It seems like that is generally how this show goes...

Mostly yes. Of all the seasons, the ones about which I had the fewest strong feelings have been S3 and, actually, the season we just finished. I think S3 is probably my least favorite of all of them, just because it never felt like it got off the ground to me, and then it got cut short due to the writer's strike. It has a few redeeming features in the form of stellar individual episodes, but that's about it.

Oddly, all my really big fic ideas seem to come from this season, though. Oh, and hey! You're far enough to read my Dean/Ellen now, if you like.