美剧季中档：老剧强势回归 Preview of spring series

何航

：经历了一段时间“停更期”，季中档的美剧阵营再次热闹起来。不仅有《广告狂人》、《权力的游戏》这样“老友”如约而至，更有《信徒》等新剧新鲜加盟。

If some of your favorite US television series are currently on a break and you’re upset about having to wait several weeks or even months for the next episode, don’t be. A handful of new and returning midseason TV shows are competing for your attention.
如果一些你喜欢的美剧目前正处于停更期，而你也正在为苦等几周甚至数月才能看到下一集的真容而愁眉不展，其实大可不必烦恼。一系列新剧以及季中档回归美剧正相继上档，在荧幕上一较高下。

Mad Men (AMC)
《广告狂人》(AMC有线电视台)
Returning season: 7 (first half)
回归季：第七季（上部）
Premiere date: April 13
回归日：４月13日
What it’s about: For six seasons Don Draper (Jon Hamm) has been the sophisticated and sometimes irredeemable creative director of the Sterling Cooper ad agency. Now, with the series going into the first half of its final seventh season, the focus remains on Draper to see if he can save himself before the last cigarette burns out.
主要内容：六季以来，唐•德雷柏（乔•哈姆饰）一直是那位时而温文尔雅、成熟老练，时而混蛋至极、无药可救的斯特林库帕广告公司创意总监。现在，到了收官之作第七季的上半部，唐•德雷柏仍是剧情焦点，人们想知道他能否在最后一根香烟熄灭之前独善其身。
Why you should watch it: Winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row makes Mad Men one of the best TV shows ever. With it heading into its final season, it will be interesting to see how the series will offer a satisfying ending while continuing to focus on its award-winning quality.
观看理由：凭借连续四届斩获艾美奖最佳电视剧奖项，《广告狂人》成为了有史以来最佳剧集之一。随着最终季的到来，观众们很有兴趣看看该剧是如何在不失水准的前提下送上一个皆大欢喜的大结局的。

何航

Game of Thrones (HBO)
《权力的游戏》（HBO电视网）
Returning season: 4
回归季：第四季
Premiere date: April 6
回归日：4月6日
What it’s about: From the sinister Lannister clan to the dwindling numbers of the Stark family to fiery Daenarys Targaryen, everyone wants to rule the seven kingdoms of Westeros. Heading into the series’ fourth season, the adaptation of US author George R.R. Martin’s epic has seen a lot of blood being spilled. This time, a few new faces threaten to cripple the current order of power.
主要内容：从阴险的兰尼斯特家族到日渐势微的史塔克家族，再到暴躁的丹妮莉丝•坦格利安，所有人都想要统治拥有7个王国的维斯特洛大陆。在第四季中，这部根据美国作家乔治•马丁的史诗奇幻小说改编而成的剧集中不乏血腥场面。这次，一些新面孔的加入将削弱现有的权力秩序。
Why you should watch it: From the new season’s trailers, it appears vengeance is highly likely. Coming off a strong Emmy-nominated third season, fans should be excited for an even larger — and gorier — season this time around.
观看理由：从新一季的预告片来看，似乎极可能出现复仇情节。看完了横扫艾美奖诸多提名的第三季，这一回场面更加宏大、情节更加血腥的新一季势必令美剧迷们兴奋不已。

何航

Veep (HBO)
《副总统》（HBO电视网）
Returning season: 3
回归季：第三季
Premiere date: April 6
回归日：4月6日
What it’s about: Heading into Season 3, Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns in her Emmy Award-winning role as vice president Selina Meyer. This time, she attempts to make moves that will finally get her into a role greater than second place.
主要内容：伴随第三季的归来，以该剧中副总统赛琳娜•迈耶一角获得艾美奖的茱莉亚•路易斯-德瑞弗斯也宣告正式回归。这次，赛琳娜•迈耶将向一个比副总统更高的职位发起进攻。
Why you should watch it: Louis-Dreyfus’ performance alone is enjoyable enough, but Veep is so well rounded and hilarious it will make you want to follow US politics.
观看理由：单单是路易斯-德瑞弗斯的表演就足以令人大呼过瘾，再加上《副总统》剧情缜密且笑料不断，一定会让你想要关心美国政局。

何航

24: Live Another Day (Fox)
《24小时：再活一天》（FOX）
Returning season: a special event series of 24
回归季：特别版迷你剧
Premiere date: May 5
回归日：5月5日
What it’s about: In this 12-episode mini-series, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) returns to save the world again. Set four years after the events of 24’s season 8, Bauer has to stop a terrorist attack in London along with fan favorite Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) before time runs out.
主要内容：在12集的特别版迷你剧中，杰克•鲍尔（基弗•萨瑟兰）再次回归，承担起拯救地球的任务。时隔《24小时》第八季四年之后，鲍尔要携手倍受剧迷喜爱的克洛伊•奥布莱恩（玛丽•林恩•莱杰斯库饰），在时限之前阻止伦敦的恐怖袭击。
Why you should watch it: If you’re already a fan of the classic 24, there’s no question you’ll love this new special. If you’re new to the series, there aren’t many more exciting characters in TV than Jack Bauer.
观看理由：如果你是经典美剧《24小时》的铁杆粉，那么毫无疑问你一定会爱上新一季。如果你是第一次追剧，那么杰克•鲍尔一定是在你看过的各式剧集中最令人激动的角色之一。