CNN原文：

Lavishly produced, the fourth season seemingly ups the ante on cruelty and bullying as well, leveraging the vulnerability of its nerdy characters. At the same time, the soap-opera-ish elements of the relationships have begun to feel a trifle played out, or perhaps just overshadowed by the dire dangers facing the kids and indeed the world.

有着大手笔制作的第四季似乎也加大了剧中残忍和欺凌的力度，充分利用了剧中书呆子人物的脆弱性。 与此同时，肥皂剧般的人际关系已经开始显得有些过时，或者说，这些人物关系已经被这部剧中主角人物和整个世界所面临的可怕危险所掩盖。

来看到这段话中的重点词汇：

1.the fourth season 第四季

season n. 季节；（电视剧）季

2.up the ante on 对...加大赌注

up v. 提高，提升

ante n. 赌注

3.vulnerability n. 脆弱性

vunerable adj. 脆弱的

4.nerdy characters 书呆子人物

nerdy adj. 呆头呆脑的

nerd n. 书呆子

character n. 人物，角色

5.soap opera 肥皂剧

-ish 有点儿 （hungry-ish 有点儿饿）

一些和影视相关的表达：

6.sci-fi movie 科幻电影

sci-fi：science fiction 科幻小说

例句：

I'm a big fan of sci-fi movies.

我是科幻电影的忠实粉丝。

7.audience rating 收视率

例句：

The show was to be dropped after the audience ratings failed to impress.

这个节目因为收视率不佳被砍了。

8.box office 票房

take +金钱数量+at the box office 获得…票房

例句：

The film has taken $180 million at the box office.

该电影票房为一亿八千万美元。