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In a calm area of the Irish capital, an individual stands outside his home, wearing a sleeveless jumper and voicing his thoughts. “It seems like myself getting quieter. Harder to see,” states Leonard, staring into the darkness. “Events have unfolded and at this point it seems unless I take action, I’ll just carry on in this simple, peaceful routine.” His friend Paul, his closest confidant, considers the idea. “There's no harm in that,” he answers, his robe flapping gently. “Preferable to attempting to leave an impact and causing harm instead.”

For anyone exhausted by the chaos and constant stimulation of today’s TV offerings, this series comes like a warm cover and warming mug of Ribena.

Similar to its gentle leads, the series – a six-episode program written by its authors, based on Rónán Hession’s quiet 2019 novel – takes a dim view toward today's world; looking skeptically over its spectacles toward anything in the way of loud sounds, abrupt changes or – perish the thought – excessive aspiration. The program rather, a tribute to quiet people; a gentle tribute to people happy to pootle around away from attention. However. He (one more sublimely idiosyncratic turn from the star) is unsettled. He notices an increasing “desire to unlock the openings in my existence … just a bit.” The passing of his mother has yanked the floor from under his slippers and this young man, a ghost writer, now finds himself questioning the paths which led him to this point (single; sporting facial hair; creating a range of kids' reference books for a boss who concludes correspondence with the phrase “goodbye for now”).

Thus Leonard starts on a journey to find happiness, with the slightly bolder Hungry Paul (the actor) functioning as his trusted friend, mentor and co-conspirator in a weekly board games evening functioning as both symposium (“Is the pool warm because kids pee in it, or is it that kids pee as it's heated?”) and sanctuary.

(How did Paul get his nickname? The reason is unknown. The beginning of this name is shrouded in mystery. Perhaps Paul on one occasion consumed a sandwich unusually quickly, or responded to a tense moment by panic-peeling some food items with his teeth).

Arriving in Leonard's calm existence bursts a new colleague (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), a fresh spring-loaded associate who cheerily offers to get rid of the awful manager (the character) at a fire practice. The rushing noise audible is Leonard’s gentle world undergoing a shake-up.

In another part in the first episode of the comedy driven less by plot and more on what a modern audience may refer to as “vibes”, viewers encounter the older generation (the consistently great the actor), a tired character who covertly observes, records then replays daytime quiz shows to amaze his loving spouse using his trivia skills.

Leading the audience through all this gentle kindness there is a voiceover that sounds very much like – and truly is – Julia Roberts. Yes, the star. In case you're considering, “surely the use of such a famous actor is at odds with the show's modest approach and at first acts merely as a diversion?” you would be correct. However, Roberts does a good job, and dialogue for example “Leonard’s problem is his absence of a look of sudden insight” assist in making sure that early misgivings fade though not complete approval, then at least acceptance.

No more criticism for now. Leonard and Hungry Paul’s heart has good intentions: that place is “resting on a bench in the company of gentle comedies, showing the duck it loves.” The program that strolls leisurely in its sleeveless jumper, occasionally looking up into space, at other times looking toward the ground, quietly confident that nothing is in life as uplifting as spending time with close companions.

Unlock the entryways of your life, a little, and allow it entry.