🔗 Share this article

In a calm area of the Irish capital, an individual stands outside his home, dressed in a sleeveless jumper and voicing his concerns. “I feel my voice is fading. Harder to see,” remarks the main character, looking toward the stars. “Events have unfolded and at this point I feel like unless I take action, my life will proceed in this quiet, unremarkable life.” Hungry Paul, Leonard’s best and only friend, considers this statement. “There's no harm in that,” he replies, his dressing gown swaying gently. “Preferable to trying to make a mark and ending up damaging things.”

For viewers weary by the chaos and rat-tat-tat of modern television landscape, Leonard and Hungry Paul comes similar to a cozy wrap and a comforting beverage of a sweet cordial.

Like its harmless protagonists, the series – a half-dozen installment program created by the writing duo, inspired by the author’s subtle book – looks disapprovingly toward today's world; looking disapprovingly above its prematurely middle-aged glasses at anything related to unnecessary noise, abrupt changes or – goodness forbid – an abundance of ambition. This show is, instead, an ode to introversion; a gentle tribute for those happy to pootle around away from attention. And yet. Leonard (one more uniquely quirky turn from Alex Lawther) is uneasy. He notices a growing “desire to unlock the doors and windows within my world … just a bit.” The loss of his parent has pulled the carpet away from his feet and the 32-year-old, an anonymous author, now finds himself questioning the decisions which led him to this point (unattached; defensively moustached; writing a range of children’s encyclopedias for an employer who signs off messages with the phrase “ciao for now”).

And so Leonard launches himself on a quest for emotional fulfilment, alongside his more outgoing Hungry Paul (the actor) functioning as his confidante, life coach and co-conspirator in a weekly board games evening functioning as both symposium (“Does the pool feel warm due to children urinating, or do children urinate since it's warm?”) and safe space.

(What's the origin of "Hungry" Paul? The reason is unknown. The beginning of the moniker seems forgotten in mystery. It could be that the postal worker on one occasion consumed a sandwich very fast, or responded to a tense moment by hastily opening four scotch eggs using his teeth).

Arriving in Leonard's calm existence bursts a vibrant character (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), a new spring-loaded co-worker who lightheartedly proposes to kill the awful manager (Paul Reid) during the office fire drill. The swift movement noticeable represents Leonard's calm life undergoing a shake-up.

In another part in the first episode of this program focused less on story and more by what younger viewers could describe as “mood”, viewers encounter the older generation (the ever-wonderful Lorcan Cranitch), a worn-out individual who privately views, tapes and rewatches television game programs to dazzle his adoring wife through his fact recall.

Leading the audience throughout this minor-key niceness there is a voiceover that sounds very much like – and truly is – the Hollywood icon. Truly, the celebrity. In case you're considering, “surely the presence of such a famous actor clashes with the program's low-key style and at first acts merely as a distraction?” you would be correct. Nevertheless, the actress performs admirably, and dialogue like “The issue with Leonard is his absence of a ‘eureka’ face” contribute to ensuring that first reservations give way if not full admiration, then certainly understanding.

No more criticism at this time. The series' spirit has good intentions: that place is “sitting on a park bench next to the Detectorists, showing its preferred bird.” The program that ambles along in its sleeveless jumper, occasionally looking up at the stars, occasionally down toward the ground, quietly confident that no experience is in life as heartening as passing time in the company of good friends.

Throw open the portals within your world, a little, and welcome it inside.