 Gilbert also notes that Mara 's surprising naivete is a welcome respite against a backdrop of a " terminally jaded " cast . As the show begins , aspiring journalist Zoe Barnes is desperate to rise from covering the " Fairfax County Council " beat to covering " ' what 's behind the veil ' of power in the Capitol hallways . " Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times notes that by the end of the first episode , Mara 's Barnes is among the cadre of Frank 's accomplices . After she pleads for a relationship with him by promising to earn his trust and not " ask any questions " , Frank uses her fiendishly . However , Ashley Parker of The New York Times considers her unfathomably aggressive and too overt , transactional and sexual . Parker points out that Barnes ' statement " I protect your identity , I print what you tell me , and I 'll never ask any questions " almost discredits itself . 
 Gilbert also <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>notes</mark></a> that Mara <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>surprising naivete is a welcome respite against a backdrop of a " terminally jaded " cast . As the show <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>begins</mark></a> , aspiring journalist Zoe Barnes is desperate to rise from covering the " Fairfax County Council " beat to covering " ' what 's behind the veil ' of power in the Capitol hallways . " Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>notes</mark></a> that by the end of the first episode , Mara <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>Barnes is among the cadre of Frank <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>accomplices . After she <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>pleads</mark></a> for a relationship with him by promising to earn his trust and not " ask <a href='None' title='8'><mark>any</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='9'><mark>questions</mark></a> " , Frank <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>uses</mark></a> her fiendishly . However , Ashley Parker of The New York Times <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>considers</mark></a> her unfathomably aggressive and too overt , transactional and sexual . Parker <a href='uninflect' title='12'><mark>points</mark></a> out that Barnes <a href='null_genetive' title='13'><mark>'</mark></a>statement " I protect your identity , I print what you tell me , and I 'll never ask <a href='None' title='14'><mark>any</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='15'><mark>questions</mark></a> " almost <a href='uninflect' title='16'><mark>discredits</mark></a> itself . 
Gilbert also note dat Mara  surprising naivete is a welcome respite against a backdrop of a " terminally jaded " cast . As da show begin , aspiring journalist Zoe Barnes is desperate to rise from covering the " Fairfax County Council " beat to covering " ' wht 's behind tdaveil ' of power in the Capitol hallways . " Alessandra Stanley of Thdaew York Times note that by the end of the first episode , Mara  Barnes is among the cadre of Frank  accomplices . After she plead for a relationship with him by promising to earn his trust and not " ask no questions " , Frank use her fiendishly . However , Ashley Parker of The New York Times consider her unfathomably aggressive and too overt , transactional and sexual . Parker point out that Barnes  statement " I protect your identity , I print what youu tell me , and I 'll never ask no questions " almost discredit itself .