Yoga. A wine course. Or some jolly good shows on the small screen. All your options for August

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Curl up and tune in to Showmax

In the mood for crime? Comedy? Drama? Look no further than our picks of the best shows and movies this month.

We’re kicking off with a local film directed by Oliver Hermanus. In The Endless River, a young waitress welcomes her husband home to the small South African town of Riviersonderend after his jail sentence. When the family of a foreigner living on a nearby farm is murdered, the waitress and the grieving widower begin gravitating towards each other. Trapped in a cycle of violence and bloodshed, the two form an unlikely bond seeking to transcend their mutual anger, pain and loneliness.

When Detective Felicity Dill is killed in a car bombing, her sister, Allegra Dill, an investigator working for a senator, returns home to San Bonifacio to find the killer. In the process of her investigation, she uncovers a web of corruption in the small Texas town. Briarpatch (S1) is an artistic, interesting mystery crime series based on the Ross Thomas novel of the same name.

Vida (S3) returns with the two Mexican-American sisters, Emma and Lyn, who couldn’t be more different or distanced from each other. Circumstances force them to return to their old neighbourhood, where they are confronted by the past and shocking truth about their mother’s identity.

In the Reckoning (S1) the murder of a teenager and the hunt for a serial killer in a suburban town sets two fathers on a course of mutual destruction that will reverberate through their quiet community. Explore the darkest corners of the male psyche through the eyes of two fathers, one of whom is a serial killer.

It’s time, once again, to wreak some hilarious havoc on the spacetime continuum as Future Man (S3) debuts its final season to wrap things up. Josh Futturman, a janitor by day and a gamer by night, is recruited by mysterious visitors to travel through time to prevent the extinction of humanity.

Hard-hitting cop show Bosch (S6) is back. The run of shows sees Harry playing a key role in trying to save his city after a medical physicist is executed and the deadly radioactive material he had with him goes missing. Finding himself at the centre of a complex murder case, a messy federal investigation, and an impending catastrophic threat to Los Angeles, Bosch must act as domestic terrorists threaten the fate of Los Angeles.

The hit mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows (S2) is a look into the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of three vampires who’ve lived together in New York for more than 100 years – plenty of time to get on each other’s nerves.

With the Whisperer War upon them, the collective communities must come together and possibly sacrifice all they have to find a way to silence the Whisperers once and for all. Otherwise Alpha will ensure they face a certain doom … The Walking Dead (S10) is the definitive zombie show, having won 77 awards globally.

I May Destroy You is a British comedy-drama television series set in London where gratification is only an app away. Arabella is a carefree, self-assured Londoner with a group of great friends, a boyfriend in Italy and a burgeoning writing career. But when her drink is spiked with a date-rape drug, she must question and rebuild every element of her life.

 

Vegan made easy

Whether you’re thinking about taking the plant-based plunge or just want a refresher on why being vegan is amazing for your body, we’ve got you covered. Join plant-based nutrition leader and creator of The Seed Blog, Tammy Fry, for a virtual workshop. Get the low-down on vegan hacks, bust those all-too-common myths, learn how to meal plan for a family, get some recipes and much more. August 8 at 10am. Tickets are R50 and will be available via Quicket.co.za

 

Release your inner superhero

Grab your sidekicks and capes for the Wonder Woman Justice League virtual run. Whether you’re a single runner suffering from cabin fever and creaky legs or a family wanting to put some loving distance between one other, this fun-filled day of physically distanced running / walking will take place in your neighbourhood … all while giving back to those who need it most, especially children! With distances of 2.5km, 5km, 7.5km and 10km, there’s something for every hero, big or small. It’s all happening on August 9, tickets from R190 a person, which include a Wonder Woman medal, T-shirt and button badge. Details: justiceleagueseries.co.za or on Facebook – Justice League Series.

 

Netflix … for a great night in

The crime comedy-drama Good Girls (S3) revolves around three mothers who upend their seemingly cosy lives and descend into the world of crime to pay their family bills. Now they return to face the consequences of last season’s high jinks. The show is dark, a little outlandish – and in its best episodes, it’s gripping!

The world as we know it has ended in The Rain (S3)… When a virus  carried by rainfall wipes out almost all humans in Scandinavia, Danish siblings Simone and Rasmus take shelter in a bunker. Six years later, they emerge to search for their father, a scientist who left them in the bunker but never returned. Along the way they join a group of young survivors and together set out on a danger-filled quest through an abandoned Scandinavia, searching for any sign of life.

After an excruciatingly long wait, the fantasy comedy drama Lucifer is back for season five. Throughout the series, Lucifer and his allies take on a wide array of supernatural threats – but they’ll be facing perhaps their most unique challenge yet this season. Good news Lucifans … the show has officially been renewed for season six!

In Secret Origins, the scene is set in Madrid 2019 where a serial killer is spreading chaos. Anonymous people with no apparent connection are being murdered while imitating the first appearances of the most famous superheroes. It is up to two detectives to put together the pieces of a game with which they’re completely unfamiliar.

Record breaking concert … and you’re invited!

Who said you can’t have a great deal of fun watching a live stream concert at home? No standing in long queues, eight feet tall people blocking your view, getting pushed from all sides, using signals to communicate or being so far away you can barely see the artist on stage. Not for us. Instead, we’ll be getting a front row seat for a COVID Secret Session live stream concert by local legendary rock band, Prime Circle. Not only will they produce a world-class show but they aim to set a record globally for the most tickets sold for a live stream rock concert! It’s on August 8 at 7pm. We’ll be there … join us! Bonus: Ten per cent of the money raised will be in aid of charity. Get your ticket for R120 from Computicket.com or head over to their Facebook page @PrimeCircle to keep updated.

Time to wine down

Wine lovers … this is your chance to sip, sniff and swirl your way through an edutaining Local is Lekker wine course by the Tops at Spar Wine Show. Wine educator Cathy Marston will take you on a humorous, interactive journey that’s more like a wine club than a wine course! Think interesting wine theories, practical tips and guided wine tastings. Four online Zoom sessions (each with its own theme) of an hour will take place over two weeks. R295. Details: wineshow.co.za/courses/

 

Try a virtual workout … we’ve found exercise classes made for your living room

Fortunately, there are tons of top-notch ways to work out at home. To help you get going, we’ve rounded up the best online exercise classes you can do right from your living room, whether you’re craving a serious muscle burn or fun and a fast sweat. After all, a little self-care and stress relief are exactly what we need in these anxiety-inducing times.

  • Join yoga and meditation pro Chelsey Mcluckie on the mat for a group Yoga Zoom class twice a week. She’ll show you how to calm your mind, balance your body and breathe properly, all through mindful movements. Her classes are suitable for everyone, regardless of age and fitness levels. R70 a drop-in, R110 a week. Details: chelseymcluckieyoga.co.za/online-yoga-classes/
  • Think you have to be an uber-fit celebrity, athlete or dancer to even consider a Pilates class? The truth is, you don’t need any previous exercise experience. So, we’re opting for an online class with the instructors from My Pilates. They offer various levels you can choose  from … think a refreshing mind-body workout which emphasises proper breathing, correct spinal and pelvic alignment as well as a focused concentration on smooth flowing movement. Classes are from R349 a month. Details: mypilates.co.za
  • If you’re serious about burning the calories from last night’s banana bread, then you should join a Zoom class with the trainers from Thrive. Choose between a 45-minute move, power or flow class targeting four main areas with each workout – upper and lower body, cardio and core. No need for any fitness equipment, you can just jump right in for R50 a session! Details: thrivefitness.co.za
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