From baby pangolins to powerful series, beach getaways to slipper-fuelled dreams… The Friday Five is your weekly dose of all things good, lekker, and worth shouting about.
South Africa (25 April 2025) – Fridays have a vibe. A little lighter. A little brighter. A little more hopeful. It’s the one day of the week that whispers, “Hey… you’ve made it.” And what better way to kick it off than with a whole bunch of good things (and my Friday Five)?
Also, it’s the 25th of April… so you know what that means.
Yes… welcome to The Friday Five! Your go-to guide for what to watch, where to go, what to listen to and how to top up your joy tank before the weekend kicks in.
This is one of my favourite features on Good Things Guy. Why? Because it’s personal. It’s me, sharing all the lekker things I’ve stumbled upon, been invited to, or somehow convinced someone to sneak-preview before the rest of South Africa gets their eyes (or ears) on it. From movies and music to magic little towns and powerful human stories… these are the things I love and I reckon you might love them too.
🎬 Movies You Need to Watch (Or Avoid)
🐾 Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey
Okay. PSA: DO NOT WATCH THIS before work. Or a big meeting. Or any scenario where people might question why you’re an emotional puddle of mush.
Kulu’s Journey is the kind of documentary that grabs you gently by the heart and then rips it wide open. It follows the story of a three-month-old ground pangolin who was rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in South Africa. And from the second you meet Kulu, you’re in. Like all in. Like “I would die for this tiny dinosaur-armadillo-baby” kind of in.
The film captures his slow and careful rehabilitation journey, his bond with a human guardian who loves him like a child (I cried every single time he said “My boy”), and his eventual release back into the wild. It’s breathtaking. It’s raw. It’s devastatingly beautiful. It reminded me so much of “My Octopus Teacher” but with scales and a story about poaching… and fighting it, that is so incredibly important.
Also, it’s currently number 6 on Netflix’s most-watched films. Globally. THE WORLD IS WATCHING. Now it’s your turn. Bring tissues. And snacks. And someone to cuddle afterwards.
Now available to watch on Netflix.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Five pangolin stars out of five).
💣 G20
When I saw the trailer for G20, I was amped. Major Hollywood production filmed in South Africa, massive cast, explosions, action, chaos. what’s not to love, right?
Well… turns out just having explosions and chaos doesn’t make a good movie. I wanted to love it. I really did. But it felt like action for the sake of action. Plot holes bigger than a Joburg pothole. Zero emotional connection. It’s fun if you just want noise but don’t expect your life to change.
Still cool that it was shot here though. South Africa looked amazing.
You can watch it on Amazon Prime. Or not.
⭐️ (One shrugging Brent emoji out of five).
📺 Series You Should Binge This Weekend
💔 Dying For Sex
This. Show. Is. EVERYTHING.
It’s hilariously sexy, heartbreakingly sad, beautifully produced and somehow manages to make you laugh out loud and question your entire existence. All in one episode. It follows the real-life story of a woman who, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, leaves her 15-year marriage and starts exploring her sexuality in the most radical, funny, empowering way.
You’d think it’s just about sex but it’s not. It’s about being alive. About feeling everything. About choosing joy and laughter and freedom… even in the face of death.
I binged it in one sitting. Then sat in silence. Then rewatched it.
Now available on Hulu and Disney+. Coming soon to DStv and Showmax.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (En nog a honderd Randjties vir hierdie een)
🔥 MobLand
If you’re craving a fast-paced, gritty drama with top-notch acting and a storyline that grabs you by the collar, MobLand is it.
Power. Crime. Loyalty. Betrayal. All wrapped into a slick production with cinematic vibes. The cast is magnetic. The writing is sharp. The pilot moves at lightning speed… which might throw you for a second. But the payoff is worth it. It’s gripping. It’s got teeth.
Watch this with popcorn in hand and your phone on Do Not Disturb.
Now available on Paramount+. Coming soon to DStv and Showmax.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Mobster hat emoji included)
🎧 What To Play Loud This Friday
🎶 Lorde – What Was That
Lorde is back and bladdy hell, it’s a banger! A full-on dance track that sounds like glitter and rebellion and the exact thing you need to play on full volume while driving with your windows down. It’s moody. It’s loud. It’s fun. And it’s so Lorde.
🎶 Maggie Rogers & Sylvan Esso – Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl
It’s haunting. And soft. And powerful. Maggie’s voice paired with Sylvan Esso’s production is just chef’s kiss. If you’ve ever needed a soundtrack for your introspective evening walk or a moment on your balcony staring into the distance… this is it.
🎶 James Bay (feat. Sheryl Crow) – You and Me Time
You know that last song of the night? The one that plays at the end of a good party when your heart is full and your feet are sore and everything feels just right? That’s this song. It’s slow and sweet and Sheryl Crow is in it… which makes it instantly iconic.
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.
🏖 Where To Go: KwaZulu-Natal’s Coastlines
I recently spent time in KwaZulu-Natal, not just for work or to catch a flight, but actually to holiday. And wow. I forgot how gorgeous it is.
Majority of my time was spent in Pennington… a gem. A real coastal “village” with charm and quiet and character. I tried every café, beach bar and random little roadside spot I could find. And I loved all of it. The beaches are calm. The people are warm. And the views are absolutely dreamy! It reminded me how important it is to explore our own country. To give the places we know of a chance to show us what they really are. And trust me, KZN is really something.
👟 One More Thing: Slipper Day is Coming!
I can’t not talk about Reach For A Dream. I bladdy love what they do. It’s not just good work. It’s vital. They bring hope to children fighting some of the hardest battles. And they do it with heart and magic and the biggest dreams.
This week, I was invited to their Slipper Day 2025 launch breakfast, and I need to tell you about Julia Sotirianakos, their fearless CEO.
I think I told this story a million times that day, but last year, I MC’d an event that Julia was speaking at.
I was about to introduce her on stage. And moments before she’s set to speak, instead of focusing on her speech, she pulls me aside and goes, “Brent… do you have a way to get in touch with Max Verstappen? Or maybe Charlize Theron? Or Trevor Noah?”
Me: “Julia! You’re literally going on stage.”
Her: “Ja, but there’s a little kid who wants to meet Max. We have to try.”
That’s Julia. That’s Reach For A Dream. Always dreaming bigger. Always fighting for these kids. Always choosing kindness and hope and joy.
Slipper Day is on 30 May 2025. Stickers are R20. You wear your slippers, support a dream, and maybe ( just maybe) help a child believe in magic again.
And if you know someone who knows someone who knows Max Verstappen… you know what to do.
Friends, the Friday Five isn’t just about pop culture or playlists. It’s about little pockets of joy. It’s about reconnecting with the things that make us feel.
So go on. Watch the thing. Dance to the tune. Plan the trip. Buy the sticker.
Choose joy. Every Friday. Every day.
And wear a light jacket.
Okay, love you. Bye.
by 