Leonard & Hungry Paul Overview: A Soothing Comedy Featuring the Voice of the Hollywood Star Provides an Ideal Cure to Today's World

In a peaceful area of the city, a person can be found outside his home, wearing a vest and expressing his feelings. “It seems like my voice is fading. More invisible,” remarks the main character, staring into the darkness. “Events have unfolded and now I believe unless I take action, I will continue in this simple, peaceful routine.” Hungry Paul, his only confidant, considers these words. “There's no harm in that,” he replies, his bathrobe flapping in the breeze. “Better than striving for recognition and causing harm instead.”

For viewers exhausted by the bluster and fast pace of today’s TV terrain, this series steps in as a warm cover and a comforting beverage of Ribena.

Like its gentle leads, this comedy – a half-dozen installment program written by its authors, adapted from Rónán Hession’s understated 2019 novel – casts a critical eye on contemporary society; gazing critically through its spectacles on everything related to loud sounds, quick actions or – heaven forfend – excessive aspiration. This show on the contrary, a celebration of shyness; a quiet celebration of those satisfied to pootle around below the parapet. And yet. He (another distinctly original turn by the actor) is unsettled. He senses an increasing “urge to throw open the openings in my existence … just a bit.” The recent death of his mother has pulled the carpet away from his feet and this young man, a ghost writer, now feels questioning the paths which led him to his current situation (single; sporting facial hair; creating a range of educational volumes for a man who concludes messages using the words “goodbye for now”).

Thus Leonard launches himself on a quest for personal satisfaction, alongside his more outgoing Paul (the actor) acting as his trusted friend, mentor and ally in a weekly game night functioning as both debate (“Is the pool warm due to children urinating, or do children urinate since it's warm?”) and sanctuary.

(Why “Hungry” Paul? No idea. The origin of the nickname is shrouded to the mists of time. Perhaps he once ate a sandwich unusually quickly, or reacted to an awkward situation by hastily opening four scotch eggs using his teeth).

Entering Leonard's quiet life comes Shelley (the performer), a recent lively associate who happily suggests to kill his terrible supervisor (the actor) during the office fire drill. The rushing noise noticeable is Leonard’s gentle world being turned upside down.

In another part in the first episode of the comedy focused less on story and more by what younger viewers could describe as “vibes”, we are introduced to Paul's father (the ever-wonderful the actor), a battered sofa of a man who secretly watches, records then replays television game programs to amaze his loving spouse through his fact recall.

Shepherding viewers throughout this gentle kindness there is a voiceover who closely resembles – and truly is – the famous actress. Yes, the celebrity. If you are thinking, “certainly the inclusion of a big-name celebrity clashes with the show's modest approach and initially serves only as a diversion?” you're right. However, Roberts does a good job, and phrases for example “Leonard’s problem is his absence of a look of sudden insight” assist in making sure that first reservations give way if not quite to appreciation, then certainly understanding.

Enough complaining for now. The series' spirit has good intentions: the right place being “resting on a bench in the company of gentle comedies, showing its favourite duck.” The program that moves gently wearing its simple clothes, occasionally looking up at the stars, occasionally down at its feet, serenely certain that no experience is in the world as cheering as being alongside dear pals.

Open the doors and windows in your existence, slightly, and allow it entry.