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The X Factor brightened things up considerably with its move to the country for last week's Boot Camp show, which felt fresh and new and dramatic - just in time for Strictly to start this week.
This Sunday's episode was always going to suffer in comparison - we're back to solo performances, with none of the scandal and rows that come ready baked into the group challenge - but actually it wasn't nearly as dry as it could have been.
For one thing, it was fast paced - no endless introductions this week. Instead, we barrelled through 31 performances, one after the other.
And with the judges mostly not giving the acts any feedback, the few comments we did see were funnier and more insightful and a bit more honest - they were just speaking to each other rather than couching it in niceties to let the acts down gently. Simon Cowell in particular raised his game comment-wise, bringing back some of the weird analogies we've been missing in recent times.
But all the judges were on their game, with each of them having their moments to deliver a killer line or thoughtful comment. Surprisingly, there was also tension on show: Rita Ora and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini's brief awkward clash over The First Kings was entertaining in a way that made you want to hide under your sofa and possibly never emerge again.
Speaking of tension, though, The X Factor still doesn't help itself: at a time when Grimmy's place on the panel is being (unfairly) questioned in the press, we see Simon Cowell joking that he was having more fun without him and slamming down a laptop lid when Nick was Skypeing in to the judges' decisions. Way to make him look irrelevant, Simon.
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But, of course, The X Factor isn't all about the judges - and the acts were on great form tonight. Whether they were talented, emotional or just kind of bonkers (Papasidero's wardrobe malfunction, Andre Batchelor's audition making Cheryl weep with laughter), they were almost all interesting and kept things moving.
Most importantly, we're going into the Six Chair Challenge with what appears to be some serious talent. Not all of the acts stood out as much as they have in the past, but with performers like the wonderful Seann Miley Moore and infectious 4th Power, it looks like we could be in for some really high quality live shows in a few weeks.
When The X Factor announced at the beginning of the series that we would have five weeks of Boot Camp, some people groaned - but actually, the return of the country house Boot Camp couldn't have been a better move.
Going into the Six Chair Challenge - which is automatically full of drama and excitement - the show feels revitalised and fresh. Let's see if it can keep it up when we move back into the arena next week.
The X Factor continues with the first Six Chair Challenge episode next Sunday (October 4) at 7pm on ITV.
