“All life is a series of problems which we must try and solve,” pondered Violet to a melancholic Edith in this final episode. “First one, then the next, and the next, until – at last – we die. Why don’t you get us an ice cream?” And thus she summed up the raison d’etre of Downton Abbey in one neat little nugget of wisdom: endless drama, but never without cosy traditions.

This time, the cosy tradition was the annual bazaar. Cora – who was apparently in charge – faffed around with lists a lot whilst everyone else did all the work. As Downton’s least developed character, Cora appears to exist only to lie in bed with a tea tray making comments about other people’s business.

The resolution of the whole footman-kitchen maid love triangle/square/indeterminate polygon that has been inducing yawns across the country since episode one, was fairly underwhelming.

In the end, Ivy wasn’t interested in Jimmy or Alfred, Alfred regretted not being interested in Daisy, Daisy regretted Alfred not being interested in her earlier and Jimmy was interested in nothing but downing punch at the bazaar.

So having sat through all those squabbles week after week, in the end no one even got engaged or died. Downton, you disappoint. It did, however, leave room for a touching moment between Daisy and Mrs Patmore and it was lovely to see Daisy do something other than mope behind potato peelings for once.

But let’s talk about Bates and Mr Green. This week, Bates took a trip to ‘York’. “What were you up to?” asked Anna, knowing full well that ‘York’ meant ‘London’. “This and that,” replied Bates casually, but his eyes had a different story. “Nothing major,” they glinted. “Went shopping. Murdered a valet. Y’know, this and that.” No one can do murderous nonchalance like Bates. Of course, we don’t know he murdered Green. Not until the end of the episode when it turned out Green had been run over by a bus. Then we’re pretty sure he probably did.

To be honest, I’m still 100% convinced that Bates murdered his first wife, so it wouldn’t surprise me if said bus was constructed from pastry and laced with arsenic (see series 3).

Dramatic death aside, it was a fairly tame end to a series that, in every aspect, has been a huge improvement on the last. It’s been nice to see a different side to Mary. Bitchy Mary had got a bit dull, likewise Sappy Wife Mary. It was touch-and-go whether we were going to have to endure a whole series of Mourning Mary, but luckily she transformed fairly quickly into Kick-Ass Businesswoman Mary, who rejected doting suitors, rescued pigs, had mud fights, and suddenly inexplicably knew how to scramble an egg.

By the time last night’s episode ended, she’d already rejected another two advances from Gillingham and Blake. I think we can guaratee they’ll both be back for Christmas dinner.