揭秘美劇獨特魅力的背后（下）

導讀：每周一集、逢假必停。美劇到底有何魅力令眾多美劇迷們樂此不疲地追劇?現(xiàn)在，我們就在知名劇評人的帶領下，一起揭開美劇的獨特魅力。

Fans of US television dramas watch their favorite series for different reasons: some want to improve their English skills, others just want to kill time.

美劇迷們追美劇的理由五花八門：有人為了提高英語水平，也有人只是為了打發(fā)時間。

No matter what type of series you prefer or why you watch them, some TV series are more than pure entertainment ― they have a certain depth. Mad Men, which returned with a sixth season recently; Monday Mornings, which just finished its first season; and Modern Family, which sweeps the awards every year, are just a few examples.

不管你喜歡哪類美劇，也不管你出于什么目的來追劇，總有些劇集不僅僅只是娛樂那么簡單——自有深意在其中。比如近日攜第六季回歸的《廣告狂人》、第一季剛剛落下帷幕的《周一清晨》、還有每年都會橫掃各大頒獎禮的《摩登家庭》，這樣的例子還有很多。

Why do these shows stand out among so many similar ones? 21st Century talked to well-known film/TV critics Raymond Zhou and Bi Chenggong to give you an idea of why some shows are better than others and what we get from them.

是什么使得這些劇集能夠從眾多的同類中脫穎而出?《二十一世紀英文報》就這一問題采訪了知名影評人周黎明與畢成功，以便你能更好地了解這些美劇的高明之處并從中得到啟發(fā)。

Family comedy

家庭喜劇

New, but familiar

新奇，但又熟悉

One of the top factors that makes a good comedy, undoubtedly, is that it makes you laugh. In that case, Modern Family, the family comedy that has won the Emmy’s Outstanding Comedy Series award for three consecutive years, deserves the crown.

毋庸置疑，一部喜劇佳作首要元素之一就是讓人開懷大笑。如此看來，連續(xù)三年獲得艾美獎喜劇類最佳劇集的《摩登家庭》可謂實至名歸。

“Everything works with Modern Family, the clever writing, the brilliant acting, and the mockumentary-style, talking directly into the camera format,” Bi Chenggong said.

“巧妙的劇本、出色的表演，還有直接對著鏡頭講話的偽紀錄片風格，《摩登家庭》一切都是如此完美。”畢成功說。

The fundamental reason of its success, however, is the underlying philosophy, which is inoffensive and populist. “It give us something new in very familiar terms,” Bi said. “The contradictory title of the show reminds us of this reality. It’s a progressive (modern) sitcom about conservative stuff (family).”

而該劇大獲成功的根本原因在于其中蘊含的溫和的平民哲學。“它在我們所熟知的情境中給予我們新的啟發(fā)。”畢成功說。“自相矛盾的劇名也說明了這一點，這是一部講述傳統(tǒng)家庭主題的摩登喜劇。”

The characters in the series are vividly particular and beautifully rendered, and they have what network executives used to call “relevance”.

劇中的角色個性鮮明，生動鮮活，人物表現(xiàn)非常完美，他們具有電視臺高層們口中所稱的“重要性”的東西。

“Clueless dad, bookish daughter, same sex couple with kids, there is quite literally something for everyone on a show like Modern Family,” TV critic Bruce Feiler wrote in his review for The New York Times. “Viewers are able to relate to them and being comfortable with the family.”

“呆頭呆腦的爸爸，書生氣十足的女兒，同性戀情侶和他們領養(yǎng)的小孩，每個人都能在《摩登家庭》這樣的劇集中找到個人喜好。”電視評論員布魯斯•費勒在《紐約時報》的評論中寫道。“劇中的家庭讓觀眾產(chǎn)生共鳴，毫無觀劇障礙。”

“But the main thing about them is, they’re not going anywhere,” Feiler wrote. “Restless or reconciled, they’re all held nicely in the bonds of love.”

“而最重要的是，他們始終在一起，”費勒寫道。“不管爭執(zhí)還是和解，他們因愛而相連。”

Critics also recommend

同類劇推薦

Shameless is another comedy that focuses on family life, but this time it’s a dysfunctional, middle-class family from Chicago’s South Side. With an alcoholic father, the other members of the family must fend for themselves physically, financially, and emotionally.

《無恥之徒》是另一部講述家庭生活的喜劇，但它描繪的則是一個來自芝加哥南部、有些離經(jīng)叛道的中產(chǎn)階級家庭。由于父親是酒鬼，家中其他成員不得不自己照顧和養(yǎng)活自己。

“Shameless reinvents this type of show by relying on both humor and poignant sentimentality,” Bi Chenggong said. “It’s aiming for the funny bone and the heart.”

“《無恥之徒》憑借打幽默與悲情牌重新定義了此種類型的喜劇。”畢成功說。“它旨在逗你開懷大笑的同時又觸動你的心靈。”