'The Big Bang Theory' Season 9 Spoilers: Episode 9 Sneak Peek Reveals Sheldon Needs Some Help On Platonic Date With Amy

The news from a recent taping of "The Big Bang Theory" -- for an episode to air Dec. 17 -- that Sheldon (Jim Parsons) Amy (Mayim Bialik) will soon consummate their as-of-now-on-hiatus-relationship has fans in a frenzy. However, viewers will have to take the couple's long awaited reconnection episode by episode, and that means sitting through the pairs "platonic" aquarium outing in episode 9, "The Platonic Permutation," first. Besides, a sneak peek for the episode reveals that Sheldon is having trouble enough just trying to navigate the tricky waters of friendship with Amy, let alone intimacy.

According to the synopsis for episode 9, Sheldon and Amy decide to spend Thanksgiving together with a trip to the aquarium ... as friends. A sneak-peek video from the episode gives fans a glimpse of their car ride together, where Sheldon brings along a list of safe topics for platonic conversation. When they get into a pleasant enough banter about a trip Amy is taking to visit relatives, Sheldon decides that the list is a pretty great way to stave off any awkward moments.

"Where has this list been all my life," he asks, excitedly.

Watch the episode 9 sneak peek below:

Meanwhile, Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Emily (Laura Spencer) are in the holiday spirit and ask a reluctant Howard (Simon Helberg) to volunteer at a soup kitchen -- SpaceX CEO Elon Musk will be making a cameo. Howard, though, is not thrilled with the idea. Another sneak-peek video reveals he is bummed to be working in the back in the kitchen and not on the soup line where he can actually interact with the needy people they are helping.

"I was hoping some poor kid would come up to me and say 'Please sir, I want some more,'" says Howard.

"You're in a soup kitchen, not a production of 'Oliver,'" reminds Raj.

Watch the second episode 9 sneak peek below:

Will Sheldon and Amy's aquarium visit spark some romance? Fans will have to wait to find out. "The Big Bang Theory" airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.