你爱周更追剧, 还是一次刷完？

每周定期发布新内容是过去几十年来的普遍模式，如今却开始像无法滑动的屏幕一样垂垂老矣。

双语精读

The wait is on again

等待再次到来

Once upon a time, it looked as if streaming had reconfigured TV drama for good. In 2013 Netflix released the first season of "House of Cards" in a single batch, an approach that appeared set to become the new default.

曾几何时，流媒体似乎永远重塑了电视剧的格局。2013年网飞一次性发布了《纸牌屋》第一季全集，这种方式似乎将成为新的默认模式。

In an era of one-click instantaneity, it fitted the expectations of audiences, the younger kind especially. Scheduled weekly releases, universal for decades, began to seem as moribund as screens you couldn't swipe. Yet today many streaming services have revived this antique rhythm for prestige dramas.

在这个点击即得的时代，这种方式符合观众，尤其是年轻观众的期待。每周定期发布新内容是过去几十年来的普遍模式，如今却开始像无法滑动的屏幕一样垂垂老矣。然而，如今许多流媒体服务在播放精品电视剧时重新启用了这种古老的节奏。

The staggered release, a form that dates back through network TV to the serialised novels of Dickens and Dostoyevsky, supplies resilient pleasures. The gaps between episodes can foster tension and discussion, if more often on Reddit threads than at water coolers.

这种交错发布的形式可以从电视网络追溯至狄更斯和陀思妥耶夫斯基的连载小说，这种形式能带来持久不灭的乐趣。剧集之间的间隔会让剧情张力和讨论热度发酵，尽管更多是在Reddit论坛盖楼而非在饮水机旁闲聊。

You are less likely to encounter spoilers before you reach the end.

在你看到结局之前不太可能被剧透。

"Stinge-watching"-or spacing out a show's episodes-lets each be crafted and savoured discretely. But releasing a season's-worth together opens up other creative possibilities.

“细品”——拉长剧集之间的间隔——能让每一集都得到精心打磨并被单独品味。但一次性发布整季内容为其他创意可能性打开了大门。

Less time is needed for recaps and expository dialogue. Story arcs twist and stretch more freely. You cohabit with the characters in a brief but passionate fling.

需要剧情回顾和说明性对话的时间更少。故事弧线更自由地曲折延展。你与剧中人物短暂却热烈地同居一段时间。

For streaming services, the choice between a weekly schedule, binge-dropping whole seasons, or (as some do) mixing the two models, is really a business decision. Amid fierce competition for eyeballs and revenue, eking out flagship shows helps streamers keep customers who might otherwise unsubscribe.

对于流媒体服务来说，选择每周定期更新、一次性放出整季内容，还是（像某些平台那样）混合两种模式，本质上是一项商业决策。在争夺眼球和收入的激烈竞争中，细水长流地播出主打剧集有助于流媒体平台留住那些可能取消订阅的客户。

Smash-hit binge releases like "Adolescence" make a big splash-but retaining viewers afterwards requires a deep reservoir of other offerings. Netflix has that; some of its rivals don't. That is the commercial dilemma.

像《混沌少年时》这样的爆款全集剧会引发巨大轰动，但要想留住观众，还需要储备大量其他作品。网飞有这种储备，但它的一些竞争对手没有。这就是商业困境。

From a modern audience's perspective, the question of binge versus staggered releases is ultimately about hierarchy and power. Who is in charge here, you or the show? To put it another way, is a TV drama a commodity like rice or soap, or does it, as art, somehow deserve a more exalted, less submissive status?

从现代观众的角度来看，选择一次性放全集还是分批放出归根结底关乎等级与权力。这里谁说了算，是你还是电视剧？换句话说，电视剧是像大米或肥皂一样的商品，还是作为艺术，理应享有某种更崇高、不那么顺从的地位？

Now, with an ocean of content available on demand, the old weekly model makes an implicit but bold claim: that the story is good enough to fit your life around, rather than vice versa.

如今，海量内容唾手可得，传统的周播模式传递了一种含蓄而大胆的宣言：精彩的故事值得你调整生活节奏来追随，而非让剧集迁就你的时间。

词汇预习

release [高考]
美[rɪˈliːs] | 英[rɪˈliːs]
n. 释放；让渡；发行
vt. 释放；让与；准予发表；发射
afterwards [高考]
美[ˈæftərwərdz] | 英[ˈɑːftəwədz]
adv. 以后；后来
claim [高考]
美[kleɪm] | 英[kleɪm]
n. 索赔；宣称；声明；断言
v. 声称；宣称；认领；索取
stretch [高考]
美[stretʃ] | 英[stretʃ]
v. 伸展；延伸；伸出；舒展
n. 伸展；弹性；舒展；一片
adj.有弹力的
rhythm [高考]
美[ˈrɪðəm] | 英[ˈrɪðəm]
n. 节奏；节律；（事件或过程）有规律的反复出现
encounter [高考]
美[ɪnˈkaʊntər] | 英[ɪnˈkaʊntə(r)]
n. 意外的相见；邂逅；遭遇
v. 遭遇；遇到；偶然碰到
revenue [高考]
美[ˈrevənuː] | 英[ˈrevənjuː]
n. 税收；收入；税务局
perspective [高考]
美[pərˈspektɪv] | 英[pəˈspektɪv]
n. 视角，观点；远景；景观；透视法
adj.(按照)透视画法的；透视的
ultimately [高考]
美[ˈʌltɪmətli] | 英[ˈʌltɪmətli]
adv. 最后；最终
reservoir [高考]
美[ˈrezərvwɑːr] | 英[ˈrezəvwɑː(r)]
n. 水库；储藏；蓄水池；积蓄
implicit [高考]
美[ɪmˈplɪsɪt] | 英[ɪmˈplɪsɪt]
adj. 含蓄的；绝对的；无疑问的；固有的；无保留的；暗示的
demand [高考]
美[dɪˈmænd] | 英[dɪˈmɑːnd]
n. 要求；需求
v. 要求；查问；需要
approach [高考]
美[əˈproʊtʃ] | 英[əˈprəʊtʃ]
v. 接近；建议；接洽；着手处理
n. 方法；接近；路径；道路
charge [高考]
美[tʃɑːrdʒ] | 英[tʃɑːdʒ]
n. 责任；电荷；指控；费用；照顾；主管
vi. 要价；充电；向前冲，冲锋；记在账上
vt. 控诉；赊账；给…充电；委以重任；归罪于；装填（炸药等）
【名】（Charge）（英）查奇
otherwise [高考]
美[ˈʌðərwaɪz] | 英[ˈʌðəwaɪz]
adv. 否则；不同地；在不同方面
adj. 不同的
status [高考]
美[ˈsteɪtəs , ˈstætəs] | 英[ˈsteɪtəs]
n. 地位；情形；状况，状态；身份
commercial [高考]
美[kəˈmɜːrʃl] | 英[kəˈmɜːʃl]
adj. 商业的
n. 商业广告
deserve [高考]
美[dɪˈzɜːrv] | 英[dɪˈzɜːv]
vt. 应受；值得
brief [高考]
美[briːf] | 英[briːf]
adj. 短暂的；短期的；简短的；扼要的
n. 摘要；案件陈述
vt. 作…的概述；（向…）简单介绍
tension [高考]
美[ˈtenʃn] | 英[ˈtenʃn]
n. 紧张；拉力；张力；紧张状态；[电]电压
vt. 使拉紧；使绷紧
foster [高考]
美[ˈfɑːstər] | 英[ˈfɒstə(r)]
vt. 领养；培养；促进；鼓励；抱有（希望等）
adj. 收养的
fierce [高考]
美[fɪrs] | 英[fɪəs]
adj. 强烈的；凶猛的；酷烈的
twist [高考]
美[twɪst] | 英[twɪst]
v. 缠绕；捻；搓；拧；扭曲
n. 拧；捻；扭曲；盘旋；弯曲处
antique [高考]
美[ænˈtiːk] | 英[ænˈtiːk]
adj. 古代的；古老的；过时的
n. 古董；古物
vice [高考]
美[vaɪs] | 英[vaɪs]
n. 缺点，恶习；堕落，邪恶；罪行；老虎钳
v. 握住；钳紧
adj. 副的；代替的，代理的
prep.代替
dilemma [高考]
美[dɪˈlemə] | 英[dɪˈlemə]
n. 困境；进退两难
in charge [高考]
美[ɪn tʃɑːrdʒ] | 英[ɪn tʃɑːdʒ]
adj. 负责；主管
era [高考]
美[ˈɪrə] | 英[ˈɪərə]
n. 纪元；时代；年代
bold [高考]
美[boʊld] | 英[bəʊld]
adj. 大胆的；陡峭的；醒目的；粗体的；无礼的
splash [高考]
美[splæʃ] | 英[splæʃ]
n. 溅泼（声）；溅泼的量；溅污的斑点；骚动；少许
v. 溅（湿）；报道
afterward(s) [高考]
美['ɑːftəwə(z)] | 英['ɑːftəwə(z)]
adv. 以后；过后；后来
commodity [四级]
美[kəˈmɑːdəti] | 英[kəˈmɒdəti]
n. 商品；日用品；有价值之物
hierarchy [四级]
美[ˈhaɪərɑːrki] | 英[ˈhaɪərɑːki]
n. 等级制度；统治集团；[生]级系
versus [四级]
美[ˈvɜːrsəs] | 英[ˈvɜːsəs]
prep. 与…相对；与…相比；（体育比赛中）与…对阵，与…竞争
swipe [四级]
美[swaɪp] | 英[swaɪp]
v. 重击；猛打；[非正式]偷窃；在解码器上刮刷（信用卡等卡）
n. 重击；猛打；[非正式]尖刻的评论
passionate [四级]
美[ˈpæʃənət] | 英[ˈpæʃənət]
adj. 热情的；激情的；易怒的
batch [四级]
美[bætʃ] | 英[bætʃ]
n. 一批；一炉；一次所制之量
v. 分批处理
prestige [六级]
美[preˈstiːʒ] | 英[preˈstiːʒ]
adj. 有威信的；名贵的
default [六级]
美[dɪˈfɔːlt] | 英[dɪˈfɔːlt]
n. 默认(值)，系统设定值；不履行，违约；；缺席，弃权
v. 违约，不履行义务，拖欠；默认，预设；弃权，未到场
adj. 默认的
fling [六级]
美[flɪŋ] | 英[flɪŋ]
vt. 投；粗暴地推向 ...；猛冲；激动地说；全身心投入
n. 投掷；一时的行乐；漫不经心的一段(尝试或感情)
vi. 急冲；(动物)猛跳
set to [六级]
美[sɛt tu] | 英[set tu:]
动手干；认真开始干；争论；拳赛；殴斗
submissive [专八]
美[səbˈmɪsɪv] | 英[səbˈmɪsɪv]
adj. 服从的；顺从的
flagship [专八]
美[ˈflæɡˌʃɪp] | 英[ˈflægʃɪp]
n. 旗舰；最重要产品
binge [专八]
美[bɪndʒ] | 英[bɪndʒ]
n. 狂欢作乐；放纵
vi. 狂欢作乐
versa [考研]
美[ 'vɝsə] | 英['vɜ:sə]
adj. 反
don [托福]
美[dɑn] | 英[dɒn]
n. 先生（西班牙用语）；(牛津、剑桥大学的)指导教师
v. 穿上
staggered [托福]
美[ˈstægərd] | 英[ˈstægəd]
adj. 非常吃惊的

重点讲解

The wait is on again

等待再次到来

batch n. 一批；批次

【例】Each summer a new batch of students tries to find work.

每年夏天都有一批新的学生要找工作。

【搭配】in batches 分批地

【例】We deliver the goods in batches.

我们分批交付货物。

Once upon a time, it looked as if streaming had reconfigured TV drama for good. In 2013 Netflix released the first season of “House of Cards” in a single batch, an approach that appeared set to become the new default.

曾几何时，流媒体似乎永远重塑了电视剧的格局。2013年网飞一次性发布了《纸牌屋》第一季全集，这种方式似乎将成为新的默认模式。

batch n. 一批；批次

【例】Each summer a new batch of students tries to find work.

每年夏天都有一批新的学生要找工作。

【搭配】in batches 分批地

【例】We deliver the goods in batches.

我们分批交付货物。

In an era of one-click instantaneity, it fitted the expectations of audiences, the younger kind especially. Scheduled weekly releases, universal for decades, began to seem as moribund as screens you couldn’t swipe. Yet today many streaming services have revived this antique rhythm for prestige dramas.

在这个点击即得的时代，这种方式符合观众，尤其是年轻观众的期待。每周定期发布新内容是过去几十年来的普遍模式，如今却开始像无法滑动的屏幕一样垂垂老矣。然而，如今许多流媒体服务在播放精品电视剧时重新启用了这种古老的节奏。

revive v. 使复活；使复兴

【例】The economy is beginning to revive.

经济开始复苏。

They want to revive the traditional custom.

应该恢复这一传统习俗。

【拓展】revival n. 复兴

【反义词】decline v./n. 衰退；衰亡

The staggered release, a form that dates back through network TV to the serialised novels of Dickens and Dostoyevsky, supplies resilient pleasures. The gaps between episodes can foster tension and discussion, if more often on Reddit threads than at water coolers.

这种交错发布的形式可以从电视网络追溯至狄更斯和陀思妥耶夫斯基的连载小说，这种形式能带来持久不灭的乐趣。剧集之间的间隔会让剧情张力和讨论热度发酵，尽管更多是在Reddit论坛盖楼而非在饮水机旁闲聊。

resilient adj. 坚韧的；能复原的

【例】Despite the turbulence, the economy proves resilient.

尽管有动荡，但经济被证明很坚韧。

【拓展】resilience n. 韧性

【近义词】durable/enduring adj. 耐用的；持久的

You are less likely to encounter spoilers before you reach the end.

在你看到结局之前不太可能被剧透。

space sth out 拉开间距；使隔开

【例】The trees were spaced out evenly along the road.

树木间隔均匀地排列在道路两旁。

Let's space out the activities over a week. Crowding them all into three days would be exhausting.

我们把活动分散到一周内吧，全都挤在三天内完成会很累的。

【近义词】spread sth out 把某物分散开

“Stinge-watching”—or spacing out a show’s episodes—lets each be crafted and savoured discretely. But releasing a season’s-worth together opens up other creative possibilities.

“细品”——拉长剧集之间的间隔——能让每一集都得到精心打磨并被单独品味。但一次性发布整季内容为其他创意可能性打开了大门。

space sth out 拉开间距；使隔开

【例】The trees were spaced out evenly along the road.

树木间隔均匀地排列在道路两旁。

Let's space out the activities over a week. Crowding them all into three days would be exhausting.

我们把活动分散到一周内吧，全都挤在三天内完成会很累的。

【近义词】spread sth out 把某物分散开

Less time is needed for recaps and expository dialogue. Story arcs twist and stretch more freely. You cohabit with the characters in a brief but passionate fling.

需要剧情回顾和说明性对话的时间更少。故事弧线更自由地曲折延展。你与剧中人物短暂却热烈地同居一段时间。

recap n. & v. 总结；概括

【例】Here’s a quick recap on the meeting.

这是会议内容的简要总结。

Finally, the teacher recapped the main points of the lesson.

最后，老师总结了这堂课的重点。

【近义词】summery/summarize n./v. 总结

takeaway n. 主要内容；要点

对于流媒体服务来说，选择每周定期更新、一次性放出整季内容，还是（像某些平台那样）混合两种模式，本质上是一项商业决策。在争夺眼球和收入的激烈竞争中，细水长流地播出主打剧集有助于流媒体平台留住那些可能取消订阅的客户。

Smash-hit binge releases like “Adolescence” make a big splash—but retaining viewers afterwards requires a deep reservoir of other offerings. Netflix has that; some of its rivals don’t. That is the commercial dilemma.

像《混沌少年时》这样的爆款全集剧会引发巨大轰动，但要想留住观众，还需要储备大量其他作品。网飞有这种储备，但它的一些竞争对手没有。这就是商业困境。

From a modern audience’s perspective, the question of binge versus staggered releases is ultimately about hierarchy and power. Who is in charge here, you or the show? To put it another way, is a TV drama a commodity like rice or soap, or does it, as art, somehow deserve a more exalted, less submissive status?

从现代观众的角度来看，选择一次性放全集还是分批放出归根结底关乎等级与权力。这里谁说了算，是你还是电视剧？换句话说，电视剧是像大米或肥皂一样的商品，还是作为艺术，理应享有某种更崇高、不那么顺从的地位？

submissive adj. 顺从的；听话的

【例】He expected his daughters to be submissive.

他期望女儿们都听话。

【拓展】submit to sth 顺从；屈服

【例】She refused to submit to threats.

她拒绝屈服于威胁。

implicit adj. 含蓄的；暗示的

【例】the implicit meaning 言外之意

【反义词】explicit adj. 清楚明白的；直言的

【例】to give explicit instructions 给出清楚明白的指示

Now, with an ocean of content available on demand, the old weekly model makes an implicit but bold claim: that the story is good enough to fit your life around, rather than vice versa.

如今，海量内容唾手可得，传统的周播模式传递了一种含蓄而大胆的宣言：精彩的故事值得你调整生活节奏来追随，而非让剧集迁就你的时间。

submissive adj. 顺从的；听话的

【例】He expected his daughters to be submissive.

他期望女儿们都听话。

【拓展】submit to sth 顺从；屈服

【例】She refused to submit to threats.

她拒绝屈服于威胁。

implicit adj. 含蓄的；暗示的

【例】the implicit meaning 言外之意

【反义词】explicit adj. 清楚明白的；直言的

【例】to give explicit instructions 给出清楚明白的指示

课后练习

What is the old practice that many streaming services have revived now?
A. Releasing TV dramas in a single batch.
B. Releasing TV dramas on a weekly basis.
C. Fitting the expectations of younger audiences.
D. Investing heavily in producing prestige dramas.
One of the advantages of the staggered release is that ____.
A. it can provide a short burst of pleasure
B. it can capture the entire essence of classics
C. it encourages discussion among the audience
D. it allows the story arcs to develop more freely
What is the advantage of binge-dropping from a commercial perspective?
A. It helps streamers retain customers for longer.
B. It helps build a deep reservoir of other offerings.
C. It can make a big splash and attract a lot of attention.
D. It solves the commercial dilemma for streaming services.
What does the old weekly model imply?
A. The TV drama is a commodity for entertainment.
B. The audience is in charge of when to watch the show.
C. The audience should adapt their lives to the good show.
D. The TV drama is a fulfilling part of modern audiences' lives.