The Paper: Season One comes to Blu-ray from Universal Studios with exactly the type of physical release television fans need more of. Rather than leaving the workplace comedy entirely dependent on streaming availability, Universal gives the complete first season a dedicated 1080p physical release with lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.
For collectors, that preservation angle is arguably as important as the technical presentation itself. This isn’t a flashy collector’s edition. It’s a straightforward season set that puts the series on the shelf in high definition, where it can stay.
The Series at a Glance
The Paper dives into the frantic world of a regional newsroom, where deadlines, journalistic ethics, personality clashes, and the increasingly complicated realities of producing local news become fertile ground for workplace comedy.
The ensemble format is particularly well suited to the setting. Much of the humor comes from characters bouncing off one another as everyday newsroom problems escalate, while the journalistic backdrop gives the comedy a distinct identity beyond the familiar office environment.
That’s enough about the show itself, because the real reason we’re here is how Universal has handled the first season on Blu-ray.
The Set: What You Get
Universal presents the complete first season as a multi-disc Blu-ray collection housed in a standard keepcase.
- Format: Blu-ray
- Video: 1080p AVC
- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 widescreen
- Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Release: Multi-disc season set
- Packaging: Standard Blu-ray keepcase
There aren’t elaborate collector materials or premium packaging elements driving this release. Its primary appeal is much simpler: the season has received a proper physical HD edition.
Video Quality
The Paper receives a clean 1080p presentation that suits its mockumentary-style workplace environment well.
Office interiors maintain sharp detail across desks, computer arrays, paperwork, newsroom equipment, and the machinery of the print operation. Those aren’t necessarily the visual elements people associate with showing off a Blu-ray collection, but the clarity helps establish the lived-in environment of the newsroom.
The transfer also handles the variety of lighting conditions effectively. Indoor office lighting retains natural contrast, while exterior daylight sequences remain clean and appropriately bright. Flesh tones stay consistent as scenes move between different areas and lighting conditions.
This isn’t a series designed around spectacular cinematography, so the Blu-ray’s job is primarily to preserve the show’s intended appearance cleanly and consistently. It accomplishes that without trying to make the material look artificially polished.
Audio Quality
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is similarly appropriate for a dialogue-heavy workplace comedy.
The center channel does most of the important work, keeping rapid exchanges and overlapping conversations clear. That’s particularly important for ensemble comedy, where jokes can depend as much on quick reactions and background comments as the primary dialogue.
The surrounding channels are used more subtly. Newsroom activity, environmental noise, printing presses, and general office commotion expand the soundstage without distracting from conversations.
Don’t expect the type of aggressive surround activity associated with action-heavy television. The mix instead uses the available channels to create a believable working environment around the characters, which is exactly what this series needs.
A Straightforward Physical Release
From a collector’s perspective, The Paper: Season One is interesting because of what Universal hasn’t tried to make it.
This isn’t an oversized collector’s box, SteelBook, limited edition, or elaborate anniversary release. It’s a standard multi-disc season set designed to put the complete season on physical media in HD.
And that’s valuable.
Television collecting has changed considerably in the streaming era. A series being readily accessible today doesn’t guarantee the same availability tomorrow, and streaming subscribers ultimately don’t own the shows in their libraries.
Physical releases like this give viewers another option. More importantly, they ensure that contemporary television continues to receive the same kind of permanent home-media preservation that previous generations of shows received through DVD and Blu-ray season sets.
Is It Worth Buying?
For casual viewers who expect to watch the season once, streaming may remain the easiest option. The argument for this Blu-ray becomes considerably stronger for television collectors and fans of workplace comedies.
The clean 1080p transfer and lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack provide a strong technical foundation, but ownership is ultimately the biggest selling point.
This is worth considering if you are:
- A fan of The Paper who wants to permanently own Season One
- A collector of workplace comedies
- Building a physical television library
- Looking for an HD alternative to relying exclusively on streaming
- Interested in preserving modern television releases on disc
The lack of premium packaging means this isn’t necessarily a display piece. Instead, it’s something increasingly important: a proper physical archive of a streaming-era television series.
Keeping the Newsroom on the Shelf
The Paper: Season One doesn’t need an elaborate collector’s edition to justify its existence on Blu-ray. Universal delivers the fundamentals that matter: a clean 1080p presentation, lossless 5.1 audio, and the complete season preserved on physical media.
For workplace comedy fans and television collectors, that makes this release easy to appreciate. In an era where so many original streaming series never receive a physical edition at all, sometimes simply being able to put the complete season on your shelf is the feature that matters most.
Editor-in-Chief | Owner
I’m a dedicated aficionado of all things movies, pop culture, and entertainment. With a passion for storytelling and a love for the silver screen, I’m constantly immersed in the world of cinema, exploring new releases, classics, and hidden gems alike. As a fervent advocate for the power of film to inspire, entertain, and provoke thought, I enjoy sharing my insights, reviews, and recommendations with fellow enthusiasts.