Cape Town walkie-talkies get spotlight in Netflix’s new thriller 'The Beast in Me'
Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys star in Netflix thriller 'The Beast in Me."
Image: Instagram
The new psychological thriller on Netflix, “The Beast in Me”, is captivating viewers with its dark twists and turns, but there is a brief moment in the second episode that will, if you have not seen it yet, specifically catch South Africans’ attention.
Spoiler alert: it involves one of South Africa’s favourite treats.
In a scene where he is standing at a kitchen counter, Matthew Rhys's character, Nile Jarvis, says that “the first time I really tasted chicken was in Cape Town.”
Matthew Rhys's character, Nile Jarvis, says that “the first time I really tasted chicken was in Cape Town.”
Image: X
Yes, that is right. Cape Town.
He continues saying, "none of this store-bought, shrink-wrapped cr*p.”
He then goes on to share his experience, saying: “The street vendors have these paper bags with just the heads and the feet. Walkie-talkies, they called.”
While holding up a chicken foot and then throwing it to the dogs, he says that he never developed a taste for the chicken feet.
The fact that such a humble Mzansi favourite is featured in a global hit series is pretty awesome.
Whether it is stewed, braaied or deep-fried, chicken feet are a treat enjoyed on the go or as a meal; either way, they are a South African favourite.
Walkies talkies are a popular South African dish.
Image: Brendan Magaar / Independent Media
I am pretty sure that the Google search for “walkie-talkies” is going to spike after international viewers come across that scene.
Now at number one on the list of top TV shows in South Africa, “The Beast in Me” features Claire Danes as Aggie Wiggs, a famous writer who is suffering from writer's block after the death of her son.
Matthew Rhys’s character, Nile Jarvis, is a wealthy real estate mogul who moves in down the street from her and suggests she write a book about him.
The casual mention of "Walkie-Talkies" from a strong character like Nile Jarvis offers a small piece of backstory, tying the millionaire's past to the street culture of Cape Town.
While it is just a brief moment, it brings a global thriller right back home to South Africa.