CoSA VFX also did work on the episode, compositing the Johnson LMD shots together from the 21 individual takes, and creating a CG knife and blood for the scene where Simmons stabs and kills the Fitz LMD. Release "Self Control" was first aired in the United States on ABC on February 21, 2017. It began streaming on Netflix, along with the rest of the fourth season, on June 15, 2017. Reception Ratings In the United States the episode received a 0.6/2 percent share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, meaning that it was seen by 0.6 percent of all households, and 2 percent of all of those watching television at the time of the broadcast. It was watched by 2.01 million viewers. Within a week of its release, "Self Control" had been watched by 3.88 million U.S. viewers. Critical response The A.V. Clubs Alex McLevy praised the episode as "near-flawless", grading it an 'A'. He compared the episode to previous Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episodes "4,722 Hours" and "One Door Closes", saying that "Self Control" "splits the difference between routine and exception ... it takes the best of both of those models and combines them into a single triumphant installment." He praised Whedon, saying that "nearly every decision made here is the right one", and highlighted the combination of Johnson and Simmons, the conclusion of the May LMD's arc, and the Framework reveals. Terri Schwartz at IGN also called the episode one of the best of the series, scoring it an "Amazing" 9.2 out of 10. Schwartz praised the "emotional weight and resonance" of the Johnson/Simmons combination, the Fitz/Simmons confrontation, and the May LMD's final scene, and also praised the quality of the episode's visual effects. Joseph McCabe of Nerdist praised Whedon for transforming the series' pop culture influences "into the most balls-to-the-wall action-packed episode so far this season", finding "exactly the right note of paranoia to play". McCabe also praised the episode's level of blood and violence, taking advantage of the series' 10pm timeslot. At Collider, Evan Valenting gave the episode an "Excellent" rating of 5 stars out of 5, calling it "one of the best episodes of the season (even sans Ghost Rider!)." Valentine felt the episode elevated the LMD arc "to an entirely new place that I wasn’t at all expecting, but am happy to see", and praised Gregg in particular for his performance as