The Paper isn’t just good, but it’s incredible. A surprising delight that manages to set the stage from the first episode and drive us into a quietly loud world that deserves our attention. Initial hesitations about it being a spin-off of sorts of The Office might’ve stopped some viewers from jumping into the show, but it’s clear as day that what most people are seeing is how effectively the show stands on its own.
As I said in my Season 1 review: “As it finds its footing and carves a space in the world of comedy, The Paper is bound to be a show that’ll become someone’s go-to comfort. It’s clever, nerdy, and brilliantly relevant as it explores the significance of journalism through a heartfelt, surprisingly vulnerable lens. What we’re seeing in the debut season is an honest homage to hard work, the fears, the frustration, and everything in between in a manner that works while still keeping characters in the driver’s seat. Or, in this case, in front of the keyboard.”
The Characters Are Well-Rounded
In order for a mockumentary to work, we have to care about characters to some degree. That doesn’t mean they need to be likable, but they certainly need to be well-rounded, layered, and compelling to follow around. We have to care enough to feel whatever it is that their actions evoke, and we have to want to tune in to see what they’ll do next.
Luckily, in The Paper, each of the characters is so well-written that it’s easy to want more of them. It’s easy to press play on the next episode to see what wild thing will come out of their mouths and how they’ll ensure that this job is something they should have. And in many ways—even when they aren’t good at it, it still needs to matter, and it does.
The Performances Are Incredible
Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Chelsea Frei, Sabrina Impacciatore, Tim Key, Ramona Young, Melvin Gregg, Alex Edelman, Gbemisola Ikumelo, and Oscar Nuñez, the performances on The Paper are nothing short of hilarious. They’re incredible. Full stop. It’s already so easy to care about the characters because of everything the performers bring to the table. From the first episode to the last, we’re in for a treat with all of them.
The Premise Is Riveting and Significant
As mentioned in my review, the biggest reason why the show works is that it’s both different from The Office and specifically relevant to our time. Journalism is an important subject matter that many people don’t think about quite as intensely as those of us who are in the field. Whether it’s large trade publications or local news, it matters. It always matters. And in the same way that a show like Parks and Recreation made us care about a small fictional town’s government, that’s what The Paper manages with the Toledo Truth Tellers.
In addition, it also allows us to understand how vital authenticity on the internet is with the type of approach that addresses so much of the underlying business that very few see. It’s a quiet, seemingly minute outlook, but it’s one that’s going to continue being significant as the seasons pass because something within this industry changes day by day.
It’s Comforting
Now more than ever, it feels like we need nostalgia—glimmers of hope to cling to in properties that feel both fresh and familiar. In a way, all mockumentaries evoke this type of comfort. Abbott Elementary does. Happy’s Place does. Comedies, in large part, have this effect where something about them just feels right. The right premise. The right characters. The right time.
We turn them on for one reason and stay for a completely other, because they feel like the balm we didn’t even know we needed. I really hate the fact that all episodes of The Paper Season 1 dropped at once because it’s the type of show that deserves to be savored. Week after week, it deserves our attention in a way that can continue providing the comfort we need from all the horrible things we see in the actual news. Alas, it’s all available now, and it really clicks.
The Humor Hits
It’s not The Office, and that’s okay. It shouldn’t have to be. Yet, the humor still hits in every way because it establishes its own language, character traits, and wholesome beats to break down what can be funny and outright ridiculous. It sets a scene, and the execution manages to hit all the right angles for those of us who appreciate dry workplace humor sprinkled with loads of frustration. Because, really, when it comes to workplace comedies, aren’t we all just a little bit annoyed? A little on edge. It helps those feelings feel universal. It makes it all feel trivial in a way that allows us to view it through a more light-hearted lens.
The Paper is now streaming on Peacock.
First Featured Image Credit: ©(Photo by: Aaron Epstein/PEACOCK)