3 Beyond the Gates Characters Fans Already Want Back

When there’s a major shake-up on a soap, as there was this past week on Beyond the Gates, fans are often left stunned by what they just witnessed. Sometimes the changes hit so hard that viewers immediately start asking for more — or demanding that certain characters come back.

That’s exactly what’s happening after the fallout from the Impaler storyline and the chaos it brought to Fairmont Crest. While some characters met grim fates and others were hauled away in handcuffs, many fans aren’t ready to say goodbye just yet.

We took a look at the characters viewers are already campaigning to see again — and how the show could realistically bring them back.

Ren Tolliver Deserves Another Round

Viewers met Ren Tolliver (Donny Carrington) when Jacob (Jibre Hordges) went undercover as “Rashad” to bring down the blood plasma ring plaguing Fairmont Crest. He ran the operations and kept employees like Rashad in line… and when Jacob overstepped, Ren laid the boots to him.

Why He Left

He was busted. Moments after Jacob’s cover was blown, Ren had a gun pointed at him and his hands behind his back. Last seen, he was at the police station, letting Grayson (Jordi Vilasuso) and Jacob know that he’d be back, and they’d be sorry.

How He Could Return

Ren’s crimes won’t lock him away forever. A plea deal, reduced sentence, or early release could easily pave the way for his return. And honestly, Fairmont Crest could use a smart, intimidating bad boy.

A reformed Ren trying to rebuild his life could create interesting drama, especially if nobody trusts him. On the other hand, the show could lean into his darker side by pairing him with Joey Armstrong or even Hayley — isn’t it just a matter of time before she’s single? There’s also the possibility that Ren already has family ties somewhere in Fairmont Crest and viewers simply haven’t discovered them yet.

We don’t know Ren’s backstory…yet. But Donny Carrington made an impression fast, and we want more of him.

Lia Whitmore Still Has Untapped Potential

Dr. Lia Whitmore (Cecelia Specht) arrived at Garland Memorial as a stern, intimidating Chief of Staff, but over time viewers saw flashes of something more layered underneath the hard exterior.

She was ruthless when necessary, especially regarding the plasma ring, but the storyline also revealed that Lia herself had been manipulated and financially ruined by Lynette Wise (Dominique Madison). That alone opened the door for possible redemption. Well, that and a plea deal.

Why She Left

Like Ren, she was busted at the warehouse. Unlike Ren, she offered to make a plea deal before the cuffs were even brought out.

How She Could Return

Lia may actually be one of the easiest characters to bring back because there are still so many unanswered questions surrounding her. Her unresolved connection to Lynette Wise still hangs over the story, and her history with Marcel Malone (Darryl W. Handy) and Dr. Kial Rollins (Greg Vaughan) suggests there’s far more to uncover. 

It was hinted she had a previous romantic relationship with Marcel, and she had known Kial for years — even though he was a traveling doctor, new to Garland Memorial. Even her dynamic with Dr. Carlton Fitzgerald (Robert Christopher Riley) felt unusually personal for coworkers.

Then there’s the possibility that Lia is secretly connected to Joey Armstrong. Joey has already referenced a sister who left town, but soaps love hidden family reveals, and Lia, as another sibling, would instantly tie her back into the canvas.

What made Lia work was that Cecelia Specht allowed viewers to see multiple sides of her. Beneath the intimidating authority figure were flashes of humor, vulnerability, flirtation, and even warmth. That complexity makes her feel far from finished.

Derek Baldwin’s Death Hit Fans Hard

The death of Derek Baldwin was absolutely devastating for many in Fairmont Crest, but if you think that art and life didn’t cross paths last week, think again. No, the actor who played him, Ben Gavin, is just fine, but the death of Derek is being treated by fans as though he’s a real person.

Starting with online tributes and message boards on fire, fans who didn’t even know they liked Derek suddenly felt his loss. And it hit hard. An online memorial service was held (yes, really), and we even saw a custom-made music video in tribute to the fallen soap hero — in short, Derek’s death has become a Daytime TV phenomenon.

But what does that mean? That Ben Gavin needs to be back on Beyond the Gates.

Why He Left

Derek died after taking a bullet meant for Jacob and Grayson. He made it to the hospital long enough to tell Ashley he loved her before dying during surgery.

How He Could Return

Soap fans already know the answer: evil twin. Because viewers never met Derek’s family, the show conveniently left the door wide open for a previously unknown twin brother to arrive in Fairmont Crest seeking answers — and revenge.

Ashley could begin catching glimpses of someone who looks exactly like Derek around town, leaving her questioning whether she’s grieving or losing her mind. Meanwhile, the twin could blame Ashley, Jacob, Grayson, or anyone else he believes failed Derek. The twist works especially well if the brother is nothing like Derek at all — colder, darker, and far more dangerous.

Would it be outrageous? Absolutely. But soap fans have loved far wackier twists before, and the emotional reaction to Derek’s death proves viewers are not ready to let Ben Gavin go.

Should These Characters Return?

The Impaler storyline clearly connected characters with viewers in a major way. Whether it’s Ren’s menace, Lia’s complexity, or the emotional fallout from Derek’s death, there’s definitely room for at least one of these characters to find their way back to Fairmont Crest.

And in daytime television, “gone” doesn’t always mean forever. Lookin’ at you, Doug.