The Paper (2025 TV Series) – Plot, Cast, Episodes, and Ending Explained
- Kimi
- Sep 5, 2025
- 6 min read
What is The Paper?
The Paper is an American mockumentary sitcom from Greg Daniels and Michael Koman—set in the same universe as The Office. It follows the documentary crew as they pivot from Scranton to Toledo to chronicle the revival of a historic Midwestern newspaper, the Toledo Truth-Teller, under a new editor-in-chief. All 10 episodes premiered on Peacock on September 4, 2025.
How it connects to The Office
The same documentary crew returns, and the premiere features Bob Vance (Bobby Ray Shafer) revealing that Dunder Mifflin closed in 2019 after being acquired by Enervate, a Toledo-based conglomerate that now operates out of “Truth Teller Tower.” Oscar Nuñez reprises Oscar Martinez, now head accountant (and reluctant Arts & Leisure writer) at the Truth-Teller.
The Premise
Idealistic editor Ned Sampson tries to rescue the struggling paper by enlisting “volunteer” reporters from Enervate’s other divisions, colliding with sharp-tongued managing editor Esmeralda Grand. The season lampoons modern local journalism—think “churnalism,” viral-bait headlines, and budget battles—while building workplace camaraderie and romances. Episode 5, “Scam Alert,” even ropes in Josh Holloway for a meta cameo tied to a catfishing plotline.
The Paper Main Cast & Characters
Ned Sampson — Domhnall Gleeson
Who he is: The Truth‑Teller’s new editor‑in‑chief, an earnest optimist trying to revive a once‑great local paper.
Instagram: No official account publicly confirmed. (Some profiles exist, but major outlets list none.)
Esmeralda Grand — Sabrina Impacciatore
Who she is: The paper’s managing editor—sharp, territorial, and often at odds with Ned, which fuels much of the show’s newsroom comedy.
Instagram: @sabrinaimpacciatore.
Mare Pritti — Chelsea Frei
Who she is: A reporter (and one of the staffers with real newsroom chops) who becomes a key partner in Ned’s push to do actual journalism.
Instagram: @chelseafrei.
Detrick Moore — Melvin Gregg
Who he is: Works in ad sales but jumps in as a volunteer reporter; good‑natured, eager, and not‑so‑subtly smitten with Nicole.
Instagram: @melvingregg.
Adelola Olofin — Gbemisola Ikumelo
Who she is: An accountant who also reports when needed; practical, no‑nonsense, and part of the show’s accounting‑meets‑newsroom dynamic. (Spelling confirmed as Adelola.)
Instagram: @gbemisola_ikumelo.
Adam Cooper — Alex Edelman
Who he is: Accounting staffer turned reporter; a well‑meaning, offbeat presence who also writes for the series.
Instagram: @alexedelman.
Nicole Lee — Ramona Young
Who she is: Works in circulation and pitches in on reporting; tends to avoid chaos, which only makes Detrick try harder.
Instagram: @ramonabishyoung.
Ken Davies — Tim Key
Who he is: Business strategist from parent company Enervate; frequently wanders into the newsroom with corporate “advice,” complicating editorial independence.
Instagram: @timkeypoet.
Oscar Martinez — Oscar Nuñez
Who he is: Head accountant at the Truth‑Teller (and yes, the same Oscar from The Office), now occasionally writing Arts & Leisure—his return anchors the shared universe.
Instagram: @oscarnunezla.
The Paper (2025) Season 1 – Episode Summaries
Episode 1: Pilot
A documentary crew shifts its focus from Scranton to Toledo, discovering a historic Midwestern newspaper on the brink of collapse. Idealistic newcomer Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson) arrives as editor-in-chief and meets his eccentric staff, including interim managing editor Esmeralda Grand (Sabrina Impacciatore), whose only media experience was a reality dating show, and accountant Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nuñez), freshly transplanted from Dunder Mifflin.Ned’s enthusiasm leads to awkward first impressions—he even spills reporter Mare Pritti’s salad—before scrambling to win over his skeptical team. By episode’s end, Ned resolves to resurrect the Truth Teller’s legacy, despite sharing office space with its parent company’s toilet paper division.
Episode 2: The Five W’s
Ned tries to teach his volunteer crew basic journalism, but Esmeralda’s impatience pushes everyone into a frantic scramble for stories on deadline. The staff’s chaotic reporting produces a patchwork issue, while Oscar reluctantly contributes a puzzle—secretly phoning old pal Stanley for a Sudoku. Despite the chaos, the paper hits print, teaching Ned that running a newsroom often means improvising when news is scarce.
Episode 3: Buddy and the Dude
Prodded by Esmeralda’s doubts about his leadership, Ned tags along with Mare on an undercover sting against a fraudulent local business. His inexperience nearly blows their cover, but together they confront the scammer duo known as “the buddy and the dude.” The case strengthens Ned’s bond with Mare and delivers the Truth Teller’s first real exposé.
Episode 4: TTT vs. the Blogger
The Truth Teller faces unexpected competition from a high school news blog that keeps scooping their stories. Ned and Esmeralda launch a battle of wits against their teenage rival, while Mare and Oscar cover a beloved teacher’s farewell school play. Their heartfelt story earns praise, and the newsroom ekes out a small but satisfying victory against new media.
Episode 5: The Six-Part Series (“Scam Alert!”)
The staff investigates a local catfishing scam, only to discover Esmeralda herself is a victim. Her “boyfriend” Jarson—who looks suspiciously like actor Josh Holloway, appearing via Cameo—turns out to be a fraud. With proof in hand, Ned and the team convince her to let go of the fantasy. The exposé becomes the first installment of a six-part investigative series, marking a turning point for both Esmeralda and the paper.
Episode 6: Churnalism
To boost web traffic, Ned orders the staff to churn out advertorial-style product reviews. Nicole’s choice—a bottle of questionable kombucha—leaves her violently ill, sparking a chaotic (and hilariously gross) ordeal with Detrick, her budding love interest. Though the “churnalism” experiment drives clicks, Ned realizes shortcuts can come at a messy cost.
Episode 7: I Love You
With Enervate’s CEO Marv Putnam (Allan Havey) temporarily working out of the newsroom, staff morale plummets. Ned, desperate to impress, accidentally blurts “I love you” to his boss in front of everyone. Mortified, he spirals until Marv reassures him that the paper’s fate is about business, not personal gaffes. The encounter leaves the newsroom sobered but closer to understanding the corporate pressures behind their work.
Episode 8: Church and State
Mare exposes a scandal involving Enervate’s supposedly “flushable” wet wipes, which are clogging city sewers. Publishing the story pits Ned against their parent company, forcing a crisis of conscience. In a dramatic move, Ned quits rather than compromise—only for his embarrassing past as a Softees toilet-paper salesman to resurface. Ultimately, Ned leverages his old sales persona to rebrand the wipes, salvaging both the exposé and the paper’s corporate standing.
Episode 9: Matching Ponchos
Ned and Mare hit the road to profile a rumored cult leader, bonding (and bickering) during their oddball trip. Back at the newsroom, Enervate’s strategist Ken awkwardly attempts an “apology tour,” mending fences with the staff after previous meddling. When Ned and Mare return, the atmosphere is lighter, their partnership stronger, and the team slightly more united.
Episode 10: The Ohio Journalism Awards
The season finale takes the staff to the state journalism awards, where the Truth Teller unexpectedly earns nominations. Ned struggles to temper his competitive streak, choosing instead to celebrate his team’s achievements. Meanwhile, Nicole discovers Detrick has been hiding a serious relationship, throwing their romance into turmoil.Despite mixed results at the awards, the newsroom celebrates its survival and growth. Season 1 closes with Ned proud of his ragtag staff, ready to face whatever the future of The Paper holds—with optimism, resilience, and maybe even a trophy or two.
Ending Explained
Episode 10 — “The Ohio Journalism Awards.” The finale centers on the team’s obsession with awards-night optics. Ned deliberately reins in his own trophy-chasing to refocus on the paper’s mission; the evening culminates with Ned and Mare finally sharing a kiss, a clear setup for Season 2’s will-they/won’t-they. Meanwhile, Detrick and Nicole fracture after she insists they’re “not dating,” a stance she quickly regrets. (Episode listings note Ned wrestling with “the desire to win,” while Nicole confronts Detrick’s commitment.)
Episodes & Release
Season 1 consists of 10 episodes—including “Scam Alert,” “Churnalism,” and finale “The Ohio Journalism Awards”—released all at once for binge viewing on Peacock.
Renewed Already
Before the premiere, Peacock renewed The Paper for Season 2; cast and creators have already teased further character arcs and potential legacy cameos.
Where to Watch
The Paper streams exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. (all 10 episodes available now).