Great review! Not with you on this series being better than last though. I think apart from The Girl Who died, these final three episodes were the only ones that I really liked. Series 8 is a truly special series and I really don't understand how anyone looks back at it and considers it sub-par.

It's clear from the opening scene that Elliot's dad was a beleaguered and decent guy. It's interesting that Elliot chose him as his scape goat.