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In a peaceful suburb of Dublin, a person stands in his driveway, wearing a tank top and expressing his thoughts. “I notice I'm becoming more silent. More invisible,” says the main character, staring up at the night sky. “Circumstances have evolved and at this point I feel like without a change, I’ll just carry on in this quiet, unremarkable life.” His friend Paul, his only companion, reflects on the idea. “That's perfectly fine,” he replies, his bathrobe moving gently. “Better than attempting to leave an impact and ending up damaging things.”

For those tired by the bluster and rat-tat-tat of current streaming landscape, the show comes like a warm cover and a comforting beverage of Ribena.

Like its quiet characters, this comedy – a six-episode show written by its authors, based on Rónán Hession’s subtle book – takes a dim view toward today's world; looking disapprovingly over its prematurely middle-aged glasses toward anything in the way of loud sounds, quick actions or – heaven forfend – too much drive. This show rather, an ode to introversion; a gentle tribute to people happy to pootle around away from attention. But. He (a further distinctly original portrayal from Alex Lawther) feels restless. He feels a creeping “urge to throw open the entryways of my life … just a bit.” The recent death of his beloved mother has pulled the carpet away from his feet and the 32-year-old, an anonymous author, now feels doubting the choices that directed him to where he is (single; defensively moustached; creating multiple children’s encyclopedias for a boss who concludes emails saying “see you later”).

Thus Leonard starts an exploration for personal satisfaction, alongside his more outgoing friend Paul (the actor) serving as his close companion, guide and partner in a recurring board games evening that serves both as debate (“Does the pool feel warm because kids pee in it, or do children urinate since it's warm?”) and safe space.

(Why “Hungry” Paul? The reason is unknown. The beginning of the moniker appears lost to the mists of time. It could be that he on one occasion consumed a sandwich unusually quickly, or answered to an awkward situation by hastily opening several snacks by biting into them).

Into Leonard’s gentle world bursts a vibrant character (the performer), a fresh spring-loaded co-worker who cheerily offers to kill the awful manager (the actor) during the office fire drill. The swift movement you can hear is Leonard’s gentle world undergoing a shake-up.

In other scenes in the initial show of a series not heavily plotted and more on what younger viewers could describe as “mood”, we meet Hungry Paul’s dad (the ever-wonderful the actor), a worn-out individual who secretly watches, saves and reviews daytime quiz shows to impress his devoted partner with his general knowledge.

Leading the audience throughout this minor-key niceness we hear a narrator that sounds very much like – and, indeed, very much is – the famous actress. Truly, the celebrity. In case you're considering, “surely the use of a major Hollywood star is at odds with the show's modest approach and starts off as just an interruption?” you're right. Nevertheless, the actress performs admirably, and phrases like “Leonard’s problem is the missing a ‘eureka’ face” help ensure that first reservations give way though not complete approval, then at least acceptance.

Enough complaining at this time. Leonard and Hungry Paul’s heart is in the right place: the right place being “sitting on a park bench alongside similar shows, pointing out the duck it loves.” The program that moves gently in comfortable attire, at times staring at the stars, sometimes downward at its feet, serenely certain that nothing is in the world as heartening as passing time with close companions.

Throw open the portals in your existence, a little, and let it in.