Capitol Barbie is an admirable debut episode from director Riley Del Rey. The pilot is full of conviction and a fiery vigor that shows it isn't here to mess around or not convey a meaningful message. Don't get me wrong - there is plenty of fun to be had. That much is evident by the chemistry that the actors have and demonstrates that this is a project they believe in. Elese Jones is fantastic and plays the lead, Dolly, with a tenacious spirit who never loses our attention onscreen. Other notable actors include Ivan Hernandez who portrays an interesting depth to his character, David's, transphobia, and Riley Del Rey herself who plays a meta, deus ex machina character that provides a reflective lens to supplement the events of this series and its inspiration. The cinematography is very interesting between the world of the interns and the sanitized facade of Capitol Hill. The shots and the edit are also pretty slick, and never lets our eyes get complacent with a certain stylistic choice or visual aesthetic. Check it out!