Domhnall Gleeson leads The Paper, a new mockumentary set in the US Office universe about a struggling local paper; despite a handful of sharp moments and a standout performance from Sabrina Impacciatore, the series often feels dated and only intermittently funny.
Key takeaways
- The Paper is a spinoff from Greg Daniels’s US Office universe, centring on a failing local newspaper, the Toledo Truth Teller.
- Domhnall Gleeson plays Ned Sampson, an inexperienced editor recruited from the parent company, Enervate.
- Sabrina Impacciatore’s managing editor Esmerelda is widely regarded as the series’ brightest element.
- Supporting cast includes Alex Edelman, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Chelsea Frei and Tim Key; Oscar Nunez’s Oscar Martinez briefly appears.
- The show mixes workplace comedy tropes with mockumentary beats but lacks consistent laughs and emotional depth.
- It debuts on Peacock in the US and is available on Sky Max/Now in the UK and Binge in Australia.
Verified facts
The Paper is created as a spinoff within the US Office continuity by showrunner Greg Daniels. The camera crew concept from the Dunder Mifflin documentary is repurposed to follow the Toledo Truth Teller, a small-town newspaper facing financial and editorial decline.
Domhnall Gleeson portrays Ned Sampson, an editor with no newsroom background who rose through Enervate, the Truth Teller’s corporate owner that sells paper products. Oscar Nunez’s accountant character, Oscar Martinez, is the one figure to migrate from the Scranton setting to this Ohio newsroom.
Key supporting performances include Sabrina Impacciatore as Esmerelda Grand, Alex Edelman as Adam, Gbemisola Ikumelo as Adelola, Chelsea Frei as reporter Mare, and Tim Key as Ken, an executive with a David Brent–like streak. The series deploys recurring gags about Enervate’s product lines, including a subplot about a novelty glove called the “man mitt.”
Critics have noted the show’s tendency toward one-note dialogue and a shortage of the cringe-to-heart balance that made the original Office iterations distinctive. Moments of effective misdirection and physical comedy exist, but they are uneven across episodes.
Context & impact
The Paper arrives amid a resurgence of mockumentary-style comedies and workplace shows—titles like Abbott Elementary and other contemporary series have raised audience expectations for character-driven warmth alongside satire. Compared with those peers, The Paper leans more on dated sitcom rhythms than on the subtle tragicomic texture fans associate with The Office legacy.
As an extension of a hugely successful franchise, the series faces two practical challenges: distinguishing itself from both the UK and US Office originals and justifying its existence beyond brand recognition. If viewers respond strongly to Esmerelda and Ken, spin-off prospects within the Enervate corporate world remain a plausible outcome.
Potential ripple effects
- Renewal prospects may hinge on audience engagement rather than critical praise.
- A strong supporting character breakout could prompt further spinoffs focusing on Enervate executives.
Official statements / notable lines
“Since when is sensationalism a bad thing?!”
The Paper (character line)
“In America, there is the saying about accepting the things you cannot change. In Italy we do not have that saying.”
The Paper (character line)
Unconfirmed
- Long-term audience ratings and streaming viewership figures have not been released publicly as of the review date.
- No official renewal or cancellation decision had been announced by platforms at the time of publication.
Bottom line
The Paper offers occasional laughs and a memorable turn from Sabrina Impacciatore, but as a whole it struggles to justify its place in a crowded mockumentary field. Fans of The Office universe may find small pleasures here, yet those seeking fresh, consistently sharp workplace satire are likely to be disappointed.