The Paper excels at workplace romance, but season two is still figuring out the rest

On The Office, Michael Scott (Steve Carell) was a top-notch salesman who became an enthusiastic boss. He has this in common with Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson), his counterpart on the spin-off The Paper. Both men are also, it turns out, dreamers. It makes them interesting subjects for an imaginary documentary crew because, despite some irritating character flaws, you can’t help but root for them. While desperate regional manager Michael desired to befriend his employees, editor-in-chief Ned envisions restoring the Toledo Truth Teller to its glory days, when the newspaper’s operations spanned the space of an entire building, rather than sharing part of a floor with its parent company’s more successful toilet roll brand. It’s a quixotic ambition considering the state of the journalism industry: Who reads anything anymore, let alone a flailing local outlet? Whose bylines grace those stories? Does the work even matter? (Of course, it does—though that’s the opinion of someone in the profession.) 

These pivotal questions fueled The Paper‘s first season, allowing it to step slightly outside the long shadow of its predecessor. Ned’s dreams were, and remain, bigger than building a community just for himself; instead, he empowers his staff to chase after stories and sources to revitalize the Truth Teller‘s reputation and to espouse the values of grassroots journalism. This gives The Paper an edge and ethos beyond workplace comedy shenanigans. Ned’s agenda carries on earnestly in season two, although his attention is divided between his job and a budding relationship with his star reporter, Mare (Chelsea Frei). As a result, The Paper struggles to find a proper balance between honing in on the couple and the ensemble as a whole. 

Season two begins by showing that the Truth Teller‘s newly minted status as an award-winning publication hasn’t improved its standing with its corporate overlords. CEO Marv (Allan Havey) doesn’t reward the crew for the well-earned trophies they picked up at the end of last season—though maybe he considers his increased interest and presence in the newsroom a reward, as opposed to what it really is: a too-accurate reflection of the many inexperienced interlopers with their hands on the controls of the contemporary news media. Marv’s meddling not only affects the stories the Truth Teller pursues and publishes (including an investigation into the owners of a local golf course), but has a rippling impact on Ned and Mare’s relationship.  

Which isn’t to say Marv is a villainous figure. The Paper doesn’t have antagonists, unless you consider the polarizing Esmeralda Grand (Sabrina Impacciatore). Demoted after Ned’s arrival, Esmeralda’s agenda to sabotage him with the help of overbearing middle manager Ken (Tim Key) continues in season two, to mixed results. The Paper doesn’t tone down her histrionics—her season finale arc is just as, if not more, insufferable than The Office’s infamous “Scott’s Tots“—but rather spaces them out for everyone’s sake. But the show doesn’t use this to add more dimension to Esmeralda or her actions, making her character seem as one-note as ever. It means her loud temperament is likely to make or break The Paper for most people. At least Impacciatore, perpetually dressed like a mob boss’ wife, continues to impressively not hold back at all.