Calling all Michael Scott fans, Peacock has a brand new show just for you. “The Paper” premiered Sept. 4, 2025, nearly 12 years after the conclusion of “The Office.” As a sitcom lover, and huge fan of the show’s predecessor, I had to give this spinoff of “The Office” a try, and I was thoroughly impressed.
“The Paper” takes place in the same universe as “The Office,” where the same documentary crew follows a group of employees at The Toledo Truth Teller—a newspaper run by the company that has bought Dunder Mifflin. In this mockumentary, viewers watch a group of, mostly, unqualified journalists try to restore the Truth Teller to its fullest potential. The show’s concept, other than being a workplace comedy, is almost entirely unrelated to that of “The Office,” which is what makes it so incredible. The show runners aren’t trying to ride the high of “The Office” or produce a quick cash-grab through nostalgia; they’ve created a new environment with a different set of characters and a new hooking plot. They did bring one character from the original back to the cast—Oscar Martinez, played by Oscar Nuñez, who relocated to Toledo.
Going into the show, I had low expectations. The use of a mockumentary isn’t original, and has been done countless times, with shows using it like “Abbott Elementary” which is still running. Therefore, I wasn’t expecting to be blown away because, how could I when the show isn’t doing anything new? I had presumed that the characters would be a copy-paste of “The Office” and it would be a drag to get through, but I was fortunately wrong.
It doesn’t copy “The Office,” but it has kept that same charm. The characters are awkward, likeable, and irrevocably human. My favorite is the new editor-in-chief who makes it his plan to restore the paper, Ned Sampson, played by Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson. The humor is well-written, while sometimes dry; I did audibly laugh out loud at various times.
The show is relatable, and the characters are one-of-a-kind, but I think “The Paper’s” true novelty resides in its commentary on journalism. Sure, “The Office” was hilarious and enjoyable, but it lacked depth. Luckily, “The Paper” does not. Through comedy, it tackles genuine challenges facing journalism in this digital age.
The entire being of The Toledo Truth Teller is an example of this— a newspaper owned by a larger company that also owns a toilet paper business. This had reduced the value of the articles being pushed out, eliminated educated staff or editors, and gutted local reporting. These are real problems facing journalism that the show acknowledges and works to undo.
Episode four explores the challenges of content creation, where personal blogs and videos draw more attraction than real news outlets, such as the newspaper. In this episode, a high school student’s blog is far more successful than the Truth Teller, even though a lot of the information being published isn’t fact-checked or entirely credible.
And that is what makes this show so special, and why I think it is worth watching. Its comedic values make these very real obstacles facing true journalism more digestible and understandable. And in this time of social media, content creation, and trend following, it’s so important to shine light on power that journalism, when done right, holds.
However, the downsides of the show are not lost on me. While I do think it produces an important message, and is quite enjoyable, that does not erase the stigmas it perpetuates. As it is a show on journalism, viewers follow the characters as they investigate potential stories. In these investigations, the characters usually go to unethical lengths to get information and are interpreted to be immoral at times.
For example, in episode one Ned was so desperate for a story that he was celebrating the fact that there was a potential serial killer on the loose. In episode three, Ned and Mare go to local mattress stores to investigate their prices and if they’re lying to customers about the type of mattress. When they aren’t easily given the information they want, Ned sneaks behind the receptionist’s desk and calls their warehouse number. The show seems to continuously represent journalists as sneaky and immoral, making them celebrate unethical actions, excusing it as long as it gets them an article. By portraying journalists in this light, it perpetuates harmful stereotypes that not only discredit their field, but overrides the incredible work they’ve put forth.
I’d give “The Paper” a rating of a seven out of ten. I found it unexpectedly phenomenal for what it is. The chemistry of the cast was electric, the jokes landed very well, and the overall plot was creative and addicting. While it does tackle genuine journalistic problems and simultaneously perpetuate stigmas that only contribute to the problems it aims to address, the show is solid, and I have faith that future seasons will iron out any issues that came up this round.
