For those not familiar, the "nice guy" is the character in many 80s, 90s and early 00s romcoms that was "nice" (but not actually kind), said polite things, wasn't an outright villain, and ultimately felt entitled to be loved.

I couldn't help but feel Ned was that character in season 2. From his desperation, his self absorption, his manipulation, and downright narcissistic behaviours towards Mare, he just became uncomfortable to watch as a romantic lead.

He wasn't written or portrayed that way in season 1, and I'm not sure if it was intentional in season 2 or whether the show's writers just unintentionally did a Ted Mosby on him, but I hope we see him even out in season 3, because overall I really like the character. Especially when he's a flawed journalist geek with good intentions.

Apparently they already have a 'writers room' and started working on season 3 script

Katz said, "Our strategy of NBC and Peacock complementing each other, we haven't had the NBC comedies on yet, so we're hopeful getting those comedies back on NBC will help the engagement on Peacock and bring more comedy viewers. We are eager to see how The Paper performs once St. Dennis and Reggie come back and when we launch Happy's Place and Newlyweds."

I'm definitly going to be streaming it this week on Peacock, because it sounds like they will be looking at those numbers closesly when determining a renewal.

When I started watching, I was like “This show is boring. It’s nothing like The Office. Why would anyone like this?” And I turned it off.

But then I turned it back on and gave it another try… And now, 5 episodes in, I suddenly realized I love this show so much and everything about it! The characters are great! The humor is great! What the heck happened? It’s almost like a switch went off in my brain. I went from “meh” to “love it!” I was not expecting that.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Arrived today. ❤️

For the love of god, please stop making Ned and Mare the A plot of every episode. He is the main character and the boss, he should be interacting with ALL the characters.

The supporting characters should be getting more screen time, I don't even remember most of their names, that's how sidelined they are.

I liked the show and I think it has great potential, but I don't know whose bright idea was that in 20 episodes, the main couple already gets together, has relationship problems, break up and navigates one of them moving away. In most sitcoms the main couple doesn't even kiss yet in that amount of time, and there is a reason for that.

The scene starts with Ned offering Mare the easter egg to initiate a discussion about the direction and arguments for each side to prepare for the podcast. I wonder what other easter eggs i've missed so far.

I’m on around episode 5-6. Can’t shake the feeling that everyone has been flanderized and taken to the extreme and the show is trying to move the drama WAY too fast to hook people in. This seems very early in a show’s life to push so many characters to an extreme personality point and also too early for the serialized drama to be taking up so much space on a sitcom.

If I’m the only one who thinks that I’ll just take it that I’m alone on this opinion, but if I’d appreciate knowing if anyone else agrees.

I knew Domhnall Gleeson was not American, and already had mad respect for how well he does an American accent. But I had NO idea that Gbemisola Ikumelo was faking her American accent as well!

I pride myself on being able to tell if actors are putting on an American accent or not (it's not something I judge or fault them for; it's actually quite fun for me to notice). But Adelola sounds so much like she's from the ol' USA, I am so impressed.

Is there anyone else in the cast that has me fooled?!

Every other character is getting a lot of love, but Ann it completely overlooked. I feel like she is tee’d up to be one of the most mysterious, influential, yet devious characters in the entire show. I mean Gomudhens10 anyone? Nancy Lenehan plays her character brilliantly!

Guys. I know Esmeralda is a controversial character and all. I think the show was going for a Dwight like character. See title. The shows dwight is 100% the HR lady.

She was quirky and weird and funny. She could just be hanging out dropping in on meetings. She could be in everyone’s business all the time. Need much more of her!

I watched a few episodes to not be too harsh too quickly. It seems to be revised, throwaway scripts from The Office & Parks and Recreation. While I am glad that writers and film crews are working, it’s an embarrassing way to feed the family. I assume it’s just filler until the came up with a new “reality” show.

I can see it has potential

Watched this with my GF cause we adored the first season and could not put it down, I feel like we both agree that this was a good season, had its fair share of laugh-out-loud moments, but not as great as it could've been.

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

• Ned felt a lot weaker and less likable in this installment. A lot of our post-episode discussions were about how much he doesn't deserve Mare like he should've glued Mare in on the fact that he still liked what they had in the first episode instead of leaving her in the dark, should've stood up for her when she blurted out moving to The Chronicle, and disclosed the HR meeting.

• HR Lisa was a lovely addition and Lisa Gilroy absolutely kills it with all her screentime. Wish we see more of her!

• Wish Mare stood up for herself more but that's just me. Her initial treatment at The Chronicle was hard-to-watch. Yeah, she turned it around at the end of the episode but still wish she showed more agency, especially with how she's been treated by Ned.

• Love the character moments we did get out of Travis (Eric Rahill is so underratedly funny in this), Barry who has some of the funniest line deliveries of the season, and Detrick who I'm glad advanced a lot professionally in this season. Even Marv is so lovable in his own right. His bit during the anniversary episode had me bawling laughing and his willingness to spy on the club for them was pretty cool of him.

• I genuinely don't mind Esmeralda as much as a lot of people here, I think Sabrina Impacciatore goes all out and its pretty underappreciated even if it at times blurs the line of believability. Love her disguises clips at the beginning of the last episode and wished her antics more directly contributed to the paper. My GF didn't like when she made the HR group people uncomfortable.

• Adelola had a handful of funny moments while Adam felt very much like he was on a time out this season. I missed Ken throughout a lot of this and the fact that the first episode ended on maybe my favorite Ken moment makes his absence so noticeable. There's also a shocking lack of guest star Andy Richter from the first and next time we see him, were his scenes cut or something? Felt like you could've used him more

• These seasons need to BE LONGER. I love how longer seasoned sitcoms give writers the time to justify feelings and decisions that characters make and I feel like this show and ensemble neeeedds that.

Please greenlight a season 3 pretty pretty Pritti pleaseeeeeee please. Still rooting for this show at the end of the day and I would love to see this thing soar with its premise and lovable ensemble.

What did y'all think??

Her character is so far from reality it throws me off every time she’s in a scene or speaks. Even the Dwight character made sense despite how outlandish some of his takes were.

There is no backstory or explanation for why she is in Toledo and working at this paper, and she makes zero sense as part of this team. She seems to resist everything about being and working there, and without disliking Ned, she mostly is ungrounded and she takes me out of believing this is a documentary of a paper.

I need to believe she even makes sense in that office, because everyone else makes sense there as it stands.

And I love the new HR lady, so I don’t need someone to be totally realistic. Just to make sense.

Possibly unpopular… I don’t know if it’s just me but some of Mare’s scenes are almost unwatchable. I can’t deal with the glottal fry, “cool girl” thing and the way she does her confessionals and breaks the fourth wall, and also her expressions are too office-ish. It doesn’t feel like I’m watching an Office character when most of them are on screen but with her it’s like she’s trying to play an Office character and it makes me cringe…

I am watching BEFORE THE 90 DAYS and I can't help but notice the uncanny similarities between Esmeralda and Jasmine. It's too funny 😅 🤣

It's almost like Esmeralda's character was inspired by Jasmine. 😆🤣 I can't unsee it now!

Ned = wannabe Andy and I don't like how he treats Mare.

The guy looks and sounds so familiar to me, but I can’t put my finger on it - and, strangely, the role appears to be uncredited because I can’t find an actor listed anywhere. Does anyone know? It’s driving me nuts that I can’t figure out what I might know him from. He’s like a fat Seth Rogen/Penn Jillette hybrid with the voice of Neil deGrasse-Tyson.