I am – Hercules!!

“Deadwood” will take a long hiatus after its third season ends this month, then will return with a couple of HBO TV-movies to wrap up this long tale of Seth Bullock, Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp, George Hearst, Joanie Stubbs, et al.

Tonight’s episode appears to represent the first produced teleplay by a Zack Whedon, a 2002 Wesleyan University graduate. A one-time production assistant on The WB’s vampire show “Angel,” Whedon is grandson to the great John Whedon, who wrote for the two best sitcoms of the 1960s, “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “The Andy Griffith Show.”

Here’s what else happens this month:

Episode #33: "Amateur Night"
Debut date: SUNDAY, AUG. 6 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) Other HBO playdates: Aug. 8 (11:00 p.m.), 9 (9:00 p.m., 3:10 a.m.) and 11 (10:00 p.m.) HBO2 playdate: Aug. 7 (10:00 p.m.)
As Deadwood is overrun by Hearst's (Gerald McRaney) men, Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) issues contingency plans to Martha (Anna Gunn). Caught in a Pinkerton stampede, Wu (Keone Young) delivers a cryptic message to Swearengen (Ian McShane); it takes Burns (Sean Bridgers), of all people, to decipher it. Barrett (Jared Snyder) makes Merrick (Jeffrey Jones) pay for embarrassing Hearst in "The Pioneer"; Morgan Earp (Austin Nichols) calls out one of the "Pistoleros"; Commissioner Jarry (Stephen Tobolowsky) arrives from Yankton to solicit Hearst; Aunt Lou (Cleo King) gets some bad news; and Stubbs (Kim Dickens) survives an encounter with her former boss. As night falls, Langrishe (Brian Cox) mines Deadwood's talent pool with an amateur-night performance in front of his future theater, financed in part by a loan from Alma's (Molly Parker) bank. Written by Nick Towne & Zack Whedon; directed by Adam Davidson.

Episode #34: "A Constant Throb"
Debut date: SUNDAY, AUG. 13 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) Other HBO playdates: Aug. 15 (11:00 p.m.), 16 (9:00 p.m., 2:50 a.m.), 18 (10:00 p.m.) and 25 (9:00 p.m.) HBO2 playdate: Aug. 14 (10:00 p.m.)
With Bullock campaigning away from camp, Alma finds herself targeted by Hearst's henchmen, and finds shelter with Swearengen. Sent to the Gem with a missive from Hearst, Barrett is treated rudely by its proprietor, who turns to familiar methods to get the henchman to reveal his boss' future plans. Langrishe recruits one new actress at the expense of another; an obsessed Stapleton (Peter Jason) finds Claudia (Cynthia Ettinger) a hard one to pin down; and Jane (Robin Weigert) shares the particulars of her latest dream with Stubbs. Written by W. Earl Brown; directed by Mark Tinker.

Episode #35: "The Catbird Seat"
Debut date: SUNDAY, AUG. 20 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) Other HBO playdates: Aug. 22 (11:00 p.m.), 23 (9:00 p.m., 2:55 a.m.) and 25 (10:00 p.m.) HBO2 playdate: Aug. 21 (10:00 p.m.)
Bullock holds an impromptu morning meeting to determine which emergencies warrant wiring him in Sturgis, where he and Harry (Brent Sexton) are delivering campaign pitches. The first summons doesn't take long, as Hearst follows up Alma's close call with one that's decidedly more on-target. In the aftermath, Alma takes refuge at the Gem, again, while Trixie (Paula Malcomson) decides to take matters into her own hands. Langrishe has a falling out with Hearst, giving him little time to huddle with his new lineup of actors. Dismissing the likelihood of ever seeing 23 mercenaries promised by Hawkeye, Swearengen turns to Wu to deliver more reliable, if not quite weapons-tested, reinforcements from Custer City. Written by Bernadette McNamara; directed by Gregg Fienberg.

Episode #36: "Tell Him Something Pretty" (season finale)
Debut date: SUNDAY, AUG. 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) Other HBO playdates: Aug. 29 (midnight) and 30 (9:00 p.m., 2:45 a.m.), and Sept. 1 (10:00 p.m.) HBO2 playdate: Aug. 28 (10:00 p.m.)
The camp turns out to vote, but as Bullock notes, the election may already have been decided. In light of the mood of the populace, Langrishe delays the opening of his theater, and ponders his future in Deadwood. After detouring at Nuttall's (Leon Rippy) Number 10, Hawkeye arrives at the Gem with "almost 18" men to complement Wu's contingent. Alma works out a deal for her claim; Utter Freight receives a special delivery for Hearst; and Harry gets his fire engine. Stubbs reaches out to a frustrated Tolliver (Powers Boothe), who finds himself with a folded hand as the action heats up. Through Farnum (William Sanderson), Hearst issues his conditions for departure, forcing Swearengen to finish what Burns can't. Written by Ted Mann; directed by Mark Tinker.

9 p.m. Sundays. HBO.

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