Beyond the Gates Recap - Friday, May 23, 2025 | Leslie Unleashed: Nicole 2.0 Has Entered the Building

On Friday's episode of Beyond the Gates, Leslie turns up the chaos with a new identity, Anita and Tracy rip each other to shreds with some long-overdue honesty, and Vanessa finds herself juggling flirtation and fury in public view. 

Leslie Goes Full Drama Queen with a Side of Theft

Just when you think Leslie couldn’t be more outrageous, she decides to ransack Eva’s hotel room like it’s Black Friday at Bergdorf’s. But before she can make off with a suitcase full of high-end wig shampoo, Ted walks in and instantly shuts down her thirsty attempt at seduction. He calls her sick, and she pretends it was all just a harmless drop-by.

Ted's not buying the fake concern routine—especially with Eva’s stuff poking out of Leslie’s bag—and when he confronts her about throwing Eva under the bus over Laura’s accident, Leslie plays her favorite game: Denial & Deflection. But Ted isn’t here for her twisted games. When he accuses her of being the one who ran Laura off the road, Leslie threatens to make Eva suffer more than she already is. And that’s when Ted lets her know that protecting his daughter comes before everything—especially Leslie.

Leslie, never one to leave quietly, adds a final jab: “That’s Ms. Bitch.” Then she struts home, pulls out her wig collection, and transforms into Nicole 2.0—complete with the prim-and-proper aesthetic that once had Ted weak in the knees. And she’s not even pretending this isn’t manipulation. She stares into the mirror and mocks him: “Is this what gets you all hot and bothered, Teddy?” Watch out, Fairmont Crest—Leslie’s cooking up a scheme hotter than her flat iron.

Anita and Tracy’s Reunion Turns Into a War Zone

At Dupree Manor, Anita is dreaming of an emotional reunion and a little nostalgic harmony with her former bandmate Tracy. What she gets instead? A verbal beatdown and some decades-old resentment served piping hot.

Tracy rolls in and immediately clocks Anita’s luxurious life like she’s stepped into a music video. She’s not impressed. Nope—she’s bitter, and she’s ready to unload. Tracy accuses Anita of leaving their group high and dry, chasing fame without a backward glance, and basically bulldozing anyone who got in her way. Anita claps back, claiming every accolade came from blood, sweat, and tears. But Tracy isn’t feeling it. To her, Anita climbed the charts by stepping over the very people who built the foundation.

Anita finally admits what everyone’s been dancing around: she left to survive, emotionally and professionally. “Work was my salvation,” she says, like that explains ghosting her friends. But Tracy isn’t done. She demands Anita own up to what really happened back then. And from the looks of it, this isn’t just about music—there’s a whole tragic backstory the audience still doesn’t know, and whatever it is, it left scars that neither woman’s ready to reveal.

Martin and Smitty’s Not-So-Private Moment Gets Hijacked

While all that drama’s unfolding, Martin and Smitty are trying to have a serious conversation—but good luck with that in this town. Smitty wants to talk about something important (we’ll get to that...eventually), but Vernon swings by to help Samantha with a school project and, of course, Martin turns a private chat into a group hang.

Smitty’s side-eye could cut glass, but Martin’s either oblivious or avoiding the conversation. Either way, their moment’s officially ruined, and now we’re all left wondering what Smitty was going to say. Secrets don’t stay buried for long around here, so it’s only a matter of time.

Vanessa and Joey Set Off Alarm Bells All Over Fairmont Crest

At Orphey Gene’s, Vanessa is all giggles and eye-flutters with Joey, completely forgetting that her husband Doug is getting his cast removed across town. He shows up just in time to hear the words “great team” and immediately clocks the romantic tension thick enough to slice.

Doug gives them both the cold shoulder and leaves, and now the entire diner is buzzing. Smitty, who sees everything, is already debating whether Nicole should be filled in. And Martin? He’s busy tossing shade with a fake smile, telling Samantha that “some folks need to learn when to let sleeping dogs lie.” Subtle.

Realizing she might have gone too far, Vanessa dashes to the hospital to try to salvage her marriage. But on her way, she bumps into none other than Ted—and she’s got words. Lots of them.

Vanessa Lays Into Ted Like It’s Her Job

Fresh off her awkward lunch date, Vanessa runs into Ted and decides now is the perfect time to unleash. She calls him out on his cluelessness, fidelity, and lack of loyalty like she’s been waiting for this moment all week.

Ted, for once, doesn’t try to deny it. He looks like a man dragging a thousand regrets behind him and admits he’ll never forgive himself. Sweet sentiment, Ted, but Vanessa’s not handing out sympathy. Not today.

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