I didn't find the second episode as bad as the general consensus seems to be tbh. In my mind, it was the best second episode of all seasons at least.
His last vow was pretty amazing. For some reason I don't rate it as highly as for example A Scandal in Belgravia or The Reichenbach Fall though. It just didn't feel quite as epic, but that's probably just subjective.
What did you think of the ending btw? Did you miss him?