CBS invites you to step Beyond the Gates this Monday, taking us into a world rarely seen on network television. This new drama centers on the Duprees, a family that embodies Black excellence and affluence in a gated community just outside the D.C. beltway. Think Dynasty meets Our Kind of People, but hopefully with less shoulder pads and more nuanced storytelling. The series aims to explore the lives of this multi-generational family, who, like any family, have their share of internal squabbles and external pressures.
The setting itself is a character – one of the wealthiest African American enclaves in the country. The series will likely juxtapose the picture-perfect exteriors of McMansions and manicured lawns with the messy realities of the lives within. Secrets, as they always do, simmer beneath the surface, threatening to disrupt the carefully constructed image of success. The premiere will introduce us to the key players, establishing the family dynamics and the potential conflicts that will drive the narrative. Will it be a soapy delight or a more grounded exploration of family and community? I’m cautiously optimistic. It’s always refreshing to see new stories centered on Black families that go beyond stereotypical narratives.
Tune in Monday, February 24, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET/PT on CBS to see if Beyond the Gates lives up to its potential.
Beyond the Gates airs Mondays at 2:00 PM ET/PT on CBS.
