The Paper is now streaming on Peacock and if you need a sign to give it a go, here it is. Indeed, I was pleasantly surprised at just how quickly I was sucked in.
Considering how iconic The Office is, there may be some apprehension about revisiting the same format. The classic NBC sitcom made the mockumentary genre popular, running for nine successful seasons.
Now we have The Paper, a story that’s set after the fictional documentary crew had finished following Dunder Mifflin. Hungry for a new subject, they find themselves at a declining Midwestern newspaper called the Toledo Truth-Teller.
It’s a clever move, moving from a paper company to a newspaper company, which gives the new series an air of familiarity while still bringing something new to the table. We have a new cast, a new business and a new city to explore, and I’ve had a blast with season one, which makes me feel relieved that The Paper has already been renewed for a second season.
The Paper cast pokes fun at modern journalism
As a journalist, I’m aware it’s sometimes too easy to make fun of my job. There’s plenty to comment on and The Paper does this very well, shining a light on modern day journalism and some of the gags made me laugh out loud.
We’ve already got an array of characters from the confident to the shy to the inept, mirroring what we saw in The Office but in the context of a newspaper that’s desperately trying to stay afloat.
And, of course, we have Oscar Nunez, reprising his role as the accountant Oscar Martinez, who has swapped Dunder Mifflin for the Truth Teller.
Oscar is not happy to once again be the subject of a documentary, and the show breaks the fourth wall with a text card telling us that Oscar signed a contract that hasn’t expired yet, so they’re legally still allowed to follow him around.
It’s simple moments like that, which make this show so great. I’ve enjoyed getting to know a new team of misfits, especially the enthusiastic newcomer Ned, played by Domhnall Gleeson, who has been brought in as the new editor in chief.
I also loved Sabrina Impacciatore’s brilliant Esmeralda, the managing editor of the Truth Teller and its online website, who steals every scene she’s in with confident, assertive and often naive energy.
There’s plenty of one-on-one scenes with the cast much like The Office, helping us get to know each of them very quickly. It feels fresh and interesting, and you’ll likely want to know more about the employees and their lives.
If you did love the topical, awkward nature of The Office, then The Paper is a very strong follow up for a new generation. There’s plenty for original fans to enjoy too, as well as a surprise Scranton Business Park cameo in episode one.
The Paper‘s first season has started off strong and it’ll be interesting to see how it continues on into a second. Even if it never quite reaches the high of its predecessor, it’s still a lot of fun.
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