From a bizarre Japanese reality show to a bike ride through Joburg’s secret green lungs… this week’s Friday Five has it all.
South Africa (03 October 2025) – Life moves fast, and sometimes we forget to pause and enjoy the small joys that keep us going. The Friday Five is my weekly reminder, to you and to me, to stop, savour and celebrate the things that bring lightness to our days.
It’s not just a list. It’s a little ritual of joy, curated from the good, the quirky and the surprising moments I get to experience.
It’s one of my favourite features on Good Things Guy because it’s where I get to let you into my world… to share what I’m watching, reading, listening to and loving. Think of it as your weekend starter pack: five (sometimes more, because I digress… jammer Wimpie) good things that I’ve stumbled across, been invited to, or just can’t stop talking about.
From movies and series to music, books, and even adventures in our own backyards, The Friday Five is your go-to guide for the lekker things that make life that much brighter.
🎬 Movies
The Contestant
This documentary is one of the most bizarre and heart-wrenching stories I’ve ever seen on screen. It follows a Japanese reality show where a man was left naked in a room for more than a year, forced to survive only on prizes he won through magazine competitions. Food, clothing, even basic survival, depended on sheer luck.
It’s painful to watch because behind the absurdity lies a story of human endurance, exploitation and resilience. I found myself both fascinated and heartbroken.
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Now on Disney+ | Hulu
All of You
On paper, this near-futuristic romance should have worked. Two best friends, a looming soulmate test and the agony of unspoken love. But watching it unfold was… uncomfortable. And maybe that’s the point.
I wanted it to be something special, but instead it left me unsettled. Not because it was bad but because it made me think about the awkward edges of love and choice. Perhaps it says more about me than the movie.
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Now on AppleTV+
Swiped
BRILLIANT. I loved it and then some. Swiped tells the story of Whitney Wolfe Herd, the woman who went from fresh graduate to tech trailblazer by building Bumble, a dating app that flipped the industry on its head.
It’s a business film but also so much more. The story is about grit, creativity, and smashing through sexism and industry resistance. Watching her story unfold, I found myself cheering for every single win. Inspiring, empowering and totally entertaining.
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Now on Disney+ | Hulu
📺 Series
Wayward
Set in a seemingly quaint town, Wayward peels back the curtain on the troubled teen industry, exposing its manipulations and the generational struggles that keep cycling.
I’ll be honest – it started with promise, but it never quite reached its potential. It’s still worth a watch if you’re looking for something entertaining, but I wanted more depth than it gave.
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Now on Netflix
House of Guinness
If you loved Peaky Blinders, this one’s for you. After the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness, the family’s brewing empire becomes the battleground for legacy, ambition, and survival.
The cinematography is gorgeous, the costumes are a feast for the eyes, and the story is packed with the kind of tension and family drama that keeps you glued to the screen.
🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Now on Netflix
🎧 Music
🎶 Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl
Let me just say it straight: I AM LOVING THIS ALBUM. I am only three songs in but I love every track so far. Every lyric. Every melody. It’s an entire mood.
Good vibes, soulful sounds and pure brilliance from start to finish.
🌳 Places to Go
Sometimes the best adventures don’t require a boarding pass. Last weekend, I hopped on my bike and discovered Jozi Trails. And I cannot stop talking about it.
We cycled nearly 50km, from Melrose Arch to Delta Park, up Northcliff Hill, into Parkhurst and beyond. There were families walking dogs, friends sipping takeaway coffees, kids laughing, e-bikes buzzing past… and even horses, just casually chilling in the middle of Joburg.
At its heart is the Braamfontein Spruit, Johannesburg’s green artery, stretching nearly 37km and forming part of the world’s largest urban forest. Thanks to the non-profit Jozi Trails and their partnership with City Parks, this space is being transformed into a safe, thriving, world-class outdoor hub.
But it’s not just about trails, it’s about reclaiming the soul of Joburg. With long-term visions of eco-tourism, job creation, and community connection, it’s a reminder of what’s possible when passionate people decide to make their city better.
If you haven’t yet, go. Walk, cycle, run or simply explore. The Spruit is waiting.
📚 Books
Few books feel like history being written as you read them but The Deal is exactly that.
Mandy Wiener takes us behind the scenes of South Africa’s seismic political shift after the 2024 elections, where the ANC lost its majority for the first time in 30 years. What followed was two weeks of tense coalition talks, secret meetings and late-night negotiations that would shape the country’s future.
From the Inanda Club to hotel basements in Westcliff, this is political storytelling at its best… insightful, dramatic and essential. Mandy’s journalistic brilliance shines through on every page.
Good things aren’t always loud or obvious; sometimes they’re a quiet playlist on your morning commute, a ride along the Spruit, or a film that leaves you questioning your own choices. That’s what this column is about, reminding us to slow down, notice, and enjoy the things that bring joy, meaning and maybe even a little perspective.
The week is done. The good stuff is here. Go enjoy it.
by 