“The Paper” has introduced viewers again to the “Workplace” universe with a long-awaited spin-off that is actually solely tenuously linked to the earlier collection. In actuality, it did not must be related in any respect. Certainly, beneath the “Workplace” associations, “The Paper” is a present that would simply flourish by itself phrases, to the extent that by the top of the primary season, I could not assist however ask: Why is that this even an “Workplace” spin-off?
Through the ultimate season of “The Workplace,” NBC halted plans for a Dwight-led spin-off titled “The Farm,” which was a superb resolution since it will’ve ruined the present’s glad ending. After footage for the pilot was shot, the community then determined to kill the spin-off altogether, which led to additional scenes being filmed with a purpose to flip the footage into an episode of “The Workplace” season 9 (which, once more, judging by the essential response to that episode itself, was probably for one of the best). After that, “Parks and Recreation” nearly grew to become a spin-off of “The Workplace” as effectively, with showrunner Greg Daniels spearheading what was initially speculated to be a collection set in the identical universe (however which in the end grew to become its personal factor).
Now, we’ve got “The Paper” — the primary “Workplace”-like collection to truly be set in the identical universe as that present. In reality, this new collection is immediately related to “The Workplace” in that it focuses on the workers of the Toledo Fact Teller, who are actually being filmed by the identical fictional documentary crew that spent years chronicling the lives of the workers at Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton department. However the extra I watched “The Paper,” the extra I felt as if its creators had shot themselves within the foot with the “Workplace” affiliation — not solely with the mockumentary conceit, which requires a sure stage of believability, but additionally by weighing down a present that’s clearly its personal factor with all the luggage that comes with resurrecting the most effective sitcoms of all time.
What does the mockumentary format imply in 2025?
Whereas there have been some actually nice mockumentaries, the format has turn out to be bastardized over time, weakening a complete host of collection that might’ve been completely okay had they been shot like a conventional sitcom. The U.Okay. “Workplace” took the mockumentary method severely sufficient that it helped heighten the sense that we had been getting a glimpse at actual workplace life in 2000s-era Britain. It was solely in opposition to this believably drab backdrop that Ricky Gervais’ relentlessly feckless David Brent labored so successfully. When the U.S. model of the collection debuted, it too appeared to take its pretend documentary setup severely, which is partly why the Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) relationship was so significant and touching. These felt like actual individuals in an actual place being shot by an actual documentary crew, and that was fertile floor to inform a hilarious and emotionally resonant story that spoke not solely to those that felt equally oppressed by the modern-day workplace setting, however who might additionally acknowledge the fantastic thing about a love story flourishing amid cubicles and fluorescent lights.
Then, each present on TV began aping the identical model, besides now the mockumentary format had turn out to be a collection of visible tropes relatively than an precise storytelling system. Scenes shot by means of blinds and door frames, fast zooms and pans, hand-held judder; these tropes resulted in exhibits that every one appeared like “The Workplace,” however one thing was off. Sequence that included scenes {that a} documentary crew would by no means even have entry to began to boost the query of whether or not they wanted a pseudo-documentary method within the first place. This started with “Parks and Recreation” however that beloved collection made it work, partly as a result of it got here on the very starting of this obsession with the model. In 2025, nevertheless, these mockumentary pastiches have turn out to be so parodic they’re beginning to really feel like they’re coming into the identical outdated territory as multi-camera snort monitor sitcoms. That is an actual disgrace for “The Paper” as a result of it is popping out the gate at a drawback to its predecessor. It might by no means hope to match the freshness that characterised the early “The Workplace” seasons by utilizing an overused model. However past that, it additionally feels prefer it so desperately needs to interrupt freed from its fictional documentary crew, besides it will possibly’t resulting from its affiliation with “The Workplace.”
This comes throughout by means of the characters in “The Paper,” who’re rather less practical and a little bit extra cartoonish than their “Workplace” counterparts. Sabrina Impacciatore’s Esmeralda Grand is a primary instance, however even Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson) has his moments, particularly in an episode the place we see footage of his previous as a salesman and his total characterization as a humble and well-intentioned dreamer appears to exit the window within the pursuit of amusing. That might be a lot simpler to absorb a present that wasn’t ostensibly made up of footage shot by a documentary crew. It may also be funnier in a present that contrasted the zanier characters in opposition to the extra subdued, practical ones however “The Paper” can not seem to determine which one it needs to be, and far of that comes from its attachment to “The Workplace.” Clearly, the brand new present is populated by people that wish to be wilder and extra theatrical than each these of its predecessor and the quasi-realistic tone required by the mockumentary format. All of this as soon as once more raises the query: Why is that this even an “Workplace” spin-off?
The Paper ought to have been its personal present
“Parks and Recreation” is an efficient instance of a nice present that had a tough first season, and far of that got here right down to the collection making an attempt too laborious to recreate “The Workplace.” Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope began out as what was basically a feminine model of Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, however “The Paper” fortunately does not make that very same mistake, introducing an ensemble the place no person is an apparent analogue of a earlier “Workplace” character. Nevertheless it additionally fails to take the standalone spirit to its final conclusion. Not like “Parks and Rec,” which hit its stride as soon as it deserted any makes an attempt to emulate “The Workplace,” “The Paper” remains to be beholden to its mothership collection in a approach that feels limiting.
It is value noting that “Parks and Rec” additionally had an optimistic and heartfelt outlook just like that of “The Paper.” That is greatest exemplified by the character of Ned Sampson, who, though he could be misguided and lack self-awareness, is in the end a hopeful optimist with romantic concepts of restoring the Toledo Fact Teller to greatness and returning to a time of actual hard-hitting journalism. However with the shadow of “The Workplace” hanging over this primary season, Ned all the time feels as if he is struggling to match the comedic worth of Michael Scott. Whether or not co-creator Greg Daniels and co. prefer it or not, the present’s mere affiliation with “The Workplace” goes to trigger viewers — subconsciously or in any other case — to attract the comparability, and Sampson simply is not that character. Had the present been allowed to only exist by itself, this might be a lot much less of a difficulty.
One of the best seasons of “The Workplace” (i.e. those earlier than Steve Carell left) managed to search out that stability between believability and comedy, however “The Paper” clearly needs to do its personal factor with out worrying about placing that stability. The one downside is, it type of has to as a result of it is an “Workplace” spin-off. If its creatives simply let this present be its personal factor, it might shine by itself phrases. Sadly, after watching its first 10 episodes, I could not shake the sensation that it was hemmed in by its affiliation with the previous collection and its mockumentary model. When you think about that that is largely only a unfastened spin-off which does not actually carry over something main from the unique present, you actually do begin to marvel what the purpose of this being a spin-off was to start out with. None of this can cease the present from evolving in its now-confirmed second season, however had it been launched as a standalone collection, it might need felt prefer it was hitting its stride proper out of the gate.
“The Paper” season 1 is now streaming on Peacock, with season 2 probably arriving in 2026.
