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In a peaceful area of Dublin, an individual stands on the pavement, sporting a sleeveless jumper and sharing his thoughts. “I notice my voice is fading. Harder to see,” states Leonard, staring into the darkness. “Events have unfolded and currently I feel like if I don’t do something, my life will proceed in this minor, harmless existence.” Paul, Leonard’s best and only friend, considers the idea. “That's perfectly fine,” he answers, his dressing gown moving gently. “Better than striving for recognition and causing harm instead.”

For viewers weary by the noise and rat-tat-tat of modern television landscape, this series comes as a warm cover and a comforting beverage of a sweet cordial.

In line with its harmless protagonists, the series – a six-part program written by the writing duo, based on Rónán Hession’s understated story – casts a critical eye at modern life; peering disapprovingly over its spectacles on everything related to unnecessary noise, abrupt changes or – perish the thought – excessive aspiration. The program on the contrary, a celebration of shyness; a quiet celebration to people happy to wander away from attention. However. Leonard (another sublimely idiosyncratic performance by the actor) is uneasy. He senses a creeping “urge to throw open the doors and windows of my life … a little.” The recent death of his mother has yanked the floor from under his slippers and this young man, a writer for others, now finds himself questioning the choices that directed him to his current situation (unattached; with a protective mustache; creating multiple kids' reference books for an employer who concludes emails using the words “see you later”).

Thus Leonard begins on a journey for emotional fulfilment, alongside his more outgoing Hungry Paul (the actor) functioning as his confidante, life coach and ally in a recurring game night functioning as both discussion (“Is the pool warm because kids pee in it, or do children urinate since it's warm?”) and sanctuary.

(How did Paul get his nickname? It's unclear. The origin of the moniker is shrouded in history. Maybe Paul once ate some food very fast, or answered to a socially fraught incident by nervously peeling four scotch eggs using his teeth).

Into Leonard’s gentle world cartwheels a new colleague (the actress), a new energetic colleague who happily suggests to eliminate his terrible supervisor (the character) at a fire practice. That whooshing sound you can hear is Leonard’s gentle world undergoing a shake-up.

Elsewhere during the opening installment of the comedy not heavily plotted and more on what the under-30s may refer to as “mood”, we meet Hungry Paul’s dad (the ever-wonderful Lorcan Cranitch), a worn-out individual who secretly watches, saves and reviews daytime quiz shows to dazzle his adoring wife with his general knowledge.

Leading us amidst this minor-key niceness is a narrator who closely resembles – and truly is – Julia Roberts. Yes, the celebrity. In case you're considering, “undoubtedly the inclusion of a major Hollywood star clashes with the show's modest approach and starts off as just a distraction?” that's accurate. Nevertheless, the actress performs admirably, and dialogue such as “Leonard's challenge is the missing a look of sudden insight” help ensure that early misgivings give way if not full admiration, then at least acceptance.

No more criticism currently. Leonard and Hungry Paul’s heart has good intentions: that place is “located on a seat alongside similar shows, pointing out the duck it loves.” The program that moves gently wearing its simple clothes, sometimes gazing upward at the stars, occasionally down at its feet, calmly assured that nothing is in the world as cheering as passing time with good friends.

Throw open the portals within your world, just a bit, and let it in.