The series for the first few years really does stay with in the brothers (or "brothers") dynamic and a few episodes cut to the heart of the matter more than this one. Dean and Sam are philosophical interlocutors in this episode and the various positions they take fit the characterizations built up to this point. Of course Dean is skeptical and believes life is a violent mess. Of course Sam has faith. The true brilliance of this episode, however, is how the plot of it causes each to have a crisis of faith that would not be for the other brother. Dean is given a reason to believe, Sam is a given a reason to doubt. It is graceful.
The creature of the week is a striking example within the show of how supernatural entities are not purely evil or alien. There is a romanticism to the spirit in this episode that truly works. This, coupled with "Faith", is some of the tightest plotting in the first 5 years of the show.
The creature of the week is a striking example within the show of how supernatural entities are not purely evil or alien. There is a romanticism to the spirit in this episode that truly works. This, coupled with "Faith", is some of the tightest plotting in the first 5 years of the show.