🔗 Share this article

In a peaceful neighborhood of Dublin, a person stands outside his home, sporting a sleeveless jumper and sharing his thoughts. “I notice I'm becoming more silent. Less noticeable,” remarks Leonard, gazing toward the stars. “Circumstances have evolved and at this point I believe if I don’t do something, I will continue in this quiet, unremarkable life.” Paul, his closest companion, reflects on the idea. “Nothing wrong with that,” he responds, his bathrobe moving gently. “Better than attempting to leave an impact and causing harm instead.”

For those weary by the chaos and fast pace of current streaming landscape, the show arrives as a warm cover and a comforting beverage of a sweet cordial.

In line with its gentle leads, the series – a half-dozen installment show developed by Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson, inspired by the author’s subtle 2019 novel – casts a critical eye on contemporary society; peering skeptically through its eyewear at anything related to disturbances, sudden movements or – perish the thought – excessive aspiration. The program on the contrary, an ode to introversion; a quiet celebration of those satisfied to pootle around away from attention. And yet. The character (another uniquely quirky performance by the actor) feels restless. He feels a creeping “need to open the doors and windows of my life … a little.” The passing of his mother has yanked the floor from under his slippers and Leonard, a writer for others, now finds himself questioning the paths that have brought him to his current situation (alone; defensively moustached; working on several children’s encyclopedias for an employer who ends correspondence saying “see you later”).

Thus Leonard launches on a journey for personal satisfaction, alongside his more outgoing Hungry Paul (Laurie Kynaston) acting as his confidante, guide and ally during their regular game night functioning as both discussion (“Is the pool warm from kids relieving themselves, or do kids pee in it since it's warm?”) and sanctuary.

(Why “Hungry” Paul? The reason is unknown. The beginning of this name seems forgotten in history. Maybe he once ate some food very fast, or responded to an awkward situation by hastily opening four scotch eggs by biting into them).

Entering Leonard's quiet life comes Shelley (the actress), a new spring-loaded co-worker who happily suggests to eliminate Leonard’s appalling boss (Paul Reid) at a fire practice. The swift movement noticeable represents Leonard's calm life undergoing a shake-up.

In other scenes in the initial show of the comedy focused less on story and more by what a modern audience might call “vibes”, we meet Hungry Paul’s dad (the consistently great the performer), a tired character who privately views, saves and reviews television game programs to amaze his devoted partner through his fact recall.

Guiding the audience amidst this minor-key niceness is a narrator that sounds very much like – and, indeed, very much is – Julia Roberts. Truly, the star. If you are thinking, “certainly the inclusion of a big-name celebrity clashes with the program's low-key style and at first acts merely as an interruption?” you would be correct. Still, the actress performs admirably, and dialogue such as “The issue with Leonard is the missing a ‘eureka’ face” help ensure that initial doubts fade if not full admiration, then certainly understanding.

But that’s enough grumbling at this time. The series' spirit is well-intentioned: which is “located on a seat alongside similar shows, showing its preferred bird.” This is a show that strolls leisurely in comfortable attire, at times staring toward the sky, sometimes downward toward the ground, quietly confident that there is nothing in the world as cheering as spending time alongside good friends.

Unlock the entryways of your life, a little, and welcome it inside.