My main quarrel with S3 is that the season needed at least another four-six episodes to resolve the plot lines. As you said, too much was resolved much too quickly. In particular, I hated how Ethan more or less turned on a dime, and then after he and Justin exploded, Brian took Justin back almost as fast. IMHO, Justin should've had to grovel for a least a few weeks before Brian forgave him for the public dumping at the end of S2.

But then, I don't like Justin, and always want him grovelling. So perhaps I'm prejudiced.