Leonard and Hungry Paul Analysis: A Calming Series Featuring the Voice of the Hollywood Star Brings the Perfect Remedy to Contemporary Living

In a calm neighborhood of the city, an individual stands outside his home, dressed in a tank top and sharing his concerns. “I notice I'm becoming more silent. Less noticeable,” remarks the protagonist, gazing into the darkness. “Circumstances have evolved and currently I believe unless I take action, my life will proceed in this minor, harmless existence.” Hungry Paul, his closest confidant, considers the idea. “Nothing wrong with that,” he responds, his robe swaying in the breeze. “Preferable to striving for recognition and ending up damaging things.”

For anyone weary by the chaos and constant stimulation of today’s TV landscape, Leonard and Hungry Paul comes as a foil blanket and warming mug of Ribena.

In line with its gentle leads, Leonard and Hungry Paul – a six-part program developed by Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson, based on the author’s understated story – takes a dim view toward today's world; peering skeptically over its eyewear at anything in the way of unnecessary noise, abrupt changes or – goodness forbid – too much drive. The program rather, an ode to introversion; a subtle homage of those satisfied to amble along below the parapet. But. The character (another sublimely idiosyncratic turn from Alex Lawther) is unsettled. He senses a growing “desire to unlock the doors and windows in my existence … just a bit.” The recent death of his beloved mother has whisked the rug from under his slippers and this young man, a ghost writer, now finds himself questioning the choices that have brought him to this point (unattached; with a protective mustache; writing multiple educational volumes for a man who concludes correspondence using the words “see you later”).

And so Leonard launches himself on a quest for emotional fulfilment, with the slightly bolder Hungry Paul (Laurie Kynaston) functioning as his trusted friend, mentor and partner during their regular gaming session which acts as symposium (“Does the pool feel warm due to children urinating, or do kids pee in it because it’s warm?”) and sanctuary.

(How did Paul get his nickname? The reason is unknown. The beginning of the moniker seems forgotten in mystery. It could be that he on one occasion consumed a snack very fast, or answered to a tense moment by panic-peeling four scotch eggs by biting into them).

Entering Leonard's quiet life cartwheels a vibrant character (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), a recent spring-loaded co-worker who cheerily offers to kill Leonard’s appalling boss (the character) at a fire practice. The swift movement audible is Leonard’s gentle world undergoing a shake-up.

In other scenes in the first episode of this program driven less by plot and centered around what younger viewers could describe as “atmosphere”, viewers encounter Hungry Paul’s dad (the consistently great the actor), a tired character who covertly observes, records then replays trivia competitions to impress his loving spouse through his fact recall.

Shepherding viewers amidst this gentle kindness there is a voiceover who closely resembles – and actually is – Julia Roberts. Yes, the celebrity. Should you wonder, “certainly the inclusion of a major Hollywood star is at odds with the show's modest approach and at first acts merely as an interruption?” you would be correct. However, the actress performs admirably, and phrases for example “Leonard’s problem is his absence of an expression of discovery” contribute to ensuring that first reservations give way if not quite to appreciation, then certainly understanding.

No more criticism currently. The show's core is in the right place: that place is “sitting on a park bench in the company of gentle comedies, showing its favourite duck.” It’s a series that strolls leisurely wearing its simple clothes, occasionally looking up toward the sky, sometimes downward toward the ground, calmly assured that there is nothing in the world as uplifting as spending time with close companions.

Unlock the entryways within your world, just a bit, and welcome it inside.