Beyond the Gates: Daily Episode Discussion

[drivethroo]

59 minutes ago, Rodney said:

Tracy didn't sound like she held a grudge over that, but she did sort of hint that Sharon held one.

I'd like to know where the Articulettes grew up.  I seriously wouldn't be surprised if Leslie turned out to be Sharon's daughter lol.  

5 minutes ago, Rodney said:

And of course Bill tries to insinuate himself into Dani and Chelsea's moment.  At Hayley's insistence, no less. 

This was funny to me! Bill and Hayley walking in, Bill complaining about having to see a Dupree everywhere he turns, Dani kissing Pam and then Bill charging over to Dani to lecture her about trying to make him jealous.  Boy bye.

The problem with Dani is everyone needs Dani to be making a spectacle of herself in order to make themselves feel better and then Dani makes a spectacle of herself because that's the only way people pay attention to her. 

Dani was minding her business having fun times with her friend but Bill and Hayley needed the situation to be "Dani kisses Pam to insult Bill and Hayley." Ok, so let's say Dani did kiss Pam to make Bill jealous.  So what? Bill & Hayley supposed to be so much in love, right? So who cares if Dani kisses Pam, Sam or Bam Bam in the club? Let Dani look stupid and pathetic and enjoy your meal.

But that's not what happened.  Why is Hayley getting in a huff over Dani kissing anyone who is not Bill? Y U mad? And if Bill is really over Dani, he wouldn't care who Dani is kissing in the club or if she made a fool of herself either.

Hayley is scared to death Bill still wants Dani and Bill is so upset at the thought of Dani moving on and I love that for the both of them.

As far as Chelsea is concerned, she needed Dani to be making a fool of herself kissing on Pam to justify treating Dani like crap at the club because Allison dumped her...which she is stupid to even think of pursuing a relationship with Allison because Allison is married.  Would it have been ok for Chelsea to explore a relationship with Craig instead? And how is Chelsea going to be mad at Hayley for any reason when she was happily going to be the Hayley in the Craig/Allison marriage if Allison had let her?

As far as saying Dani's actions were offensive to the rainbow community, Chelsea would've had a problem if Dani had been kissing on a man. Everyone wants Dani to move on but when she does, they get mad at that too.

Eva needs to tell Ted what's going on but I suspect she won't until she's locked up for the attempted murder of Laura.

25 minutes ago, Rodney said:

Ashley has her revelation that she was too into holding onto her independence that she didn't listen to Derek's idea of making her place their place. 

Ashley is not wrong about wanting to hold on to her independence. Derek only wanted to move in because his lease was up and he was insecure about Ashley. Ashley needs to figure herself out and she can't do that while living with Derek so he needs to pack his little orange chair up and find another place to live.

[Rodney]

4 minutes ago, drivethroo said:

Ashley is not wrong about wanting to hold on to her independence.

Of course not.  But she was wrong in how she tried to go about it.

[One Tough Cookie]

4 hours ago, drivethroo said:

Her only complaint was the fridge and even that was stupid.

When we were first living together  he put my antique blouse in the washer and said well, I was  only trying to help! Now that's something to get pissed about.  But we managed get thru the trauma and bravely moved on. And I didn't kick out of m y apartment,

But my fridge is white.

Edited May 21 by One Tough Cookie

[AnimeMania]

Derek while whining about how he can get back with Ashley, was stupid to ignore Ashley's phone call. If Derek didn't know what to say, he could have put Naomi on the phone and let her talk.

Where was Derek living? Did he rent a room?

[Sake614]

44 minutes ago, AnimeMania said:

Where was Derek living? Did he rent a room?

Probably the fire house.

[Badsamaritan]

4 hours ago, drivethroo said:

This was funny to me! Bill and Hayley walking in, Bill complaining about having to see a Dupree everywhere he turns, Dani kissing Pam and then Bill charging over to Dani to lecture her about trying to make him jealous.  Boy bye.

The problem with Dani is everyone needs Dani to be making a spectacle of herself in order to make themselves feel better and then Dani makes a spectacle of herself because that's the only way people pay attention to her. 

Dani was minding her business having fun times with her friend but Bill and Hayley needed the situation to be "Dani kisses Pam to insult Bill and Hayley." Ok, so let's say Dani did kiss Pam to make Bill jealous.  So what? Bill & Hayley supposed to be so much in love, right? So who cares if Dani kisses Pam, Sam or Bam Bam in the club? Let Dani look stupid and pathetic and enjoy your meal.

But that's not what happened.  Why is Hayley getting in a huff over Dani kissing anyone who is not Bill? Y U mad? And if Bill is really over Dani, he wouldn't care who Dani is kissing in the club or if she made a fool of herself either.

Hayley is scared to death Bill still wants Dani and Bill is so upset at the thought of Dani moving on and I love that for the both of them.

Bill marched his big ass directly over to Dani, didn he? For somebody who claims he wants nothing to do with Dani/the Duprees, he can't stay away from any of them. 

Chelsea was pissing me off, taking her heartbreak out on her mother like that. She should talk, she can bring the drama too. But I was proud of Dani. She is a very supportive mother, and loves her daughters very much. 

I know they weren't on today but just for reference, when Tracy starts talking about Vernon having his pick of the ladies, this is who they talking bout 👀

 

[Melgaypet]

49 minutes ago, Badsamaritan said:

Bill marched his big ass directly over to Dani, didn't he?

I remain convinced that at some point Dani and Bill will be banging behind Hayley's back. And I am here for it!

[YaddaYadda]

Bill is such a loser! He actually thrives on Dani giving him all her attention. He loves it. The second he senses that she moved on, he's going to start gravitating back toward her.

Oh, no! Why are the Duprees always in my face.

Why are you always in their face. You decided to stay where they live, so it's not like you're not going to run into them, especially when you insist on going to the places they go.

Also, burn the ugly couch and that ugly carpet.

I'm going to need a backstory on Ashley and Naomie's friendship and a backstory on Andre and Ashley. Because why these two like her doesn't make sense.

At this point, I just feel sorry for Eva and how Leslie just twists her around like it's a game to her. This relationship is so unhealthy.

Edited May 22 by YaddaYadda

[oftentimes]

I love this show!

[Badsamaritan]

Ok, I still like Eva but, if she doesn't tell anyone that Leslie confessed, she's putting herself right back into the same situation as when they were planning Ted's downfall. This is not someone who has learned their lesson. So when she gets busted, again, for lying and having knowledge aforethought of Leslie's crimes, who she gon cry to then? She KNOWS she's wrong for not telling Jacob the truth. Will Eva continue to be someone who can't be trusted? There ain't nobody on this earth I'm willing to go to jail for. Family or not, I'm not getting locked up for somebody else's criming. How much longer can she use being raised by Leslie as an excuse? I don't think a judge will care, since she's a fully grown adult. I want to root for Eva but she can't keep saying one thing and doing another. It's one of the reasons I have been ok with the backlash she has received, I wanted to see if she would truly take it to heart and make different choices. But she's not. Whatever happens going forward, she's brought it on herself once again. 

I have no idea what happened in the scenes between Andre and that basic chick because I turned the channel whenever they came on. Ashley is really giving Hayley a run for her money for absolute worst character for me. Please DO NOT keep tryna make that terrible woman cry because it's literally painful to watch no tears come out while she's gripping tissues. 😑

[TiffanyNichelle]

After Eva's conversation with Tomas about their toxic parents always pulling them back in, it broke my heart to watch her get manipulated by Leslie once again. Leslie told her the truth so she could make her an accessory after the fact and that's why she didn't turn Leslie in to Jacob.

Ashley/Derek drama is just so zzzzzzzz. I don't care anymore!

I'm glad Chelsea came out to her mother but damn, she's just as dramatic as both her parents. No, Dani kissing Pamela wasn't to mess with Bill or tantalize men or to make a mockery of women who love women. It was just something for Pamela. Sometimes Dani's life has nothing to do with the rest of them. Other than that, it was nice to see Dani sweetly supporting her daughter and not going all over the top with things.

But I want Chelsea to think hard about how she was going to break up someone else's marriage, not because she was actually insanely in love with Allison, but because this was the first time she wanted to fully admit to being interested in a woman, not just for sexy fun times. Like she wanted to have a real relationship with a woman just to see. And she wanted to break up a happily married couple to do that. She was about to be a Hayley and at least Hayley pretends that she's in love.

All Bill does is run after the Duprees while saying he doesn't want anything to do with the Duprees. But at least Hayley got to see his hand tremors.

Pamela deserves better than to be all down in the dumps that the country club gigolo didn't want her. Also, not that cute, imo.

[Sake614]

48 minutes ago, TiffanyNichelle said:

Pamela deserves better than to be all down in the dumps that the country club gigolo didn't want her. Also, not that cute, imo.

Seriously!  don’t find Diego the least bit attractive, either physically or emotionally. The whole ‘sorry I kissed you but I need to make that married woman  jealous so she’ll screw me again’ was cringeworthy.

[Badsamaritan]

2 hours ago, TiffanyNichelle said:

After Eva's conversation with Tomas about their toxic parents always pulling them back in, it broke my heart to watch her get manipulated by Leslie once again. Leslie told her the truth so she could make her an accessory after the fact and that's why she didn't turn Leslie in to Jacob.

I do understand Eva's dilemma, I have a toxic parent myself. But she KNOWS Leslie is manipulating her, she KNOWS Leslie did it to make her an accessory, which is why she should've just spilled her guts to Jacob. Or at least go tell Ted everything and let him help get her a lawyer and then go tell Jacob after getting an agreement that they wouldn't prosecute her. I need her to be more proactive with blocking her crazy momma's schemes. Because otherwise, she's just going along again, and that won't get her anything except more trouble. 

[AnimeMania]

S01.E58: Thursday, May 22, 2025

[ShadowHunter]

23 hours ago, drivethroo said:

Ashley is not wrong about wanting to hold on to her independence. Derek only wanted to move in because his lease was up and he was insecure about Ashley. Ashley needs to figure herself out and she can't do that while living with Derek so he needs to pack his little orange chair up and find another place to live

She is not explaining that to him though. She should have said that right off the bat. Considering how when she was crying with Andre she didn't even shed any tears I am not surprised. Honestly Ashley is not even worth all this discussion lol.

Tomas is better with Eva. I like they have the connection with overbearing parent. That being said we need a few more males running around the show. 

Oh Billy Boy, Dani did not even see you in the room when she kissed Pamela. He going to lose it when he learns about Andre.

Hayley continues to just exist. 

Edited May 22 by ShadowHunter

[Ladybugnine]

Nice ATWT callback!  Lol

 

[Rodney]

Well, hi, Nicole!  Nice to see you after three absent episodes!  Not so nice to see that things are still bad with Ted, though it's completely understandable.

So despite the talk, Derek was still trying to move out of Ashley's place while she was gone?  Jacob probably gave it to him straight, though.  Ashley let too many things go to the point that she finally broke at Derek's habits.  But Jacob doesn't seem to get that Ashley's done some things wrong herself.  One of those things is turning to Andre instead of just talking it out with Derek.  You know, her own boyfriend.  At least Derek took the first step in apologizing, and Ashley finally does the same.  So they seem to be working it out . . . to Andre's surprising jealousy.  Oh, dear.

I didn't know that Vernon is still working.  What does he do now?

I liked Naomi's first meeting with Tracy.  Nice to see that she is a fan of the Articulettes.  And she even mentioned that Chelsea is, too!  And it was nice to hear how they got signed in the first place: after getting discovered after coming in second at a talent show.  But it all goes to hell once Tracy finds out the real reason that Anita called her up.

Mona again told Leslie like it was.  She, like Jan, understood her bitterness with Ted, but she was right that Nicole did absolutely nothing to her.  She understood that Ted could cheat with Leslie during a rough patch, but she also laid it out straight that Leslie took advantage of said rough patch.  But Leslie's wrong that Nicole wants nothing to do with Ted.  Things are bad now, but they'll more than likely work it out.

And Leslie seems to feel the need to torment Eva even more by showing up in her room.  Piece of work, that one.  But after going on about her affair with Ted, Eva finally lays it out.  Ted is never going to get back together with her.  She would know, since Ted honestly hates her for blowing up his family.  And then, she breaks into Eva's room to steal her things.

So Kat seems to temporarily unite Ted and Nicole against the Thomas women by playing her recording.  Ted's right, of course, that Leslie is more than likely the one responsible for Laura's accident and trying to implicate Eva (because she is).  But I don't blame Nicole for taking Kat's train of thought -- that the taping sounds like Eva.  But maybe it wasn't smart of Ted to reveal that he's still talking to Leslie.  But at least after talking it over, Nicole and even Kat turned more into the line of thinking that Leslie was responsible (though I still think that Kat will obsessively try to stick with Eva).

Ooh!  And Kat finally asks Shanice the key question about Leslie showing up in the hospital when Laura was poisoned.

June actually acting nice with Jacob and Naomi?  Surprised about that.  But her real name is Jessica Griffin?  When the actual Jessica Griffin is on the show (albeit in a new role)? . . . Oh!  Of course she tells the story of Jessica and Duncan.  I knew it the instant that she said that her "daughter's" name was Bonnie.  And as a nice wink, Nicole says that Anita looks like Jessica.  Interesting that this soap doesn't take place in the universe of other CBS soaps, though.  So BTG acknowledges ATWT as a show, but doesn't take place in its universe.

Another fine episode.

7 minutes ago, Ladybugnine said:

Nice ATWT callback!  Lol

At least June made the callback to the show's better days.  That show went left after Hogan Sheffer left and Jean Passanante took over, and it never recovered in its final five years.

[ShadowHunter]

8 minutes ago, Rodney said:

At least June made the callback to the show's better days.  That show went left after Hogan Sheffer left and Jean Passanante took over, and it never recovered in its final five years.

Don't remind me lol. While I didn't love Cady McClain on the show at least she used her normal voice.  Wtf is this accent that Cady McClain is doing now? It gets worse every episode she appears in lol.

[One Tough Cookie]

4 hours ago, Badsamaritan said:

do understand Eva's dilemma, I have a toxic parent myself. But she KNOWS Leslie is manipulating her, she KNOWS Leslie did it to make her an accessory, which is why she should've just spilled her guts to Jacob

I think that if Leslie is caught and convicted, a judge would give Eva probation or some kind of community service.  She's young, always lived with a nut bag mother.  And of she does flip, that should be taken into consideration. She's aa hair stylist, maybe on community service in that area would be appropriate

[JAYJAY1979]

5 hours ago, ShadowHunter said:

Don't remind me lol. While I didn't love Cady McClain on the show at least she used her normal voice.  Wtf is this accent that Cady McClain is doing now? It gets worse every episode she appears in lol.

What she reminds me of....

 

Also, team Derek.  

Andre's smile vanishing when he saw Derek/Ashley making up tells me he's jealous..and the hand holding Ashley was doing tells me that at this stage..Andre/Ashley were still end game at the time of filming.

[Badsamaritan]

So glad to see Eva lay it out to her mother about her and Ted never ever getting back together. But come on now, she should've walked Leslie out ahead of her. Never turn your back to crazy. That's the first rule in dealing with crazy lol. 

So glad Shanice is finally getting to tell her piece of the Mystery of Laura's Poisoning. I hope we see Ted ask Eva outright and promise to help her if she tells him the truth. And I really really hope Eva takes him up on it. I'm still holding onto my Wonder Twins dream of Kat and Eva bonding by taking Leslie down. But I'm also still wondering if this will turn into a murder mystery after Leslie finally gets murked, Nicole's words to Ted about 'handling' Leslie and protecting their family feel like foreshadowing. Anita said something similar when she told Old Ted to handle his business. Ted would end up being the most likely suspect, and that would bring him and Nicole back together as she believes in his innocence. Maybe it's a murder mystery with no actual body - that's a big soap staple. 

I suspect the beef amongst the Articulettes has to do with who went solo first. I bet Sharon was angling for it but Anita beat her to it. And it was messy, as is so often the case when one person breaks out. That should be a good story. 

Jessica Griffin! As soon as June said that was her name, I knew who she was talking about. Then a daughter named Bonnie. And the 'wink, wink' with Nicole saying she always thought her mom looked like Jessica. So cute. JESSICA + DUNCAN 4EVER MY BABIES 😭

Ugh. WHY have these two pieces of wet cardboard taken up so much valuable screen time this week? I don't care if Ashley and Derek break up, stay together, fade into the background, kill each other offscreen, move to Peru to build houses, I DON'T CARE. They should be seen way WAY less. 

I love Mona. She is having none of Leslie's delusions and is standing on business. She's very fond of Laura, when she finds out Leslie is suspected of trying to kill her? It's gon be on like Donkey Kong. Does she have family in the area? I bet she's on the usher board though. 😉

[Irlandesa]

11 hours ago, TiffanyNichelle said:

But I want Chelsea to think hard about how she was going to break up someone else's marriage.

I don't think she thought far ahead but I suspect she was considering it to be a poly situation where Allison could have her, Chelsea, as a girlfriend but the marriage would stay in place.  It turns out that isn't the situation Allison and her hubby were in.  I'm a little disappointed it ended so quickly as they just set up some potential emotional messiness.

8 hours ago, ShadowHunter said:

Tomas is better with Eva. I like they have the connection with overbearing parent. That being said we need a few more males running around the show.

He is better with Eva but then I think of how amazing Eva is and I wonder if I want her wasted with Tomas. 

4 hours ago, One Tough Cookie said:

I think that if Leslie is caught and convicted, a judge would give Eva probation or some kind of community service. 

I don't know what kind of law this show will apply but being confessed to or knowledge of a crime is usually not enough to make someone an accessory. Eva may think she's in trouble but Eva hasn't done anything illegal, yet.  She'd need to take a more proactive role in helping Eva cover up her crime.

If Eva were truly on her own, I'd understand her caving to Leslie.  But she has Ted, Martin and Tomas willing to listen and vouch for her.  Tomas is especially helpful to her because he can give her legal advice and tell her she's not an accessory.  The only part that made sense is her saying she didn't think people would believe she had no knowledge of it.

[TiffanyNichelle]

I've been calling Eva's relationship with Leslie toxic but it is straight up abusive. She's so awful to her and then she'll be all "you know I didn't mean it." It's emotional abuse. I did love Eva flat out telling her that Ted hates her, that he regrets being with her and he will never be with her again.

I can't believe she snuck into Eva's hotel room so she could steal the toiletries. I thought she had something more sinister planned except, nope, she was just trifling. 

The As The World Turns shout-out was too cute. I really thought they were just making a sly reference by having June's real name be Jessica until she kept on with her story and Nicole asked her if her daughter's name was Bonnie. The part about Jessica looking like Anita was funny.

I'm happy that Ashley and Derek are back together just so that we can be done with that awful story. Though I didn't like how Jacob made it all out to be Derek's fault and Ashley was some sad martyr but whatever, it's done.

[Rodney]

1 hour ago, TiffanyNichelle said:

Though I didn't like how Jacob made it all out to be Derek's fault and Ashley was some sad martyr

I just don't like how nearly everyone involved seems to make it Derek's fault.  I'm usually all for a mother supporting her child, but in this rare case, I'm glad that Derek actually has Jan more in his corner than her daughter's.

[AnimeMania]

S01.E59: Friday, May 23, 2025

[Rodney]

Well, hello there, Martin and Smitty.  Been wondering where you two have been all week.  They were very flirty in the early part of their scene.  But I wonder why Martin is so reluctant to talk to Smitty in private?  Their passive-aggressive shots at each other at Orphey Gene's wasn't appealing, though.

Vernon telling Samantha the story of his protest made me pay attention.  I'd heard about the race relations back then, but to even hear that highly educated black people couldn't get great jobs was sickening to me.

Looks like Doug's cast is off, but was unable to see Vanessa at first since she was with Joey.  And then, he finds her with Doug, and he clearly wasn't happy to see it.  He's clearly suspecting that Vanessa's sleeping with Joey.  And Vernon, Martin, and Smitty suspected that, too.  Even Samantha suspected that!  At least Vanessa realized that she needed to follow Doug, not stay with Joey.

Damn.  Anita and Tracy talking about their nights as the Articulettes makes me feel bad for them.  They really were that poor?  But after all of the pleasantries of yesterday, it all goes to hell today.  But Tracy did continue singing after Anita left.  But she was "background music."  But it turns out that Tracy isn't mad at Anita for leaving.  She was mad at the timing of her leaving.  She understood that one of them would've left eventually, but when Anita left bothered her more than her actually leaving.  But at least she regretted reopening the wounds.

But hearing Anita's side of everything . . . it makes her leaving make a bit more sense.  But it sounds like something else happened that made her leave.  But they're not being too clear about it.  But in the end, she had to own up to the real that she left -- wanting something of her own and not wanting to be a nobody.  She did regret Sharon and Tracy being collateral damage.  But someone else was apparently hurt by it, too.

Shanice is finally fulfilling her role as the hospital gossip.  But within reason, at least.  Didn't see her being so vain, though, in terms of her documentary appearance.

Leslie really is a crazy, deluded piece of work.  She wasn't checking on Eva at all.  And I'm glad that Ted found what she was trying to steal from her.  Then, he went in on her for her lies about Eva running Laura off the road, and I clammed up.  I was eager to see how she got out of this one.  And boy, did Ted do a good job in digging to find out that, yes, Leslie did indeed hurt Laura.  And then threatening Eva to Ted?  That was too far.  That one warranted the "bitch" call-out.  Yet Leslie is unfazed and prefers "Ms. Bitch."  Ugh.

But Leslie going through her personas (save for Sherry) showed her crazy even more.  Especially when she tried to be Nicole.  I'm starting to worry that she's going to try to hurt her just to be with Ted.  Trisha seemed to enjoy doing that scene, though.

Vanessa ripping into Ted, while well-intentioned to stick up for her best friend, was hypocritical when you consider her harem (is there a male equivalent of that word?) of lovers.  But there's one thing that I do wish that she'd have asked him.  Why didn't he consider, at least once, telling Nicole the truth over the twenty-plus years of their marriage?

Kind of a sedate episode for a Friday.  Not even an exciting cliffhanger.

[drivethroo]

I'm calling it now: Leslie is Anita's daughter with Dante Green.  Just as Kat had the life Eva "should have" had, Nicole had the life Leslie should've had. (still doesn't make EVA a Dupree though lol).

Wardrobe needs to tailor Ted's suits or get him new ones or have some lines about him losing weight from stress since Nicole left him.

Martin's back to being shifty and angry.  Samantha needs to stop saying things like "cap" and "bussin'".

Tracy is very resentful of Anita and her materials and fame but to be fair, Anita called her. She didn't call Anita.

And if Tracy is still this mad at Anita and she's the more reasonable one, you know Sharon will be on 1000.

LOL at Leslie stealing stuff from the hotel, Ted emptying her bag and Leslie putting the stuff back in it.  I think she went down to the checkout desk and got another room key.

Also Leslie has a new persona: "Nicole".  LOL

Ted now thinks of and accepts Eva as his child, which will pose problems between him and Nicole and Kat.

Quote

I suspect the beef amongst the Articulettes has to do with who went solo first. I bet Sharon was angling for it but Anita beat her to it. And it was messy, as is so often the case when one person breaks out. That should be a good story. 

I think Anita was sleeping with Dante Green for tracks, got pregnant and left Dante, the baby (Leslie) and the Articulettes behind when the more respectable Vernon Dupree came calling.  Vernon was Anita's ticket up out the Good Times ghetto and wisked her away to Maryland where she could leave them all behind.

Edited May 23 by drivethroo

[Rodney]

39 minutes ago, drivethroo said:

I'm calling it now: Leslie is Anita's daughter with Dante Green.  Just as Kat had the life Eva "should have" had, Nicole had the life Leslie should've had. (still doesn't make EVA a Dupree though lol).

I find it hard to believe that Anita, in all of these years of marriage to Vernon, would never tell him about a child whom she'd had before him.

Edited May 23 by Rodney

[wonderwoman]

17 minutes ago, Rodney said:

I find it hard to believe that Anita, in all of these years of marriage to Vernon, would never tell him about a child whom she'd had before him.

where would soap opera be if characters behaved logically?:)

[ShadowHunter]

I lost it when Leslie popped out dressed like Nicole. She gets crazier by the minute. Ted made a valid point she keeps pretending to be someone else she will honestly forget what is true. I am glad he seems to believe as of now Leslie was placing blame on Eva. Him catching her stealing stuff out of the room definitely helped.

Joey making Doug feel like a third wheel with his own wife was hilarious. 

It's about time Smitty starting getting an attitude with Martin about him not talking to him about what is going on. Though to be fair what was going on between Vanessa and Joey was none of their business. 

Looking forward to learning more about Anita and Dante Green. 

[Badsamaritan]

Anyone old enough to remember that TV miniseries called "Lace"? Phoebe Cates played a high class hoe who was given up for adoption by one of a group of four women friends, who vowed never to tell which one, until Phoebe came looking and asked the immortal question, "Which one of you bitches is my mother?" I feel like the 'timing' they're talking about is one of them being pregnant, but which one will remain a mystery to the audience, until the grown child shows up right before they do their reunion concert. Maybe even with this Dante Green fellow, who she has tracked down. I don't think it's Leslie, I think she's just a nut bar that got fixated. Whatever happens, I'm invested lol. 

Today was episode 59, and I think I read that they're about 3 months ahead in filming, so there's still some time before we really see any course corrections as far as storyline and characters go. 

[drivethroo]

1 hour ago, Rodney said:

Vernon telling Samantha the story of his protest made me pay attention.  I'd heard about the race relations back then, but to even hear that highly educated black people couldn't get great jobs was sickening to me.

It didn't matter how hard black people worked or how much education they got or money they had, they were still treated as the lowest of the low.  Remember, that's the entire reason Fairmont Crest exists in the first place: educated, monied black people could not buy nice homes in the white neighborhoods so Vernon's dad built his own neighborhood.

1 hour ago, Rodney said:

Damn.  Anita and Tracy talking about their nights as the Articulettes makes me feel bad for them.  They really were that poor? 

They grew up in the Cabrini Green housing projects so yes they were that poor (the show Good Times used footage of Cabrini Green in the opening but they didn't explicitly say the Evans family live in Cabrini Green).

1 hour ago, Rodney said:

I find it hard to believe that Anita, in all of these years of marriage to Vernon, would never tell him about a child whom she'd had before him.

I don't.  If Vernon came from an esteemed black family and Anita was trying to live up to being a "Dupree" she may not have told him about any child until after they were married and they agreed never to speak on it to Nicole or Dani.  We're all thinking Vernon must have lots of secrets because he was the politician when in reality ANITA is the politician of the family with all the secrets.

 

[Rodney]

6 minutes ago, drivethroo said:

I don't.  If Vernon came from an esteemed black family and Anita was trying to live up to being a "Dupree" she may not have told him about any child until after they were married and they agreed never to speak on it to Nicole or Dani.

Yes, true, but I was speaking of the idea of Anita never telling Vernon about a possible child at all -- before or after they were married.

[YaddaYadda]

I'm not really sure what the timeline of the Articulettes split is, but Tracy seemed to know exactly who Dani is when Anita introduced her to Naomie.

Leslie is a whole bucket of crazy, but the actress seems to be having a ball. The Nicole wig and outfit was unexpected. Leslie is certifiable. Her scenes with Ted were great today.

[Giuseppe]

Shanice in the background while Vanessa confronted Ted had me lol'ing.

6 hours ago, drivethroo said:

Wardrobe needs to tailor Ted's suits or get him new ones or have some lines about him losing weight from stress since Nicole left him.

Yeah, I was gonna say Ted's gotta get that jacket tailored. He's damn near swimming in it.

[TiffanyNichelle]

8 hours ago, drivethroo said:

Wardrobe needs to tailor Ted's suits or get him new ones or have some lines about him losing weight from stress since Nicole left him.

The way his neck was poking out of his suit jacket, he looked like a turtle. Get that man a suit that fits! I liked him today. I liked him flirting with Shanice, that impassioned speech to Vanessa about Nicole and then all his stuff with Leslie. He plays it like he cannot stand her and that he regrets everything he did with her.

Leslie in that Nicole cosplay killed me, lol. It's crazy that the wig was the best looking wig on her so far.

The way Anita talked about that incident I think she was attacked and it wasn't by Dante Green. But I do think there was a kid left behind and I hope it was a son.

[Sake614]

17 hours ago, YaddaYadda said:

but Tracy seemed to know exactly who Dani is when Anita introduced her to Naomie.

 

Dani was supposed to have been THE top fashion model in her day, and was known to be Chelsea’s manager. So it stands to reason Tracy (or anyone else) would know her name. 

[Crashcourse]

I think Ted/Keith Robinson's suit fits him just fine.  I've seen him in other shows, and he has very broad shoulders.  

[drivethroo]

On 5/23/2025 at 5:43 PM, YaddaYadda said:

I'm not really sure what the timeline of the Articulettes split is, but Tracy seemed to know exactly who Dani is when Anita introduced her to Naomie.

Anita is supposedly this world famous, Grammy award winning singer married to this famous civil rights activist turned senator and their daughter Dani was allegedly this world famous model.  I'm pretty sure Tracy and Sharon kept abreast of what Anita was up to, her children, etc. because the Duprees were always up in the Jet magazine.

 

6 hours ago, Crashcourse said:

I think Ted/Keith Robinson's suit fits him just fine.  I've seen him in other shows, and he has very broad shoulders.  

Well this show has him swimming in OG Ted's suits so they need to run to Men's Wearhouse and get a properly fitting suit real quick.  Or have him say some quick lines about losing weight from not being able to eat or sleep because Nicole kicked him out.

[Crashcourse]

2 minutes ago, drivethroo said:

Well this show has him swimming in OG Ted's suits so they need to run to Men's Wearhouse and get a properly fitting suit real quick.  Or have him say some quick lines about losing weight from not being able to eat or sleep because Nicole kicked him out.

Well, agree to disagree because I think his suits fit him just fine. 🤷‍♀️ 

[michelec]

1 minute ago, drivethroo said:

Anita is supposedly this world famous, Grammy award winning singer married to this famous civil rights activist turned senator and their daughter Dani was allegedly this world famous model.  I'm pretty sure Tracy and Sharon kept abreast of what Anita was up to, her children, etc. because the Duprees were always up in the Jet magazine.

Not just a Grammy award-winning singer but an EGOT.

Shanice had me rolling all through the episode not so subtly eavesdropping.

Considering Nicole is her bestie, I can understand Vanessa wanting to go off on Ted, but on the other hand, sweep your own porch first, hon.

Of course Leslie is going the Single Black Female route, because why not? BTW, Trisha Mann-Grant is playing those scenes like she's having the time of her life.

[JAYJAY1979]

The Duprees gossiping about Vanessa and Joey made me laugh because one shouldn't throw stones at glass houses.  Such an unlikable family.

I truly think Leslie is tied to Anita/Tracy/Sharon more than ever...and it would answer why she's obsessed with Nicole and the Duprees.  

[Joimiaroxeu]

On 5/23/2025 at 1:58 PM, Badsamaritan said:

Anyone old enough to remember that TV miniseries called "Lace"? Phoebe Cates played a high class hoe who was given up for adoption by one of a group of four women friends, who vowed never to tell which one, until Phoebe came looking and asked the immortal question, "Which one of you bitches is my mother?"

That was one of the greatest line deliveries in TV history. If BTG does a callback to that moment they better do it justice.

On 5/23/2025 at 1:19 PM, ShadowHunter said:

I lost it when Leslie popped out dressed like Nicole. She gets crazier by the minute.

Elsewhere there's a debate going on about whether Leslie has DID. I don't know about that but I did walk right up to the TV to get a better look when Leslie was standing before the mirror. It wasn't clear to me whether she was seeing her own face or a version of Nicole's.

On 5/23/2025 at 12:13 PM, drivethroo said:

Wardrobe needs to tailor Ted's suits or get him new ones or have some lines about him losing weight from stress since Nicole left him.

Yep. When I saw him I immediately thought of David Byrne's big suit in the Stop Making Sense music video.

[Kerri]

About an ep behind, I did feel sorry for Eva, until she started covering for her mother. I mean she's certainly involved now- helping to cover up the crime, which is also a crime I think. So in a way, Kat is right again- it's both Leslie and Eva, and neither can be trusted. My sympathy kind of evaporated. 

I probably do have some bias- I walked away from my own mother, so yes it can be done. And I didn't have another parent to help me. And yes, it made my life better and healthier. But I dont have a lot of patience for people complaining about terrible relationships and then doing nothing ever about it. 

The Dani / Pam kiss- it irritated me, mainly bc it just seemed like the show writers trying to be edgy or something.   

I continue to really dislike Tomas. 

Team Derek. 

I want more Mona and Shanice, but maybe part of the appeal with them is the small doses. 

 

Edited May 25 by Kerri

[JAYJAY1979]

16 minutes ago, Kerri said:

The Dani / Pam kiss- it irritated me, mainly bc it just seemed like the show writers trying to be edgy or something.   

Team Derek. 

I want more Mona and Shanice, but maybe part of the appeal with them is the small doses. 

 

Everything with Dani is just for shock value.

Even the actress playing Ashley on her IG is team Derek lol

I like that we have Mona, Shanice, and Jan as recurring characters that we can enjoy.  I'm sure soon we'll see all three more often when story dictates.

[YaddaYadda]

31 minutes ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Elsewhere there's a debate going on about whether Leslie has DID. I don't know about that but I did walk right up to the TV to get a better look when Leslie was standing before the mirror. It wasn't clear to me whether she was seeing her own face or a version of Nicole's.

I did wonder about that myself. But she's not dissociating and she doesn't have memory gaps as far as we've seen.

I think that first and foremost, Leslie is an actress. She is stepping into these roles she created for herself. And her standing in front of the mirror felt like rehearsal.

[AnimeMania]

I just hope that Leslie treats Kat better when she marries NedTed, because I know OldTed wouldn't have put up with her nonsense.

[Rodney]

3 hours ago, JAYJAY1979 said:

Even the actress playing Ashley on her IG is team Derek lol

Jen Jacob is at least aware of how badly her character is coming off.

[One Tough Cookie]

7 hours ago, Kerri said:

probably do have some bias- I walked away from my own mother, so yes it can be done. And I didn't have another parent to help me. And yes, it made my life better and healthier. But I dont have a lot of patience for people complaining about terrible relationships and then doing nothing ever about it. 

Yep, my parents MOVED TO FLORIDA and didn't tell me, and I went on to have a great life, Eva has to come to terms that her mother is a nut job and can't  have a healthy relationship with, anyone she's incapable of a real heathy relationship. 

She's relatively new in town and as yet experienced real love she's hoping to get from Ted yet,  That that there is a difference between pity and love, or remorse or guilt she confuses.  

Edited May 26 by One Tough Cookie

[ByaNose]

Next weeks scenes of Leslie asking what she did with her helmet and gloves are fire. Both of the actresses are bringing it. 

I’m still not feeling nuTed. The wardrobe did him dirty putting in a jacket that was 2 times too big for him. WTH? LOL!!!!

I like Vernon but why does every scene with him have to be a sermon?! Okay! I got it. You’re a saint but can we move on. Good lord! I might be going to hell for that one. Sorry ‘bout that one folks.