In a peaceful neighborhood of the Irish capital, a person can be found outside his home, sporting a vest and expressing his feelings. “I notice myself getting quieter. Harder to see,” states the main character, staring toward the stars. “Circumstances have evolved and currently I feel like without a change, my life will proceed in this simple, peaceful routine.” His friend Paul, his closest companion, considers the idea. “Nothing wrong with that,” he answers, his robe moving with the wind. “Preferable to striving for recognition and ending up damaging things.”
For those weary by the bluster and constant stimulation of modern television offerings, Leonard and Hungry Paul steps in like a warm cover with a hot drink of blackcurrant juice.
Like its quiet characters, the series – a half-dozen installment show developed by its authors, inspired by the author’s subtle book – casts a critical eye on contemporary society; gazing skeptically over its eyewear toward anything related to disturbances, quick actions or – perish the thought – excessive aspiration. This show is, instead, a celebration of shyness; a gentle tribute for those content to wander out of the spotlight. And yet. The character (a further sublimely idiosyncratic performance by the actor) is unsettled. He notices a creeping “urge to throw open the entryways in my existence … just a bit.” The recent death of his mother has whisked the rug out from under him and the 32-year-old, an anonymous author, now finds himself questioning the paths which led him to his current situation (unattached; sporting facial hair; writing multiple kids' reference books for a boss who concludes messages saying “ciao for now”).
And so Leonard starts himself on a quest to find happiness, alongside his more outgoing friend Paul (the actor) acting as his close companion, life coach and partner during their regular board games evening that serves both as discussion (“Is the pool warm because kids pee in it, or is it that kids pee because it’s warm?”) and safe space.
(Why “Hungry” Paul? The reason is unknown. The origin of this name seems forgotten to the mists of time. Maybe he once ate a snack in record time, or responded to a tense moment by hastily opening several snacks using his teeth).
Into Leonard’s gentle world cartwheels a vibrant character (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), a recent lively co-worker who lightheartedly proposes to get rid of Leonard’s appalling boss (Paul Reid) during the office fire drill. The swift movement 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 by what younger viewers might call “vibes”, we meet Paul's father (the consistently great the actor), a battered sofa of a man who covertly observes, records then replays television game programs to amaze his adoring wife using his trivia skills.
Guiding us through all this gentle kindness there is a voiceover that sounds very much like – and, indeed, very much is – the famous actress. Truly, the star. Should you wonder, “certainly the use of such a famous actor contradicts the program's low-key style and at first acts merely as a distraction?” that's accurate. However, Roberts acquits herself well, and phrases for example “The issue with Leonard is his absence of an expression of discovery” help ensure that initial doubts yield though not complete approval, then at least acceptance.
No more criticism currently. Leonard and Hungry Paul’s heart is well-intentioned: which is “located on a seat alongside similar shows, showing its favourite duck.” It’s a series that strolls leisurely wearing its simple clothes, occasionally looking up into space, at other times looking at its feet, calmly assured that nothing is in the world as cheering as spending time with good friends.
Unlock the entryways of your life, slightly, and allow it entry.
