A promising workplace mockumentary with a strong inherited format and enough charm to make the first season worth sampling, but it does not yet have the effortless comic rhythm or ensemble depth of its predecessor. The newsroom setting gives it fresh energy and a slightly more topical edge, though the show is still… Read more
The Paper
Where to watch: Buy
TV Show · Comedy
Thu
Created by: Michael Koman, Greg Daniels
Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei
Overview
The documentary crew that immortalized Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch is in search of a new subject when they discover a historic Toledo newspaper, The Truth Teller, and the eager publisher trying to revive it.
Created by
Michael Koman, Greg Daniels
Cast
Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, Tim Key
Curator Review
Verdict
A promising workplace mockumentary with a strong inherited format and enough charm to make the first season worth sampling, but it does not yet have the effortless comic rhythm or ensemble depth of its predecessor. The newsroom setting gives it fresh energy and a slightly more topical edge, though the show is still finding its voice.
Best for
fans of The Office-style mockumentaries
viewers who like workplace ensemble comedies
people interested in media and local-news satire
binge-watchers looking for an easy, low-stakes comedy
Skip if
you want a fully formed classic from episode one
you are tired of mockumentary workplace comedies
you prefer broad joke density over character-based awkward comedy
you want a show with a more distinctive identity than its influences
Overview
The Paper arrives with a lot of goodwill because it understands exactly what kind of comedy it wants to be: a workplace mockumentary about a struggling institution, populated by people who are earnest, awkward, and only half-equipped for the job. That structure still works, and the newspaper setting gives the series a useful new target for satire. There is enough wit in the premise and enough chemistry in the ensemble to make it easy to keep watching.
Worth noting
What keeps it in mixed territory is comparison. The show is clearly built in the shadow of The Office, and while that gives it a reliable engine, it also makes the early episodes feel familiar rather than revelatory. The humor is more observational than explosive, and the characters need time to sharpen into something memorable. Some of the best moments come from the tension between old-media decline and the absurd optimism of people trying to save a dying paper.
Bottom line
If you like mockumentaries that settle in and reward patience, this is a reasonable watch. It is not yet essential television, but it has enough craft, cast appeal, and format confidence to justify a try, especially for viewers who enjoy workplace comedies with a slightly melancholy streak.
2009 · Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Spectrum On Demand, Starz, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Plex, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Amazon MX Player
A dry, awkward ensemble comedy about people stuck in a job they are barely qualified for, with excellent comic timing.