‘Beyond The Gates’ Episode 78 Recap: Vernon’s Secrets & Nicole’s Self-Preservation

By Erica Vain | June 21, 2025

This Article was updated on November 17, 2025 by Erica Vain

Vernon Dupree: From Cleanup Crew to Co-Conspirator?

This was a pretty decent episode of Beyond The Gates, and what stood out immediately was this Martin mystery finally getting some meat on its bones. The busboy decided to grab his cajones and lay the groundwork for extorting Martin with a contentious little moment in the country club hallway.

Meanwhile, Bernie is over here talking about “leave it to me, leave it to me, it’s gonna be okay.” But it ain’t gonna be okay! I’m guessing he’s about to lay a trap for the busboy once homeboy starts making his demands. Thing is, during their confrontation, the busboy doesn’t actually say what he wants – he’s just dangling this carrot like, “I guess I am who you thought I was, but guess what? Now this is going to be a problem for you.”

We leave the episode with Bernie making a call about needing to see somebody. Sir, you should have made that call two days ago, Mr. Dupree! When Martin first told you someone knew what happened that night, you should’ve already called your contact. “Do we have tabs on this particular person?”

What’s really interesting is we find out the busboy’s brother was harmed or killed in this whole incident. They’re literally drip-feeding what happened – not giving us everything we need to know. But what I DO know after seeing this episode with the busboy confrontation and Bernie reassuring Martin is that Vernon is more involved than just the cleanup crew.

Vernon isn’t just fixing something for his wayward grandson who got himself into a pickle that might interfere with his political aspirations. It feels to me like Vernon Dupree is a CO-CONSPIRATOR in this whole thing! Martin did not do this by himself. They might have been driving together and killed somebody, y’all! And THAT is salacious!

Anita’s Coming Back with the Swiftness

I said Bernie might want to go ahead and call Anita because maybe they both need to figure out what to do about this mess. We actually do get a call from her since we haven’t seen her in a while. She’s in Chicago getting ready for the reunion concert with the Articulates, but she calls to check in, and child, she can hear it in Bernie’s voice.

Bernie’s trying to play dumb, trying to create some distance so Anita doesn’t have to worry about anything happening back at Fairmont Crest. “Just focus on what you got going on!” Meanwhile, Rome is burning, and Anita is not no dummy. She picks up on it immediately, so I don’t think we’re going to be missing her too much next week. She’ll definitely be back because she don’t play that – she’ll be back with the swiftness to figure out what’s going on.

Doug’s Pathetic Confrontation Game

Now, I actually misspoke, y’all, because the LEAST interesting storyline is Doug’s pathetic ass trying to check Vanessa but then not actually checking her. We get a moment with them at the hospital, and she’s like, “What, are you mad because I have a relationship with him and I got us a good deal?”

No, he’s mad that you let that man bend you over that damn poker table! Let’s just say the thing! But Doug refuses to say it. He keeps alluding to it, keeps insinuating. Like, “You know he was cheating on you. You know he’s actually sleeping with this man. Do you not feel that disrespect?”

If you feel that disrespected, then how are you going to act? How are you going to move? But divorce ain’t on the damn table. You laid out, “Also, I need them downtown. Let’s play this up. Sleep with all these men.” It’s not on the table!

So why are we even having these conversations, Doug? This is why I can’t stop calling you pathetic – because you GIVE pathetic! You’re checking her for what? You’re seething for what? You ain’t gonna do shit about it. You ain’t gonna stop her. You ain’t gonna punch Joey in the face. You ain’t going to get it crunk for real! So why even bring it up? Your wife is walking all over you. Joey is walking all over you. Your life is in shambles. Go do a surgery or something and get out my face!

Smitty & Jacob: Exposing the Dirty Cops

The two storylines competing for Most Interesting in this episode are definitely Nicole and Ted finally having a conversation (but not the one Ted wants to have) and Smitty going to Jacob to reveal what he discovered while working on that “fluff piece” on Detective Marcel.

I spoke about this long ago when they first planted the seeds of Marcel being dirty, with Jacob going to his dad to smooth things over, but then we find out as the audience that Jacob’s dad is helping Marcel cover his illegal activity. I just KNEW we were going to go down the road of Jacob being disillusioned by the man his father is – and his character going on a journey to reconcile what that means for someone who modeled his life, his goodness, his ambitions, everything after his father.

What happens to a man who has that pinnacle, that person placed on a pedestal, ripped from that spot, only to discover that person is just human? And worse than that, a human that is deeply flawed and morally compromised? That’s going to be a really great journey for Jacob, but it’s going to be very hard to watch.

We get Easter eggs as we watch Smitty reveal information and Jacob grappling with the idea that his father could be in on it, that his father could be on the wrong side of things when his father always told him to do right, be right, and align himself with goodness.

I’m excited to see it (though I hate that Jacob’s going to hurt, bless his heart). This type of deep, nuanced, character-driven storytelling really tickles my fancy, so I’m thrilled we’re going down this road.

The scenes bounce between Smitty and Jacob at Refugio’s and then cut to the casino. First of all, Jacob, it took you way too long to get your ass off that police station property! I get that you’re a cop and y’all have that brotherhood nonsense, but THIS is the problem – cops be moving like a damn gang, like a mob! You literally compromised yourself AND Smitty by not moving when he told you to move your ass so y’all could talk somewhere safe.

And guess what? It wasn’t safe because your listening-ass daddy was right there! The moment y’all leave, he calls and rallies the troops – Detective Dirty-Ass Marcel and Joey Hoes. They go down to Joey’s casino of all places to talk about their dirty deeds and play poker with that “I” ashtray. Y’all, it’s two cops in a criminal mob establishment! Do y’all WANT to get caught? Because this is the dumbest move I’ve ever seen!

But they WILL get caught – it’s gonna be slight work for Smitty. I cannot stop my growing love for Smitty. He is literally the only redeeming white person on this show who’s actually worth his weight in story. He’s adding something to the table – we see him doing his investigative journalist thing, not taking no for an answer from Marcel, and raising his kids right. Absolutely killing it! Smitty, you gotta hold it down, baby, because you are carrying the weight of all the non-Black characters on your shoulders. Your story is the only one worth a damn. Love this for you!

Nicole’s Self-Preservation Masterclass

This whole storyline is competing with the conversation between Ted and Nicole. I don’t think I’ve been as locked in as I was during the scenes cutting to Ted and Nicole talking. They still have so much to discuss. Nicole comes in like, “We need to get this living trust together because we’re going to be living separately. We still need to make sure our descendants are taken care of – our grandkids are good, our children are good, everything is everything.”

And Ted is like, “I don’t actually want to do this. We don’t have to be living separately.” But they do! The story, the writing was just so good. The dialogue was bomb, and of course, the performances were chef’s kiss.

I love that Nicole spoke truth to Ted, saying he’s talking about needing her, loving her, wanting to be around her – but he’s only speaking to what HE wants from the relationship. What about what Nicole needs?

This isn’t just about romantic relationships. Within our families, our friendships – whether with male or female friends – it’s very easy to overlook what the women in your life need as individuals. Not what they need to better serve the collective, not what they need to be a better mother or sister or lover to you – but what do THEY need? What does their particular soul crave? What would help their personality shine through? What would help them feel fulfilled as individuals?

I love that they took time to have Nicole communicate this from a place of knowing herself. That line where she says, “You are trying to save us, and I am trying to save me” – that resonates so deep! I ain’t never been married and don’t have kids, but the way I operate in my life, I feel very responsible for the people I love and their lived experiences. If I have the power to help someone or teach someone, or step in and cover or lay myself down so they can walk over a puddle, I’ve done that.

It’s only now that I’m getting to a place of pulling back my resources to utilize for myself first before extending them to other people. I was always so willing to sacrifice myself and give everything I am in service to others, often not having enough left for myself when I was going through my own struggles.

So watching Nicole, even as a single unmarried woman, I’m like, “Absolutely, ma’am! Call your power back! Speak to your autonomy!” We get conditioned as women to think our lives are simply here to be of service to others, when we need to be of service to ourselves first. We are most effective, most powerful, most impactful when we’re serving ourselves well – then the world gets served by our overflow.

I think this moment left Ted in a place of reflection. If you love somebody like he claims to deeply love Nicole, the moment she says she’s trying to save herself should put things in perspective. Like, “Yeah, this would be great for us to get back together because I want to be with you and I know how great it’s been. But what does this mean for YOU?”

I don’t fault Ted for his desires to be with her and move back in. But I deeply respect Nicole advocating for herself and creating enough distance so she doesn’t get caught up in the rapture of her husband or kids or whoever. Sometimes we need time and space to make sure when we ask ourselves “What is Nicole like? What does Nicole need?” – we actually have answers.

Those are my thoughts on episode 78, y’all! I recorded this on my birthday (June 25th) because I forgot to record yesterday when I started celebrating early. CBS is playing games with these release dates, but I do have next week’s preview, so I’ll be recording that next for you guys.

And yes, I recorded on my birthday, so the least all you silent listeners who don’t post comments could do is wish your girl a happy birthday! I appreciate it! I’m Gemini gang… actually Caspi (I thought I was a Cancer for years, but that’s a whole other conversation for another day). Now let’s get into this preview because I’m putting it up right now!