The Story of Leonard and Hungry Paul Overview: A Soothing Comedy Narrated by the Hollywood Star Brings an Ideal Antidote to Contemporary Living

In a quiet neighborhood of Dublin, a man is standing in his driveway, sporting a sleeveless jumper and sharing his thoughts. “I feel I'm becoming more silent. Less noticeable,” remarks the main character, staring into the darkness. “Circumstances have evolved and now it seems unless I take action, my life will proceed in this minor, harmless existence.” Hungry Paul, his only companion, reflects on these words. “Nothing wrong with that,” he answers, his robe swaying gently. “Superior to trying to make a mark and causing harm instead.”

For anyone tired by the noise and fast pace of current streaming offerings, Leonard and Hungry Paul arrives similar to a warm cover with a hot drink of a sweet cordial.

Like its quiet characters, Leonard and Hungry Paul – a six-part comedy written by its authors, adapted from the novelist’s understated story – looks disapprovingly toward today's world; looking critically through its eyewear toward anything related to loud sounds, quick actions or – heaven forfend – an abundance of ambition. The series on the contrary, a tribute to quiet people; a subtle homage of those content to amble along out of the spotlight. However. He (a further distinctly original turn from Alex Lawther) feels restless. He feels an increasing “urge to throw open the entryways in my existence … just a bit.” The recent death of his mother has yanked the floor from under his slippers and this young man, a ghost writer, now realizes questioning the decisions that have brought him to his current situation (unattached; defensively moustached; writing a range of educational volumes for a man who concludes messages with the phrase “goodbye for now”).

Thus Leonard begins on a journey for emotional fulfilment, accompanied by the somewhat braver Hungry Paul (the performer) acting as his close companion, guide and co-conspirator in a weekly game night functioning as both symposium (“Is the pool warm because kids pee in it, or is it that kids pee as it's heated?”) and refuge.

(Why “Hungry” Paul? It's unclear. The beginning of this name seems forgotten in mystery. Perhaps Paul previously devoured a snack unusually quickly, or responded to a socially fraught incident by panic-peeling several snacks with his teeth).

Entering Leonard's quiet life cartwheels a vibrant character (the performer), a new lively co-worker who happily suggests to eliminate the awful manager (the actor) during the office fire drill. That whooshing sound you can hear signals Leonard's peaceful routine undergoing a shake-up.

Elsewhere in the initial show of this program not heavily plotted and more on what younger viewers could describe as “atmosphere”, viewers encounter the older generation (the ever-wonderful the performer), a worn-out individual who privately views, tapes and rewatches television game programs to dazzle his adoring wife with his general knowledge.

Guiding the audience throughout this subtle warmth there is a voiceover that sounds very much like – and truly is – the Hollywood icon. Truly, the star. In case you're considering, “surely the inclusion of a big-name celebrity contradicts the series’ unshowy MO and initially serves only as a diversion?” that's accurate. Nevertheless, Roberts does a good job, and dialogue such as “Leonard's challenge is that he lacks a ‘eureka’ face” help ensure that early misgivings fade though not complete approval, then at minimum tolerance.

But that’s enough grumbling at this time. Leonard and Hungry Paul’s heart has good intentions: that place is “located on a seat in the company of gentle comedies, showing its preferred bird.” The program that moves gently in comfortable attire, at times staring into space, at other times looking at its slippers, quietly confident that there is nothing in life as uplifting as spending time alongside close companions.

Open the doors and windows in your existence, slightly, and let it in.