It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for. Over the last three months, we’ve tuned in night after night, watching this year’s 24 contestants slowly reduce down to two. No, not Poh and Reynold, but Loz and Milsy, the original gal pals from season six, and tonight they put their friendship to the test in this year’s grand finale. There can only be one winner, and if it’s what all the betting sites have been saying since May, that person is Emelia. According to Sports Bet, Tab and Neds, not even a tortellini challenge can save Laura now.

In an unusual move, the judges have traded up the pressure test for a rather benign service challenge. The two finalists are given four hours to put together a three-course meal for sixty. It’s certainly no 130-step toffee apple, that’s for sure.

Laura can cook anything she wants and, for whatever reason, she passes on the pasta (take that trolls) and instead settles on a native-inspired menu. Emelia plays to her strengths with a more classic French offering.

While both cooks go almost perfectly, drama comes in the form of a really hot pan handle. Yes, Laura’s definitely overcooked it – her hand, that is. While Laura hobbles on in pain, Emelia makes the most of the advantage that’s been handed to her.

Entrees and mains come and go, leaving  Emelia and Laura on even footing. Like all good finales, it comes down to the final course. But first, Emelia must face her dessert demons. Coming in third in season six on a sweet challenge has eaten away at her confidence. To bring home the win, she’ll need to cast aside her doubt and truly believe in herself. Cue grand orchestral theme.

For the final course, Emelia plates up a white chocolate and pistachio financier with a rocher coating, finished with a raspberry meringue shard dusted in Davidson plum. Laura, on the other hand, delivers a Jerusalem artichoke ice cream with artichoke caramel and crispy artichoke skin, and – you guessed it – it just doesn’t quite compare to good old chocolate and nuts.

Like many finales before it, MasterChef delivers that perfect winning moment. There’s happy tears and sad ones, smiles, hugs, cheers and jokes, and for just one moment, everything is right with the world again.

There’s definitely no losers here today (okay, well maybe Ben Ungermann). But the question remains, how will we fill that void in our lives, that 7:30pm – 8:30pm slot where we all tuned in together as a nation for a little wholesome fun? Please, not Bachelor in Paradise. Anything but The Masked Singer. Don’t worry, you won’t have to resort to that. Eagle-eyed viewers may have spotted an ad for an all-new Junior MasterChef. Hurrah our weeknights have been saved!