The Paper debuted on Peacock on September 4, 2025, bringing back the mockumentary style that made The Office a global phenomenon. Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, the series follows the same documentary crew that once filmed Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch. Now, twelve years later, they turn their cameras to the Toledo Truth-Teller, a struggling Ohio newspaper trying to stay alive.
Season 2 premieres on September 9, 2026, on Peacock, with all 10 episodes dropping at once. Before diving into the new season, here is a complete recap of everything that happened in Season 1.
The Premise: Saving a Dying Newspaper
The Toledo Truth-Teller was once a respected publication, but years of budget cuts and corporate ownership reduced it to a shadow of its former self. The newspaper was bought by Enervate, a company that also owns Softees, a toilet paper brand. Staff cuts left the paper running mostly on ads and wire stories.
Enter Ned Sampson (played by Domhnall Gleeson), a former Softees salesman with a college newspaper background. He is hired as the new editor-in-chief with a bold plan to bring back real journalism. Ned is relentlessly optimistic, but he faces immediate resistance from his quirky staff.
The documentary crew, familiar from The Office, captures every awkward moment, deadpan interview, and office disaster.
Main Characters of Season 1
Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson): The new editor-in-chief. He is sincere, awkward, and determined to save the paper. His background is in sales, not journalism, but he brings fresh energy.
Esmeralda Grand (Sabrina Impacciatore): The brash managing editor who prefers clickbait and wire articles over real reporting. She clashes with Ned constantly and is more interested in appearances than journalism.
Mare Pritti (Chelsea Frei): The paper’s compositor and a former Army war correspondent. She is one of the few staff members with a real passion for journalism. She becomes Ned’s love interest.
Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nunez): The only regular cast member from The Office. He is the head accountant, now working for Enervate. He is resistant to the documentary crew after his experience at Dunder Mifflin.
Detrick Moore (Melvin Gregg): The people-pleasing advertising sales rep who is romantically interested in Nicole.
Nicole Lee (Ramona Young): Circulation department staffer and Mare’s best friend. She has a casual fling with Detrick.
Ken Davies (Tim Key): Enervate’s corporate strategist who often teams up with Esmeralda against Ned.
Episode-by-Episode Story Highlights
The season begins with Ned Sampson stepping into the newsroom full of optimism. He is met with chaos from day one. The staff includes volunteers, accountants, and people who seem only half-interested in journalism.
Throughout the 10 episodes, the team faces ridiculous challenges: teaching journalism basics to volunteers, testing a Korean beauty brand called Ulzzang, and a cult leader exposé that spirals out of control. One episode features Ned and Mare visiting a mattress store, delivering both cringe and comedy.
Episode 5 includes a memorable moment where Esmeralda gets catfished by a competing journalist. Instead of a quick joke, the show gives the characters emotional depth.
The season balances silly situations with genuine commentary on the decline of local news. The staff investigates the most Midwestern breaking news possible: exposés on a toilet paper company, a local mattress store, and body products advertised on social media.
The Ned and Mare Romance
From the very first episode, the show sets up Ned and Mare as the couple to watch. They are the only two people who can be trusted to do a good job while keeping things light. Their mutual respect soon evolves into affection.
Mare was initially going to switch jobs, but she decided to stay after Ned inspired her and assigned her to work on more thrilling stories. However, their romance faces obstacles. Esmeralda gets jealous and tells Ned that Mare is asexual, which is a lie. Ned tries to stay distant from Mare. When Mare learns the truth, she is surprised that Ned believed Esmeralda instead of asking her. They eventually get back on talking terms.
Ned also tries to be a stricter boss when he hears that Mare finds his approach too relaxed, but he realizes that is not who he is.
The Ohio Journalism Awards
The season finale centers around the Ohio Journalism Awards, where the Toledo Truth-Teller is nominated for three awards:
- Best Short Investigative Piece – for Mare’s article about Softees clogging the town’s sewage system
- Excellence in Journalism
- New Game of the Year – for Oscar’s Sudoku puzzle
Oscar Martinez wins New Game of the Year for his Sudoku puzzle. During his acceptance speech, he thanks the documentary crew for truly seeing him, despite implying that he has recurring nightmares about answering interview questions.
Mare wins for her investigative piece on Softees clogging the sewage system. The catch? Softees is owned by the same company that owns the Truth-Teller. Her win validates her as a real journalist and pushes her closer to Ned.
Ned was also supposed to receive an award for Best Print Coverage, but he was not present. Instead, Esmeralda and Ken bask in the spotlight. Esmeralda collapses for attention, but Ned is happy that the newspaper got some recognition.
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The Ned and Mare Kiss
The season finale delivers the long-awaited kiss between Ned and Mare. After sneaking away from the ceremony, they finally kiss, pretending it is just “journalistic curiosity”. They agree to do it just to “get it out of their systems” and go back to being friends. But after the kiss, they realize they do like each other romantically.
The kiss happens in the very last scene of the season. Since Ned is Mare’s boss, their relationship is bound to create workplace tension in Season 2.
Other Storylines in the Finale
Esmeralda creates chaos throughout the awards ceremony. From interrupting the memorial tribute with an impromptu song to fake fainting, she is unpredictable and embarrassing. Her over-the-top antics bring both laughs and groans.
Detrick and Nicole’s casual fling crumbles. Nicole becomes a reporter and does not believe in monogamous relationships. Detrick becomes a volunteer and falls for Nicole. He makes her believe he is also dating a weather reporter, but he only has eyes for her. During the finale, Nicole finds out Detrick was lying, and she gets angry. Detrick suggests breaking up because he cannot date multiple people while Nicole cannot commit. When Nicole sees Detrick with another woman, she realizes she does love him and gets emotional.
How Season 1 Sets Up Season 2
The finale plants several storylines for the future:
- Ned and Mare’s romance causing workplace tension
- Esmeralda plotting to regain control
- Ken seeking recognition
- Marv’s hinted love triangle with his secretary and brother
- Side characters ready for deeper storylines
The Toledo Truth-Teller wins awards at the ceremony, cementing Ned’s role in bringing the company’s prestige back. The newspaper begins to publish news that actually matters. Ned’s hard work finally pays off as he turns the wheels of the Truth-Teller’s future.
Season 1 of The Paper is uneven but promising. It does not try too hard to be The Office 2.0, and that is its strength. The show finds its own messy, slightly absurd path. By the end of the season, the newsroom feels like a place you have visited before—chaotic, irritating, but filled with people you do not mind spending time with.
Season 2 arrives on Peacock on September 9, 2026, with all 10 episodes available to stream. Catch up on Season 1 now streaming on Peacock.
Also Read: The Paper Season 2 Release Schedule: All Episodes Drop Same Day on Peacock
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