The first series, consisting of five episodes, introduces viewers to David Brent (played by Ricky Gervais), the well-intentioned but clueless and cringe-worthy regional manager. Alongside his loyal but long-suffering assistant, Gareth Keenan (played by Mackenzie Crook), and the rest of the office staff, including Tim Canterbery (played by Martin Freeman) and Dawn Tuck (played by Julie Dennington), the show expertly captures the mundane and often awkward world of office politics.