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In a calm neighborhood of the Irish capital, an individual is standing outside his home, sporting a sleeveless jumper and voicing his concerns. “I notice myself getting quieter. Harder to see,” remarks Leonard, looking toward the stars. “Events have unfolded and now I feel like without a change, I’ll just carry on in this simple, peaceful routine.” Hungry Paul, his only companion, considers the idea. “Nothing wrong with that,” he answers, his robe moving gently. “Preferable to striving for recognition and ending up damaging things.”

For viewers weary by the chaos and constant stimulation of current streaming landscape, the show comes as a cozy wrap and a comforting beverage of a sweet cordial.

Similar to its harmless protagonists, Leonard and Hungry Paul – a six-episode show created by its authors, adapted from the author’s quiet story – looks disapprovingly on contemporary society; gazing disapprovingly above its spectacles toward anything that involves unnecessary noise, abrupt changes or – heaven forfend – too much drive. The series rather, an ode to introversion; a subtle homage of those content to amble along out of the spotlight. However. Leonard (another uniquely quirky portrayal by the actor) feels restless. He senses an increasing “urge to throw open the doors and windows in my existence … just a bit.” The recent death of his parent has whisked the rug from under his slippers and Leonard, a ghost writer, now finds himself doubting the choices that have brought him to his current situation (single; sporting facial hair; creating a range of educational volumes for a boss who ends emails with the phrase “goodbye for now”).

And so Leonard begins himself on a quest for emotional fulfilment, accompanied by the somewhat braver Hungry Paul (the performer) serving as his close companion, mentor and co-conspirator in a recurring game night which acts as symposium (“Is the water heated because kids pee in it, or do children urinate because it’s warm?”) and sanctuary.

(How did Paul get his nickname? No idea. The beginning of the moniker seems forgotten in history. Perhaps he on one occasion consumed a snack very fast, or reacted to an awkward situation by panic-peeling four scotch eggs using his teeth).

Into Leonard’s gentle world comes a vibrant character (the actress), a fresh spring-loaded colleague who cheerily offers to kill the awful manager (the character) during the office fire drill. The swift movement noticeable represents Leonard's calm life being turned upside down.

Elsewhere during the opening installment of a series focused less on story and centered around what a modern audience may refer to as “vibes”, we are introduced to the older generation (the brilliant the performer), a worn-out individual who covertly observes, records then replays trivia competitions to dazzle his devoted partner using his trivia skills.

Guiding viewers throughout this subtle warmth is a narrator that is unmistakably – and truly is – Julia Roberts. Yes, the celebrity. If you are thinking, “surely the use of such a famous actor contradicts the series’ unshowy MO and starts off as just a distraction?” that's accurate. However, Roberts acquits herself well, and phrases like “Leonard's challenge is that he lacks a ‘eureka’ face” help ensure that initial doubts give way if not quite to appreciation, then at minimum tolerance.

But that’s enough grumbling at this time. Leonard and Hungry Paul’s heart is in the right place: that place is “resting on a bench in the company of gentle comedies, indicating its preferred bird.” The program that ambles along wearing its simple clothes, occasionally looking up into space, sometimes downward at its feet, quietly confident that there is nothing on Earth as cheering as being alongside good friends.

Throw open the portals of your life, just a bit, and let it in.