1月15日起，东方卫视全新上线海外剧场，一部45年前进口的科幻电视连续剧经典美剧《大西洋底来的人》正在热播中。彩色画面、精心修复、英文原版配中文字幕，这部经典之作搭建起一个“时空纽带”，每晚陪观众重拾旧时光。新华社报道特别聚焦该片重播在中国科幻迷和影视剧爱好者中引发的热议，并以《First introduced American sci-fi series returns to China via Shanghai's Dragon TV》为题推送了英语报道。

科幻剧《大西洋底来的人》在中国重播受到观众欢迎

“麦克真的‘回来’了！”“无法相信我的眼睛！”一部中国45年前进口的科幻电视连续剧近日登上了上海东方卫视深夜推出的新栏目“海外剧场”，引起中国科幻迷和影视剧爱好者热议。

它就是《大西洋底来的人》。与45年前有所不同，这一次播出的是高清修复版本，英文原版对白、中文字幕，晚间首播共17集，一天播放一集。

这部科幻连续剧由美国NBC电视台于1977年出品，1980年由中国的中央电视台首次引进播出，也是中国大陆引进的首部科幻连续剧。当时大部分在中国大陆收看电视节目的家庭使用黑白电视机，剧中描述的海洋“类人”生物麦克·哈里斯与人类科学家交流交往的传奇故事，轰动一时。

“这大概是我在电视荧屏上看到的第一个超人类。整部剧打开了我们这代人的眼界，激发了大众无限的想象力。”复旦大学中文系教授严锋说，“这部剧对中国科幻作家一段时间的写作风格有所影响。”

“打那以后，我意识到人类实际上可以生活在海洋深处，这拓展了我写科幻小说的想象力。”年逾八旬的中国科幻作家董仁威也认为《大西洋底来的人》影响深远。

一些网友在东方卫视网上评论区留言：“我家的电视机还是为了这部剧买的。”“特别是第一集，海滩上来了神秘生物人，做梦都想拥有麦克的泳姿……”

《大西洋底来的人》也向当时的中国观众介绍了美国的海滩风光、大都市繁忙的车流，以及科学实验室的神奇。

“剧中麦克戴着帅气的蛤蟆镜让人们津津乐道，后来被称为‘麦克镜’，足见这部剧的影响深远。就像科幻专有名词‘第一类接触’所描述的，我们仿佛在这部科幻剧中第一次看到了‘外星人’。”严锋说。

据了解，东方卫视通过卫星向全中国大部分地区提供电视信号，同时在移动互联网端口，观众也可通过指定的客户端App接入观看。

近期东方卫视节目含“科”量进一步提升。全新的科学家对话科学家节目《锚点》已播三期，聚焦人工智能、细胞代谢等最前沿的研究课题。另一档节目《未来中国》已播出到第三季，节目中由科学家与年轻人对话，谈论尚待解决的科学难题。

“通过新的节目内容编排，拓宽观众的国际视野，增进对多元文化的理解和尊重，这也是中国持续扩大对外开放的一个新的生动注脚。”东方卫视相关负责人表示，上海充分利用独特的区位优势，正在加强文化视听领域的国际合作与传播。

First introduced American sci-fi series returns to China via Shanghai's Dragon TV

"Man from Atlantis," China's first introduced American sci-fi series, started its re-run last week on Shanghai's Dragon TV, reigniting nostalgia among China's older generation of sci-fi enthusiasts.

The re-released series features restored, high-definition color visuals and the original English audio and Chinese subtitles. The broadcast of an original English-language series on a Chinese satellite channel is part of Shanghai's efforts to promote its more globally-oriented media reforms.

This 1977 NBC TV series premiered as a dubbed production in China on January 5, 1980, one year after the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations. Despite the low TV penetration rate at that time, the series immediately became a cultural phenomenon in China.

Chinese audiences back then gathered at night at the homes of friends who owned TVs to watch the mysterious adventures of Mike Harris, a creature from the mythical lost civilization of Atlantis, and marine scientist Elizabeth Merrill. Harris's frog-eye sunglasses, bell-bottoms and swimming style were widely imitated, becoming iconic memories for a generation.

A longtime fan of the series remarked on Dragon TV's platform: "My family purchased a TV just to catch this show." Another person, using the handle pning0303, posted that "the last time I watched this TV series was on a 9-inch black-and-white television."

"Mike and Elizabeth are the first two foreign names I ever learned," a Shanghai netizen commented on Chinese social media platform Weibo. When people discuss TV shows that make them feel old on Weibo, this series is frequently mentioned. Following its recent re-release, a veteran sci-fi fan exclaimed that "my younger days are back."

"It was likely the first 'superman' we had ever seen on TV," said Yan Feng, a professor of Chinese literature at the Shanghai-based Fudan University. He recalled being captivated by the "raw, elemental beauty of science fiction" depicted in this series.

"The series influenced the writing styles of Chinese sci-fi authors, and its widespread popularity mirrored China's embrace of openness and scientific progress in the 1980s," said Yan, who was a middle school student when he first watched the show.

Chinese sci-fi writer, Dong Renwei, now in his 80s, reflected on the lasting influence of "Man from Atlantis," noting how it had broadened his imaginative horizons for storytelling by revealing the possibility of human deep-sea habitation.

"The male lead is strikingly handsome with a great physique, green eyes and thick eyebrows. He wears yellow swim trunks and exudes a simple, honest and upright charm," said a young fan using the handle Huhu on social media platform Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, after watching the first episode of the re-run series.

"The drama offered a glimpse into another world, revealing the depths of the ocean, the vastness of the universe, and the possibilities of the future," said Han Song, another Chinese sci-fi writer. "It showcased humanity's adventurous spirit, the courage to explore the unknown, and the power of dreams."

GLOBALLY-ORIENTED AIMS

Dragon TV views the re-airing of this show as part of its initiative to broaden the global perspectives of Chinese audiences and enhance international cooperation in the cultural and audiovisual fields.

"This is more than just nostalgia or a tribute to a sci-fi classic," a senior staff member with Dragon TV told Xinhua. "It's part of Shanghai's media reforms which can help promote Chinese people's understanding of diverse cultures -- reflecting the country's commitment to greater openness."

"Through these shows, Chinese audiences have gained a deeper understanding of the United States, its people, their thoughts and culture, thus fostering a greater interest in engaging with them," said sci-fi author Han.

Before the return of this series, Dragon TV also aired "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty," which delves into the story of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball franchise during the 1980s.

This round of Dragon TV's reform efforts also includes the broadcast of a 15-minute English-language news program called "ShanghaiEye," which will feature on the satellite channel every weekday, starting from January.

The return of "Man from Atlantis" marks the start of the broadcast of more international films and TV shows on the channel, especially sci-fi content, in a bid to enrich cross-cultural exchanges, according to Dragon TV. 

来源｜新华社客户端