Toledo Truth Blog ('The Paper' NBC)
Review: "The Paper" Season 1, Episode 3 - "Buddy and the Dude"
I'm a sleep researcher and my wife is the person who shaves people before our experiments.
"The Paper," Greg Daniels' latest mockumentary venture, continues to carve out its niche as a spiritual successor to "The Office," blending workplace absurdity with the chaotic world of a declining Midwestern newspaper. Set in Toledo at the Toledo Truth Teller, the series follows Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson), the optimistic new editor-in-chief tasked with reviving the paper under the watchful eye of a documentary crew (with a fun crossover nod to Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch). By Episode 3, "Buddy and the Dude," the show hits its stride in exploring interpersonal tensions and journalistic mishaps, though it occasionally feels like it's still finding its footing.
The episode centers on Ned's attempt to boost morale and secure key staff amid rumors of departures. After learning from the meddlesome Esmeralda Grand (Sabrina Impacciatore) that star reporter Mare Pritti (Chelsea Frei) might be jumping ship to a hotel job, Ned inserts himself into Mare's latest investigative piece—a consumer sting on a shady mattress company scamming customers with identical products sold under different names at varying prices. Posing as a couple (the "Buddy and the Dude" of the title), Ned and Mare navigate awkward undercover work, uncovering evidence with the help of a disgruntled salesperson. Meanwhile, back at the office, subplots unfold: accountant Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nuñez, reprising his "Office" role in a delightful cameo) distracts the budget-conscious owner Marv during a meeting by exposing a suspicious "warehouse" expense that's actually a secret apartment rental for Ken Davies (Tim Key). On the lighter side, sports reporter Detrick Moore (Melvin Gregg) and intern Nicole Lee (Ramona Young) bond over a game of "Two Truths and a Lie," hinting at budding chemistry amid the newsroom's dysfunction.
What works best here is the episode's balance of character-driven humor and subtle commentary on the journalism industry. Gleeson's Ned is a highlight, channeling a mix of Michael Scott's well-intentioned blunders and Jim Halpert's earnestness—his desperate bid to retain Mare by tagging along on the sting leads to genuinely funny moments, like fumbling through mattress negotiations and an awkward fist-bump finale that screams unresolved tension. The supporting cast shines too: Impacciatore's Esmeralda is a force of passive-aggressive chaos, stirring the pot with her resistance to change, while Nuñez's Oscar brings familiar deadpan wit, sticking his neck out in the budget meeting to avert disaster. The "Two Truths and a Lie" team-building exercise, introduced by Ned to hone the staff's lie-detecting skills after a dubious story from Adam Cooper (Alex Edelman), serves as a clever thread tying the ensemble together, with pairs like Detrick and Nicole evolving from clumsy gameplay to personal revelations.
That said, not everything lands perfectly. The mattress scam investigation, while topical in critiquing consumer fraud, drags in spots and feels a bit contrived as a plot device— the buildup to Mare's decision about her job lacks the punch of earlier episodes' sharper satire. Characters like Ken and Esmeralda come off as archetypal resisters to progress, which can feel one-note, though their scheming adds necessary conflict. Overall, the episode is busy but occasionally meanders, earning it a solid but not standout place in the season.
If you're a fan of Daniels' style—dry wit, talking-head confessions, and the slow burn of office romances—"Buddy and the Dude" delivers familiar comforts with fresh newspaper flavor. It's a fun, relatable watch for anyone who's navigated corporate toxicity or deadline drama, but it hasn't quite reached the iconic hilarity of its predecessor yet. Rating: 7/10. Looking forward to seeing if the Toledo Truth Teller can turn the page in future episodes.
The episode centers on Ned's attempt to boost morale and secure key staff amid rumors of departures. After learning from the meddlesome Esmeralda Grand (Sabrina Impacciatore) that star reporter Mare Pritti (Chelsea Frei) might be jumping ship to a hotel job, Ned inserts himself into Mare's latest investigative piece—a consumer sting on a shady mattress company scamming customers with identical products sold under different names at varying prices. Posing as a couple (the "Buddy and the Dude" of the title), Ned and Mare navigate awkward undercover work, uncovering evidence with the help of a disgruntled salesperson. Meanwhile, back at the office, subplots unfold: accountant Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nuñez, reprising his "Office" role in a delightful cameo) distracts the budget-conscious owner Marv during a meeting by exposing a suspicious "warehouse" expense that's actually a secret apartment rental for Ken Davies (Tim Key). On the lighter side, sports reporter Detrick Moore (Melvin Gregg) and intern Nicole Lee (Ramona Young) bond over a game of "Two Truths and a Lie," hinting at budding chemistry amid the newsroom's dysfunction.
What works best here is the episode's balance of character-driven humor and subtle commentary on the journalism industry. Gleeson's Ned is a highlight, channeling a mix of Michael Scott's well-intentioned blunders and Jim Halpert's earnestness—his desperate bid to retain Mare by tagging along on the sting leads to genuinely funny moments, like fumbling through mattress negotiations and an awkward fist-bump finale that screams unresolved tension. The supporting cast shines too: Impacciatore's Esmeralda is a force of passive-aggressive chaos, stirring the pot with her resistance to change, while Nuñez's Oscar brings familiar deadpan wit, sticking his neck out in the budget meeting to avert disaster. The "Two Truths and a Lie" team-building exercise, introduced by Ned to hone the staff's lie-detecting skills after a dubious story from Adam Cooper (Alex Edelman), serves as a clever thread tying the ensemble together, with pairs like Detrick and Nicole evolving from clumsy gameplay to personal revelations.
That said, not everything lands perfectly. The mattress scam investigation, while topical in critiquing consumer fraud, drags in spots and feels a bit contrived as a plot device— the buildup to Mare's decision about her job lacks the punch of earlier episodes' sharper satire. Characters like Ken and Esmeralda come off as archetypal resisters to progress, which can feel one-note, though their scheming adds necessary conflict. Overall, the episode is busy but occasionally meanders, earning it a solid but not standout place in the season.
If you're a fan of Daniels' style—dry wit, talking-head confessions, and the slow burn of office romances—"Buddy and the Dude" delivers familiar comforts with fresh newspaper flavor. It's a fun, relatable watch for anyone who's navigated corporate toxicity or deadline drama, but it hasn't quite reached the iconic hilarity of its predecessor yet. Rating: 7/10. Looking forward to seeing if the Toledo Truth Teller can turn the page in future episodes.