The Game was undoubtedly The Best Channel 5 Thriller Ever, and the final episode proved to be every bit as brilliant as we'd hoped - here's the ending explained, including the fate of Patrick and Huw.

The four-parter followed other C5 series including The Feud, The Wives, and The Au Pair - but blew them all out of the water (which could actually be the plot of a future series). This was largely thanks to the casting of Robson Green and Jason Watkins in the cat and mouse roles, who were quite frankly addictive to watch. Is it wrong to say we'll miss them?!

Gone were the preposterous plot holes, replaced instead with a thriller that proved Channel 5 has what it takes to compete with all the other mainstream channels.

Here's everything that happened in The Game episode 4, including the ending explained, and news on a possible series 2.

***Warning: spoilers from The Game ending ahead***

What happened in the final episode of The Game on Channel 5?

Episode 4 of The Game began where the penultimate instalment had ended - with Huw in handcuffs for the murders of Ruth Parker and Paul Oakley. But, of course, he wasn't guilty. He'd been framed by Patrick, who we now knew for sure was most definitely The Ripton Stalker.

Not only had Huw's cufflink been found in Ruth's flat, it was Huw's initials and fingerprints found on Patrick's incriminating suitcase full of photos. It was also Huw's kitchen knife used to kill Paul. The evidence certainly stacked up against him.

As Huw [Jason Watkins in The Game cast] faced tough questioning from Jenny and Martin, his devastated wife and daughter did what they could at home. While Alice tried to convince the neighbours that Huw was innocent, Margot did something a LOT riskier. Although it did ultimately lead to The Ripton Stalker being exposed.

Determined to help clear her dad's name, Margot broke into Patrick's repair shop to search for clues. Once there, she found the evidence she needed - specifically Polariods of Patrick's victims which he'd been trying to destroy - however she had also walked straight into Patrick's clutches...

Patrick Harbottle was The Ripton Stalker

Huw's neighbour Patrick Harbottle was The Ripton Stalker, and he dropped the charming facade in the final episode of the C5 thriller.

After Huw's arrest, Patrick confronted Alice on her doorstep, making damn sure he made her feel threatened. Later the same night, he found Huw and Alice's daughter Margot snooping around in his shop. At that point, he knew he had to kill her - even if it meant risking arrest. What's another dead body to a serial killer anyway? He told her: "You need to disappear."

However, DS Jenny Atkins - taking a hunch after hearing some of Huw's theories - arrived at the store in a bid to do some investigating of her own. When she heard Margot cry for help, she ran to defend her - only to be attacked by Patrick, who put a knife to her throat. Realising he was well and truly rumbled, he disappeared into the night. But not for long.

The Game ending explained: How did Huw catch Patrick?

But with Patrick finally exposed, Huw was granted bail. Leaving him free to track down The Ripton Stalker and bring him to justice. Although Patrick had vanished, Huw was quite certain that he'd be back for more. And he was right.

Returning from Ruth's funeral, Huw found a polaroid of Margot on the mantlepiece of his house. Patrick was back, and the game was on.

Huw sent Alice and Margot away for their own safety, and lay in wait for Patrick who didn't take long to surface. He broke into Huw's house, and came at him with a cricket bat - but not before Huw put in a call to DS Jenny Atkins at the police station.

Having lured Patrick down into the cellar, Huw finally had a face off with The Ripton Satlker in their "private game".

Huw told a knife-wielding Patrick: "There's no way out. We're in here until the police arrive. I don't think you want to kill me. You like the chase too much. That's why you came back. I understand you now. You came back because you're a predator. Chase, stalk, kill, repeat. That's why you're alone."

He added: "You think less of me because I care. You think you're better than me because I can love."

Patrick spat back: "You're weighed down by unnecessary things." He went on to threaten Huw's wife Alice.

However, Patrick - the "genius at messing with people's heads" - had finally met his match in Huw, as Huw proceeded to talk about his love for his family - something Patrick had never had.

Did Huw survive the knife wounds?

In an attempt to stop Huw talking about his happy family life, Patrick lashed out at Huw... During a scuffle, Huw ended up on the floor - just as DS Jenny Atkins arrived on the scene.

Knowing he was cornered, Patrick stabbed Huw in the chest - notably just (deliberately?) missing his heart.

As the police led Patrick away in handcuffs, DS Atkins kept the pressure on Huw's chest to prevent further blood loss. When Alice arrived, she took over and what followed would have melted the coldest of hearts. Probably not Patrick's though.

As the rest of the street all came out to see Patrick led away in handcuffs, Alice cradled a bleeding Huw in her arms. But we did not learn Huw's fate. Did he die happy knowing he'd finally caught The Ripton Stalker? Or was he rushed to hospital where he received excellent medical care and lived a very long and happy life with his wife and daughter beside him?

Reader, it's up to you to decide your ending to The Game. Unless there's a series 2 of the series, of course...

Will there be a series 2 of The Game?

Channel 5 has not yet confirmed if there'll be a series 2 of The Game, starring Robson Green and Jason Watkins. But if someone starts a petition for more episodes, we'll fight you to the front of the queue to sign it.

The Game is, quite frankly, the best TV series we've seen on Channel 5 for years! And we could watch Rob and Jase all day and all night. Yep, we know you're busy filming other stuff, like Grantchester and Dragonfly, but throw us a bone here, we're desperate!

Like multiple Channel 5 thrillers before it, The Game works as a standalone series. However, there's also plenty of scope for a second run.

After all, didn't Huw tell Patrick: "I'll come and visit you in prison. I wouldn't want you to be lonely."

That's grounds for a second season right there!

Although viewers will also know that Patrick Harbottle was an accomplished locksmith, able to wander in and out of people's homes willy-nilly. So surely he could easily break out of prison without too much aggravation? Or perhaps charming a prison guard or two wouldn't be out of the question...?

Watch this space...

Read more: The filming locations of The Game on Channel 5 - and it's NOT where you think!

The Game is currently available to watch on Channel5.com.