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In a quiet area of the Irish capital, a person can be found in his driveway, dressed in a vest and voicing his concerns. “I feel I'm becoming more silent. More invisible,” remarks Leonard, looking toward the stars. “Circumstances have evolved and currently it seems unless I take action, I’ll just carry on in this minor, harmless existence.” Hungry Paul, Leonard’s best and only friend, reflects on these words. “Nothing wrong with that,” he responds, his bathrobe flapping gently. “Better than striving for recognition only to wind up defacing it.”

For viewers tired by the bluster and rat-tat-tat of modern television landscape, this series arrives similar to a cozy wrap with a hot drink of blackcurrant juice.

Similar to its gentle leads, this comedy – a six-episode comedy developed by the writing duo, based on Rónán Hession’s quiet 2019 novel – casts a critical eye on contemporary society; gazing disapprovingly above its eyewear toward anything related to loud sounds, quick actions or – perish the thought – too much drive. The series on the contrary, an ode to introversion; a subtle homage for those happy to amble along away from attention. But. He (one more distinctly original performance from the star) is unsettled. He senses an increasing “need to open the entryways within my world … slightly.” The loss of his mother has yanked the floor away from his feet and the 32-year-old, a ghost writer, now finds himself doubting the paths that have brought him to this point (single; defensively moustached; writing a range of children’s encyclopedias for an employer who ends emails with the phrase “ciao for now”).

Thus Leonard launches himself on a quest for emotional fulfilment, with the slightly bolder Paul (the performer) serving as his trusted friend, guide and partner during their regular game night functioning as both discussion (“Is the pool warm because kids pee in it, or do kids pee in it because it’s warm?”) and refuge.

(What's the origin of "Hungry" Paul? No idea. The source of this name seems forgotten in history. Maybe he previously devoured a snack in record time, or answered to a socially fraught incident by hastily opening four scotch eggs with his teeth).

Into Leonard’s gentle world bursts a new colleague (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), a fresh lively colleague who cheerily offers to get rid of the awful manager (Paul Reid) at a fire practice. That whooshing sound audible is Leonard’s gentle world experiencing a revolution.

In other scenes in the first episode of this program focused less on story and centered around what the under-30s could describe as “vibes”, we are introduced to the older generation (the consistently great Lorcan Cranitch), a tired character who secretly watches, saves and reviews trivia competitions to amaze his loving spouse using his trivia skills.

Leading us throughout this subtle warmth we hear a narrator that sounds very much like – and actually is – the famous actress. Yes, Julia Roberts. If you are thinking, “certainly the presence of a big-name celebrity contradicts the program's low-key style and at first acts merely as a diversion?” you would be correct. Nevertheless, Roberts does a good job, and phrases for example “Leonard's challenge is the missing an expression of discovery” contribute to ensuring that early misgivings yield if not quite to appreciation, then at minimum tolerance.

No more criticism at this time. The series' spirit is well-intentioned: the right place being “located on a seat in the company of gentle comedies, pointing out the duck it loves.” It’s a series that ambles along in comfortable attire, sometimes gazing upward at the stars, occasionally down at its feet, serenely certain that nothing is in the world as uplifting as being with close companions.

Unlock the entryways in your existence, slightly, and let it in.