Devon Winters has a mind-blowing proposition for Anita. Bill gets emotional about all that he's lost. Kat and Tomas do their best to find their rhythm during salsa night. Chelsea bluntly makes her boundaries clear to Allison. Ted is thrown for a loop by Nicole's latest move. Naomi preps a nervous June for a momentous meeting. Leslie receives a blast from the past at her doorstep. Ashley and Madison deal with a major medical crisis. The Articulettes are asked to plan for their future now that they've reconciled with the past.
Episode 1.109
Beyond the Gates stages its first crossover with another program from CBS' daytime lineup. Devon Winters from The Young & the Restless stops by to offer Anita a recording contract. She rejects the offer. She proposes signing Tracy and Sharon instead. She will appear as a featured artist on their album. Moreover, she seeks to restore the original music with Barbara's vocals. A weight has been lifted off of her shoulders since the concert. She takes this moment to prioritize family. She's not looking to relaunch her solo career. She seeks to honor the past. She explains to Nicole that she created a blind trust in Barbara's honor. She takes these actions to hopefully do right by her fallen friend. All of these details suggest something more may be lurking around the corner. Barbara's family doesn't know what Anita has done. Barbara's story is public knowledge now. She made sure of that. It was healing for the entire group. Nicole is proud of her mother for finding this personal satisfaction. Anita is finally at peace. That's thrilling. She also worries that Vernon is up to something now that he has a bunch of meetings scheduled.
Bill pours his heart out to Dani about his expectations of having another child. He was uncertain during Hayley's first scare. He's finally convinced this is what he wants. He wants to make up for the mistakes he made when Naomi and Chelsea were young. He was there for the important moments. He fears he has lost them for good. He doesn't have a solid relationship with either of them. This moment reminds Dani of what she loves about Bill. She can never let that go. She feels foolish for still acting this way. She wanted to offer her condolences. She didn't cause Hayley's miscarriage. She added stress to the situation. That wasn't productive. Hayley doesn't like walking in on this emotional moment between Bill and Dani. She is trying to get Bill to confide in her like that. She offers the promise of a bright and happy future. What Bill and Dani had is wrapped up in the past. Those memories are easier to access. That drives Hayley's jealousy. While Dani feels like this, she shows her support for Andre wanting to date Ashley. Shockingly, that isn't full of drama. Instead, Ashley is the one to end things before they ever really get started. She can't trust Andre. And so, all of this may have just been transitional relationships until Andre finds whatever he is searching for.
Grade: B+
Episode 1.110
Samantha and Tyrell are June's children. Jacob went to the adoption agency and received that information. The family is about to be hit with this new drama. They haven't even resolved everything else going on. Naomi finally tells Jacob that Vernon shared the truth. Attorney-client privilege has been invoked. So, nothing can be revealed. He can't even talk about all that occurred with Elon and Joey at the casino. They are united in their quest to hope June. That's the overwhelming focus for them right now. They heal the bond between the sisters. Regina couldn't afford to get her hopes up. She was betrayed too much times by June. She can't endure that emotional tragedy again. So much healing could have occurred if she read all of June's letter. It provides clarity. June finally recognizes the pain of her past. She is no longer trying to run away. Instead, she accepts an offer to stay with Regina. It's so heartwarming. It's also wrapped up in uncertainty. It doesn't take much for Smitty and Martin to start arguing. When the reveal finally happens, the family is happily together at game night. Their worlds are about to crumble all over again.
Similarly, a new mystery is being established with Leslie. She has already spent all the money Ted loaned to Eva. She expects more. It all went to luxury items. She continues to ignore her bills. Eva wants to protect her mother. She calls her out for being addicted to her rage and sense of victimhood. She has to be aggrieved in some way to engage with life. Something good could potentially happen. Leslie doesn't feel lucky. She doesn't want to be scammed. She's the one conning other people. Eva looks deeper. Leslie may be tied to some big inheritance that could change her life. It's all thanks to Eva. That appreciation doesn't go far. Eva gives so much. It's because she cares. That's taken advantage of often. The same essentially applies to Bill in his marriage to Hayley. She dictated the story of her miscarriage. Her symptoms are very real. She wants to arm herself with information for when they can try again. It's hard to take anything she says at face value. She wants to try again because she knows how happy it will make Bill. He wants to share that celebration. Yet everything Hayley does is to please Bill in some way.
Grade: B
Episode 1.111
For months, Naomi and Jacob tried to get June into stable housing. She was too stubborn to accept any help. She also struggled with her health. Naomi reached out to Regina hoping to better understand the family background. She has healed this relationship. June was finally able to acknowledge the past. The reward is reuniting with her children. Naomi and Jacob could sway the decision one way or the other with all they know. Instead, they break the news to Martin and Smitty. They are the parents who have to decide. They can't even be alone together without fighting. Martin fears he is losing his family. Smitty believes his husband is trying to manipulate him into forgiveness. They have to set their egos aside to focus on Samantha and Tyrell. The kids are given the information. They were abandoned by their mother. For years, they have villainized her. The prospect of there being more to the story is enticing. Martin and Smitty have prepared them. They need reassurance too. They don't want their family to break apart even further. This news unites them. They haven't been this in sync since before Martin's secret came out. That's a hopeful note despite the uncertainty they face in meeting June.
Across town, Tomas' lead is hard to follow. He and Kat are capable of being incredible partners. It requires a certain amount of conviction. When that's unlocked, Kat is willing to have sex again. The experience is still miserable. It's unclear if it's an issue with Tomas or with sex in general. He explodes with emotions afterwards. He believes they are perfect. She doesn't think so. He doesn't pick up on those signals right away. That's concerning. She can't hide the truth either this time. In fact, blunt conversations need to be had. Chelsea establishes firm boundaries with Allison when she appears at the club. Allison keeps trying to find ways to be involved in Chelsea's life. Chelsea isn't falling for any of them. Allison pledges that Chelsea will regret it. That's ominous. Plus, it distracts a bit from how much in love Chelsea and Madison are. Meanwhile, Eva admits that she loves Nicole. She hates what she did to her. She hates that she did it out of blind loyalty to her mother. Leslie expects her daughter to be grateful. Yet Leslie is the source of her own misery. She makes things harder than they have to be. She started something by calling about the inheritance. That won't just turn off now.
Grade: B
Episode 1.112
Ted did virtually nothing to save his marriage. For Nicole, everything ended on their anniversary. She was distraught in the weeks after. She has now found happiness and purpose again. It doesn't require Ted whatsoever. That doesn't mean things will develop with Carlton. Her family still carries a burdensome secret. They are all finding their way through that. She is firm with her decision. Ted feels blindsided. He believes they were on the path towards reconciliation. That was entirely in his head. He did nothing to win her back. He repeatedly failed to warn the family when Leslie was planning more drama. He left them to fend for themselves. He showed more interest in accepting Eva as his daughter than fixing his marriage. He can't be surprised when the family wants to maintain their distance. He shockingly is. He's outraged Anita and Vernon would allow this to happen. Nicole has her own agency. Ted failing to see that proves how he doesn't deserve her. Anita and Vernon rescue their daughter when it's needed. She is capable of making her own decisions. She's not lectured about trying to make things work. That requires effort. She can't be bothered with whatever Ted wants to do or say. He missed his moment.
Ted and Nicole's divorce was building for awhile. Sending the papers wasn't finalized through dialogue until now. That's in contrast to Samantha and Tyrell meeting June. That was discussed. It comes together quickly. Naomi only sees the good that can come from this. She provides unconditional support for June. June owns up to all she did in the past. She's grateful that Samantha and Tyrell have good lives. She couldn't provide for them. This was the right decision. She doesn't want this to be their last interaction. She's hopeful. Samantha and Tyrell know what to do next. All of this brings Martin and Smitty back under the same roof. More needs to be discussed. They aren't butting heads constantly. A lot can apparently change in a matter of hours. Meanwhile, Leslie's mother suddenly arrives. She has tracked her down. Leslie insisted that she only needed Eva. That was the only family they could depend on. Peaches declares that she is dying. That changes Leslie's mood. It also comes with the reveal that Leslie never knew her mother's true identity. Peaches cared for her like a daughter. They apparently had a falling out. That's understandable given how Leslie behaves. She tries to manipulate everything to her benefit. She doesn't care who gets hurt in the process. She may learn something that shakes her to her core. That would require her to be genuine for once and quit all the lies and deceit. That's a tall order.
Grade: B+
Episode 1.113
The week started with Anita talking about the blind trust she started for Barbara's family. It ends with Leslie learning Barbara was her mother. So now, the most irresponsible woman with money stands to inherit a massive fortune. The Articulettes have reconciled. They've made peace with their past. It came at the perfect moment when they were all ready to handle the truth. Anita is about to be blindsided. She regrets not inviting Barbara's family to the reunion concert. She didn't think about it. Leslie was there. She wasn't causing drama. She was singing along. It was a magical moment. Leslie doesn't know what to do with all this news. It's all an extension of Peaches wanting to resolve unfinished business before she dies. It's clear she and Leslie have a lot of drama in their past. Not all of it is mentioned here. The most crucial details are expressed. It's difficult for Peaches to share everything. She does. That means Leslie will have newfound agency moving forward. That's a promising development. One that will hopefully get her out of the rut she's been in lately story-wise. It's also the latest coincidental connection between these characters. It comes the same week June was discovered to be Samantha and Tyrell's birth mother. That could be overstimulating. It makes up for the episodes that focused on the dull supporting characters with unclear motivations.
Speaking of which, Derek is rushed to the hospital with another life-threatening injury. He started training for a triathlon too late. He wasn't prepared. He didn't listen to the warnings. He may never walk again as a result. Jan urged her daughter to make things work with him because he was seen as safe and stable. This was an unnecessary risk. It presents as him having nothing left to lose. His relationship with Ashley was the only thing that mattered. The audience felt that way too. It was the only story given to him. And now, Ashley feels responsible for what happened. She can't abandon him. She still cares for him. That's complicated by Andre feeling betrayed for expressing how he felt. He was committed to this relationship only to feel betrayed by her rejection. He blames Ashley's lingering feelings for her ex. He and Ted are miserable together. It's a dour pity party. The energy is much more fun with Nicole, Dani and Vanessa. They celebrate Nicole's divorce. They are happy for what comes next. No one can really blame them either. That sense of fun is needed to balance the mood elsewhere.
Grade: B+
