OPINION: And the winner was, well, the debate itself and my man Paddy Gower.
I called it yonks ago, the second debate - our Newshub debate - is always the one to watch.
And it was Gower in charge this time. Once underway, Judith Collins went hard and Jacinda Ardern bit back quickly.
The Prime Minister must have heard the critics because she wasn't prepared this time to sit back and hand a victory to the aggressor. I think both sides did well - does there have to be a winner all the time?
For 25 years I've called winners and losers out of these debates, but really the winner will come on October 17 and the other one will just be hoping their campaign was good enough to keep her in the job, and stop her getting rolled when all the dust settles.
Although, I note Collins was far less shy on the question of declaring a winner.
I just wonder if Ardern is too non-committal on too many things. Prime Minister, people like to know where you stand and sometimes they want it in unequivocal fashion.
Yet, the thing about these debates is they may move some voters - maybe the odd undecided person - but they really are a test of not stuffing up too much and showing how competent and safe you can be.
You could win every debate and still lose the election, but a couple of soft losses is probably fine for Ardern right now.
Duncan Garner hosts The AM Show
