I had a few problems with this week's episode of Hart of Dixie ("Aliens & Aliases"), which was light on story, but heavy on a few hard-to-believe character decisions. To wit:

ONE: Zoe called George with the intention of telling him about Lemon's affair with Lavon. Really?!? She had just referred to the latter as her "best friend in Bluebell" and she didn't think he deserved time to explain his actions? She wasn't curious about every last detail before deciding to make the monumental move of ruining multiple lives by outing Lemon and Lavon?

I understand Zoe feeling guilty over keeping such a secret, but her dismissal of Lavon's initial plea to explain himself just didn't make sense. It was included solely to extend the episode.

TWO: Everything about the Joelle-and-her-ex storyline was rather lame. Does anyone care about Joelle? Does anyone see her as anything but a contrived obstacle to delay the inevitable Wade/Zoe hookup? Did any of this even make sense, that her former lover would think he saw her at a bar way out of town... and then, what, track her to Bluebell somehow?

But. Fine. Wade wanted to work his scheme to fool Ed. Even if we accept that premise... why would he then call George to come down and rescue him from a wasted Roxy/Lemon? Simply because she was drunk and wouldn't stop dancing? Big deal.

Hang out there for another hour, take her home when it closes and give yourself props for pulling off the prank and saving your relationship. Why take the risk that the plot would be foiled, as ended up being the case, when George arrived?

THREE: It's a pet peeve of mine in any medical show - yes, I'm looking at you, Grey's Anatomy! - when the Case of the Week so closely mirrors whatever the main character is going through. It's just poor writing, and it's almost insulting to the audience; as if we needed this episode's alien-loving teacher to smash us over the head with the idea that sometimes  a white lie can bring a couple closer.

Not to mention the lazy way the episode set up Zoe's diagnosis. The guy just happened to have a giant tattoo on his arm? And his wife just happened to often hand him bottles of juice in public?

Overall, a pretty bad Hart of Dixie installment, which is disappointing because it focused on such a seemingly huge deal: the reveal, to Zoe at least, of Lavon and Lemon's affair.

It was really meant to set the stage for what's ahead, as now George and Lemon plan to elope; Zoe is privy to a vital piece of information; Lavon, of course, is still reeling from his heartbreak; and Wade is single. Those are all key developments for the final few episodes. I just wish HoD didn't have to waste this one in order to get us there.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.