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In a quiet area of the Irish capital, an individual is standing outside his home, sporting a sleeveless jumper and expressing his concerns. “I notice I'm becoming more silent. Harder to see,” says the protagonist, looking up at the night sky. “Events have unfolded and now I feel like unless I take action, I will continue in this minor, harmless existence.” Paul, his closest confidant, ponders this statement. “There's no harm in that,” he answers, his dressing gown moving with the wind. “Better than trying to make a mark and causing harm instead.”

For those exhausted by the noise and fast pace of modern television offerings, the show arrives like a foil blanket and warming mug of a sweet cordial.

Similar to its harmless protagonists, the series – a half-dozen installment show written by its authors, adapted from Rónán Hession’s quiet 2019 novel – casts a critical eye at modern life; gazing critically over its prematurely middle-aged glasses on everything that involves loud sounds, sudden movements or – heaven forfend – excessive aspiration. The program rather, a tribute to quiet people; a gentle tribute of those happy to amble along out of the spotlight. But. The character (a further uniquely quirky performance from the star) is unsettled. He senses an increasing “desire to unlock the doors and windows within my world … a little.” The loss of his mother has pulled the carpet from under his slippers and the 32-year-old, an anonymous author, now finds himself doubting the choices that have brought him to where he is (unattached; defensively moustached; writing multiple kids' reference books for a boss who ends emails using the words “ciao for now”).

And so Leonard starts an exploration for emotional fulfilment, alongside his more outgoing Hungry Paul (the performer) functioning as his close companion, life coach and co-conspirator in a recurring board games evening functioning as both symposium (“Is the pool warm due to children urinating, or do kids pee in it because it’s warm?”) and sanctuary.

(Why “Hungry” Paul? The reason is unknown. The origin of the moniker is shrouded in mystery. Maybe the postal worker on one occasion consumed a sandwich unusually quickly, or reacted to a tense moment by panic-peeling some food items using his teeth).

Into Leonard’s gentle world bursts Shelley (the actress), a recent energetic co-worker who lightheartedly proposes to kill Leonard’s appalling boss (the actor) in a workplace safety exercise. That whooshing sound audible signals Leonard's peaceful routine experiencing a revolution.

Elsewhere in the initial show of this program not heavily plotted and more by what the under-30s may refer to as “atmosphere”, we are introduced to Paul's father (the brilliant Lorcan Cranitch), a battered sofa of a man who secretly watches, saves and reviews daytime quiz shows to dazzle his devoted partner using his trivia skills.

Guiding the audience amidst this minor-key niceness there is a voiceover who closely resembles – and truly is – Julia Roberts. Truly, Julia Roberts. In case you're considering, “surely the inclusion of a major Hollywood star clashes with the program's low-key style and initially serves only as a distraction?” you would be correct. Nevertheless, the actress performs admirably, and lines such as “Leonard's challenge is that he lacks a look of sudden insight” help ensure that first reservations give way if not full admiration, then certainly understanding.

Enough complaining currently. The series' spirit has good intentions: the right place being “sitting on a park bench next to the Detectorists, indicating its preferred bird.” The program that moves gently in its sleeveless jumper, occasionally looking up toward the sky, sometimes downward at its feet, serenely certain that no experience is in the world as uplifting as being alongside good friends.

Open the doors and windows of your life, a little, and allow it entry.