The Paper season 2 review conversation is already underway after all 10 episodes arrived on Peacock on September 9, bringing the Toledo Truth Teller newsroom back for another round of workplace chaos, journalism, romance and mockumentary comedy. The second season follows Ned Sampson and his colleagues after the newspaper’s success at the Ohio Journalism Awards, while new professional challenges and complicated relationships push the staff into unfamiliar territory.
Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, The Paper remains connected to The Office through the documentary crew that once followed Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch. However, Season 2 makes a more determined effort to establish the Toledo Truth Teller as its own workplace comedy.
That distinction matters because the first season had to overcome the obvious comparison with The Office. The new episodes benefit from having an established newsroom, a recognizable ensemble and several ongoing storylines.
Early reviews have generally responded well to the changes. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists Season 2 at 85% from 13 critics, while individual reviews have praised the show’s stronger voice, character development and increasingly confident approach to its newsroom setting. Not every critic has been convinced, though, and some reviews point to uneven humor and storylines that do not always work equally well.
The Paper Season 2 Is Now Streaming on Peacock
Season 2 officially premiered on September 9, 2026. Peacock released all 10 episodes simultaneously, giving viewers the option to watch the complete season rather than waiting for weekly installments.
The decision follows the same basic release approach used for the first season. It also makes the second season particularly easy to consume as a complete workplace-comedy story.
The new season returns viewers to the Toledo Truth Teller, a struggling Midwestern newspaper that has become the center of the documentary crew’s attention.
Ned Sampson remains editor-in-chief. Domhnall Gleeson returns to the role, while Chelsea Frei reprises her role as reporter Mare Pritti.
Sabrina Impacciatore is also back as Esmeralda Grand, alongside Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Tim Key, Ramona Young, Eric Rahill, Duane Shepard Sr., Alex Edelman and Oscar Nuñez.
Nuñez continues as Oscar Martinez, the character who provides one of the clearest connections between The Paper and The Office.
Peacock has confirmed that Season 2 continues the newsroom’s story after its success at the Ohio Journalism Awards. The new episodes give Ned another professional goal while also exploring the developing relationship between Ned and Mare.
What Happens in The Paper Season 2
Season 2 begins with the Toledo Truth Teller enjoying a major burst of professional recognition.
After sweeping the Ohio Journalism Awards, Ned is eager to build on that momentum. His ambitions quickly lead him toward another major journalistic mission involving a local private club.
The investigation creates a new source of tension for the newspaper.
Ned’s determination to pursue the story creates potential problems for the publication, adding a more substantial professional storyline to the season. The newspaper itself becomes more important as the episodes progress, allowing the comedy to use journalism rather than simply using the office as a backdrop.
At the same time, Ned and Mare must deal with the attraction that developed between them during the first season.
Their relationship becomes one of Season 2’s central storylines. The romance develops quickly, and the workplace setting makes their situation more complicated because they have to balance personal feelings with professional responsibilities.
The relationship also gives Gleeson and Frei more opportunities to move beyond the traditional workplace-comedy dynamic.
Elsewhere, Esmeralda continues trying to establish her place within the evolving newsroom. The rest of the staff also receives opportunities to develop as reporters.
That broader ensemble focus is one of the clearest differences reviewers have identified in the new season.
Ned and Mare Become a Major Focus
The relationship between Ned and Mare receives considerably more attention in Season 2.
Their kiss at the end of the first season created an obvious question about what would happen next. The new episodes answer that question by moving their relationship forward rather than keeping the characters in a prolonged will-they-or-won’t-they storyline.
Gleeson has discussed being surprised by how quickly the relationship progresses. The 10-episode structure leaves less room for a slow buildup, so the romance becomes an important part of the season relatively quickly.
The workplace setting creates another layer of tension.
Ned is Mare’s editor-in-chief, while Mare is an ambitious reporter trying to establish herself professionally. Their relationship therefore affects more than their personal lives.
The secret nature of their romance also fits naturally into the mockumentary format. The characters can behave differently when they know the cameras are watching, creating opportunities for awkward reactions and conflicting versions of events.
Chelsea Frei has also highlighted the unusual challenge of performing a relationship within a mockumentary. Characters can effectively present one version of themselves to the documentary crew while behaving differently when they believe they have privacy.
That setup gives the relationship a distinct place within the comedy rather than making it simply a traditional sitcom romance.
The Newsroom Becomes More Important
One of the strongest developments in Season 2 is the greater emphasis on journalism.
The first season introduced the Toledo Truth Teller and its unusual collection of employees. Season 2 has a clearer understanding of how the newspaper can generate stories and conflicts.
Ned’s pursuit of a major story provides a continuing professional objective. The newsroom therefore has more of a narrative purpose than simply serving as a location where the characters interact.
The season also allows different members of the staff to approach reporting in their own ways.
That creates opportunities for the ensemble to work together, clash with one another and pursue stories that take unexpected turns.
The result is a workplace comedy where the actual workplace has become more important to the storytelling.
This helps The Paper move further away from simply being viewed as another Office-style comedy.
How Season 2 Compares With Season 1
Season 1 had the difficult task of introducing an entirely new workplace while operating inside a universe strongly associated with The Office.
That comparison remains unavoidable, but Season 2 appears more comfortable with its own identity.
Several early reviews have described the second season as faster, funnier and more confident. Other critics have praised its reporting-focused stories and the way the ensemble receives more room to develop.
Rotten Tomatoes’ early critical consensus also reflects that generally favorable response.
At the same time, the reception is not universally enthusiastic.
Some critics have described the season as uneven. Others believe certain jokes do not land, while Esmeralda remains a particularly divisive character.
That split is important because it shows that Season 2 has not suddenly become universally acclaimed. Instead, the consensus suggests a comedy that has improved in several areas while still carrying some of the weaknesses that appeared during its first season.
Sabrina Impacciatore Remains One of the Season’s Standouts
Esmeralda continues to generate strong reactions.
Sabrina Impacciatore returns to the character after becoming widely recognized for her work on The White Lotus. In Season 2, Esmeralda remains intense, unpredictable and difficult to ignore.
Some critics have praised Impacciatore’s comic performance and identified her as one of the season’s strongest performers.
Others have found Esmeralda’s exaggerated personality difficult to enjoy.
That disagreement makes the character particularly interesting within the ensemble.
Esmeralda does not operate like a conventional workplace-comedy character. Her behavior frequently pushes scenes toward absurdity, and the character’s intensity can completely change the rhythm of an episode.
Whether that style works depends heavily on the viewer.
Still, the critical discussion around Impacciatore demonstrates that Esmeralda has become one of the most recognizable personalities in the series.
The Supporting Cast Gets More Room
Season 2 also gives greater attention to the supporting ensemble.
Melvin Gregg’s Detrick Moore, Gbemisola Ikumelo’s Adelola Olofin and Tim Key’s Ken Davies have received positive attention from critics reviewing the new episodes.
That broader focus helps the series avoid relying entirely on Ned and Mare.
The newsroom works best when several characters are pursuing different objectives at the same time. One storyline can involve serious journalism while another becomes increasingly absurd, allowing the mockumentary structure to shift between tones.
The supporting cast also helps establish the Toledo Truth Teller as a workplace with its own internal culture.
That is important for a series that needs to survive independently of The Office.
The Mockumentary Format Still Works
The documentary structure remains central to The Paper.
The cameras continue observing the staff as they work, argue, investigate stories and navigate their personal relationships.
Season 2 reportedly uses more improvisation within its scripted scenes. Entertainment Weekly reported that the cast and creators encourage actors to experiment during takes, with the core scenes remaining scripted while performers test different deliveries and interactions.
Actor Eric Rahill described the production as approximately 90% scripted and 10% improvised.
That approach can help explain some of the show’s conversational quality.
Rather than making every exchange sound perfectly polished, the performers can explore different reactions and comic rhythms.
For a mockumentary, that flexibility can make the newsroom feel less like a traditional sitcom set and more like an environment being observed by an actual documentary crew.
The Office Connection Is Still There
There is no escaping The Office connection.
Greg Daniels helped create the original U.S. series, and the fictional documentary crew remains part of the story. Oscar Martinez also returns, giving longtime viewers a familiar face.
Yet Season 2 increasingly focuses on what makes the Toledo Truth Teller different.
The newspaper environment creates stories that Dunder Mifflin could never produce.
Journalism, local reporting, corporate ownership and the struggle to keep a traditional newspaper relevant provide the foundation for the show’s conflicts.
That distinction gives The Paper a chance to become more than an extension of its predecessor.
Several early reviews have specifically noted that Season 2 feels increasingly capable of standing on its own.
Why the Journalism Storyline Matters
The newspaper setting gives the series an unusually relevant workplace for a modern sitcom.
The Toledo Truth Teller is not simply an office where employees happen to work. Its survival depends on producing journalism that people want to read.
Ned’s commitment to reporting creates a conflict between professional ideals and the practical realities of running a struggling publication.
That tension also gives the comedy a larger subject without turning the series into a drama.
Season 2 continues to use absurd situations and awkward workplace behavior while keeping the newspaper’s mission at the center.
The result is a stronger sense of purpose than a sitcom built entirely around interpersonal misunderstandings.
Critics Are Divided, But the Overall Response Is Positive
The latest critical response gives Season 2 a solid position.
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists an 85% Tomatometer score based on 13 reviews. Individual reviews range from highly enthusiastic assessments to more cautious reactions.
Some critics have described the season as a major improvement. Others see it as pleasant but inconsistent.
That difference is worth emphasizing because the show’s reception is not based on one universal opinion.
Supporters appreciate the stronger newsroom stories, developing relationships and more confident ensemble.
Skeptics argue that some jokes miss their targets or that certain characters remain too broad.
The overall picture is therefore more nuanced than simply calling Season 2 a critical triumph.
The evidence does, however, point toward improvement and greater confidence.
Is The Paper Season 2 Worth Watching?
For viewers who enjoyed the first season, Season 2 offers a clear reason to return.
The characters have established relationships. The newspaper has already experienced success. Ned has a stronger professional objective. Mare has a more complicated personal connection to her editor. Esmeralda continues to generate unpredictable situations.
The season also benefits from being available in full.
All 10 episodes can be watched on Peacock, making the series suitable for viewers who prefer to binge workplace comedies rather than follow weekly releases.
For The Office fans, the connection remains an obvious attraction.
However, Season 2 works best when approached as its own comedy rather than as a replacement for The Office.
The series has its own workplace, its own professional conflicts and its own ensemble.
Expecting another Dunder Mifflin story would miss what makes the Toledo Truth Teller interesting.
The Paper Season 2 Review Verdict
The latest critical picture suggests that The Paper has taken a meaningful step forward.
Season 2 is more comfortable with its newsroom setting and more willing to give its characters ongoing stories. The Ned and Mare relationship adds a strong personal thread, while Ned’s journalistic mission gives the season a professional backbone.
The ensemble also benefits from greater attention.
Domhnall Gleeson remains the emotional center as Ned, while Chelsea Frei gives Mare a stronger role in the season’s major developments. Sabrina Impacciatore continues to make Esmeralda one of the show’s most noticeable characters, even though her exaggerated style remains divisive.
The biggest success may be the show’s increasing willingness to become its own series.
The Office connection remains obvious, but the Toledo Truth Teller now has enough identity to support stories that would not fit into Dunder Mifflin.
The critical response is not flawless. Some reviewers still find the comedy uneven, and certain character choices have attracted criticism.
Yet the balance of the current reviews is favorable.
For viewers looking for a workplace comedy with journalism at its center, Season 2 delivers a stronger and more confident version of what the series established in its debut season.
The fact that all 10 episodes are now available also gives viewers the opportunity to judge the complete season rather than relying on early episodes alone.
At this point, the strongest case for The Paper is simple: it no longer needs to prove that it belongs in the world of The Office. It is increasingly proving that the Toledo Truth Teller can tell stories of its own.
The Paper Season 2 is now streaming on Peacock, and viewers can decide for themselves whether the newsroom has finally found its voice—share your thoughts on the season and stay updated as the series continues.