After becoming such a solid show over the past year and a half following its shaky start, Private Practice took a bit of a step back last night. Sam and Addison? Really?

Both primary story lines Thursday night were a bit hard to believe, as well as difficult to watch - in terms of the medicine practiced and the character developments.

If you missed it, we're jealous here's a recap of "The Hard Part." Now, a look at the major developments that took place and why we felt they worked (or didn't) ...

Rising to the occasion: Charlotte, Coop and Violet team up to help a newlywed who went overboard with his Viagra so he could be a rock star on his wedding night.

His erection won't go down. It has to be drained with needles. First off, they did this on Grey's Anatomy. Second, the kid is a virgin. Why would he need ... forget it.

Complicating matters is the kid's new wife, who made a virginity pact with him, but who is pregnant. She wanted to get the first time out of the way, she says.

With someone else. With no protection. Sigh. Even more dubious? How Charlotte convinces the kid not to leave her, revealing how her first marriage ... failed.

Um, what? Someone in the writers room needs to brew another pot of coffee, because that segue made very little sense. And sadly, it paled in comparison to ...

The "What if" game: Hiking "hours from anywhere," Sam and Addie ponder what would've happened if they hooked up, rather than marrying Nae and Der.

With the obvious foreshadowing out of the way for now, they discover an injured guy in the middle of the canyon. His pregnant wife is trapped in a nearby car.

Addison climbs in the car to check on expectant mom Kara, but just then, there's an avalanche, the car sails down the hill, crashes and both are trapped in it!

Oh, and her due date is today. Right, because that makes perfect sense, driving around in the middle of nowhere, with no cell service, while 40 weeks pregnant.

In a nauseating display for viewers, Sam improves a way to keep her husband's collapsed lung functioning while he runs for help. On foot. Addison delivers the baby.

The husband makes it but the wife doesn't, sadly. This sets off an introspective, passionate moment for Addison and Sam when he returns. They totally kiss! FAIL.

Talk about an overdramatic, nonsensical development. We've come to expect that Private Practice, even when it's off it's game, is nuanced, with appropriate pacing.

Sam and Addison, though? They talked about how great things might have been if they were together, then after all this, decided to give it a shot ... just kidding! Yeesh.

Whether they are or not, the romantic subplot was not necessary and took away from what was otherwise great acting from Kate Walsh and Taye Diggs in the episode.

On a less dramatic note last night, Pete and Sheldon hitting the bars and flirting with the women - and maybe, kinda sorta becoming friends - was pretty priceless.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.