Remember The Gates, the Columbia student soap opera that featured, among other things, gratuitous girl-on-girl action, an orgasm simulated by a camera pan to a painting of a tidal wave, and dialogue like, "This is college. You have to start trying new things"? (If not, we've helpfully posted Part 1 of Episode 1 above.) Well, welcome to second semester—it's back! The Columbia Spectator interviews director Davide Barillari, who continues to put his tuition dollars to good use:

Barillari said that the second episode will be more action-oriented. One lesson learned from the first episode, he said, is that "you have to ... keep your audience throughout."

Here is what to expect from the plot-Nari (Alice Hu, CC '10) has to choose between her faith and her sexuality when Bible study and an LGBT meeting are planned for the same time. Meanwhile, Terry (Brett Austin Robbins, CC '09) runs into his ex-girlfriend (Jeanette Rosario, CC '10), and she may not have the best intentions. Sasha (Sarah Smick, CC '07) has to contend with "creepy art guy" again, and she meets someone special. Finally, Julien (Tobin Mitnick, CC '10), thanks to his licentious ways, receives a nasty surprise from the past-and has a loaded gun aimed at him.

Oh, and also: The Gates is a semi-finalist in SoapU's College Soap Opera Contest, and his masterpiece might win $20,000. We're going to go cry for humanity now.

The Gates Earns Respect, and Possibly Cash [Columbia Spectator]
Earlier: Columbia U. Soap Opera: Best Amateur Lesbian Porn on 116th Street