Pull up a chair, grab a coffee and let me take you through the five things that made my week infinitely better. They might just do the same for you.
South Africa (30 August 2025) – Let’s be honest… the week can be heavy. Deadlines, headlines, traffic, bills. But Friday is our escape hatch. And the Friday Five (even when delivered on a Saturday) is my way of handing you a little map.
Five good things that will steer you toward joy, curiosity or just a bit of fun.
Whether it’s a movie that made me laugh-cry, a playlist that won’t leave my head or a place that reminded me how wide the sky can be… it’s all here.
It’s also one of my favourite features on Good Things Guy because I get to take you with me. I’m lucky, I’m often invited to premieres, given early access to series before they hit your screens and roped into brilliant launches and events. Friday Five is where I come home, kick off my shoes and share the gems.
Honest opinions. Zero pretence. All heart. Let’s dive in.
🎬 Movies you need to add to your watch list!
☕️ The Thursday Murder Club
Four spirited retirees spend their days poking around old unsolved murder cases just for the fun of it… until their hobby takes a sharp turn and they find themselves tangled in a real, live whodunnit. What follows is a delightfully British caper that sparkles with wit and a cheeky sense of mischief.
It’s clever without being smug, cosy without ever drifting into dull, and somehow manages to balance cake, clues and chaos with just enough emotional weight to keep you hooked. The cast is an absolute treat. Seasoned, sharp and clearly loving every minute on screen. It all feels laid-back and playful, yet still clicks together like a proper puzzle box, full of satisfying twists and those “oh wow” reveals mystery fans live for.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Now on Netflix.
🦹🏼♀️ Thunderbolts*
After landing themselves in a death trap, a ragtag team of anti-heroes are forced onto a mission that drags them through the darkest corners of their pasts… and what unfolds is Thunderbolts*, a Marvel ride that feels like a proper reset. It’s as if they suddenly remembered who they are, why we started watching in the first place and what makes these stories linger long after the credits roll. The movie has everything you’d hope for: comic-book magic, razor-sharp humour, jaw-dropping action, and, at the centre of it all, real heart. Hope. Humanity. And all the beautiful chaos that comes with being alive (or superhuman).
For me, it did what great comics have always done. It made me feel. This is a story that will sit with me for a long time. I walked out of the cinema lighter, more hopeful, and reminded that none of us are alone. I watched it again when it was released on Disney+ and I laughed out loud (again). I gasped with my mouth hanging open (again). I cheered like a kid (again). And yes, I cried… more than once (again).
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Now on Disney+.
📺 Series you need to see!
🛸 Alien: Earth
When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young group of young children in AI bodies (bear with me here) stumble into a discovery that forces them to confront the planet’s greatest threat… and that’s where Alien: Earth grips you.
This series gives the franchise a fresh pulse: the dread is back, the corridors feel claustrophobic again and the story taps into anxieties that feel all too current. From AI and identity to the power of corporations gone too far. It’s classic creature horror but shot through with modern questions that make it feel bigger than jump scares.
The result is tense, cinematic, and relentlessly watchable, with performances that keep the drama grounded even when the terror spikes.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Now on Disney+.
☀️ The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
The Morning Show takes us inside the lives of the people who help America wake up every day, a behind-the-scenes world filled with unique pressures, shifting power and the human cost of keeping the show on the road. And confession time: this is one of my all-time favourites.
What makes it brilliant is the way it holds up a mirror to our times without ever feeling preachy. Each season is layered… a cocktail of power, ego, ambition, friendship, grief, love and all the messy truths of being human at work. It’s glossy and gripping, yes, but the reason it really lands is because the characters feel real. They let you down, they catch you off guard, and then, with just one look, they pull you right back in.
If you’ve fallen behind, now’s the moment to catch up. The brand-new season kicks off on 17 September 2025, and trust me, you’ll want to be ready.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Now on Apple TV+.
Also: if you’re new here, scroll the site for my previous Friday Fives, there’s a treasure trove of recommendations waiting for your queue.
🎧 Music that you need to add to your playlist!
🎶 Ndlovu Youth Choir – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Epic. Full-bodied. Spine-tingling. This rendition soars with layered vocals and that unmistakable Ndlovu spark. It’s respectful to the original while being proudly, joyfully South African. I am sure Freddie is smiling at this.
🎶 Chappell Roan – “The Subway”
Pure Chappell doing what Chappell does best: theatrical, confessional pop with a wink and a wobble in the voice that turns a lyric into a knife-twist. Melodrama and mastery. Add immediately.
🎶 Rob Thomas – “Picture Perfect”
If Matchbox Twenty lives in your heart (same), Rob’s solo work is familiar in the best way. Warm, melodic, easy to hum on a Sunday drive. Nostalgia without the dust.
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.
🚴🏼 Places to go
I’ve taken up cycling. Not because I’m suddenly Tour de France material but because it’s a brilliant way to explore, breathe and sneak in a workout without it feeling like punishment.
Last week I discovered Northern Farm, and I LOVED it.
Tucked into pristine grasslands just 10 minutes from Fourways, Northern Farm serves up more than 110 km of custom-built trails for every level. It’s accessible, peaceful and properly maintained… the kind of place where you can push hard or just meander, then reward yourself with a coffee and a grin. I rode solo, felt safe the whole time, and left with dust on my calves and that good-tired glow. If you’re a mountain biker, a trail runner or simply someone craving green space and sky, this is your sign.
Oh, shout out to Cycle Lab, who put me on an Orbea. You rock. I am loving this new relationship.
📰 One more thing (and it’s big)
In a heartening move to brighten your Fridays (with even more Friday love), I’ve joined eNCA in a brand-new segment devoted to celebrating uplifting news stories from across South Africa and beyond.
The “Feel Good Friday” spot will be live every Friday at 08:15am, offering viewers a refreshing respite from the often heavy news cycle.
“Our partnership with Brent Lindeque and the Good Things Guy couldn’t have come at the right time. Our country is going through a lot lately, and that comes across in the type of stories dominating the news. But we’re not a lost nation and there’s a lot of good that happens on a daily basis that we as mainstream media cannot always get to. eNCA makes a concerted effort to give South Africa hope and to motivate the nation to keep working towards building Mzansi into a successful country. What makes partnering with Lindeque even more exciting is the passion with which he delivers this “Feel Good Friday” segment with warmth and love on The South African Morning on eNCA. Friday mornings will never be the same again as we re-energise you and fill you with hope,” said eNCA Managing Director, Ndivhuho Norman Munzhelele.
In an era where feeds can tilt negative, the Good News Round-Up aims to rebalance the story, reminding us that kindness scales, that innovation is happening in garages and classrooms, and that communities are still choosing each other.
Tune in: Fridays at 08:15am on eNCA.
That’s a wrap on this week’s Friday Five!
Here’s to a weekend of great tv, proper popcorn, pedals on dirt and songs that travel with you. May you find something that makes you laugh out loud, something that makes you think, and something that nudges you towards hope. And if you loved any of these picks, tell me… I live for your recommendations too.
See you next Friday with five more good things. Until then: be gentle with yourself, be kind to the people around you, and remember, there’s so much good to notice when we go looking for it.
by 
It’s funny, real, and surprisingly thoughtful — a great reminder that comedy can be a vehicle for truth.