SPN 10.04
Oh look, it's Kate! Kate has special significance for me, because I was so bored by her first episode, I started to fast forward. Before that, I couldn't imagine fast forwarding through a first viewing of Supernatural. Kate brings back those feelings of disappointment and also freedom.
She is much more interesting in this episode. Although I'm not sure how we are supposed to interpret the parallels between her, her sister, and the Winchesters. If Sam using Lester as bait is in any way comparable to Tasha eating people... Shave your ass, Adam Glass. These things are not in any way similar. Or maybe it's hinting on Sam's darkness in general, i.e. being demon spawn and the reason Dean has no Mommy. Anyway, it's safe to interpret it as a sign that fratricide might happen, and it might be justified.
Which is probably meant to evoke a strong sense of foreboding in the viewer, but allusions to brother-killing aren't as effective when the previous episode had an actual hammer vs knife showdown.
I have found the episode quite soothing and it was nice to see Sam and Dean interact so much. However, the interaction felt off at times, mostly because the previous episode had Dean trying to kill Sam. It felt as if the writer didn't know what exactly happened in 10.03. Like, someone told him that Dean was a demon and Sam saved him using questionable, dark means, now give me the episode where the brothers hash it out. And Adam Glass did his best, but the earlier episodes didn't really lead to this.
It's a shame, really, because the director was very good, the episode moved fast when needed and slowed down for emotional resonance (Kate walking away into the night was a freaking awesome shot), Jared and Jensen had their usual chemistry, but the emotional continuity with 10.03 just wasn't there IMO.
6/10