🔗 Share this article

In a quiet suburb of the city, an individual stands on the pavement, dressed in a sleeveless jumper and expressing his thoughts. “I notice myself getting quieter. Less noticeable,” states Leonard, gazing into the darkness. “Events have unfolded and now I feel like unless I take action, I will continue in this simple, peaceful routine.” Paul, his closest confidant, ponders the idea. “That's perfectly fine,” he replies, his bathrobe flapping in the breeze. “Superior to trying to make a mark and ending up damaging things.”

For those weary by the bluster and constant stimulation of current streaming offerings, the show steps in similar to a foil blanket and a comforting beverage of a sweet cordial.

In line with its quiet characters, Leonard and Hungry Paul – a six-episode program developed by the writing duo, inspired by the author’s quiet 2019 novel – looks disapprovingly toward today's world; gazing disapprovingly above its prematurely middle-aged glasses at anything that involves loud sounds, abrupt changes or – goodness forbid – excessive aspiration. This show on the contrary, an ode to introversion; a gentle tribute to people content to wander out of the spotlight. However. Leonard (one more distinctly original performance by the actor) is unsettled. He senses an increasing “desire to unlock the entryways within my world … slightly.” The loss of his beloved mother has whisked the rug from under his slippers and Leonard, a writer for others, now finds himself doubting the decisions that have brought him to where he is (alone; sporting facial hair; creating multiple kids' reference books for an employer who concludes correspondence saying “see you later”).

Thus Leonard launches on a journey to find happiness, accompanied by the somewhat braver Hungry Paul (the actor) acting as his close companion, mentor and co-conspirator in a recurring board games evening that serves both as debate (“Is the pool warm because kids pee in it, or is it that kids pee since it's warm?”) and sanctuary.

(Why “Hungry” Paul? The reason is unknown. The origin of the nickname is shrouded to the mists of time. Perhaps the postal worker previously devoured some food very fast, or responded to a tense moment by panic-peeling four scotch eggs by biting into them).

Into Leonard’s gentle world bursts a vibrant character (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), a new spring-loaded co-worker who happily suggests to eliminate the awful manager (the character) in a workplace safety exercise. The swift movement you can hear is Leonard’s gentle world being turned upside down.

Elsewhere in the first episode of a series not heavily plotted and more by what younger viewers might call “atmosphere”, we are introduced to the older generation (the ever-wonderful the performer), a tired character who secretly watches, tapes and rewatches daytime quiz shows to amaze his loving spouse using his trivia skills.

Guiding the audience through all this minor-key niceness we hear a narrator that sounds very much like – and truly is – the famous actress. Indeed, the celebrity. If you are thinking, “certainly the inclusion of a big-name celebrity clashes with the program's low-key style and starts off as just a diversion?” you're right. Still, Roberts acquits herself well, and lines for example “Leonard's challenge is the missing an expression of discovery” help ensure that early misgivings give way though not complete approval, then certainly understanding.

No more criticism at this time. Leonard and Hungry Paul’s heart has good intentions: the right place being “located on a seat in the company of gentle comedies, pointing out the duck it loves.” This is a show that ambles along wearing its simple clothes, occasionally looking up toward the sky, at other times looking at its feet, serenely certain that nothing is in the world as heartening as spending time alongside dear pals.

Unlock the entryways of your life, a little, and welcome it inside.