If you love good stories, good food and good vibes, then welcome to The Friday Five… your weekly dose of the best things to watch, hear and do.
South Africa (10 October 2025) – Every Friday, I get to do one of my favourite things… share the good things. The movies that make you feel something real, the series that keep you glued to the couch, the songs that stay with you long after they end and those hidden-gem places that make you feel lucky to live in South Africa.
Welcome to The Friday Five: your go-to guide for good things about movies, series, books, restaurants and everything in between.
This weekly column is a chance for me to let you in on the things I’m genuinely enjoying. You see, I often get invited to movie premieres, get early access to series before they hit your screens and attend incredible launches that deserve a proper shout-out. So this is where I get to share them with you… unfiltered, honest and always with a little bit of heart.
🎬 Movies I Loved This Week:
🚌 The Lost Bus
If you’re looking for a film that grips your soul and refuses to let go, The Lost Bus is it. Directed by Paul Greengrass (of Captain Phillips and United 93 fame), it’s based on the real-life events of the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California.
Matthew McConaughey plays Kevin McKay, a bus driver tasked with evacuating 22 children trapped by the wildfire. Alongside him is America Ferrera as Mary Ludwig, a teacher who holds it together while everything burns around them. What begins as a simple school route becomes an emotional rollercoaster… smoke, chaos, blocked roads and a desperate race for survival. McConaughey delivers a grounded and powerful performance. This isn’t the charming, easy-going Texan we’re used to; this is a man carrying the weight of 22 tiny lives. And Ferrera is the calm in the chaos. Strong, compassionate and heartbreakingly human. The child actors are exceptional, adding layers of raw fear and resilience that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
One of the most intense, emotional and beautifully made movies of the year.
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Now on AppleTV+
🌿 Famous Last Words: Dr Jane Goodall
Famous Last Words captures the final interviews of cultural icons’ conversations held back until after their passing. The first “episode” is with Dr Jane Goodall, the legendary primatologist who spent her life redefining our understanding of the natural world.
Dr Goodall passed away on the 1st of October at the age of 91 but her words feel eternal. She speaks about empathy, nature and the delicate balance between humanity and the planet. The kind of quiet wisdom that forces you to pause and think.
Her message is gentle yet profound: we’re part of nature, not above it. And perhaps if we listened more, the world would heal faster. It’s a film that makes you want to put your phone down, walk outside and simply be.
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Now on Netflix
📺 Series That Took Over My Screen:
😨 Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Everyone is talking about Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the third instalment in Netflix’s Monster anthology and I can’t exactly tell you if that is a good or bad thing.
It’s dark, disturbing and awfully fascinating. The series dives into the life of Ed Gein, the real-life killer who inspired Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs. Charlie Hunnam gives a haunting performance, completely embodying Gein in a way that’s almost too realistic.
It’s as much about the monster as it is about the culture that turned him into a legend.
But this isn’t a show for everyone. The violence is graphic, the atmosphere suffocating, and yet, the storytelling is impeccable. I found myself closing my eyes and fast-forwarding through many of the graphic scenes. If you can handle the heaviness, it’s brilliantly done but it’s not for the faint-hearted (should be a 5 but I’m giving it a 3 because of the violence).
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Now on Netflix
🕵️♀️ Feel-Good TV: High Potential
Need a palate cleanser after Monster? High Potential is exactly that. Starring Kaitlin Olson, this lighthearted crime procedural is based on the hit French show Haut Potentiel Intellectuel.
Olson plays a chaotic, genius single mum who helps the police crack cases. Think Monk meets Psych, with a little Elsbeth flair. It’s clever, funny and charming. A perfect weekend binge when you want something entertaining but not too serious.
Not every episode lands perfectly, and some supporting characters feel predictable, but Olson carries the show effortlessly. Sometimes you don’t need depth… you just need fun.
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Now on Disney+ | Hulu
🎧 Songs You Need This Week
🎶 First off… Taylor Swift.
Yes, I know I mentioned her last week but if you haven’t yet listened to her new album, what are you even doing? The Fate of Ophelia is currently number one everywhere and it’s there for a reason. Emotional, cinematic and unapologetically Taylor… it’s storytelling magic wrapped in melody.
🎶 Then there’s Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats…
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats just dropped the 10th Anniversary Edition of their debut album. Do yourself a favour and listen to S.O.B. LOUD. It’s pure soul, pure grit and still as good as the first time I heard it.
🎶 And if you need something soothing, Josh Groban’s new song:
The Constant (from his album Hidden Gems) is a masterpiece. It’s gentle and moving. The kind of song that makes you close your eyes and breathe.
I’ve curated all of these (and a few extras) into a playlist on Apple Music. Sorry Spotify fam, I’m team Apple. But trust me, you’ll want this playlist on repeat.
🍽️ Place of the Week: Neck and Deck
This might just be one of the most underrated gems near Joburg.
Nestled by the Lion & Rhino Park, Neck and Deck is one of those places that feels like a mini safari without the long drive.
The food is good. The vibe is relaxed and family-friendly. And the best part is that you can feed giraffes, zebras and ostriches while you eat. Yes, really. You can sip your cappuccino while a giraffe leans in for breakfast.
There’s a play area for kids (with a swimming pool), outdoor seating for those sunny afternoons, and a lekker menu… from hearty breakfasts, fresh salads and juicy burgers.
It’s the kind of place that reminds you just how wild and wonderful South Africa really is.
💅 One More Thing: Good Things Girl Goes Bravo!
Johannesburg was buzzing this week as Bravo Africa officially launched at the Four Seasons Hotel, The Westcliff… and our very own Good Things Girl, Tayla Castle, was there to represent Good Things Guy (and had the best time doing it!).
From the moment she arrived, the event screamed Bravo-licious. The décor was gorgeous, the energy electric and every detail felt perfectly curated. From the Fenty Beauty glam station and a whimsical tea stand serving cocktails in teacups, to the quirky Scoops and Confessions ice cream booth, where treats were handed through a tiny window by a mysterious white-gloved hand.
The highlight of the night was an exclusive first look at The Real Housewives of London (premiering 12 October) and a lively on-stage chat about Dating #No Filter South Africa (back 11 October). Hosted by the ever-charismatic Thulane Hadebe (@YesitmeToolz), the event brought together some of Mzansi’s favourite stars and media personalities for an evening of pure fun.
Tayla, representing Good Things Guy, mingled with media partners, made new connections and might’ve even been mistaken for a celeb herself. Not that she minded!
In her words: “It was such a privilege to be there. The atmosphere, the creativity, the energy… it was just magic.”
Bravo Africa is now live on DStv Channel 124, bringing the world’s best reality shows right to South African screens… and if this launch was anything to go by, it’s going to be fabulous.
💛 One More (One More) Thing: Something Big Is Coming
Over the past year, my team and I have been quietly building something.
And it’s almost ready.
It started back in 2020. COVID-19. That time we don’t speak of much anymore. Our inboxes overflowed with people needing help… food, shelter, safety and hope. Every day we still get messages: a mom looking for food for her children, a cancer patient needing treatment, a family walking kilometres for clean water.
The need in South Africa is massive. And growing.
So, our editor, Tyler Leigh Vivier, created a small “Charity” section on Good Things Guy to list trusted organisations. That tiny idea grew. And grew. And grew.
Now, in celebration of Good Things Guy’s 10th birthday, we’ve built something much bigger: The Helpers.
It’s South Africa’s first centralised, user-driven charity directory: a place for people who need help, people who want to help and people who still believe in the power of showing up for one another. We’ve partnered with the incredible team at Druff Interactive, and after months of designing, coding, and tweaking… we’re nearly ready to launch.
I am so flipping excited. This is going to change lives.
Every week, I’m reminded of something simple but powerful… the world isn’t short on good things. They’re everywhere. Yes, there’s a lot happening out there. Chaos, noise and headlines that make you lose hope but there’s also art, kindness, music and moments that pull us right back into the light.
The truth is, the good stuff never really goes away. Sometimes it hides, waiting for you to notice. Other times, it’s standing tall right in front of you.
You just have to look up.
So, as you step into the weekend, take a breath. Watch something that moves you. Play a song that lifts you. Go somewhere that reminds you how beautiful life can be.
Good things are still happening, all around us. You just have to keep looking for them.
by 