Leonard & Hungry Paul Analysis: A Soothing Series Featuring the Voice of Julia Roberts Provides an Ideal Antidote to Modern Life

In a peaceful neighborhood of Dublin, a person is standing in his driveway, sporting a sleeveless jumper and voicing his feelings. “I notice myself getting quieter. More invisible,” says the main character, looking into the darkness. “Events have unfolded and at this point I feel like unless I take action, I’ll just carry on in this quiet, unremarkable life.” Hungry Paul, his closest companion, reflects on the idea. “That's perfectly fine,” he answers, his dressing gown swaying with the wind. “Superior to trying to make a mark and ending up damaging things.”

For those weary by the noise and constant stimulation of modern television offerings, Leonard and Hungry Paul comes similar to a warm cover and warming mug of Ribena.

Like its gentle leads, Leonard and Hungry Paul – a six-episode comedy written by the writing duo, adapted from the novelist’s subtle story – takes a dim view at modern life; peering skeptically above its eyewear on everything that involves disturbances, sudden movements or – perish the thought – excessive aspiration. The series rather, a tribute to quiet people; a quiet celebration to people content to wander out of the spotlight. However. He (a further sublimely idiosyncratic turn from the star) is uneasy. He notices a growing “urge to throw open the doors and windows in my existence … just a bit.” The recent death of his beloved mother has whisked the rug from under his slippers and Leonard, an anonymous author, now feels reconsidering the decisions that have brought him to where he is (single; with a protective mustache; creating a range of children’s encyclopedias for a boss who ends emails saying “see you later”).

Therefore Leonard starts an exploration for emotional fulfilment, accompanied by the somewhat braver friend Paul (the actor) serving as his trusted friend, guide and ally in a recurring gaming session functioning as both debate (“Is the pool warm from kids relieving themselves, or is it that kids pee since it's warm?”) and sanctuary.

(How did Paul get his nickname? It's unclear. The beginning of the nickname seems forgotten in mystery. It could be that the postal worker previously devoured a snack in record time, or reacted to a tense moment by panic-peeling some food items by biting into them).

Arriving in Leonard's calm existence cartwheels Shelley (the actress), a recent spring-loaded colleague who happily suggests to get rid of the awful manager (Paul Reid) in a workplace safety exercise. The swift movement noticeable signals Leonard's peaceful routine being turned upside down.

In other scenes in the first episode of this program driven less by plot and centered around what younger viewers could describe as “mood”, viewers encounter Hungry Paul’s dad (the consistently great Lorcan Cranitch), a battered sofa of a man who privately views, tapes and rewatches daytime quiz shows to amaze his devoted partner with his general knowledge.

Guiding viewers through all this subtle warmth is a narrator that sounds very much like – and truly is – the Hollywood icon. Yes, the star. In case you're considering, “undoubtedly the inclusion of a major Hollywood star is at odds with the series’ unshowy MO and starts off as just an interruption?” that's accurate. However, Roberts does a good job, and lines like “Leonard’s problem is that he lacks an expression of discovery” contribute to ensuring that early misgivings give way if not quite to appreciation, then at least acceptance.

Enough complaining currently. Leonard and Hungry Paul’s heart has good intentions: which is “located on a seat next to the Detectorists, pointing out its favourite duck.” The program that moves gently in its sleeveless jumper, at times staring toward the sky, sometimes downward at its slippers, calmly assured that no experience is on Earth as cheering as passing time in the company of good friends.

Open the doors and windows within your world, slightly, and welcome it inside.