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In a quiet neighborhood of the Irish capital, an individual is standing in his driveway, sporting a sleeveless jumper and expressing his concerns. “I notice myself getting quieter. Less noticeable,” states the protagonist, gazing up at the night sky. “One thing’s led to another and now it seems if I don’t do something, I’ll just carry on in this minor, harmless existence.” Paul, his closest and only friend, ponders the idea. “There's no harm in that,” he replies, his bathrobe swaying in the breeze. “Better than attempting to leave an impact only to wind up defacing it.”

For anyone exhausted by the bluster and fast pace of today’s TV landscape, the show steps in like a warm cover with a hot drink of blackcurrant juice.

Like its harmless protagonists, this comedy – a six-part comedy written by Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson, inspired by Rónán Hession’s quiet story – looks disapprovingly on contemporary society; peering disapprovingly above its spectacles on everything that involves unnecessary noise, sudden movements or – heaven forfend – excessive aspiration. The series rather, a celebration of shyness; a quiet celebration for those satisfied to amble along out of the spotlight. However. He (another distinctly original turn from the star) feels restless. He notices a growing “desire to unlock the openings within my world … just a bit.” The loss of his mother has whisked the rug from under his slippers and the 32-year-old, an anonymous author, now realizes questioning the paths that have brought him to his current situation (single; defensively moustached; writing multiple educational volumes for a man who ends messages with the phrase “ciao for now”).

Thus Leonard begins an exploration for emotional fulfilment, with the slightly bolder Hungry Paul (the performer) acting as his confidante, mentor and co-conspirator during their regular board games evening that serves both as symposium (“Does the pool feel warm because kids pee in it, or do children urinate as it's heated?”) and sanctuary.

(What's the origin of "Hungry" Paul? The reason is unknown. The source of the nickname seems forgotten in history. It could be that he on one occasion consumed a sandwich very fast, or answered to an awkward situation by panic-peeling several snacks with his teeth).

Entering Leonard's quiet life comes Shelley (the performer), a fresh energetic associate who cheerily offers to get rid of Leonard’s appalling boss (the actor) in a workplace safety exercise. The rushing noise noticeable is Leonard’s gentle world undergoing a shake-up.

Elsewhere during the opening installment of this program not heavily plotted and more by what younger viewers may refer to as “vibes”, viewers encounter the older generation (the ever-wonderful the performer), a worn-out individual who privately views, tapes and rewatches trivia competitions to dazzle his devoted partner with his general knowledge.

Shepherding the audience throughout this subtle warmth is a narrator who closely resembles – and truly is – the famous actress. Truly, Julia Roberts. In case you're considering, “surely the use of a big-name celebrity clashes with the show's modest approach and starts off as just a diversion?” that's accurate. Still, Roberts acquits herself well, and lines such as “The issue with Leonard is that he lacks a look of sudden insight” contribute to ensuring that initial doubts give way if not full admiration, then at minimum tolerance.

Enough complaining at this time. The series' spirit is in the right place: which is “located on a seat next to the Detectorists, indicating the duck it loves.” The program that moves gently in its sleeveless jumper, occasionally looking up toward the sky, sometimes downward at its feet, calmly assured that nothing is in the world as heartening as being with close companions.

Throw open the portals within your world, just a bit, and welcome it inside.