The Paper Season 2 First Reviews: A Fresh, Funny Comedy Capable of Standing on Its Own
Early reviews say the second season begins to break away from The Office and forge its own path, with clever writing, a game supporting cast, and some wild moments.
The mockumentary series The Paper returns for a second season this month, and the first reviews are now online. A spinoff of the iconic sitcom The Office, the Peacock original similarly centers around a workplace — this time a newsroom — and its assorted staff. The Paper is said to grow in its sophomore season, not just away from its series predecessor but also above its first 10-episode streaming run, and given the state of TV comedy right now, that’s a big win.
Here’s what critics are saying about The Paper: Season 2:
88%
Does the show improve in its second season?
The sophomore release is faster, funnier, and more confident in the type of sitcom it wants to be.
— Tania Hussain, Collider
It’s wonderful to see The Paper season 2 double down on the reporting format and give every character room to shine in a way that immediately elevates this season far beyond what came before.
— Ben Gibbons, Screen Rant
Season 2 often pushes itself out of the confines of the mockumentary format into a show that’s more universal.
— Michael Peyton, IGN Movies
How does it compare to other current comedy series?
The Paper is proving that sitcoms are still viable in 2026… This is what has been missing from TV for years.
— Ben Gibbons, Screen Rant
[It has] a refreshing approach to sitcom relationships that shows the romantic progression between two characters who share the same passions and uses the relationship to make the workplace shenanigans more meaningful.
— Michael Peyton, IGN Movies
[It features] the wildest two minutes you’ll see on TV in 2026.
— Tania Hussain, Collider
Perhaps worst of all for a comedy, it’s just not that funny.
— Alexander Zalben, Comic Book Club
Where does it land next to the classics of the genre?
Every ingredient in this show goes into making it a compelling and exciting watch, with every chance of joining the ranks of great shows like The Office, Modern Family, and The Big Bang Theory.
— Ben Gibbons, Screen Rant
Each of [the relationship] storylines is benign enough on their own, but in aggregate, they risk turning The Paper from a cutting mockumentary about the state of journalism into a late-aughts romantic comedy with too many intersecting storylines.
— Michael Peyton, IGN Movies
Is it beginning to stand on its own?
The latest season proves this show can stand on its own two feet and deliver an exceptional new situational comedy that rivals anything else currently on TV.
— Ben Gibbons, Screen Rant
With Season 2, The Paper feels less like a show living in The Office’s shadow and more like a workplace comedy that can actually stand beside it.
— Tania Hussain, Collider
Season 2… invests in its characters as their own people, who turn out to be quite fun and worthwhile to watch.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Season 2’s most notable trait is the big comedic swings the show takes, moving beyond the small-ish comedy of The Office into moments that are big, broad, and verging on farce.
— Michael Peyton, IGN Movies
Will fans of The Office be disappointed with the direction it’s going?
Pivoting away from reminding audiences that this show is supposed to be connected to The Office is the best move it could possibly have made.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Maybe all this isn’t quite as generally relatable as the downtrodden sales team in The Office, but The Paper credibly dramatises the real issues involved in print and digital journalism, and finds considerable good humour there.
— Eddie Harrison, film-authority.com
For fans of The Office, the seams of that series are still visible throughout The Paper, for better or for worse.
— Michael Peyton, IGN Movies
How is the writing this season?
Some of its storylines are undeniably bizarre.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
[It] puts relationships at the center, often to hilarious effect.
— Michael Peyton, IGN Movies
Everyone starts with something pretty simple to do before it all spirals completely out of control, which is a strong testament to clever, sharp writing.
— Tania Hussain, Collider
The show’s view of newspapers and reporting… was uncomfortable in the first season and becomes downright horrifying in Season 2.
— Alexander Zalben, Comic Book Club
Does anyone in the cast stand out this season?
Impacciatore is a real knockout this season… She can completely take over a scene without making everyone else disappear, and some of Season 2’s biggest laughs belong to her.
— Tania Hussain, Collider
Frei continues to be its most dependable player, especially as Mare navigates rough waters in this season.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Does it give enough time to the supporting cast?
There is more chemistry, a solid foundation for awkward interactions between the cast, and an opportunity for each character to explore more of their personality and stand out in their individual moments rather than blend into the background.
— Ben Gibbons, Screen Rant
Some characters like Tim Key’s Ken Davies don’t get enough screen time in later episodes.
— Eddie Harrison, film-authority.com
While Key especially feels underused, wanting more of these people is hardly the worst complaint a comedy can leave you with.
— Tania Hussain, Collider
The ensemble players deserve more screen time… Less time on the admittedly excellent duo of Gleeson and Frei wouldn’t be a bad thing, since others are just waiting in the wings to perform as impressively.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Are there any notable newcomers?
The Paper adds a series of characters in Season 2 that enrich the world of the series. Chief among these is Lisa, the new wildly inappropriate HR representative, played by Lisa Gilroy.
— Michael Peyton, IGN Movies
Lisa Gilroy is a fabulous addition as an HR representative who knows absolutely no boundaries.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Lisa Gilroy guest stars as the worst HR person ever, and just with mere energy alone gives the show a spark.
— Alexander Zalben, Comic Book Club
Andy Richter… [makes] you hope he comes back for Season 3.
— Tania Hussain, Collider
Is there a standout episode?
In one of its best episodes… a routine reporting assignment collides with a tornado and the newsroom’s usual awkwardness turns into complete chaos.
— Tania Hussain, Collider
Season 2 saves [Esmerelda’s] best and most hilarious storyline for its finale, and she commits fully to it, as does Duane R. Shepard, Sr. as the eternally confused Barry.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Are there any bad ones?
[It’s] frustrating when Mare and Ned’s romance hits a predictable speed bump late in the season.
— Michael Peyton, IGN Movies
Ramona Young’s Nicole Lee… spends most of the season wobbling around and ends in a place so horribly regressive I hope it doesn’t actually make it to air (it will, but I can hope).
— Alexander Zalben, Comic Book Club
Will it leave us wanting more seasons of The Paper?
It’s clear that the show has grown and deserves the chance to continue doing so.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
The trajectory for this series feels like it is on track to take The Paper to another level… [It] has everything it needs to succeed and continue growing into a cherished sitcom.
— Ben Gibbons, Screen Rant
The Paper Season 2 is still one of the funniest comedies on Peacock right now and one you’ll definitely hope we get more of.
— Tania Hussain, Collider
The Paper’s consideration of the state of the media circa 2026 is a pleasure to watch; whether it continues or not, they nailed their concept.
— Eddie Harrison, film-authority.com
There is a show to be made about the state of journalism in 2026, but with bizarre and off-putting choices like this, it’s clear The Paper is not that show.
— Alexander Zalben, Comic Book Club
The Paper: Season 2 premieres on Peacock on September 9, 2026.
