The new series The Paper takes us back into the world of the documentary crew who filmed the employees of Dunder Mifflin on The Office. But even with its connection to the hit NBC series, The Paper doesn’t really connect to the tone of that series.
It does, however, remind me of another Mike Schur and Greg Daniels series: Parks and Recreation. And for one important reason. Much like Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) herself, Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson) is a man who cares. You cannot say the same think about Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and his attachment to Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch. His dedication was less about loving what he was doing and more about being liked by his “friends.”
Ned and Leslie both care and that, to me, makes their roles in their respective shows that much more special. Ned came to the Toledo Truth Teller because he wanted to bring the paper back to life. Leslie Knope, despite Pawnee often working against her, pushed and clawed her way into making that city a better place. That dedication to caring, to wanting to be better people and work to make their respective jobs a better place is heartwarming.
I don’t want to work for Dunder Mifflin and neither did 90% of the people who worked there on The Office. I’d love to work at the Pawnee Parks and Recreation department and I’d even love if I got to write for the Truth Teller. And it isn’t because I necessarily want to work in Parks or that I even want to live in Ohio but rather because both Ned and Leslie inspire the people around them to be better.
Sorry but no one should want to work for Michael Scott
We all love Michael Scott because he’s our biggest insecurities in a fictional character. Even when he tries to help, it ends up a mess. Never forget Scott’s Tots. But just because you like the character doesn’t mean he’s someone you would want to work with. If anything, you should be afraid of a boss like him because you job is far from secure.
Leslie Knope and Ned Sampson are two people who are going to take big swings and try things because they care and they know what they’re doing. Which is why, at its core, I don’t really think The Paper is the follow-up to The Office that people want it to be. It is spiritually more connected to Parks and Recreation more than anything else.
Which, when you think about it, Parks was originally set to be a spin-off of The Office but then was changed and became its own thing and I am forever grateful for that. So why not allow The Paper to be just as connected to Parks as it is to The Office?
Basically, Ned and Leslie care and that’s what really makes these shows work for me. They both just want to see the people they work with reach their full potential and that’s beautiful.
(featured image: Troy Harvey/PEACOCK)
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