Leonard & Hungry Paul Analysis: A Gentle Series Featuring the Voice of the Famous Actress Provides an Ideal Remedy to Contemporary Living

In a calm suburb of the Irish capital, a person can be found on the pavement, sporting a vest and sharing his feelings. “I feel my voice is fading. Less noticeable,” says Leonard, gazing toward the stars. “One thing’s led to another and at this point I feel like if I don’t do something, my life will proceed in this quiet, unremarkable life.” Paul, Leonard’s best confidant, considers these words. “That's perfectly fine,” he replies, his robe swaying in the breeze. “Superior to attempting to leave an impact and ending up damaging things.”

For those tired by the bluster and rat-tat-tat of modern television landscape, this series steps in like a warm cover and a comforting beverage of blackcurrant juice.

Similar to its harmless protagonists, Leonard and Hungry Paul – a six-episode program developed by the writing duo, adapted from the author’s subtle book – casts a critical eye on contemporary society; looking critically through its spectacles on everything in the way of loud sounds, abrupt changes or – perish the thought – an abundance of ambition. This show on the contrary, a tribute to quiet people; a subtle homage of those happy to pootle around out of the spotlight. But. The character (one more sublimely idiosyncratic turn from the star) is uneasy. He feels a creeping “desire to unlock the doors and windows within my world … a little.” The loss of his parent has yanked the floor out from under him and this young man, an anonymous author, now realizes doubting the paths which led him to where he is (single; with a protective mustache; working on a range of kids' reference books for a boss who signs off emails saying “see you later”).

Therefore Leonard begins on a journey for personal satisfaction, alongside his more outgoing friend Paul (the performer) functioning as his close companion, guide and partner in a weekly gaming session that serves both as debate (“Is the pool warm from kids relieving themselves, or do kids pee in it because it’s warm?”) and refuge.

(How did Paul get his nickname? No idea. The beginning of the moniker appears lost in mystery. It could be that Paul once ate a snack unusually quickly, or answered to a tense moment by nervously peeling some food items by biting into them).

Entering Leonard's quiet life cartwheels Shelley (the performer), a fresh spring-loaded colleague who cheerily offers to eliminate his terrible supervisor (Paul Reid) at a fire practice. That whooshing sound audible is Leonard’s gentle world experiencing a revolution.

In other scenes during the opening installment of the comedy driven less by plot and more on what a modern audience could describe as “vibes”, we meet Paul's father (the consistently great the actor), a worn-out individual who secretly watches, tapes and rewatches trivia competitions to amaze his loving spouse through his fact recall.

Shepherding us throughout this gentle kindness there is a voiceover that is unmistakably – and actually is – the famous actress. Indeed, the star. If you are thinking, “undoubtedly the use of a big-name celebrity contradicts the program's low-key style and initially serves only as an interruption?” you would be correct. Still, the actress performs admirably, and dialogue such as “Leonard’s problem is his absence of an expression of discovery” help ensure that initial doubts give way if not quite to appreciation, then at least acceptance.

No more criticism for now. The show's core is in the right place: which is “sitting on a park bench alongside similar shows, indicating its favourite duck.” This is a show that strolls leisurely wearing its simple clothes, at times staring at the stars, at other times looking toward the ground, serenely certain that there is nothing in the world as uplifting as being in the company of good friends.

Unlock the entryways within your world, a little, and welcome it inside.