I am – Hercules!!

Lots of disappointment in talkback regarding McNulty’s backsliding, but none from me.

All the porking and drinking has transformed McNulty into a fearless, obsessed, boozing bus-riding Baltimore Batman, willing to put his hinder on the line to stick Marlo in a cage alongside Avon and Sergei.

What to expect tonight on 5.3 (BEWARE SPOILERS):

* Bunk will threaten to have a conversation with Landsman.

* McNulty will buy some ribbon.

* Valchek will suggest an acting commissioner.

* Burrell will get some bad news.

* Daniels will get some good news.

* Whiting will announce more downsizing.

* Marlo will drop off some briefcases.

* Snoop and Chris will employ some bullets.

* Barlow will check on his stain.

* Mike and Dukie will chat up some white girls.

* Davis will take his pitch to Carcetti.

* Lester will agree that McNulty fucked up.

* A gorgeous francophone will have difficulty transacting business with a Baltimorian.

* Viewers will get to see Alma Gutierrez without her pants.

* Valchek won’t be the only veteran character to make his fifth-season debut this week.

5.4, the episode that hits HBO On Demand Monday and HBO Actual next Sunday, is described by the channel thusly:

Episode #54: "Transitions"
Debut: SUNDAY, JAN. 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Jan. 27 (10:30 p.m.), 29 (12:30 a.m.), 30 (12:30 a.m.) and 31 (10:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Jan. 28 (10:00 p.m.) and 31 (3:10 a.m.)
Campbell (Marlyne Afflack) tries to smooth out the transitions in the police department. The newspaper scramsbles to confirm surprising news from City Hall, but lose out to the TV media in scooping a high-profile grand jury appearance. As Marlo tries to win favor with the Greeks, Proposition Joe pays his last respects to a fallen colleague, and prepares to make himself scarce in anticipation of a showdown. Freamon enlists the help of a past partner to help with the investigation.

Teleplay by Ed Burns; story by David Simon & Ed Burns; directed by Dan Attias.

The February episodes, which portend the returns of Cutty and Mrs. McNulty:

THE WIRE - FEB. EPISODES

Episode #55: "React Quotes"
Debut: SUNDAY, FEB. 3 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: Feb. 3 (10:30 p.m.), 5 (2:50 a.m.), 6 (midnight), 7 (10:00 p.m.) and 8 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Feb. 4 (10:00 p.m.) and 11 (9:00 p.m.)
Marlo (Jamie Hector) forges an alliance with a drug connect, who shows him a new communications trick. McNulty's (Dominic West) case gets increased attention from the newspaper, in large part thanks to the addition of Templeton (Tom McCarthy) to the reporting team. Dukie (Jermaine Crawford) turns to Cutty (Chad L. Coleman) and Michael (Tristan Wilds) to hone his self-defense skills; Clay Davis (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.) finds a new ally; Bond (Dion Graham) raises his public profile; Levy (Michael Kostroff) and Herc (Domenick Lombardozzi) prepare for litigation; Elena (Callie Thorne) confronts McNulty about his behavior; Bubbles (Andre Royo) fears new opportunities; Greggs (Sonja Sohn) gets some overtime work. Omar (Michael Kenneth Williams) shows patience as Marlo throws out his bait.

Teleplay by David Mills; story by David Simon & David Mills; directed by Agnieszka Holland.

Episode #56: "The Dickensian Aspect"
Debut: SUNDAY, FEB. 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Feb. 10 (10:30 p.m.), 12 (2:40 a.m.), 13 (11:00 p.m.), 14 (10:00 p.m.) and 15 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Feb. 11 (10:00 p.m.) and 18 (8:00 p.m.)
Mystified by Omar's disappearance, Marlo and Chris (Gbenga Akinnagbe) ramp up their efforts to locate their nemesis. After attending a sparsely attended waterfront ceremony, Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) fires away at a larger press event - and recasts himself as a champion for the homeless. Bunk (Wendell Pierce) revisits some old leads in the rowhouse cases, but is frustrated in his attempts to get bloodwork from the crime lab. Templeton looks for a perfect follow-up to his latest, nationally covered story, which has replaced the city's educational crisis on the paper's priority list. After the detail gets more manpower, Freamon (Clarke Peters) presses McNulty to get new surveillance equipment, but the resources aren't as deep as both hoped. Pearlman (Deirdre Lovejoy) discovers new clues pointing to corruption in City Hall; Marlo makes new appointments at the latest co-op meeting; McNulty takes a peculiar interest in a homeless man.

Teleplay by Ed Burns; story by David Simon & Ed Burns; directed by Seith Mann.

Episode #57: "Took"
Debut: SUNDAY, FEB. 17 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Feb. 17 (10:30 p.m.), 19 (2:50 a.m.), 20 (11:00 p.m.), 21 (10:00 p.m.) and 22 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Feb. 18 (9:00 p.m.) and 25 (9:00 p.m.)
An unexpected call puts Templeton back in the spotlight - and gets McNulty more attention than he expected. Bunk bucks at Landsman (Delaney Williams) when ordered to help with the force's most recent red ball. Omar sends Marlo a message; Carcetti proves he's still an adept fund-raiser; Carver (Seth Gilliam) gift-wraps a witness for Bunk; Bubbles shows a reporter the ropes; Freamon tries to crack a clock code; Greggs prepares for a visit from her son; Michael has a close call; Haynes (Clark Johnson) can't shake his suspicions about Templeton; assisted by the top-drawer lawyer Billy Murphy (Billy Murphy), "cash and carry" Davis makes his day in court a memorable one.

Teleplay by Richard Price; story by David Simon & Richard Price; directed by Dominic West.

Episode #58: "Clarifications"
Debut: SUNDAY, FEB. 24 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Feb. 24 (10:30 p.m.), 26 (3:10 a.m.), 27 (11:00 p.m.), 28 (10:00 p.m.) and 29 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdate: Feb. 25 (10:00 p.m.)
Baltimore's renewed police commitment brings fresh recruits to Daniels (Lance Reddick) and McNulty, starting with Carver. Facing a new political challenge, Carcetti is forced to make dangerous political deals. As the Pulitzer season winds down, Haynes approaches Templeton about his sources. Bunk returns a McNulty favor; little Kenard (Thuliso Dingwall) makes a big score; Dukie finds work; Fletcher (Brandon Young) continues his interview with Bubbles; Freamon presents his latest plan to a prosecutor; Sydnor (Corey Parker Robinson) uncovers the missing piece to a puzzle; McNulty comes clean.

Teleplay by Dennis Lehane; story by David Simon & Dennis Lehane; directed by Joe Chappelle.

So we know McNulty survives to the series’ antepenultimate episode.

After 5.4, only six episodes left. Ever.

9 p.m. Sunday. HBO.