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In a peaceful area of the Irish capital, a person stands on the pavement, dressed in a sleeveless jumper and voicing his thoughts. “I feel myself getting quieter. Harder to see,” remarks the protagonist, staring toward the stars. “One thing’s led to another and now it seems unless I take action, I will continue in this simple, peaceful routine.” Paul, his closest companion, considers these words. “Nothing wrong with that,” he responds, his bathrobe moving with the wind. “Superior to trying to make a mark only to wind up defacing it.”

For anyone weary by the chaos and fast pace of current streaming offerings, this series comes like a foil blanket and warming mug of blackcurrant juice.

Like its gentle leads, this comedy – a six-part show developed by its authors, adapted from the novelist’s subtle 2019 novel – looks disapprovingly at modern life; peering critically above its eyewear toward anything related to unnecessary noise, quick actions or – perish the thought – too much drive. The program on the contrary, an ode to introversion; a subtle homage to people content to amble along away from attention. And yet. The character (another sublimely idiosyncratic performance by the actor) is unsettled. He senses an increasing “desire to unlock the doors and windows in my existence … a little.” The recent death of his beloved mother has pulled the carpet out from under him and this young man, an anonymous author, now realizes reconsidering the decisions that have brought him to this point (single; defensively moustached; creating a range of children’s encyclopedias for a boss who ends messages using the words “see you later”).

Therefore Leonard begins himself on a quest to find happiness, with the slightly bolder Hungry Paul (the actor) functioning as his close companion, guide and ally during their regular board games evening which acts as symposium (“Is the water heated due to children urinating, or do children urinate as it's heated?”) and sanctuary.

(What's the origin of "Hungry" Paul? The reason is unknown. The origin of this name seems forgotten in history. It could be that Paul on one occasion consumed a snack unusually quickly, or reacted to an awkward situation by hastily opening four scotch eggs with his teeth).

Into Leonard’s gentle world comes Shelley (the performer), a new energetic colleague who happily suggests to kill his terrible supervisor (the character) during the office fire drill. The swift movement audible signals Leonard's peaceful routine experiencing a revolution.

Elsewhere during the opening installment of the comedy focused less on story and more on what younger viewers might call “vibes”, we meet the older generation (the brilliant the performer), a battered sofa of a man who secretly watches, records then replays daytime quiz shows to amaze his loving spouse through his fact recall.

Leading viewers amidst this minor-key niceness there is a voiceover that sounds very much like – and, indeed, very much is – the Hollywood icon. Truly, the star. Should you wonder, “certainly the inclusion of such a famous actor contradicts the program's low-key style and initially serves only as an interruption?” you're right. Nevertheless, Roberts does a good job, and dialogue for example “The issue with Leonard is the missing an expression of discovery” help ensure that first reservations yield though not complete approval, then at least acceptance.

No more criticism currently. The show's core is in the right place: the right place being “located on a seat alongside similar shows, showing its favourite duck.” This is a show that moves gently in its sleeveless jumper, at times staring toward the sky, at other times looking at its feet, calmly assured that there is nothing on Earth as cheering as passing time alongside dear pals.

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