5 reasons why you must watch kykNET’s new drama Beter as Gister
Why are fathers held to a different standard than mothers? That’s the question that sparked the idea for the new kykNET drama series, Beter as Gister.
The 13-episode drama series follows 4 families and focuses on the role of men within each household.
Here are five reasons why you should watch Beter as Gister:
The creative team behind the series
The series is created, written and produced by award-winning filmmakers Corné and René van Rooyen, together with Tascha van der Westhuizen, who is also involved as a producer on all Red Letter Day Pictures productions. The production company is behind the success of previous family dramas such as Alles Malan (2019) on kykNET and Summertide (2024) on M-Net.
A refreshing take on modern fatherhood
Modern fatherhood takes centre stage: from a dedicated stay-at-home dad managing the household while his wife pursues her ambitions, to a businessman willing to do whatever it takes to succeed – even if his relationships with his wife and children suffer. There’s also a single father raising a daughter on the autism spectrum and a widower who unexpectedly has to care for his only grandchild.
A star-studded ensemble of established actors
A star-studded ensemble cast includes Neels van Jaarsveld, Frank Rautenbach, Edwin van der Walt and Elton Landrew, forming the lead cast. The supporting cast features Rolanda Marais, Hanna Grobler, Greteli de Swardt, Mila Guy, Danny Ross, June van Merch, Daneel van der Walt, Charlene Brouwer, André Weideman and Melanie du Bois.
Talented young actors making their debut
A number of young actors take on their first television roles: Sebastian van Niekerk as Reynard, a 17-year-old troublemaker; Nina Strydom as the driven Jessica; Gerhard Conradie as 8-year-old Coenie; Sebastian La Cock as 6-year-old Luca; Eben Kotze as Benji; Luna Coetzer as Lilly; and Alexis Newman as 6-year-old Katinka.
Personal and relatable storylines
Real families, real challenges – stories viewers will recognise. Beter as Gister shines a spotlight on four diverse family dynamics, highlighting both the personal and the universal. Why aren’t fathers’ part of school WhatsApp groups? What rights do fathers have in co-parenting? How does a grandfather build a relationship with his grandchild? And how do we view fathers who are no longer the primary breadwinners?
Corné says”
“The series is built on that feeling a parent gets when they have put their child to bed and watch them sleeping peacefully. It may have been a long day filled with emotion, outbursts, guilt and impatience, but then you look at them and think: tomorrow, I will do better. In that quiet moment beside the bed, love, hope and a new resolve emerge. That is really the heart of the series.”
kykney Beter as Gister premieres on Tuesday, 30 June at 20:00 on kykNET (DStv Channel 144) and will also be available on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
