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In a quiet neighborhood of the Irish capital, an individual can be found on the pavement, sporting a tank top and expressing his thoughts. “I feel my voice is fading. Less noticeable,” says the main character, gazing into the darkness. “Events have unfolded and currently I believe if I don’t do something, I will continue in this minor, harmless existence.” Hungry Paul, Leonard’s best confidant, considers these words. “There's no harm in that,” he responds, his bathrobe flapping with the wind. “Better than trying to make a mark only to wind up defacing it.”

For viewers exhausted by the noise and rat-tat-tat of current streaming terrain, Leonard and Hungry Paul steps in like a foil blanket with a hot drink of blackcurrant juice.

Similar to its harmless protagonists, the series – a half-dozen installment show created by its authors, adapted from the author’s subtle 2019 novel – takes a dim view on contemporary society; peering disapprovingly above its eyewear toward anything that involves disturbances, abrupt changes or – goodness forbid – excessive aspiration. The series is, instead, a celebration of shyness; a gentle tribute to people happy to pootle around away from attention. But. He (one more distinctly original turn by the actor) is unsettled. He feels an increasing “desire to unlock the doors and windows in my existence … slightly.” The loss of his mother has whisked the rug away from his feet and Leonard, a writer for others, now realizes doubting the choices which led him to his current situation (alone; sporting facial hair; writing several educational volumes for an employer who concludes emails with the phrase “see you later”).

Thus Leonard launches on a journey for emotional fulfilment, accompanied by the somewhat braver Hungry Paul (the actor) functioning as his trusted friend, guide and ally in a weekly gaming session which acts as symposium (“Does the pool feel warm from kids relieving themselves, or is it that kids pee since it's warm?”) and sanctuary.

(What's the origin of "Hungry" Paul? No idea. The source of the nickname seems forgotten in mystery. It could be that Paul once ate a snack unusually quickly, or responded to an awkward situation by nervously peeling four scotch eggs using his teeth).

Into Leonard’s gentle world bursts a vibrant character (the performer), a new energetic associate who cheerily offers to get rid of the awful manager (the character) at a fire practice. The swift movement you can hear represents Leonard's calm life experiencing a revolution.

Elsewhere in the initial show of the comedy focused less on story and centered around what a modern audience could describe as “mood”, viewers encounter Hungry Paul’s dad (the consistently great the performer), a battered sofa of a man who secretly watches, records then replays trivia competitions to amaze his adoring wife through his fact recall.

Leading the audience through all this minor-key niceness is a narrator who closely resembles – and actually is – the famous actress. Truly, the star. Should you wonder, “certainly the inclusion of a major Hollywood star is at odds with the series’ unshowy MO and initially serves only as a diversion?” you would be correct. Nevertheless, the actress performs admirably, and phrases such as “Leonard’s problem is the missing a look of sudden insight” contribute to ensuring that first reservations fade if not full admiration, then certainly understanding.

Enough complaining for now. The series' spirit has good intentions: which is “sitting on a park bench next to the Detectorists, pointing out its preferred bird.” It’s a series that ambles along wearing its simple clothes, occasionally looking up at the stars, occasionally down at its feet, calmly assured that there is nothing in life as cheering as spending time in the company of dear pals.

Unlock the entryways within your world, just a bit, and let it in.