The original post: /r/television by /u/jnighy on 2025-10-08 02:33:14+00:00.
I’m really surprised that I enjoyed The Paper as much as I did. I went on it expecting a low effort The Office rip off, but the show has its heart on the right place, the dynamic of a local newspaper sharing the staff and the building with a toilet paper company is interesting enough and, more importantly, the cast and characters work. While I don’t think we have the lightning in the bottle that was The Office’s original cast, every one is solid enough, with a few highlights. But, there’s one HUGE exception: Esmeralda doesn’t work! At all!
I really liked Sabrina Impacciatore on White Lotus, so I don’t think the issue here is her acting, but the writing is atrocious. She’s never anything more than the jealous co-worker that wants to get Ned fired, and this act gets really old, really fast. It’s annoying on the wrong way, and worst of all…I’m just rooting against her. And that doesn’t work on a sitcom. It honestly feels like they tried to write an anti-Dwight and went too extreme.
But I think she can be fixed. The interactions she had with Mare when they investigating the toilet in the park being shut were her best, and I think that’s the her path moving forward. Abandon the “Ned getting fired” plot and focus on her relationship with Mare. That’s where the gold is.