What an episode. So many twists and turns in every scene.
Having to stab your soulmate to death, Daisy hiding among a bunch of Daisys, Jemma-Quake hug, Daisy fighting for FITZSIMMONS, the inevitable android annihilates creator, fake May learning to make her own decisions, and the Framework...
When Daisy had long hair and the text said "boyfriend" I just knew it had to be Ward even though she said "Lincoln?" And is Jemma dead in the Framework? How will they meet at the rendezvouz point?
This show somehow always delivers these amazing episodes. Yeah, there will be some average to above average episodes inbetween, but it leads to a series of mind-blowing episodes.
Oh, man. And Hydra. I wonder how that fits into the Framework. The Framework is gonna be hella fun!!!
Best episode ever, it was flawless, the acting, the effects, the direction just superb
[9.8/10] So, remember in my write-up for last week’s episode when I talked about how AoS had committed to being fun? Wow. I would use a number of words to describe “Self Control” – gripping, tense, well-acted, scary, transfixing, impressive – but fun is not one of them.
Agents of Shield continually surprises me. When I think the show has turned the corner, it delves into some convoluted plot contrivance. When I think it’s bottomed out, it finds some interesting new place to go. And even when I’m happy with the show, praising it for a sense of excitement and adventure, it turns in an episode like this, one of, if not the, greatest hours of television its managed to produce, with depth, character, and emotion out the wazoo.
What stands out in particular from “Self Control” is how many great individual scenes there were. I tend to spend a fair amount of time talking about different, often segmented storylines within an episode, and while there was some of that division here, the episode amounted to one unified story with a number of great standalone sequences within it. So many that it’s hard to know where to begin.
First and foremost, the confrontation between Fitz and Simmons is as a tense and emotionally wrenching a three-minute segment as you’re likely to find on AoS. In the early going of the episode, there was an “us against the world” setup with FitzSimmons as the only flesh and blood people with the rest of the gang replaced by LMDs. But the unexpected twist that one of them is a robot, and we have no idea who, provides lots of narrative and emotional fuel to the segment.
It’s such great acting from both Iain De Caestecker, who sells Fitz’s self-loathing at the thought that he’s the cause of all this trouble, and Elizabeth Henstridge, who communicates the horrible distress at being unable to tell whether the person you love most in the world is real or fake. It makes the reveal that Fitz has been replaced, and his quick turn to disabling Simmons all the more impactful, given the emotional stakes of the scene and how quick the tone changes.
Second is the tremendous scene between Simmons and Daisy. After Simmons’s episode with Fitz, her panic and fear are entirely natural. And at the same time, Daisy seeing an entire fleet of robo-clones of her, followed by footage of Robo-Coulson and iMack killing fellow agents, has understandably unnerved her. So when they confront one another, both are understandably afraid and untrusting, with no way to ascertain who’s real and who’s an LMD. Again, the scene is very well done by Henstridge and Chloe Bennett, who convey that fear and uncertainty extraordinarily well. That means that when they hug, and Daisy’s ability to quake confirms for both they’re real, there’s such catharsis in it, for the characters and the audience. In such a tense moment, there is such relief in the discovery that there is a friend and an ally and someone to trust amid all this tumult.
Both of those scenes speak to the air of paranoia in the film, that carries throughout. Initially, it’s a “who can we trust?” paranoia that the series has played with before. Those scenes are a testament to the power of that tack, and how not knowing whether someone is good or a fake creates this tension and foreboding. But you can only sustain that for so long, and what’s truly impressive about “Self Control” is how it keeps that tension up, and even heightens, after we know where all the players stand. The challenge of the few flesh and blood Shield agents trying to make their way past a pack of LMDs who have freaky robot strength and are working together to try to kill you, makes for creative challenges our heroes have to overcome and an atmosphere that truly works.
It also gives us not just one, but two of the best action sequences the show has managed to pull off. This is a show that does a lot of hand-to-hand combat, but something the acrobatic but hard-hitting encounter between the two stands out as, again, one of, if not the finest embraces of the form in the series. There is character and plot and emotion all rolled one into one fight that vacillates between blows that carry weight and force, and mortal ballet (and a nice coda with the quake powers to boot). At the same time, the frantic rush to get to the Zephyr and get out produces a lovely sequence of our heroes struggling to make it in time before the place blows.
And that ties into the episode’s best scene, where May-Bot confronts Robo-Coulson. There is a powerful idea at play in those scenes, that pain and regret help make us human, help motivate us and make us who we are, and that by removing that, we become less. May regrets a great deal of what’s happened in her life, but she cares about Phil Coulson, and without those things, Robo-Coulson is a sterile, anodyne, facsimile. The real man is someone that May-Bot, who fears death in a way Aida’s LMDs don’t, is willing to die for. It’s a meaningful sacrifice that keeps the “real” May on the show, and that is an impressive feat.
(All of that doesn’t even touch on the other amazing and cool and heartening stuff that happens in the episode. Aida going all Asimov on Radcliffe when her directives conflict was frightening as hell. Daisy telling Jemma that the one thing she’s always known is that Fitz and Simmons belong together was a heartwarming line. And Simmons herself was an unexpected badass here, between here and Daisy preparing to go face the LMDs, to her “I told you so” bit with the rank and file soldiers.)
That’s the overall theme of the episode, that ties that outstanding scene with the superlative and fascinating final montage. Our regrets weigh on us, but also make us human. The notion of a world where those regrets have been removed, where the things that give us love and life have been flattened and numbed, plays into the idea that what we want and what we need can be two very different things. That prospect is not fun, but it is enriching and engaging, and that’s worth just as much.
(As an aside, I don’t want to get too caught up in speculation, but holy cow, the bit in The Framework portends interesting things. The C-plot about Mack’s lost child is suddenly not just interesting texture for his character. Did Aida “kill off” Jemma in The Framework so that she could put herself in the simulation in her place, in the hopes of following up on their weird romantic tension and experiencing what it is to be human? Did Coulson not being in Shield prevent The Avengers from forming and Cap being devoted enough to the organization to stop the Hydra takeover? Are May and Daisy still willing participants in it? And oh yeah, freaking Ward! So many interesting threads for the show to pick up next week.)
One of the best episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., if not the best.
I think one of the things that constantly impresses me the most about this show is how the plot twists are so well done, it's so effective. Last episode shows us that there are four LMDs entering the base and we assume it's the four we are seeing on the screen, which already makes me excited about what will happen next.... but then in this episode, they fooled me yet again, of course by messing with Fitzsimmons. And these two are crazy good in their performances, so is everyone else, but Fitzsimmons content just gets to me. And then you have terrified Simmons and Daisy finding each other and getting ready to survive, it was so damn good.
This episode had pretty much everything you would want in a S.H.I.E.L.D. episode and more. Evil android copies of almost the whole main cast, an army of Daisys (Daisies?)... hell, Simmons stabbed LMD Fitz in the neck, and LMD May blew up LMD Coulson and herself. Even though they were LMDs, it's still the actors, filming must have been so crazy.
Via Trakt I'm just finding out that there will be a rather large break until the next episode, which... is not that surprising considering the stakes towards the end of this episode. It felt very much like a season finale, they sure know how to use these renditions of the show's main theme as the music for emotionally packed moments. I'm very curious and hope we get to explore these characters in their "world with no regrets". Fitz seemingly as a wealthy man? Simmons seemingly buried? May in HYDRA? Grant Ward??? Count me in.
Last thought: I'm actually really sad that Radcliffe is dead, despite all bad things he did this season he is so enjoyable to watch. I'm sure we will be seeing more of him within the Framework.
The LMD arc is IMO on par with the best parts of the Netflix and movie department of the MCU. Absolutely amazing episode.
I loved that at the end LMD may kinda beat the system and the nature of the person won over the programming.
Aida's getting creepier. Did she really need to cut the guy alive ? Also she says "You'll be many things", so should we expect an army of replicas ?
And now there's nobody to stop her. So no future redemption for Radcliffe. I'll miss him.
I feel the way one of the LMD is not one we expect is really cheating. The system would put an alert and say that 4 are detected, with a picture of 4 people. But actually thre are only 3 in the picture who are. The 4th has been detected at another time, without generating an alert, but it's still counted. That makes absolutely no sense. Same with the remark between Mace and Coulson, they just left FitzSimmons and he would definitely not say it like that if he wasn't speaking about them. The kind of trick that do not make you say "Nice, I didn't see that coming" when it's revealed, but rather "What ? This is stupid". Poorly done.
That being said the FitzSimmons scene is pretty well done. Both actors are extremely good in this one. And the Daisy/Jemma meetup, oh my god, so intense !
Great fight too, Daisy is amazing. And that Ransengan move, cool ! How come Coulson bot doesn't disintegrate the same way as Mack though?
The May bot existential crisis is nice. She's been programmed for a mission without knowing it. The mission's done, she's basically a May copy now, with no programming order to prevent her from doing whatever she wants. Then she realizes she really bretrayed everybody, and that even her potential replacement lover is more programming than really Coulson. So she takes the heroic way out. Nice.
I don't think I'll enjoy the parrallel universe/Framework episode as much.
This show is freaking amazing!!!! "Self Control" was easily one of the best episodes of the series. The acting is brilliant and the storyline keeps you on the edge of your seat, promise. I can't wait for th next pod "Agents of Hydra"!
OMG THIS WAS FUCKING INSANE!!!!!!!
This was INSANE, I absolutely loved it and lost my shit over the last few minutes. What an ending! Can't wait for the next episode.
Wow, that was an all-timer for the show. If not my favorite episode, at the very least in the top three for sure. Its most intriguing storyline, firing on all cylinders on the action, suspense, and heartfelt emotions, with a healthy dollop of thoughtful thematic probing and one hell of a cliffhanger. Love that it revolves around the show's three best actors (Simmons, Fitz, May) and most improving (Skye) too.
OK Daisy was already my favorite character but even more now ! We have to find a way to bring Daisy on the Avengers movies !
Well.. what can I say that I have not or anyone else said? One of the top superhero show to have been made just keep getting better when I thought it is already so great. WOW!! Superb acting and storyline!!
Wow. What an episode! I was on the edge of my seat and the last few minutes threw in even more surprises. Best episode of season 4 so far.
WTF DID I SEE!!! THIS IS SOGOOOOD
Has anyone said “Cpme with me if you want to live” yet?
Reached this episode on my rewatch and it's just a phenomenal episode that starts a phenomenal run of episodes right up until the end of the season. Everything is perfect from the twists to the action, and all the characters/actors shine, especially those playing LMD versions of their characters.
How are they able to produce so many LMDs so quickly? These highly advanced robots that are also highly detailed and personalized. Sure are churning them out quickly.
Are they ever going to explain what the Darkhold actually is? A book that "reads your mind" and can apparently teach you anything, even if that thing doesn't exist yet. Not that there could ever be a satisfactory answer for what it is, but something would be nice.
Ward again? Are you serious? Thought it was going to be Lincoln. Wish it was Lincoln. I don't want more Ward. Why can't we be done with him?
The Daisy/LMDirector fight was very good.
WARD WARD WARD WAAAAAARD WARD!!!!!! this was one of the best episodes so far god damn.. Fitz Simmons acting was so amazing too I have to say. I always love Daisy and Jemma team ups!
I know Aida is losing it but I actually love her. AND YES JEMMA SIMMONS THE BEST AGENT EVER, she’s so strong, i love her!!!!
I just noticed that this is episode is rated so low on trakt. Which is absolutely ridiculous, It is best episode of this show.
Season 2 is still my favorite AoS season, but this episode was one of the best of the entire series.
ok wow, easily my favourite episode of the series so far
This Aida ark is amazing! The Matrix meets Westworld! This show deserves more recognition, it's getting better and better.
I hope that from here the plot will be closed
Possibly my favourite episode of the entire series
When the hell did Daisy learn Nauto's "Rasengan??!!"
Some Daisy on Jemma action... I wouldn't mind that :). So... Whatever happens from now on we can skip, stop watching as it does not count for the rl world. Bleah Matrix much!?
Holy cow, WHAT AN EPISODE! Just marvelous. Cool plot-twists, action packed and filled with certain suspense... LOVED IT!!!
I'm just flabergasted!! Top notch episode of the year..... unbelievable!!
Finally, a genuinely good episode! Too bad about the whole "The Matrix" déjà vu, though. This implies that anything fun that will most certainly happen in the framework, won't be real and, as such, won't affect the not-framework-world storyline that much.
Next episode in 42 days!? Noooo lolz
Shout by Mannan KasliwalVIP 4BlockedParent2017-02-22T04:41:27Z
An absolutely beautiful episode. So many twists and top-notch acting; this ep had it all. Definitely a top 3, maybe the best, episode of the series. I can't wait 6 more weeks...............