Reel Review: The Paper Stole Our Hearts
When I first heard Peacock was making a reboot of The Office, I had some reservations. However, the same witty, dry humor and bizarre office shenanigans that stole the hearts of audiences twenty years ago were perfectly revived in The Paper. The Office showrunner Greg Daniels returned with Michael Koman to create this wacky workplace mockumentary, where the original documentary crew that filmed Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute, Jim Halpert, and Pam Beasley back in Scranton, Pennsylvania, has found a new subject: a dying newspaper in Toledo, Ohio.
Domhnall Gleeson leads the ensemble cast as Ned Sampson, an optimistic yet somewhat naive journalist taking over the editor-in-chief helm at The Toledo Truth Teller. Having primarily seen Gleeson in mostly dramatic roles, I was surprised when I heard he would be leading a revival of The Office, where comedy is at the forefront of every scene. However, Gleeson shows a whole new range of comedic talent I had never seen from him before. I found myself constantly laughing out loud at his antics. Ned’s character is the perfect blend of an idiotic Michael Scott with a splash of Leslie Knope’s blind optimism. His belief that the dying paper could thrive again drives the season’s story, and Gleeson beautifully embraced being the quirky heart of the show.
The newsroom is full of oddball characters who come together to form a wonderful news team. Chelsea Frei plays Mare Pritti, a journalist who seemingly had lost hope in the paper until meeting Ned. She and Ned quickly hit it off, and their friendship is reminiscent of the early days of Jim and Pam. This duo lead the series altogether, but there are plenty of interesting characters to help. Sabrina Impacciatore plays Esmeralda Grand, an out-of-touch editor who dedicates most of her time to jeopardizing Ned’s career. Impacciatore’s comedic timing complements the chaotic wackiness of the show, and her character steals every scene she’s in.
Tim Key plays Ken Davies, the corporate yes-man who doesn’t show much hope in the paper’s future. Ramona Young and Melvin Gregg play Nicole Lee and Detrick Moore, who endure a romantic rollercoaster over the season. While Detrick is a hopeless romantic who only has eyes for Nicole, she can’t tear down her walls for him. Romance is at the forefront of this series much more than it was in The Office, which easily sets up plenty of juicy storylines as the seasons progress. Gbemisola Ikumelo and Alex Edelman round out the cast as Adelola Olofin and Adam Cooper, two employees who take on reporting and get into hilarious hijinks throughout the season.
While the old Scranton crew isn’t the subject of the documentary crew anymore, there is one familiar face that fans reunite with. Oscar Nuñez revives his role as Oscar Martinez, Dunder Mifflin’s pessimistic accountant who is now the head of accounting for the paper. Oscar’s inclusion in the show never once felt forced. Sometimes in franchise spinoffs, including a beloved character can feel overly forced. However, Oscar fit into the Toledo news crew with absolute ease. Every so often throughout the season, fans are treated to Oscar talking about the good old days or on the phone with a Dunder Mifflin alumnus, which is a cheeky bit of fan service for diehard The Office fans.
The short season of The Paper is a charming mix of humor and relevance. It establishes strong character relationships and provides a realistic portrayal of working in a small town paper. The season is an absolute joyride from start to finish, leaving you craving for more episodes. The show’s strength lies in the bond of its characters, a trait that made The Office a fan favorite. The Paper not only embraces the hilarity of working in today’s world but also comments on the importance of local newspapers, a message that remains relevant despite the digital age. Luckily, the show has already been renewed for a season two and we cannot wait to see what stories the gang at The Toledo Truth Teller uncover next.
Season one of The Paper is now streaming on Peacock.
