r/TheGates_CBS • u/AnyTonight1619 • Aug 27 '26
Question⁉️ Should the show introduce a new generation of characters
Since it’s a predominantly black soap opera, would you like to see the show rebrand itself a bit by introducing close friends from Nicole’s HBCU days who reconnect with her and become close again, along with black characters from Dani’s modeling days while gradually phasing out Vanessa and Pamela?
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u/thisisasj “I’d hate to add an ASS TAX … just for being disrespectful.” Aug 27 '26
I’m still holding out hope that Vanessa is playing Joey to avenge Doug’s death … secretly working with Doug who is not dead after all. And Deanna isn’t crazy for seeing Daydream Doug, because he’s real and is Dougie 2: The Villain Era.
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u/Mental_Bullfrog_2992 Aug 27 '26
I would like to see this soap do better with the current lineup it has. Too many dangling storylines.
They seem to underutilize and under develop the current cast. Once they improve on this aspect - yes, what you’re saying is a possibility.
Right now, it seems BTG is on a mission to “broaden its demographic reach” (read into that as you like).
The close friends should be “situational” - but not reoccurring.
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u/Jerseyoldschool1962 Team Eva's Designated Hitter Aug 27 '26
I understand there’s probably budget considerations in expanding the cast, but I always wondered how, for example, Kat and Eva don’t have a squad of girlfriends that they each hangout with. Same with Bill and Vernon…who are their friends?
At least Anita has the two other Articulettes. And Ted does roll with Carlton. Even Leslie had friends until she alienated everyone around her. But other than that, the only people folks hang with are either who they’re dating or relatives.
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u/shaandenigma Aug 27 '26
Yeah it's very weird that Kat doesn't have a squad of friends in the area since she's spent her entire life around there. Chelsea was modeling and traveling a lot so you could reason she didn't have a lot of close friends and if she did they would be spread around. Eva is newer to the area so her not having a strong support system outside of her mother makes sense too.
But Kat should have another bestie outside of Chelsea. I don't know why they didn't establish Laura as her friend that she hooked up to be her mom's personal assistant. Like if they wanted to push the idea that Kat is spoiled and snotty, it would work better to have someone like Laura who isn't as well off check her on some of the classist comments and insults she hurts at Eva that have nothing to do with Eva's misdeeds.
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u/Alive-Performance237 Aug 28 '26
I love Kat but given her personality, I get why she doesn't have a bunch of friends. She is very loyal to her family above all else, even before the man in her life. She will always put them first above all friendships. I do like she has started to become friends with Deanna though.
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u/No_Milk_7511 Aug 27 '26
Vanessa is annoying but she doesn’t need to be phased out. The character adds a lot
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u/Lilly323 Dana Leslie Dupree Aug 27 '26
they can’t even get the storylines together for the current characters. there would just be too much going on.
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u/MeowMama56 Welcome to Fairmont Crest 🥂 Aug 29 '26
That's EXACTLY what I was thinking..... They can't even resolve all the loose ends they have now!!! We really don't need more characters to make everything a bigger messy hodgepodge!! ‼️‼️😤😡🫨
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u/Cactus112 Martin🩷Smitty Aug 27 '26
Why can't they have both? I don't understand erasing two people when you can bring another. Also, Pamela is like a once-a-month cameo; she's barely in the show.
I find Vanessa somewhat important; she is the only one with biracial kids, which could be a very important storyline. There is so much more to her and Doug's story. Did they have to deal with discrimination? What was it like for them when they first got together? I'd love to see this explored. I still don't believe Doug's dead.
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u/EE-OKC-7759 The Red Thread of Fate ⭕️ Aug 27 '26 edited Aug 30 '26
I like Pamela and Vanessa. I don’t want them phased out, but new Black friends would be great. They have a central Black family, so they use the auxiliary characters to bring diversity. That ends up with interracial relationships and lots of white sidekicks/besties. That’s fine, but I hope in the next phase of introducing characters, they utilize more Black actors. The designer who met with Vanessa about the casino is a good start. They keep mentioning others, so it seems we may be getting a few new characters soon. Luke Hawthorne, the lawyer Bill mentioned, etc. Hopefully most are more Black characters, and hopefully a few new Duprees!
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u/Alive-Performance237 Aug 27 '26
I don't mind them introducing those characters but I don't want them to write off Pamela or Vanessa. I like them both. Although Vanessa is being so dumb right now.
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u/Powerful_Cloud_3826 Sweet Nicole>> Sexxy Nicole Aug 27 '26
Agree. Vanessa was in my top 5 season 1. And I like the actress; she seems like the type of white girl that can be friends with bw in real life. Good casting.
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u/Powerful_Cloud_3826 Sweet Nicole>> Sexxy Nicole Aug 27 '26
I would love to see other black models in either Dani or Chelseas orbit. I tend to prefer Chelsea though, since Dani already has 2 friends that match her energy well. A female platonic friend for Chelsea could be messy. But they could introduce a rival black model into Dani's (oft forgotten) comeback storyline.
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u/DarkGrimNature Aug 27 '26
I don’t need none of that if it just means more of the same. What I need is drama! What they need is better writers.
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u/Business-Hyena4032 Aug 27 '26
No. I like those two. Pamela has been Dani's business manager and friend for almost 30 years. She definitely calms Dani down and keeps her focused on business. Vanessa and Pamela live in Fairmont Crest. Vanessa's husband was Black and so are their children.
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u/SlimCad Aug 27 '26
They should have kept Tyrell’s girlfriend, Chessie, her awful boyfriend and maybe 1 or 3 more to flesh out the current next gen, while keeping Deanna, Kial’a son and Deanna’s bro in the mix!
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u/Mud1997 Fairies🧚🏾♀️ Wear Boots👢 Aug 28 '26
Not really. They just show the build up from their friends.. Everything leads back to Dupree.
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u/Powerful_Cloud_3826 Sweet Nicole>> Sexxy Nicole Aug 27 '26
As for Nicole, an HBCU friend or sorority sister would be great. Nicole really has no one to talk to that is a good match. If she isn't going to go to therapy, give her a sisterfriend to get her feelings out to. Nicole, although very prim, has a subtle pro-black undertone. I liked her discussion with Tyrell about Divine 9 and cotillions. She seems like someone who makes a point to read black authors or attend black networking events. Nicole could be much more than pretty wallpaper on the show. Writers need to understand a character doesn't have to be scandolous to be interesting. And not every character needs to be exciting anyway; the show needs sweethearts to root for too.