you\u2019ll have seen that I am totally against the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t think it\u2019s ever a good idea to get back into a toxic relationship. Can people change? Absolutely and that\u2019s amazing for them. Would a hypothetical Round Two for Bill and Dani be blissful because there\u2019s no longer a miniature matricidal maniac milling about? Perhaps. But how long before Bill\u2019s manparts get wanderlust<\/em> \u2013 with heavy emphasis on the lust<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The thing that sucks about my stance is that there is no denying that Dani and Bill have sizzling chemistry. It\u2019s been on display ever since Dani stormed Bill\u2019s office and cleared off his desk with a golf club. This being a soap, I don\u2019t think we\u2019re supposed to care about all of the proverbial water under the bridge. Viewers like certain characters together and they are willing to overlook lots of things. We need look no further than General Hospital<\/em>\u2019s Luke and Laura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second thing that is less than great is that I actually like Dani and Andre as a couple. I don\u2019t really think their relationship has a lot of substance, but I like the \u201csafeness\u201d of it. Not every couple needs to have oodles of drama and excitement. There\u2019s something to be said about curling up in the comfort of your own home on a comfy sofa that you paid for and watching a movie on a streaming service that keeps raising their prices. Of course, that makes for a terribly boring soap opera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I do think that the \u201csafeness\u201d that I mentioned is only an illusion. Both Dani and Andre are keeping whopper secrets from each other. I am now wondering which one will be exposed first. I am inclined to think that the Aerosmith secret will be the one to stay a secret. What\u2019s the Aerosmith secret? \u201cLove In An Elevator,\u201d naturally. I think Heather poses an imminent threat to Dani and Andre is going to have to say something \u2013 especially since he seems to have already figured out that Heather was responsible for Vanessa\u2019s carjacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unless I am completely missing something, there is no reason why Andre can\u2019t tell Dani about his past with Heather. Does he really think that Dani will be upset that he had a relationship before they got together? It\u2019s not like Dani thought he was a virgin when they met. I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll be dragged in the comments, but I think Andre not telling Dani about the danger posed by Heather is far<\/em> worse than Dani not telling Andre that she had sex with Bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the Gates<\/em> has once again made history. The Banneker University Homecoming episode(s) marked the first time that a soap showed an HBCU Homecoming. Now, there are some viewers who have said that this was more of a \u201cHomecoming lite.\u201d I\u2019m sure that Beyond the Gates<\/em> would have loved to have shown an actual football game, with marching bands and a dance line performance. We do<\/em> have to be practical and think about how much money that would have cost. I\u2019m sure the Banneker-branded bus cost a pretty penny. Or nice nickel, since pennies aren\u2019t a thing anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What I liked about the Homecoming episode is that it provided a singular spot for a bunch of different stories to come crashing together. There was the tension between Martin and Smitty and Jacob. The interesting dynamic of Kat and Izaiah\u2019s relationship was on full display. We had Deanna talking about the strained relationship she has with Vanessa. And there were also select members dealing with the fallout from Hayley\u2019s secret recordings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of that, we learned that Tyrell and Francesca are dating. I\u2019m sorry, what? I did not see that coming and I can\u2019t imagine that anyone who stays spoiler-free would have predicted it either. Talk about sleeping with the enemy. It was a cute bit to have Deanna walk in when Tyrell announced that he had a new girlfriend. My jaw dropped. Then Deanna chuckled and said she wouldn\u2019t even think about dating a lowly freshman \u2013 or someone that was practically family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh! And let me not forget the most earthshattering development of the entire episode: Anita and Vernon have a dining room. They still don\u2019t have a bedroom and we\u2019ve yet to see the study Vernon talked about, but the Duprees now have an actual room with a table and chairs where they can eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I am thinking that we might see the Duprees all gathered at Anita and Vernon\u2019s house for Thanksgiving, though I am not sure if the room is big enough for all those people. Sets are rarely created for just one episode, so I have to imagine that this room will be back on our screens before the year ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I am thinking that we might see the Duprees all gathered at Anita and Vernon\u2019s house for Thanksgiving, though I am not sure if the room is big enough for all those people. Sets are rarely created for just one episode, so I have to imagine that this room will be back on our screens before the year ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On a more serious topic, I absolutely loved the conversation that Dani had with Deanna. Normally, I\u2019d expect Nicole to have the deeper, heavier conversations. Dani is good for telling people to smash ceramics. The key to solving the arguments was to remember that they loved each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dani opened the conversation by sharing that she could relate to how both Vanessa and Dani were feeling because she\u2019d been the angry daughter in fights with Anita and the protective mom in squabbles with Chelsea. Deanna asked an incredibly eye-opening and deep question that would become the title of this week\u2019s column: \u201cWhat do you do when the anger feels louder than love?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a moment to really<\/em> think about that. I think it\u2019s something that we can all relate to. Has there been a time when you should have kept quiet and not said something that didn\u2019t mean? Have you sent a nasty text or email when it your fingers could have been doing something productive and positive?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, before this turns into an Oprah podcast, let\u2019s get back on track and talk about some soapiness. Here\u2019d what really<\/em> made this whole Dani mentoring\/mothering scene extra special. The moment Dani finished her conversation with Deanna, she sensed that something freaky sneaky was going on behind her — without having to turn around. Dani put an end to Tyrell and Chessie\u2019s sexytimes before it even started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some of the thoughts and observations about other things happening on Beyond the Gates<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bill revealed that he was having his private investigator do a “deep dive” into Hayley’s past to see if there was anything that could be used as leverage. So… mister big bad attorney was so sprung that he didn’t have his bride-to-be checked out when they first started dating?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The residents of Fairmont Crest give people nicknames almost as much as I do. This week, Joey got in on the action of creating a witty little nickname for Hayley. He referred to her as Bill’s “con artist child bride.” Meanwhile, Leslie has taken to calling Izaiah her “future tender roni-in-law.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n I like Shanice. I like Ted. For whatever reason, I do not like them together. Is it because part of me wants Ted and Nicole to get back together? Maybe. I agree with a take Greg had<\/a><\/strong> to one of my tweets. He said, “Derek was a better fit for Shanice.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no one perfect formula to love. I know a couple who got married about less than a month of being together. They were married for over 20 years. I know people who have been together for 20 years and are still not married. Get ready to sound the hypocrite alarm… I think it’s way too soon for Ted and Shanice to be engaged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As the Friday, October 9, episode played out. I had all sorts of unprintable thoughts when Nicole also produced a jewelry box. Was she<\/em> about to propose to Kial?! Thankfully, she didn’t, but she did give him the key to her house, heart, and panties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now both couples are planning December getaways. I sure hope they don’t book nonrefundable tickets to the same tropical paradise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s funny to me that Shanice’s fear of birds still pops up in conversation. This week, Ted psyched her out by telling her that he had something serious he wanted to ask her. I kept thinking, “This man cannot<\/em> be about to propose.” He didn’t. Instead he asked Shanice if she knew that there had been over 200 different species of birds reported in Central Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you wondering what the artwork from this week’s column means? You need not get down on one knee to ask for answers. The saw is fairly obvious. That’s what Marcel was allegedly going to use on Hayley. The guitar popped up when Noah worked on his new song with Anita. The bottle opener was mentioned when Ashley had to concoct a lie about what she and Ted were looking at on his phone. Hayley called Marcel a “worker bee” as an insult.<\/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 \u201cThe Articulettes was my higher education.\u201d<\/strong> \u201cMen like Joey hear a problem and they start digging graves.\u201d<\/strong> \u201cSo it’s chivalry [that’s] keeping you from resorting to murder?\u201d<\/strong> \u201cYou? The woman who runs to danger like its cardio?\u201d<\/strong> \u201cThings would be a lot less ‘conflicted’ if people just minded their business.\u201d<\/strong> \u201cThere’s no better distraction from one’s trouble than music.\u201d<\/strong> \u201cThe best family is the family you choose.\u201d<\/strong> I love interacting with other Beyond the Gates fans. So I thought I\u2019d create a section to share some of the comments I\u2019ve received on my columns and social media posts. If you\u2019d 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<\/strong><\/a>, Instagram<\/strong><\/a>, Threads<\/strong><\/a>, Facebook<\/strong><\/a>, and\/or TwitterX<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of folks agreed with my assessment that Evil Vernon was hot. Here’s a look at what other viewers had to say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the matter of Ted popping the question to Shanice…<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/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>. Liz is on deck with week with a new column called, <\/a><\/a>Sonny Days in Port Charles<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Do You Solve A Problem Like Hayley?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Forget Reese’s Pieces… Try Barely Hayley<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
The Man, the Myth, the… Murderer!?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
There’s Never Too Much Clifton Davis<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Vernon \u201cHacksaw\u201d Dupree<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Powerful or Powerless?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
The Honeymoon Is Officially Over<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Fly In The Ointment<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Can Dani and Andre Make It?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Homecoming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Room to Move<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
The Mom Was Momming<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Beside, Behind, and Beyond The Gates: The Speed Round<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Too Little, Too Late<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
You Say the Sweetest Things<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Life Goes On<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Alfred Hitchcock Presents<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
BTG: Behind the Graphic<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the Gates: Lines of the Week<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Anita explaining that she didn’t go to an HBCU because she found her path in music.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Vernon Dupree<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Vernon to Joey<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Nicole<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Amen, Kat! Amen!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Anita Dupree<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Joey, dismissing going into business with Heather and her desire to move to the DMV.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nGatecrashers: Reader and Viewer Feedback<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-3.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-4.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFollow my Random Acts of Dan<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Life outside the gates<\/h5>\n\n\n\n