When The Paper returns to Peacock this September, the Toledo Truth-Teller is in a much better place than when we first met it. Fortunately, the same can be said for the mockumentary sitcom from creators Greg Daniels and Michael Koman. The sophomore season is faster, funnier, and far more confident in its identity. That shift is evident early on, especially in a standout episode where a routine reporting assignment collides with a tornado, turning the newsroom's usual awkwardness into full-blown chaos.
But what makes that ridiculously laugh-out-loud moment work is something much subtler. Since its premiere last year, The Paper has gotten better at watching people who already struggle to communicate try to do so when everything around them goes wrong. The jokes are sharper and the pacing is quicker, but the cast now feels so comfortable with each other that even a small glance can be as funny as whatever absurd situation unfolds. And beneath the cringe that the series inherits from The Office's tone, there's genuine heart.
By Season 2, it feels less like a show living in The Office's shadow and more like a workplace comedy that can stand beside it. These characters, led by Domhnall Gleeson's intrepid editor Ned Sampson, may be walking disasters, but they care about their paper. We also learn they care deeply about journalism—even if they're considerably worse at caring for one another.
What Is The Paper Season 2 About?
Picking up right after the Ohio Journalism Awards, where the Toledo Truth-Teller took home some trophies, Ned is eager to build on the paper's success. That quickly turns into a hunt for a bigger story, eventually putting a local private club in his sights and giving Ned something substantial to chase. But around that, the newsroom remains as chaotic as ever.
Ned and Mare (Chelsea Frei) are still navigating that surprising kiss without making things more awkward at work. Meanwhile, after Nicole (Ramona Young) tells Detrick (Melvin Gregg) she wants space from their "situationship," he pushes himself to become the best reporter at the paper. Esmeralda (Sabrina Impacciatore) finds new ways to make everything about herself, dragging Ken (Tim Key) into her schemes—whether it's reviewing the wrong "haunted house" or treating a minor workplace inconvenience like a full-scale coup.
As the staff takes on assignments that go sideways—from sourcing dilemmas to ethics—Season 2 also tackles journalism issues through local attractions, emergency alerts, and HR problems. But one assignment keeps everyone on edge, especially as Ned pushes for something "Pulitzer Prize-y," even if it means jeopardizing what they've built over the past year.
The Writing Knows When to Let Things Get Weird
One of the best parts of The Paper this season is how often a normal workplace problem spirals into something delightfully outlandish. Take, for example, a podcast that seems innocent on the surface but becomes a point of contention between two of the paper's brightest minds—or an HR requirement that somehow turns into a full-blown HR violation, producing some of the season's biggest laughs. Then there's the tornado that throws two of its most opposite reporters into a hilariously awkward situation. But none of these dilemmas feel random. Everyone starts with something simple before it all goes off the rails, a testament to clever, sharp writing.
With episodes running 20–25 minutes, the pacing helps immensely. Jokes rarely overstay their welcome; instead, they bounce around the newsroom without feeling crammed. Last year, the series had to introduce this odd group and figure out how they fit together. Season 2 skips that, giving the writers more room to have fun with each character and test unconventional pairings. The show also understands how access, bad reporting, editorial pressure, and workplace relationships can all become part of the joke.
Ned's "crusade" gives the season a bigger arc, but it's the smaller stories that let the rest of the staff fail upward in their own quirky ways. The tornado episode is where all of that really comes together—yes, I've mentioned it three times, but for good reason. What begins as a routine assignment becomes one of the wildest two minutes you'll see on TV in 2026. Yet the funniest part isn't the physical comedy; it's watching these people, who are already bad at saying what they mean, try to do so under the worst possible circumstances. It's proof that even when the joke gets huge and silly, it still comes from who these characters are.
The Cast Is Even Better This Time Around
Across the first 10 episodes made available for review, it's clear the cast is having more fun this season, and that energy goes a long way. Gleeson still anchors everything, making Ned's sincerity funny without ever making him look foolish—a skill that tracks with his comedy and writing background. His co-star Frei is equally strong, especially when a scene calls for a look that says exactly what Mare is thinking. The back-and-forth between Ned and Mare has improved, and Season 2 gives them more room to explore the feelings brewing between them.
But for everything the two bring, Impacciatore is a standout, stealing scenes with her over-the-top antics. The entire ensemble—including Young, Gregg, and Key—feels more cohesive, each actor finding the perfect rhythm for their character's quirks. It's this chemistry that elevates The Paper from a mere Office clone to a comedy with its own identity.
If you're looking for a new workplace comedy to binge, The Paper Season 2 is a must-watch. And if you're in the mood for more Peacock offerings, check out Cate Blanchett's surprise streaming hit or catch Shyamalan's thriller before it leaves. For now, The Paper proves that sometimes the best stories come from the most chaotic newsrooms.
