It was the french maid, in the study, with the pistol (spoiler alert)

Well, it's been six juicy weeks, and the riveting BLEAK HOUSE came to an end last night with a jam-packed two hour final episode. Everyone was back for a final few lines with the exception of he who is pictured - Tulkinghorn - as he was shot through the heart at the end of the fifth episode.

I was afraid we'd seen the last of Guppy, but he returned (with his beribboned and festooned mother) for a final proposal. Esther really racked up the marriage proposals, wouldn't you say? Three in total, and four if you count Guppy asking twice. I'm really glad she didn't end up with Jarndyce. It was beginning to get creepy.

Least surprising? That the nasty french maid bumped off nasty old Tulkinghorn. Most surprising? How prickly Bucket actually ended up to be a good guy, one with a hearty appetite for wine. And how Sir Leicester really did love his wife after all. Saddest, of course, was that we lost Lady Dedlock and Rick, but that was to be expected. Exceptional performances from Smallweed, Bucket, and, as always, the impeccable Esther. Guppy will always be my favorite, though, and his love for the heroine, in his words, "My angel, Esther Summerson."