Some weeks are for surviving… but Fridays? Fridays are for thriving and the Friday Five is your backstage pass to everything worth watching, listening to, sipping and celebrating right now.
South Africa (02 May 2025) – Fridays hit differently. They just do… even when it’s a Friday “Oreod” between a public holiday and a pending early start to the weekend. There’s something in the air. A little whisper of freedom, the promise of a slower morning, a night out with friends or just catching up on the good stuff you’ve been meaning to get to all week.
And that’s exactly what The Friday Five is about.
It’s one of my absolute favourite things I get to do on Good Things Guy. Not because it’s wildly complicated or news-breaking but because it’s real. It’s personal. It’s where I get to sit down, take a breath and share all the things I’ve discovered, loved, been moved by or just think you might enjoy too.
This is your pocket-sized guide to what’s vibing right now in movies, series, music, food, places and everything in between. And because I’m lucky enough to be invited to advance screenings, album previews, foodie experiences and just generally cool stuff, you get the inside scoop… straight from me to you.
So, deep breath. Warm beverage (or a cold one, we don’t judge). Let’s go.
🎬 Movies That Made Me Feel Something
🎥 Thunderbolts*
Marvel’s had a bumpy few years. Let’s not pretend otherwise. The internet’s been harsh, fans have been divided and some of the sparkle seemed to fade. But Thunderbolts* feels like a little reset in the Marvel-verse. A reminder of why we fell in love with the MCU in the first place.
The story follows a ragtag group of morally grey characters – Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, John Walker and Bob – forced into a deadly mission that drags up every skeleton in their respective closets. It’s intense, messy, and wildly human.
What struck me wasn’t just the action (which is top-tier) but the emotional core. It’s about redemption. About confronting your past. About choosing who you want to be… even when the world tells you it’s too late to change. The mental health aspect was prevelant throughout the entire film.
It made me laugh out loud. It made me gasp. And yes, I cried… more than once. The best part is it has all those Marvel Easter eggs we love but I won’t spoil them here. Because honestly, you deserve to discover it all for yourself.
Just trust me: watch it in a cinema (released today). With surround sound. With popcorn. With the full experience of what some critics are calling the best Marvel film since Endgame.
🍸 Another Simple Favor
It’s deliciously absurd. And that’s exactly what makes it brilliant.
If you watched A Simple Favor back in 2018 and thought “well, that was a trip”… buckle up. Another Simple Favor is back with Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. This time set on the scenic island of Capri.
The plot is absolutely bonkers. There’s a wedding. There’s a murder. There’s betrayal. And there’s more martinis than anyone needs. But that’s the point. It’s ridiculous on purpose. And it knows exactly what it’s doing.
And we know that Blake Lively might put you off seeing this movie (hello, It Ends With Us controversy) but don’t let that overshadow this little chaotic gem. It delivers exactly what it promises: glossy drama, dark humour and Anna Kendrick being the lovable trainwreck we all root for. Pour yourself a drink. Suspend your disbelief. And enjoy the ride.
Now streaming on Amazon Prime.
📺 Some Series For The Weekend
🩸 YOU – Season 5
Ah Joe Goldberg… the literary stalker we love to hate and hate to admit we’re fascinated by.
Season 5 marks the final chapter in Joe’s twisted journey and it does so with more depth, more self-awareness and surprisingly, more heart than you’d expect.
There’s reflection. There’s reckoning. There’s a haunting exploration of what happens after you get everything you think you want. The writing is tighter. The pacing is sharp. And the acting is phenomenal.
For a show that’s been walking the line between thriller and psychological horror, this final season brings a bit of humanity back into focus. And it sticks the landing beautifully.
Now streaming on Netflix.
📱 Black Mirror – Season 7
Black Mirror is the kind of show that punches you in the brain and then hands you a mirror. And this new season is no exception.
Over the past few weeks, I rewatched all the previous episodes (yes, all of them) to prepare. And diving into Season 7 felt like reuniting with an old, slightly terrifying friend.
Each episode explores some deeply uncomfortable “what ifs” of tech, society, surveillance, and identity. But it’s not just shock value… these are nuanced stories. They’re layered with ethical dilemmas, existential dread and flashes of uncomfortable truth. It’s satire meets science fiction meets social commentary. It makes you think. It stays with you. And it’s some of the most important modern storytelling we have right now.
Now streaming on Netflix.
🎶 Songs That Stirred My Soul
📞 Ed Sheeran – “Old Phone”
It’s quiet. Intimate. Raw. It feels like reading someone else’s diary and realising it’s yours too. We often think we have time. Time to say sorry. Time to reconnect. Time to show up. But sometimes, we don’t. “Old Phone” is a reminder to make the call. Fix the thing. Say the words.
🎤 Kelly Clarkson – “Where Have You Been”
Powerful vocals. Honest lyrics. It’s Kelly doing what Kelly does best… making us feel things we didn’t know we were carrying.
🌱 Sugababes – “Weeds”
A comeback track with teeth. It’s got that signature blend of pop and edge but this time with a maturity and self-awareness that hits harder. It’s nostalgic and fresh.
Also, I’ve now curated all these gems into a playlist on Apple Music! So if you’re looking for good vibes and soulful sounds to accompany your day, give it a spin. (Apologies to my Spotify peeps, but I’m team Apple.) Trust me, you’ll want these tracks on repeat all weekend.
☕ Places That Got GLobal Love (And Deserved It)
The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops for 2025 were just announced… and two South African cafés made the list. Not as an afterthought. As serious contenders.
Espressolab – Cape Town (ranked #11 in the world)
This isn’t just a coffee shop. It’s a love letter to coffee. Nestled in the heart of Woodstock’s Old Biscuit Mill, Espressolab has built a cult following by taking coffee seriously but without the snobbery. It’s minimalist, sleek and curated. You walk in and feel like something important is about to happen. Because it is.
Their small-batch roasts? Meticulously sourced. Their process? Scientific. Their product? Pure artistry. And now, the world’s coffee elite are taking notice.
The Whippet – Johannesburg (ranked #89 in the world)
This Linden-based gem is part café, part community haven. It’s warm, inviting and filled with stories… old and new. You don’t just go there for a coffee; you go for a connection.
Their Linden Blend is roasted locally, their menu celebrates heritage with a modern twist and the vibe is nothing short of soul-nourishing. From the buttermilk chicken benedict to the legendary milk tart, everything feels familiar and elevated at the same time. And now it’s on the world stage. Right where it belongs.
🎙️ A Personal Note
I’ve been podcasting for 11 years. From makeshift setups in cupboards to studio-grade magic… and right now, I’m more in love with it than I’ve ever been.
2025 has been the biggest glow-up yet.
Thanks to Nando’s, who saw the vision and said “Let’s do it,” we’ve levelled up in every way. We’re using world-class studios (FLAME 🔥), we’ve built a dream team and we’ve transitioned from audio-only to a full vidcast experience.
And YOU made it all possible.
We’ve dropped just three episodes so far… and we’ve already crossed half a million views and listens each. It’s WILD.
This week’s guest was the brilliant Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp. A storyteller. A powerhouse. And a voice that feels like home. I think you’re going to love this episode.
Find it by searching “Good Things with Brent Lindeque” on any platform… or hit YouTube if you want to watch the magic unfold.
That’s that. Friday Five done and dusted… I want to remind you that even though the world may be messy, joy still exists. Good things are still happening.
And you… you’re allowed to enjoy them.
Thanks for reading. Thanks for being here. And thank you, always, for choosing kindness, laughter and hope.
Until next Friday… stay lekker.
Sources: Brent Lindeque | Good Things Guy | Friday Five
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