It’s been twenty years since Dunder Mifflin became a household name with The Office, and now creator Greg Daniels is back with a spinoff called The Paper. The new mockumentary sitcom is set in the struggling newsroom of the fictional Toledo Truth Teller, a local paper now owned by Enervate, a company that makes toilet paper. Much of the same documentary crew from the original show returns, capturing the chaos of a newsroom trying to survive in the digital age.
The story follows Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson), a former top salesman for Enervate’s Softie brand, who lands his dream job as editor-in-chief. His excitement quickly fades when he realises the paper is in worse shape than he imagined. The newsroom is full of burnt-out employees and clueless volunteers. Mare Pritti (Chelsea Frei) is the only real journalist, but most of her work involves copy-pasting wire stories. Nicole (Ramona Young) tries to boost revenue by stealing subscriber data, while Esmeralda Grand (Sabrina Impacciatore) is a flashy editor who refuses to let Ned take the spotlight. To fill in gaps, Ned recruits accountants and salespeople from Enervate, who have no journalism experience, creating a chaotic team that struggles to cover stories over 10 episodes.
Like many mockumentary shows, The Paper takes a few episodes to find its rhythm. Early humour feels a bit forced as the cast settles in. By Episode 5, Scam Alert, the series hits its stride when the team investigates a catfishing scandal. The mismatched group comes together, and the mockumentary style balances story-driven tension with well-timed humour. From this point, the jokes land more naturally, the characters feel sharper, and the show’s satire of modern journalism hits harder.
The cast is one of the show’s strongest points. Domhnall Gleeson’s Ned Sampson is likeable and a fresh contrast to Steve Carell’s chaotic Michael Scott. Chelsea Frei as Mare Pritti is sharp and funny, while Sabrina Impacciatore’s dramatic Esmeralda Grand adds flair, though sometimes feels over the top. A standout is Oscar Nuñez, reprising his Office role as Oscar Martinez, bringing his dry wit to ground the chaos. Tim Key as Ken Davis, the cringey strategist, adds awkward, David Brent–style energy with his eye rolls and forced laughs.
Overall, The Paper starts slowly but grows into a smart, funny, and chaotic look at a failing newsroom, with an ensemble cast that carries the series and connects it to the spirit of The Office.
