The season 3 finale of Downton Abbey provided an emotional shock for the show’s American audience, but the episode’s record ratings gave PBS a much happier jolt.

The ratings are in for the finale of Downton Abbey‘s third season, and the executives at PBS are certainly thrilled at the outcome. Sunday night’s two-hour episode was viewed by 8.2 million people. The score borders on staggering for PBS; the network has reported that Downton Abbey‘s ratings roughly quadrupled the average number for its regular programming.

The ratings for the finale of season 3 are especially impressive when viewed against other numbers which Downton Abbey has pulled in. According to PBS, the broadcast of the season 2 finale was watched by 5.4 million viewers, and this finale even edged out season 3’s record 7.9 million viewers for the premiere episode. Meanwhile, the original British broadcast (which aired on ITV as a Christmas special) was watched by 6.8 million turkey-stuffed Englishpeople, a decrease of over a million from season 2.

The chatter-worthy numbers provide a huge boost for PBS, which has faced a certain amount of fan criticism for its continued midseason broadcast of Downton Abbey. Though the significant delay leaves American viewers vulnerable to spoilers and susceptible to the temptation of pirated downloads from across the pond, the network has maintained that the gap has no ill-effect on either the ratings or the product of Downton Abbey. And though it is wrenching for American fans to wait with hands over their ears as their British compatriots discuss the events of the latest episodes, it’s difficult – given the ratings evidence – to argue at this point that PBS is entirely wrong in standing by this decision.

The fourth season of Downton Abbey will begin filming in the near future, and will air on ITV later this fall. The episodes are scheduled to broadcast on PBS in January of 2014.