"Solitary" first aired in the United States on November 17, 2004.[10] An estimated 17.64 million American viewers watched the episode on ABC,[11] a decrease from 18.44 million viewers in the previous episode, "Confidence Man".[12] In a review of the episode, Chris Carabott of IGN commented that Rousseau appeared to be more emotionally fragile than in later seasons, and was like a "loose cannon".