A better use of angels and demons

Though entertaining and intriguing during its first three seasons, season four of “Supernatural” pushed the show to a whole new level of excellence. No longer just “Buffy” with men, it is now one of the best genre programs in recent memory.

Season four raised the stakes, introducing angels into the Winchester brothers’ lives and forcing a coming-apocalypse onto just the two of them.

The fantastic writing plotted out a beautiful arc contrasting the changes between Sam (Jared Padelecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles), as the once good-hearted Sam begins using demonic powers for what he thinks is good and the once-and-still-dickish Dean begins working with the angels to stop Lucifer’s rising.

And yet as heavy as the main thread is, “Supernatural” was even better when it featured kooky tangential stories that combined a tremendous mix of dry humor, intertexuality and self-reflexivity. Not many programs feature a suicidal teddy bear and self-reflexive commentary about fans writing “slash” featuring the brothers.

But that’s what makes “Supernatural” one of television’s best.