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A brand new comedy series from the creators of The Office US has left fans ‘wanting more’ after getting off to a strong start.
The Paper, starring Dohmnall Gleeson, is both a spin-off and a sequel to the beloved American sitcom – which itself was a remake of the Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant show The Office UK.
Running from 2005 to 2013, The Office US ran for nine seasons and produced more than 200 episodes, making stars of Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Mindy Kaling, and Ellie Kemper (among others).
Filmed in a mockumentary style, it followed the lives of the employees of Dunder Mifflin, a fictional office supplies company based in the town of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The Paper sees the same documentary crew from The Office US travel to Ohio to follow the lives of the employees at a struggling local newspaper called the Toledo Truth Teller.
Viewers are immediately thrown into the reality of a chaotic newsroom of an underperforming paper, which itself is part of the slowly dying print news industry.
What does Metro think of The Paper?
Metro’s Deputy TV Editor Tom Percival shares his three-star review.
It’s perhaps unsurprising that I find myself rather conflicted over The Paper – a new show that’s a quasi-spin-off from The US Office.
Like The Office (both the UK and US versions), The Paper is a mockumentary that delights in poking fun at the absurdity of the working world.
Yet while those shows were focused on the dreary world of a paper merchant, this new show is set in a US newsroom and follows a team of weary journalists as they try to revitalise a local paper, The Toledo Truth-Teller, under the leadership of a new, enthusiastic Editor.
Basically, this time journalists are the butt of the joke, and to paraphrase Michael Scott: ‘No, don’t like that’.
Okay, that’s not exactly true. I found The Paper rather charming if not exactly gut-bustlingly funny.
The characters are likeable enough – especially Domhnall Gleeson’s and Chelsea Frei’s characters, Editor in-Chief Ned and Reporter Mae, who form a lovely double act.
Sabrina Impacciatore’s Esmeralda Grand — the paper’s former managing editor — is also a delightfully eccentric presence reminiscent of Green Wing’s certifiably insane Sue White (Michelle Gomez).
Although Esmeralda never turns up to work dressed as a giant squirrel, she still manages to be somehow more unhinged.
Tim Key also deserves some praise for playing the corporate strategist Ken.
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The Paper has already picked up fans, with @ColganFew saying on X: ‘The Paper is an absolutely fantastic series, with its connection to The Office and as a standalone show.
‘It maintains the sense of humour and the unique way of telling a great story where the beauty of simple things is recreated.’
Those who want to watch The Paper in the UK will need to be subscribed to Sky TV, with the broadcaster having exclusive rights to distribute the show here.
While episodes will be broadcast on SkyMax at 9pm every Friday for the next few weeks, people with access to SkyGo or NowTV can watch the whole series now.
Some fans acknowledged that, while showing promise, The Paper took a couple of episodes to find its feet and for viewers to get used to the atmosphere.
However, once it does find its feet, according to viewers, you’re hooked.
GuyWithBowTie94 reviewed the show on Reddit: ‘The first episode is shaky. But by the end of it you feel the soul of the show starting to wake up.’
‘This has potential to be something. It’s far enough from the office to be its own thing. Worth the watch and has a lot of potential.’
Metro‘s own Tom Percival said the show left him wanting more: ‘Too often these days, shows aren’t given a chance to prove themselves… I think I’d like to see another edition from the Toledo Truth-Teller.’
Those who watched the series as fans of The Office US were also pleased to see Oscar Nunez, who reprises his role as Oscar Martinez – a mainstay of the original Office US series.
Fans of The Paper have been granted their wish with the news that The Paper has managed to secure a second season, although a date for its future return hasn’t yet been confirmed.
Creators Greg Daniels and Michael Koman rose to fame after creating The Office US, while Daniels also went on to create political sitcom Parks & Recreation, starring Amy Poehler.
You can watch The Paper on Sky and NOW, with new episodes being shown at 9pm on Fridays on Sky Max.
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