The Big Bang Theory - 6x10 - The Fish Guts Displacement

    Amy gets the flu, and Sheldon feels obligated to take care of her.  Howard and Bernadette have dinner with her parents, which results in Howard and his father-in-law being set up to go on a fishing trip.  Howard spends the week preparing himself for it.
    I think this had some fun material in it, but a few things seem really off.  First, I really hated hearing the studio audience give the "aww" when Howard references his lack of a father during childhood.  Second, the plot with Amy and Sheldon started off fine, but veered into really bizarre territory.  Like, fanfic territory.
    It's all built around Amy lying to Sheldon to keep getting his attention.  This is a reasonable sitcom plot, and it's nice to see the roles reversed.  Then, once he uncovers the lie, things get ridiculous.  He suggests that spanking is an acceptable punishment.  She's into this, of course.  We see a single hit, and we hear a second before the end of the episode.
    While this is amusing, it's really forced that Sheldon would suggest this.  In fact, if she had suggested it, that might make it play a little better.
    I actually did like how Howard's story finished up, since it gave a glimmer of hope toward characters improving.