This episode is original and tense enough to warrant a 9, though it is rather tame compared to other season finales. The stakes are higher as all three sisters are in danger.
The returning demon, Rodriguez, plans to kill the Charmed Ones. He is overconfident and his great plan is to simply walk through the front door and hit them with power balls (this is actually the first time we see a demon take this direct approach). The demon's failure is predictable, but the Source has sent an upper level demon to assist him. This demon, Tempest, has the ability to rewind time, which allows Rodriguez to keep attempting to murder the sisters, learning with each failure until he gets it right.
The weakness in this plan is that Phoebe's power allows her to instantly recognize something is wrong once time has been reset the first time. Her awareness of the situation allows the sisters to gain the upper hand on the third attempt. That last attempt, however, had Andy attempt to interfere and get killed. The other sisters would immediately look to have time rewound again except Prue stops them, obeying Andy's wish and insistence that he had fulfilled his destiny and knowing that a sister could very well die if they allow time to be reset again.
Considering her feelings for Andy and her actions to save innocents in the past, it is pretty hard to believe that Prue would just allow Andy to die rather than taking the risk of resetting the day again. Andy's request to die is the writers' way of getting out of this dilemma, but I find it hard to believe that the sisters would obey the request.
Anyway, the final disposal of Rodriguez is very good as well. Some demons never learn. This is goodbye to Andy; unfortunately, Prue would never get a better romantic interest.
The returning demon, Rodriguez, plans to kill the Charmed Ones. He is overconfident and his great plan is to simply walk through the front door and hit them with power balls (this is actually the first time we see a demon take this direct approach). The demon's failure is predictable, but the Source has sent an upper level demon to assist him. This demon, Tempest, has the ability to rewind time, which allows Rodriguez to keep attempting to murder the sisters, learning with each failure until he gets it right.
The weakness in this plan is that Phoebe's power allows her to instantly recognize something is wrong once time has been reset the first time. Her awareness of the situation allows the sisters to gain the upper hand on the third attempt. That last attempt, however, had Andy attempt to interfere and get killed. The other sisters would immediately look to have time rewound again except Prue stops them, obeying Andy's wish and insistence that he had fulfilled his destiny and knowing that a sister could very well die if they allow time to be reset again.
Considering her feelings for Andy and her actions to save innocents in the past, it is pretty hard to believe that Prue would just allow Andy to die rather than taking the risk of resetting the day again. Andy's request to die is the writers' way of getting out of this dilemma, but I find it hard to believe that the sisters would obey the request.
Anyway, the final disposal of Rodriguez is very good as well. Some demons never learn. This is goodbye to Andy; unfortunately, Prue would never get a better romantic interest.