Featuring Brexit, crocodiles, insults and questions, here is the A-Z of the Assembly Election.
A is for Arlene
The central figure in a star studded cast was Arlene Foster. Her aim was to rally the unionist electorate but her language and demeanour in recent months, starting with the RHI debacle and running through the election campaign, only served to rally the nationalist electorate. She must surely now regret her "crocodile" reference and is left with much to ponder having lost ten unionist seats.
B is for Brexit
Brexit loomed large over the campaign. The economic concerns are real and Brexit could yet be the catalyst for a future border poll.
C is for Crocodile
"Crocodile" was the buzz word of the campaign. Ill-chosen by Arlene Foster, the reference offended many and rallied even so-called soft nationalists to rush to the polling booths.
D is for Dallat
Veteran SDLP figure John Dallat returned to Stormont from the East Londonderry constituency. His unlikely victory meant the party remarkably held the 12 seats it had prior to the election.
E is for Elisha McCallion
Unknown outside Derry, the Foyle poll-topper took the seat formerly held by Martin McGuinness in what many will view as a fitting tribute to the former deputy first minister.
F is for Fermanagh & South Tyrone
This is a flip-flop constituency which has changed from "green" to "orange" so many times in Westminster elections. This time round it was part of the trinity of constituencies west of the Bann that saw a resurgent Sinn Féin take vital seats here as well as in West Tyrone and Mid Ulster.
G is for Givan
Paul Givan's decision to stop a Gaeltacht grant infuriated the Irish language lobby and helped hasten the election. In his Lagan Valley constituency, the DUP lost a key marginal seat to the SDLP's Pat Catney.
H is for Hamilton
Former economy and finance minister Simon Hamilton will be a key figure in rebuilding the confidence of the DUP. His role in determining any future administration should not be underestimated.
I is for Insults
Insults abounded in a bitter campaign. The two key power blocs have three weeks to find a generosity of spirit that goes beyond simply insulting one another.
J is for Jim Allister
The thorn in the side of the DUP did not advance the TUV cause, but Jim Allister did ensure that Stormont will hear his voice and loudly.
K is for Kennedy
The loss of UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy sealed the fate of Mike Nesbitt. Well respected and moderate in language and action, the man himself said he was "too tried to laugh, too old to cry".
L is for Long
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long was among the stars of the campaign and certainly the televised debates. Securing the eight seats the party started with was a first class achievement.
M is for Morrow and McCausland
The two high-profile casualties from the DUP, Nelson McCausland and Maurice Morrow, were the embodiment of a bad election for the party. Losing key seats in Fermanagh & South Tyrone and in Belfast North saw both areas sway to a nationalist republican majority in seat terms.
N is for North Belfast
A hugely significant vote here saw the balance of the constituency of Belfast North move from unionist to nationalist. Nigel Dodds of the DUP is the MP but nationalists took three of the five seats through Kelly, Ní Chuilín and Mallon.
O is for O'Neill
The election was a huge test for the new Sinn Féin leader in Stormont. She didn't just pass the test, she excelled. Her inexperience will be tested in the negotiations, but her standing has risen considerably and her mood is buoyant.
P is for Petition of Concern
The highly-contentious blocking mechanism will be much harder to achieve inside Parliament Buildings with the DUP falling below the required 30-seat mark. Tabling a "petition of concern" means a proposal before the Assembly can only be carried with the support of a majority of both nationalist and unionist members, rather than a straight head count. A valid petition requires the signature of 30 Assembly members. In the previous mandate the DUP, with 38 seats, was the only party that could table one on its own.
Q is for Questions
There are many, many questions. What now for Arlene Foster? What now for unionism? What next for Sinn Féin? What now for Brexit? So many, many questions ...
R is for Resolve
It's a trait both governments will need in spades if the parties are to be persuaded to do a deal and avoid Stormont heading into cold storage.
S is for South Belfast
Belfast South is still the most diverse of all constituencies. One Sinn Féin, one SDLP, one DUP, one Green Party and one Alliance Party MLA. The leafy suburbs like nothing better than a diverse mix.
T is for Timing
The Sinn Féin surge comes as Brexit looms, political instability in the South continues and the Scottish National Party's desire for independence grows. The times they are a changing.
U is for Unionism
Unionism has been rocked to its core by this election. The DUP finds itself less than 1,200 votes ahead of Sinn Féin in the popular vote, while Ulster Unionism is leaderless and rudderless. Few saw it coming, fewer still would have believed it.
V is for Votes
What democracy is all about. Across the board, turnout was up ten percentage points on the previous Assembly election. Voter apathy did indeed give way to voter anger.
W is for Women
This election saw a sizeable and significant number of women elected across parties and constituencies. Three party leaders arguably dominated the fray and Foster, O'Neill and Long will have a considerable say in what happens next.
X is for 'Xtraordinary'
Yes, we cheated with "xtraordinary" but it has been a remarkable election. Everyone predicted the DUP would lose seats but few thought it would be ten and fewer still in the manner which sees both unionist leaders damaged.
Y is for Youth
On a bad day for the DUP, one bright spark was the election of Jonathan Glen Buckley in Upper Bann. At just 25-years-old, he becomes the youngest MLA in Stormont 2017 ... if it happens.
Z is for Zeus
The God of sky and thunder. The electoral landscape will reverberate to this particular result. Many may look to the skies, but only when the shock waves cease.
