The Washington Post 's Stuever have many complaints about the show including the fact that it is about Washington , DC , but filmed in Baltimore . He also complain about its entrance into the television landscape littered with " more fictitious administrations than anyone can keep track of " . He say that perspective will affect your perception of the show . Those not already inundated with " Type A personalities inside the Beltway " in their daily lives may be drawn to the show . However , it is not likely a show that will serve well those who spend a lot of time with the issues that the show deal with . After viewing the first two episodes , Stuever also find fault with the use of breaking the fourth wall , describing it as " the show 's unwise narrative trope " . The Wall Street Journal 's Smith defend the fourth wall as an " artifice that generally work well here to loosen our bearings " .