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今日导读：
近期小程序短剧《我在八零年代当后妈》备受关注。这是一部超短剧，讲述了一位现代大学生意外穿越到1980年代，不得不适应成为一位继母的故事。
这部剧以每集仅持续一分钟左右的剧集长度，自二月十二号春节期间上映以来，在首日就赚取了超过2千万元，其相关话题在抖音上的浏览量更是高达十亿多。
今日正文：
A modern-day college student snaps awake to find herself transported back in time to the 1980s.
一名现代大学生猛然醒来发现自己穿越回到了上个世纪八十年代。
She occupies the body of Si Nian, a young woman forced to marry a divorced pig farmer who has two children.
她占用了司念的身体，一个被迫嫁给一个离婚猪农并且有两个孩子的年轻女人。
With no way back, she must now adapt to her new role as a stepmother to her fiancé's children, battle tiresome relatives, and reconcile her modern sensibilities with the customs of the time.
因为没有退路，她现在必须适应自己作为未婚夫孩子们继母的新角色，与讨人厌的亲戚斗智斗勇，并协调好她的现代观念与当时习俗间的关系。
That's the premise of "I Became a Stepmother in the 1980s," a new drama that's striking a chord with millions across China by tapping into the deeply personal experiences often associated with family dynamics and societal expectations.
这就是《我在80年代成了继母》的设定，这部新剧通过深入挖掘与家庭关系动态和社会期望相关的个人经历，引起了数百万中国观众的共鸣。
Since its release on Feb. 12 during Spring Festival, the ultrashort series — a genre featuring episodes lasting just a minute or so — earned over 20 million yuan ($2.8 million) on its first day. And on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, related hashtags have garnered over 1 billion views.
自2月12日春节期间上映以来，这部超短剧，一个以每集仅持续一分钟左右为特点的剧集，在首日就赚取了超过2千万元（280万美元）。在抖音这个中国版的TikTok上，相关的话题标签已经获得了超过10亿的浏览量。
Combined with traffic on other social platforms, "I Became a Stepmother in the 1980s" has already drawn attention comparable to that of blockbuster films.
结合其他社交平台的流量，《我在80年代当继母》的关注度已经堪比大片。
While the ultrashort drama genre still has a reputation for cheesy and cliché stories, similar dramas with improved production quality are now adding to the 500 million-strong audience in China.
尽管超短剧的类型仍然以俗套和陈词滥调的故事闻名，但随着制作质量的提高，现在类似剧集正吸引着中国5亿多观众。
"I was never fond of this genre until I stumbled upon this show during the Spring Festival," says 30-year-old Sophia Xu, who paid 50 yuan ($7) to watch all 82 episodes.
“在春节期间，我偶然发现这个节目，之前我从未对这种类型感兴趣。”30岁的Sophia Xu说，她花了50元（7美元）观看了全部82集。
She tells Sixth Tone that the show offered her a new perspective on such dramas.
她告诉《第六声》说，这部剧给了她对这类戏剧的新见解。
"Compared with previous short dramas, marked by unnatural performances and cringeworthy lines, the actors in this series are more attractive and professional in their performances. Both the storyline and the settings are more compelling," she says.
“与以往表演不自然、台词尴尬的短剧相比，这个系列剧中的演员们在表演中更吸引人、更专业。剧情和场景都更具说服力。”她说。
The show's appeal extends beyond its production quality, touching on deeper, relatable themes.
该剧不仅在制作质量上表现出色，而且涉及更深沉、易于共鸣的主题。
In a video commentary, Liu Yang, a researcher and former associate professor of communication at Peking University, underscores how the story mirrors real-life challenges many young Chinese face during the Spring Festival holiday, when many confront the relentless pressure to marry or face comparisons with other relatives at family reunions.
在一段视频评论中，北京大学的研究员、前传播学副教授刘洋强调，这个故事反映了许多中国年轻人在春节假期所面临的现实挑战，当参加家庭聚会时，许多人不得不面对被催婚或跟其他亲戚作比较的压力。
For many, particularly young Chinese, returning to their hometowns from big cities feels like a journey through time, Liu says.
对于许多人来说，尤其是中国年轻人来说，从大城市返回家乡感觉就像是一次穿越时空的旅程，刘说。
The change in people's behavior, language styles, and even being with relatives and fellow villagers may create a sense of discomfort and a desire to push back.
人们行为的改变，语言风格的变化，甚至与亲戚和同乡相处的变化都可能引起一种不适和反感的欲望。
"In essence, a short play uses typical scenes from real life to resonate with the viewers," he explains in his commentary.
“本质上，短剧是利用现实生活中典型的场景来与观众产生共鸣，”他在评论中解释道。
Echoing his sentiment, Xu says she often receives unsolicited advice and comments about her weight and other personal matters from relatives, leading her to even stop visiting relatives during Spring Festival to escape the relentless pressures.
和他的观点一样，徐说她经常收到亲戚关于她体重和其他个人事务的不请自来的建议和评论，导致她甚至春节都不走亲戚了，以摆脱无休止的压力。
Her favorite scenes in "I Became a Stepmother in the 1980s" are those where the female protagonist asserts herself against harsh criticisms from her relatives.
《我在80年代当继母》中她最喜欢的场景是女主在面对亲戚的尖锐批评下依然坚持自己的观点。
So far, the drama's popularity has proven lucrative.
到目前为止，该剧的受欢迎程度已被证实为有利可图。
Utilizing a micro-payment model typical of ultrashort dramas, the first 10 or so episodes are offered for free to entice viewers.
采用了超短剧典型的微支付模式，前10集左右免费以吸引观众。
To continue watching, users must pay 1 to 2 yuan to unlock each episode, or about 40 yuan for the entire series.
要继续观看，用户必须支付1至2元来解锁每一集，或者约40元来购买整部剧集。
Comprising 82 episodes with each lasting less than two minutes, the entire series was shot in just 10 days and produced by Zhangwan, a new media company focused on online literature, game publishing, ultrashorts, and new media advertising.
全剧共82集，每集不到2分钟，整个系列仅在10天内拍摄完成，由掌玩公司制作，该公司专注于在线文学、游戏发行、超短剧和新媒体广告。
Zhang Yi, iiMedia's chief analyst, tells Sixth Tone that short dramas cater to the contemporary audience's need for quick and quality entertainment options suited to their fragmented schedules. "Improving production quality meets the demand of the audience for fast-paced and quality entertainment," said Zhang.
iiMedia首席分析师张毅告诉《第六声》，短剧迎合了当代观众对快速和优质娱乐选择的需求，以适应他们碎片化的日程安排。
Ultrashort dramas, particularly shot in vertical format, are predominantly released on short video platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou or uploaded on third-party apps within WeChat.
超短剧，尤其是竖拍剧，主要在像抖音和快手这样的短视频平台上发布，或者上传到微信内的小程序。
"Targeted recommendation algorithms play a significant role in boosting the popularity of micro dramas by delivering content tailored to viewers' preferences," Zhang added.
“定向推荐算法通过提供符合观众喜好的内容，大大推动了微剧的流行，”张补充道。
"As short dramas become more professional, there's more space for the genre to explore a variety of themes and styles, whether societal, historical, or cultural," says Zhang.
“随着短剧变得更加专业，这个流派有更多的空间来探索各种主题和风格，无论是社会的、历史的还是文化的。”张说。
But he also underscores that this would require more caution in the choice of themes and presentation methods.
但他也强调，这需要在主题和呈现方式的选择上更加谨慎。
"In the long run, the regulation of short drama should gradually align with the regulatory standards on long-form videos,"he explains.
“从长远来看，短剧的监管应逐渐与长视频的监管标准保持一致，”他解释道。
Amid the tightening of regulations, short dramas continue to evolve, particularly with viewers seeking an escape from the mundane.
在监管加强的情况下，短剧继续发展，尤其是观众寻求从平凡中逃离。
After "I Became a Stepmother in the 1980s," Xu was drawn to a series about an overbearing CEO who falls in love with a poor girl, as well as other tales featuring time travel.
继这部《我在80年代当继母》短剧之后，徐对一部描述霸道总裁爱上贫穷女孩的作品以及其他关于时空穿越的故事都很感兴趣。
"Worn out from daily routines and work, these dramas offer me moments of escape. I don't care if the plots occasionally don't make sense, as long as they are enticing," she says.
“日常生活和工作让人疲惫不堪，这些戏剧给了我逃离的时刻。只要情节够吸引人，我不在乎剧情偶尔不合理，”她说。
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