The Big Bang Theory - 6x02 - The Decoupling Fluctuation

    After Penny confides in Amy and Bernadette that she isn't too sure about her relationship with Leonard, Amy tells Sheldon.  Sheldon has an impossible time keeping a secret, and winds up trying to tell Leonard.  Then asks Penny not to break up with him.  Meanwhile, Howard is still in space, and is dealing with being picked on by the other astronauts.
    I watched these episodes back-to-back, and I realized that I barely laughed at any of it.  The show is moving away from being a comedy, and more toward being a relationship drama.  And it's not even a very good relationship drama.
    I think I cared about Leonard and Penny at first, because Leonard was more of a nerd, and a show about the two of them making each other better people would be much more touching.  Instead, Leonard is not a nerd when he's with her - he's just an insecure, fairly unattractive guy.  Penny rarely has shown any improvement.  If anything, she clings to her dumb behaviors more than she did before.
    The plot about a secret making the rounds in a group has been done, and it doesn't seem to be important in this episode.  Stuart has replaced Howard in their clique, and just gives Sheldon more of an opportunity to pick on him.  Which is exactly as unfunny as it usually is.
    Howard's story about dealing with the other astronauts is just… absurd.  They're desperate for story, and it shows.
    Any development in the relationships?  We got one line that indicated that Sheldon cares about Leonard.