For the new credits sequence, David Hollander – who apparently listened to The Wallflowers while writing – sent Jakob Dylan a "fan letter" asking him to compose a new theme for his baby. The result is "Empire In My Mind" and it's heavenly, all 45 seconds of it. The opening staggered chord tumbles over soaring golden-hued images of Pittsburgh, and then to a haunting melodic riff layered over with guitar and drums. Truly music you can fall into.

And here's Nick, aglow, gnawing on his knuckles as he contemplates his father's disapproval [Shelter] because he didn't listen to the client and was too clever and not clever enough.

Is it sacrilegious for an outsider to attempt to turn Nick's innermost thoughts into rock lyrics? Don't know – and what the hell, I'll try it myself (but don't expect it to rhyme). Self-reflection has never been high on corporate attorney Nicholas Fallin's list of priorities. That's why he'll remain stuck at step 1 of his 12-step program forever. He doesn't know there's trouble in his mind. He doesn't see dark and light. He sees the next moment, then the next. The next deal, the next dollar, the next client, the next problem, the next solution, the next scolding, the next woman, the next raggedy child stealing time away from What Really Matters. Then he leaves the moment behind and moves on. He doesn't know he's changing. "How? How so?"

We hear the words in the first person but to me they feel like a commentary on Nick's state of mind - and who better to write and sing them than another young man dealing with the pros and cons of inheriting his charismatic father's last name. For me, the lyrics and music reflect the mood of the show. They fit. I'm happy. I'm delirious. I'm buying the album.

As for the images - for the most part I love them, too, particularly the ones with Nick and Burton together at the end. I am not a lone voice in stating the opinion that this relationship is the best thing about the show, that every second between them is magic. And the editing is much improved, with superimposed images and sepia light dissolving into darkness and then flashing again.

I have one complaint. Well, two. This guy playing the title character: it's been pretty well established both within the show and without that the man is stunning. (Obviously, that is not my complaint.) So I'm disappointed that my two least favourite Nicks of the entire season have turned up in the credits. One looks nothing like Nick, the other looks and acts nothing like Nick. They are imposters. They don't fit.

My heart was set on the Chinese Turnaround, and that's nobody's problem but my own. But the Chinese Turnaround fits. That's Nick, right there, in darkness and light, staring down the enemy as the cogs click and whirr over future possibilities, to the next moment, and the next.

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The credits appeared to be unfinished for episodes 201 and 202. From 203 onwards, the letters that are flying about the screen as Nick walks down the street (from In Loco Parentis) turn into "The Guardian", and these words with other text effects appear several more times in different fonts.

As the words "no one home tonight" are heard, the high frequencies drop out for half a second as though the master tape is damaged. This happens on every tape I have. Please fix!

KEY

Nick Fix Percentage of screentime allocated to Nick.

NWO (Nick Walks Out / Nick Walks Off) The number of times Nick leaves the room without first ending the conversation in a socially acceptable manner.

Indicates hot stuff (generally, Nick engaging in amorous activities or taking off his shirt).