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In a calm neighborhood of the city, a man is standing outside his home, wearing a sleeveless jumper and sharing his thoughts. “I feel myself getting quieter. More invisible,” remarks the main character, staring up at the night sky. “Circumstances have evolved and at this point I feel like without a change, I will continue in this quiet, unremarkable life.” Paul, his closest companion, ponders these words. “There's no harm in that,” he responds, his bathrobe swaying in the breeze. “Preferable to attempting to leave an impact and causing harm instead.”

For those tired by the chaos and fast pace of current streaming landscape, this series comes similar to a warm cover and a comforting beverage of a sweet cordial.

Similar to its harmless protagonists, Leonard and Hungry Paul – a six-episode show developed by the writing duo, adapted from the novelist’s subtle book – looks disapprovingly on contemporary society; looking disapprovingly through its prematurely middle-aged glasses on everything related to unnecessary noise, abrupt changes or – goodness forbid – excessive aspiration. This show on the contrary, a celebration of shyness; a subtle homage of those content to amble along below the parapet. However. Leonard (another uniquely quirky portrayal by the actor) is unsettled. He feels a growing “urge to throw open the openings of my life … slightly.” The passing of his mother has pulled the carpet out from under him and the 32-year-old, a ghost writer, now realizes doubting the paths that directed him to his current situation (unattached; defensively moustached; writing a range of kids' reference books for a man who ends emails using the words “ciao for now”).

And so Leonard starts himself on a quest for personal satisfaction, with the slightly bolder Paul (the performer) acting as his confidante, mentor and partner in a weekly gaming session which acts as discussion (“Is the pool warm from kids relieving themselves, or do children urinate since it's warm?”) and refuge.

(How did Paul get his nickname? It's unclear. The origin of the moniker appears lost in history. Maybe Paul previously devoured some food in record time, or answered to a tense moment by nervously peeling four scotch eggs using his teeth).

Entering Leonard's quiet life comes Shelley (the performer), a new spring-loaded associate who lightheartedly proposes to get rid of the awful manager (the character) in a workplace safety exercise. The swift movement you can hear signals Leonard's peaceful routine undergoing a shake-up.

In other scenes during the opening installment of this program not heavily plotted and centered around what younger viewers may refer to as “atmosphere”, we are introduced to Paul's father (the brilliant the actor), a worn-out individual who covertly observes, records then replays daytime quiz shows to dazzle his loving spouse through his fact recall.

Leading viewers amidst this subtle warmth we hear a narrator that is unmistakably – and actually is – Julia Roberts. Indeed, the star. If you are thinking, “undoubtedly the inclusion of such a famous actor contradicts the show's modest approach and initially serves only as a distraction?” that's accurate. However, Roberts does a good job, and phrases for example “Leonard’s problem is that he lacks a look of sudden insight” contribute to ensuring that early misgivings yield though not complete approval, then at minimum tolerance.

Enough complaining currently. The series' spirit has good intentions: the right place being “located on a seat next to the Detectorists, indicating its favourite duck.” It’s a series that strolls leisurely wearing its simple clothes, occasionally looking up toward the sky, sometimes downward at its feet, serenely certain that no experience is in the world as cheering as passing time in the company of dear pals.

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