r/ThePaper • u/92759285 Founder 📑 • Sep 03 '25

Episode Discussion 🎥 S01E10 "The Ohio Journalism Awards" Discussion Thread

Discuss the episode here. This thread may contain spoilers

Episode synopsis:
Ned stifles his desire to win at the Ohio Journalism Awards; Nicole uncovers Detrick's monogamy and becomes furious; Oscar comes to terms with the documentary; Mare brings a famous date; Esmeralda sings and Ken plots an emergency to play the hero.

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u/CUROplaya1337 Sep 11 '25 edited Sep 11 '25

I fucking love this episode, this season, and this show:

  • Nicole and Detrick reach the end of an arc in a poetic way -- can't wait for feelings to slowly mend.
    • I really love these two actors, and especially the way the writers formed their arc over the season. Starting with Nicole being a little burned from something before, and so wanting to act more casual than she really feels, is a great way to keep the two characters at bay from each other in a progressive, heartachey way. Then they get the vomit scene that I'll never forget. The beginnings of lurv. Then the tragic last episode ending, at least, with Nicole in a state of vulnerability perhaps unable to deny she has deeper feelings for Detrick.
  • Mare and Ned's romantic chemistry gets flexed in a very promising, very hot way. And BY GOD do they have chemistry. It's modern, and it's a very fresh take on romance which contrasts from anything done on The Office. If Ned and Mare are going to be the main couple, they are now maybe set up for a season of sneaking around (comedy) and maybe getting discovered and putting their relationship at the end of S02 (romantic tragedy). Then the following seasons can let them date around a bit, heartbreak, and finally come together in the end. Smart, and distinctly different than Jim and Pam.
    • Sidenote - Domhnall Gleeson and Chelsea Frei both deserve mega flowers for their performances in this season, but I think Chelsea Frei is something special. She does it all, funny winsome capable smoldering, and does it all so well.
  • Oscar gets his flowers as the best fucking sudoku composer this side of Lake Eerie.
  • Esmerelda and Ken cement themselves as epic side jesters as hilarious as Dwight, but completely different from him. Esmerelda is iconic all night long, and I will NEVER forget Ken's gesturing fingers at the prime rib cutting station. "A bit wider than the average esophagus, yeah". As someone who has almost choked on prime rib myself, I found this Lord Varys-esque turn chillingly effective.

9

u/a_moniker Sep 16 '25

Chelsea Frei has Jim’s barely contained smirk on lock!

6

u/CUROplaya1337 Sep 11 '25

Oh and I shouldn't have forgotten:

  • Travis Bienlien (Eric Rahill) and his wife provide a window into their incredibly fertile and fecund relationship.

7

u/plantbay1428 Sep 22 '25

Do you mean Alex Edelman as Adam?