Who’ll Be Caught Up In Joey’s Beyond the Gates Web — and What’s the *Real* Story With Leslie/Dana/Sherry/Anna?
Credit: CBS screenshots (4)
This week on Beyond the Gates a lot of folks were gambling. Some with money, some with their reputations and at least one — Leslie — with a questionable new look. Let’s rap about it!
Know When to Walk Away…
… and know when to run! The stakes for Doug’s gambling problem are getting higher. High enough for me to start feeling nervous for him. Very weird, considering that I don’t like the character all that much. I don’t know him enough to like him yet. He doesn’t seem to particularly love his wife, and I have no idea how good of a doctor he is. We know Nicole and Ted have great reputations at the hospital. How do Doug’s co-workers feel about him?
Even though I’m in the dark about Doug’s personality, Joey is menacing enough to make me worry. He’s already laid out his dark-hearted plans for Doug and his fortune, but now he’s zeroing in on Vanessa, too. Doug’s gambling addiction could wind up costing her more than he ever imagined. In fact, now that I think about it, Vanessa’s the one I’m really worried about!
Joey is a delicious character. He’s clearly a villain and highly watchable. The show doesn’t overplay him, but when he’s on our screen, there’s an impact. I’d love for the writers to spread that type of tension around to other storylines.
Kat and Mouse Games
I’m absolutely vibing with the escalating sibling (maybe) rivalry between Kat and Eva. The tug of war over Tomas is fun. Eva’s in it for petty reasons, and I respect her for that. She’s a great “bad” girl because she’s got a thick layer of vulnerability. A classic in the making!
Kat is vulnerable in a different way. She thinks she’s smarter than she is. She’s got no street smarts, and she underestimates Eva’s intelligence. When Kat tried to catch her nemesis being sketchy in Nicole’s office, Eva outsmarted her and erased the video evidence.
I can’t wait to see what happens between them in the weeks to come. The build up to the reveal of Eva being Ted’s daughter (maybe) has got me on the edge of my seat.
Another thing I like about this rivalry — and the 20-something set in general — is that their stories aren’t completely in service to the older set. *cough* General Hospital *cough* The stories cross over at times, but the younger characters have their own wants and needs that they’re pursuing.
Special Shoutouts to …
… Naomi’s conflicted feelings about her father. The non-traditional triangle forming between Naomi, Bill and Hayley could be interesting. Well, that’s if Hayley gets a brain donor. Every time I hear her talk I think, “Bill gave up his family for this?”
— Anita dropping bars. Yes, ma’am! I do love the family relationships on this show. Every time Anita says Dupree women, I hear faint echos in my head of “Sugarbaker women.”
… the immediate stoppage of the cringey dialogue between Martin and Smitty’s teenagers. Wait, that hasn’t happened yet. But I’m begging the show’s creators to get some teens in the writers room or listen to some gamer streams or just, I don’t know, write the scenes without the slang. Pretty please.
… the sexy way Martin and Smitty relate to each other. Just kidding! I don’t believe they’ve ever had sex. They certainly don’t act like it. If the chem doesn’t start chem-ing soon, break the boys up!
