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In a quiet area of the Irish capital, a person stands in his driveway, dressed in a sleeveless jumper and sharing his thoughts. “It seems like myself getting quieter. Harder to see,” remarks the main character, looking toward the stars. “Circumstances have evolved and now I believe unless I take action, my life will proceed in this quiet, unremarkable life.” Hungry Paul, his closest and only friend, considers the idea. “Nothing wrong with that,” he replies, his robe moving gently. “Better than trying to make a mark and ending up damaging things.”

For anyone exhausted by the noise and fast pace of current streaming offerings, this series comes similar to a warm cover and a comforting beverage of blackcurrant juice.

In line with its gentle leads, the series – a six-episode show developed by Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson, adapted from the novelist’s subtle 2019 novel – casts a critical eye toward today's world; peering disapprovingly above its spectacles on everything that involves loud sounds, quick actions or – perish the thought – excessive aspiration. The series on the contrary, a celebration of shyness; a gentle tribute of those happy to amble along below the parapet. And yet. Leonard (another sublimely idiosyncratic portrayal from the star) is uneasy. He notices a creeping “urge to throw open the doors and windows within my world … a little.” The loss of his beloved mother has yanked the floor away from his feet and this young man, a writer for others, now finds himself doubting the paths that directed him to his current situation (unattached; defensively moustached; working on a range of educational volumes for a boss who ends emails with the phrase “goodbye for now”).

And so Leonard starts an exploration for personal satisfaction, alongside his more outgoing friend Paul (Laurie Kynaston) serving as his confidante, mentor and partner in a recurring game night that serves both as discussion (“Does the pool feel warm because kids pee in it, or do children urinate because it’s warm?”) and sanctuary.

(What's the origin of "Hungry" Paul? The reason is unknown. The origin of the moniker seems forgotten to the mists of time. It could be that Paul on one occasion consumed a sandwich unusually quickly, or reacted to a socially fraught incident by nervously peeling several snacks by biting into them).

Into Leonard’s gentle world cartwheels a vibrant character (the actress), a fresh lively colleague who lightheartedly proposes to eliminate the awful manager (the character) in a workplace safety exercise. The swift movement audible is Leonard’s gentle world being turned upside down.

In another part in the initial show of the comedy driven less by plot and centered around what younger viewers might call “vibes”, viewers encounter Hungry Paul’s dad (the consistently great the performer), a tired character who privately views, tapes and rewatches daytime quiz shows to impress his loving spouse through his fact recall.

Guiding us through all this subtle warmth there is a voiceover that sounds very much like – and truly is – the famous actress. Yes, the celebrity. If you are thinking, “surely the presence of such a famous actor clashes with the program's low-key style and starts off as just an interruption?” you would be correct. Nevertheless, Roberts does a good job, and phrases like “Leonard’s problem is that he lacks a ‘eureka’ face” help ensure that initial doubts yield though not complete approval, then certainly understanding.

But that’s enough grumbling for now. The series' spirit is well-intentioned: which is “resting on a bench in the company of gentle comedies, indicating the duck it loves.” This is a show that moves gently in its sleeveless jumper, at times staring toward the sky, sometimes downward at its feet, calmly assured that no experience is in life as heartening as being alongside dear pals.

Unlock the entryways of your life, just a bit, and let it in.