Peacock’s The Paper Has Potential, But Doesn’t Quite Land
Move over Scranton, we’re headed to Toledo! The documentary crew that immortalized the Dunder Mifflin paper company in The Office has found a new subject in The Paper. The mockumentary follows the declining Midwestern newspaper The Toledo Truth-Teller and the lives of its under qualified staff.
Domhnall Gleeson stars as Ned Sampson, the optimistic and privileged new editor-in-chief. While he has instant chemistry opposite the paper’s most talented yet disheveled writer Mare Pritti (Chelsea Frei), their class differences may leave you feeling mixed about the longevity of this potential pairing. Sabrina Impacciatore plays Sampson’s workplace rival Esmeralda Grand, the Managing Editor of the paper’s racy online vertical. Her self-serving dramatics make her a polarizing figure audiences will love or hate.
The ensemble cast leans into the quirkiness. There’s Melvin Gregg’s Detrick, an awkward ad salesman with a hopeless crush on Ramona Young’s ambivalent Nicole. Accountants Adelola (Gbemisola Ikumelo) and Adam (Alex Edelman) are a goofy pair with no journalism experience who feed off of each other’s high jinks. In a nostalgic twist, Oscar Nuñez reprises his role as accountant Oscar Martinez from The Office, adding theater critic and game creator to his resume.
As a journalist, I loved the direction the show took to focus on a struggling newspaper. In a time when journalists are being laid off left and right and the future of news is murky, it’s a great concept that has you rooting for the little guy. From Catfish scams to farmers market cults, the format gives plenty of opportunities for hilarious antics that get them out of the office and reporting on the streets of Toledo. Still, it takes nearly half of the 10 episode season for The Paper to finds its stride. That pacing problem might be why Peacock scrapped their weekly rollout for a binge release, hoping viewers will stick around long enough to become invested. Although they did just announce the show has already been picked up for a second season the day before it premieres.
Not every joke sticks the landing and some of the storylines jump around without resolution. For instance, a mid-season arc that finds Esmeralda and Ken (Tim Key) scheming to take over the company is abruptly dropped the next episode without a payoff. The uneven writing keeps the show from fully capitalizing on its solid cast, with several characters getting sidelined throughout the season.
At this point, it’s unclear if the show will live up to the legacy of The Office. Then again, The Office struggled with its first season before going on to greatness. With more episodes to flesh out its ensemble and lean into the absurdities of local news, The Paper could grow into something special. Right now, it’s just fine.
The first season of The Paper hits Peacock on September 4.
