THE PAPER: Episodes 1.1-1.3

Here's the decision. THE PAPER is a very entertaining, well-made comedy that earns its place as an OFFICE spinoff without simply copying it — it's quieter, more grounded, and less absurdist than its predecessor, which may disappoint some fans but gives the show room to be its own thing.

The cost is real, though. Across the first three episodes, the show leans on 22 instances of foul language, including an "f" word, a "sh**," and five uses of the Lord's name in vain. Its moral compass is set by the surrounding culture rather than by Scripture, which means characters mock nearly everything — including Christianity and, at times, political correctness itself.

If you're an adult who can take strong language and satire in stride, this is a genuinely funny watch. If you're choosing for a teenager or a family, know that the show gives no quarter to faith, and decide accordingly.

The documentary crew from THE OFFICE returns, hoping to catch up with the old Dunder Mifflin gang — only to find the company gone, swallowed up by a conglomerate called Enervate. The cameras land instead on one of Enervate's other holdings: the Toledo Truth Teller, a once-respected newspaper now reduced to clickbait and ads.

Enter Ned, the new editor-in-chief, who dreams of restoring the paper's glory days. His staff has little to no journalism experience. His predecessor isn't ready to let go. What happens when a hopeful boss meets a ragtag newsroom is where the comedy begins.

Four stars means this show works — and works well. Reviewers found THE PAPER "very entertaining and funny," praising its choice to take a different tone from THE OFFICE rather than lean on the same brand of absurdity. That restraint gives it room to feel "more rooted" and to chase storylines the original never could.

Fans expecting OFFICE-style chaos scene-for-scene may need to adjust their expectations; this is a related but distinct comedic voice. Within that voice, though, the show delivers — sharp enough writing and confident enough execution to justify the full four stars.

THE PAPER runs on what the source calls a pagan, "anything goes" worldview — one where characters' morals are shaped by the people and culture around them rather than by the Bible. That framework opens the door to mockery of just about everything, Christianity included, and it takes some shots at political correctness too, even while its characters mostly still buy into it. One character is notably portrayed as pro-military, proud of having served — a small counterweight of genuine conviction in a show that otherwise treats belief as a punchline.

There's a quiet irony worth naming: a newspaper called the Truth Teller that has spent years running clickbait instead of truth, now staffed by people with no real training in telling it. The show seems to sense the joke even as it plays it. That's the show's best instinct — a longing, buried under the sarcasm, for something more honest than what currently passes for news, or for morality.

Scripture answers that longing directly. Truth isn't whatever the newsroom — or the culture — decides it is that day. "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). A show that jokes about everything is still, underneath, hunting for something solid to stand on.

THE PAPER is a genuinely funny, well-made comedy with a moral compass set by the world rather than the Word — strong language, mockery of faith, and a pagan "anything goes" ethic included. Our answer stays the same: worth watching — older teens and adults. Looking for something the whole family can watch together instead? Start with our latest family-friendly picks.