What’s the Deal, Smitty? Beyond the Gates’ Martin Richardson Hit the Husband Jackpot, but Why Did Smitty Say Yes?

MARTIN RICHARDSON MARRYING SMITTY MAKES SENSE, BUT WHY DID SMITTY?

TL;DR: Beyond the Gates fans totally get why Martin Richardson married Smitty. He’s smart, gorgeous, kind, and raised their kids while Martin chased his political dreams. What we don’t get is why Smitty married Martin. Sure, Smitty is a bit of a liability right now with a murder charge hanging over him, but Martin has been a self-entitled, coddled pain in the neck for a lot longer. The BTG spoilers have Martin fighting for Smitty’s case, and it’s about time.

Martin Hit the Jackpot

Let’s start with the easy part. Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) married Smitty (Mike Manning), and of course he did. Bradley “Smitty” Smith has a great heart, a sharp mind, and looks that could stop traffic on the Gates’ front lawn.

He’s also the one who raised their kids. While Martin was building a political career, Smitty was home with Tyrell Richardson (Jaden Lucas Miller) and Samantha Richardson (Najah Jackson). His own career as a journalist took a back seat so the family could run.

Any man would be lucky to have him. Martin knows it. We know it. The whole town knows it. Even June Hughes(Jasmine Burke), who watched these two raise her kids, would have to admit Smitty did a beautiful job.

Got a theory about why Smitty said “I do”? Email it to amber@soapoperamagazine.com, and yours could become our next story!

Martin Is a Pain in the Neck

Now for the hard part. Martin is a lot. He’s self-entitled, he’s protected, and he’s been coddled by the Duprees his whole life. When things get tough, there’s always a grandparent, an aunt, or a family checkbook standing by to smooth it over.

Martin Richardson has never had to fight for much. He grew up behind those gates with a safety net under every move. Even his campaign had a whole family machine behind it.

Smitty, on the other hand, came from a middle-class family. His own father never supported his journalism career or his move to D.C. Everything Smitty has, he earned on his own.

So What Is the Deal?

Here’s what we can’t figure out. Smitty isn’t impressed by money. He’s not a social climber, and he doesn’t need a famous last name to feel important. He has his own mind and his own moral compass.

So why marry into all of this? If the Dupree money is the only real perk, that doesn’t sound like Smitty at all. He’s the guy who chased a story into the plasma ring, not the guy who chases a trust fund.

Maybe love really is blind. Or maybe Martin has a side we never get to see. Because from where we sit, Smitty gave up a lot to be Mr. Martin Richardson, and we’re still waiting to see what he got back.

The Tables Have Turned

To be fair, the last few weeks have flipped the script. Smitty was arrested for murder after a story with one of his sources went sideways. Smitty swears his source never even gave him the pills at the center of the case. His perp walk went viral, Samantha got mocked over it, and a voter called him a “murderer” right to Martin’s face.

Smitty even told Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) he’s a liability to Martin’s career. And he’s not wrong. For once, Smitty is the one dragging the family name through the mud.

Credit where it’s due. Martin refused to distance himself from Smitty, and he won his election anyway. Now he’s working with Naomi on Smitty’s case, and Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) has now released security footage that could change everything.

Martin Better Step Up

Smitty spent years putting Martin and the kids first. Now it’s Martin’s turn. If he can fight for Smitty half as hard as Smitty sacrificed for him, maybe we’ll finally understand what Smitty sees in him.

Until then, the question stands. We all get Martin Richardson marrying Smitty. We’re still trying to figure out why Smitty married Martin.

Why do you think Smitty married Martin? Tell us in the comments!

What Does Smitty See in Martin?

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