The Fish Guts Displacement

"The Fish Guts Displacement" is the tenth episode of the sixth season of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. This episode first aired on December 6, 2012.

Summary
Howard and his father-in-law find themselves going on a weekend fishing trip since their wives feel like they should get to know each other better. Amy starts to enjoy Sheldon taking care of her when she gets the flu.

Extended plot
While playing the , Sheldon complains about the which is his third favorite cartoon theme song preceded by ' and '. Even though the song says that he can do whatever a spider can, he can't crawl into your ear and die, leave without a, or have sex with another spider. Raj wants the subject changed because spiders give him the jeebie-jeebies. Howard tells Raj that the expression is the, but Raj feels it sounds. He continues suggesting a evening of movie sequels that killed their franchises like ', ', or . Raj mentions . Leonard agrees because Penny is working, but Howard is having dinner with his in-laws and Sheldon has to attend a  with Amy. Sheldon suggests that Howard could bring up an interesting topic to pass the time with the Rostenkowskis like problems with the Spider-Man song or that you can't really dig through the center of the Earth to China from the United States.

Sheldon arrives at Amy's dressed to attend a funeral and finds her in a bathrobe with the. Amy asks if he is going to take care of her per their Relationship Agreement, but Sheldon leaves saying that the clause is so she can take care of him. He plans to return to the movie sequel marathon. Amy says goodnight and Sheldon heads down the hall, but returns to her door and knocks. Sheldon explains that he has a commitment to her in writing to care for her and that as his girlfriend he is concerned about her well being. This surprises Amy who thanks him though Sheldon still comments, "Now let's get this over with".

Howard is sitting with his father-in-law trying to make conversation as dinner is being prepared getting very short answers; his retirement is "fine". Mrs. Rostenkowski's trip to the was "good". All of Howard's jokes also fall flat and dinner will not be ready for quite awhile.

Meanwhile, Sheldon is checking Amy's temperature and it is the same as half an hour before. He tells Amy that she isn't trying to get better. He asks if she believes in the and then gives her a, telling her that it is a strong flu medication. Amy doesn't like his bedside manner and tries to get to sleep. Sheldon said that he can't sleep because he is not done taking care of her. He has to put a cold rag on her head, sing to her (probably "Soft Kitty") and rub on her chest which is exactly what his mother did and what Penny did for him when he was sick. Amy perks up and says that he should start with the Vicks. He tells that it might tingle and she replies that she is counting on it.

At dinner, Howard tells them to dig in, however Mr. Rostenkowski tells him to hold it until they say grace. The subject of Mr. Rostenkowski's weekend fishing trip comes up. Bernadette suggests that Howard go with him so that they can get to know each other better. His mother-in-law looks at her husband and he says that Howard can tag along. Howard tries to remind Bernadette that they have "that thing" to do that weekend. She quickly replies that she cancelled "that thing" and the trip is on.

Back at the apartment, Howard complains that he doesn't know how to fish and neither do Leonard or Raj. They wonder who knows how to do manly stuff and they end up at Penny's door. First Penny shows Howard how to put a worm on a hook. He can't use words like "ewwww", "yucky", and "get it away". Howard first lays the worm across the hook, but Leonard is sure that he has to stab the worm with the hook. Raj and Leonard urge him on. Penny quips that they are cheer leading him and that that's they way to man things up.

Back at Amy's, Sheldon is reading Amy a book like one would read a bedtime story. Amy thanks him and asks for more Vicks VapoRub. Sheldon disagrees saying that she needs to rest and that the Vicks only gets her all fired up. Bernadette visits Amy to check on her and brings some experimental drugs with some unusual side effects. While Sheldon goes to fix Amy a bath, she admits she has been well for two days and that she has been enjoying Sheldon taking care of her. Bernadette observes that that she doesn't want to be judgmental, but that is the kind of thing that lunatics do. She plans on telling him tomorrow, but Sheldon is now going to help her with her bathing, saying "Mama, needs a bath."

Next, Penny shows Howard how to. Howard successfully pulls out its insides until Penny points out that it is was female and full of eggs which causes all the guys to get queasy.

Back at Amy's apartment, she is dancing to "" and drinking a soda until Sheldon shows up. Amy tells him that she is taking a turn for the worst and needs another bath. Sheldon tells her that he was concerned about her lengthy recovering and took a cheek swab from her and had a  made. Amy looks worried. Then he asks her if she has symptoms of a or heat in the lower extremities, meaning "liar, liar, pants on fire". Sheldon is disappointed in her since he thought that their relationship was based on trust and mutual respect skewed in his favor. Amy apologizes, but Sheldon thinks that she needs to be punished. First he wants to lock her in the in a public square; however, he feels that that would require a permit. Amy suggests that she should not be allowed to see the premiere of the new Star Trek movie. Sheldon says that that would be overly harsh since she hadn't killed anyone. Sheldon decides to go old school like his father who did not spare the rod. Amy seems fine with Sheldon spanking her and she admits that she's been a very bad girl.

Howard shows up for his fishing trip dressed like a cartoon fisherman. Mike Rostenkowski also plans to hunt some ducks in the morning. He likes a big shell so that they explode. Howard says that he does want Mr. Rostenkowski to like him, but he doesn't think that this trip is the best way. Both guys admit that they are only going because their wives want them to go. Howard is surprised that his mother-in-law is telling this "big scary cop" what to do. He replies that Howard is an  doing what his wife says and she's only four feet tall. Since neither want to go, Mr. Rostenkowski suggests that they go to an  near . He'll teach Howard how to shoot and his son-in-law can now call him "Mike". As they get in the truck Howard says that their married to a couple of ball busters. Mike says Howard is referring to his wife and daughter. Howard shoots back that they are a great couple of gals. Mike replies that he wouldn't go that far.

As Sheldon asks Amy if she is prepared for her punishment and she puts on some romantic music so that "the neighbors wouldn't hear her". When she seems to be enjoying it, she suggests that maybe he should spank her harder which she seems to enjoy even more.

Critics
"The Howard-Mike bonding story was about the most basic middle of the road family sitcom story you are likely to see...Amy faking illness to get attention from Sheldon was equally familiar but quite fun. From her point of view any little step toward intimacy can be a source of both jokes and touching moments...These were two very simple, competently handled, pleasant stories." The TV Critic's Review

Quotes

 * Amy: Sheldon, this isn't helping. Why don’t you just let me get some rest.
 * Sheldon: How can you sleep? I’m not done making you feel better. I still have to put a cold rag on your head, sing to you and apply VapoRub to your chest.
 * Amy: You, you want to rub something on my chest?
 * Sheldon: Yes. All over it.
 * Amy: Maybe we should start with that.
 * Sheldon: Now you’re being a responsible patient. Now, you may notice some tingling.
 * Amy: Oh, I’m counting on it.


 * Howard: Sir, I’m flattered that you invited me, and I really want you to like me, but I don’t think this trip is the way to do it. And I can’t return these things if there’s chunks of duck all over them.
 * Mr. Rostenkowski: So, why’d you agree to come?
 * Howard: ‘Cause Bernadette made me.
 * Mr. Rostenkowski: I tried to back out, too. My wife said I had to go.
 * Howard: Really? Your wife makes you do stuff? You’re a big, scary cop.
 * Mr. Rostenkowski: You’re an astronaut, and your wife makes you do things, and she’s only four feet tall.
 * Howard: So, what do we do now? They expect us to go away for the weekend.
 * Mr. Rostenkowski: Ah. There’s an Indian casino near Palm Springs. You know how to shoot craps?
 * Howard: No, but I’m not a stranger to dice games. I was the Temple Beth-El Hebrew School Yahtzee champion.
 * Mr. Rostenkowski: Mazel tov. I’ll teach you how to play.
 * Howard: Really? Thank you, sir.
 * Mr. Rostenkowski: Call me Mike.
 * Howard: Okay. Oh, boy, we’re just married to a couple of ball busters, huh, Mike?
 * Mr. Rostenkowski: That’s my wife and daughter you’re talking about.
 * Howard: Great couple of gals.
 * Mr. Rostenkowski: I wouldn't go that far.

Trivia

 * Despite his disgust for worms, Howard has a proclivity for insects, which also usually provoke disgust in individuals. In "The Jerusalem Duality", Howard said, "I know insects, my friend. I spent many childhood years capturing them with nets, putting them in glass jars, sticking pins through them, mounting them on corrugated cardboard with  labels underneath, identifying the genus and species...in Latin."
 * Howard, Leonard, and Raj get queasy with the notion of baiting a hook or gutting a fish. Howard was previously revealed to be squeamish in "The White Asparagus Triangulation", as was Leonard. Raj commented that that is: "Answering the question once and for all why Wolowitz bailed out of medical school."
 * A with The Comic Center of Pasadena logo is visible on Leonard's desk.
 * Sheldon mentions the 1987  theme song which producer Chuck Lorre co-wrote with Dennis C.Brown 25 years earlier.
 * has previously been referenced in "The Precious Fragmentation", "The 21-Second Excitation", "The Launch Acceleration", and "The Holographic Excitation". "The 21-Second Excitation" particularly focuses on this vis–à–vis .
 * Sheldon's brother, seemingly forgotten about by the writers, is mentioned for the first time since "The Luminous Fish Effect".
 * When Sheldon ponders a fitting punishment for Amy's trickery, Amy states, "I could not be allowed to go to the opening of the next Star Trek movie." She is referring to ', the sequel to J.J. Abram's 2009 film '.