Researchers have calculated a formula for the perfect TV episode – and found Downton Abbeyconsistently comes closest to the ideal.
Although the last episode of Friendswas voted top by the public, followed by Eastenders: Christmas Day 2007, analysts found Downton was scientifically superior.
Studying the 50 most popular shows of the past decade, experts at Bournemouth University's Media School found the best recipe for an episode was 65 percent drama, 12 percent shocks, nine percent comedy, eight percent action and six percent romance.
TV expert Boyd Hilton and analysts at Bournemouth University's Media School carried out painstaking research and found Downton Abbey season three, episode five - where Sybil dies, came closest to this.
It contained 36 minutes of 'drama', 3 mins 10 seconds of shock and surprise, 1 minute 10 seconds of comedy, 3 mins 10 seconds of action and 2 minutes 50 seconds of romance.
That equates to 78 percent drama, seven percent shocks and surprises, two percent comedy, seven percent action and six percent romance.
The study, commissioned by BT TV, found Desperate Housewives: Bangseason three, episode seven was the most action-packed with 33 percent action.
Meanwhile,Modern Family: Hawaiiseason one, episode 23 was the funniest, consisting of 74 percent comedy.
The Friendsepisode which topped the poll of 2,000 Brits, was made up of 48 percent drama, 29 percent comedy, two percent romance and 21 percent shocks and surprises.
TV reviewer Boyd Hilton said: 'What makes this research so exciting and unique is how it helps us work out why a particular episode is so powerful and unmissable.
'This is the ultimate guide to the recipe for TV Gold.'
Delia Bushell, Head of BT TV, said: 'The small screen now rivals the big screen thanks to the huge number of gripping TV series, unmissable sport and box office hits available at our fingertips.
'As we launch the next exciting phase of BT TV we wanted to know what makes TV so unmissable. Through our research, we've cracked the code.'
The most dramatic episode was found to be The Walking Dead: No Sanctuary(Season five, episode one) - 98 percent drama.
There was a tie for most shocking between Grey's Anatomy: Sanctuaryseason six, episode 23 and Dexter: Seeing Redseason one, episode 10 - both with 23 percent of shocks and surprises.
Meanwhile, the most romantic was deemed to be Sex and the City: An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux season six, episode 20 with 28 percent romance.
近日，英国的研究人员计算出判定神剧的量化公式。通过数据分析，英国连续剧《唐顿庄园》全剧的表现都近乎完美，堪称神剧。
尽管在07年的圣诞节上，美国情景喜剧《老友记》的大结局高票当选神剧称号，紧随其后的还有《伦敦东区》，但是分析数据表明《唐顿庄园》的戏剧表现更加出色。
通过研究过去十年以来50部最热门的影视剧，伯恩茅斯大学传媒学院的研究人员总结出判定神剧的量化标准：炮制出电视剧完美的一集需要65%的剧情设计、12%的惊险画面、9%的喜剧效果、8%的动作场面和6%的感情戏份。
电视产业专家伯伊德·希尔顿和伯恩奥斯大学传媒学院的数据人员在坚持不懈的研究后，共同总结出最接近神剧比例的是《唐顿庄园》第三季第五集，三小姐茜玻因分娩并发症死亡。
在这一集中，有36分钟的剧情故事、3分10秒的戏剧冲突、1分10秒的喜剧内容、3分10秒的动作戏份和2分50秒的情感戏份。
这换算成比例就相当于78%的剧情设计、7%的情节冲突、2%的喜剧成分、7%的动作画面，6%的感情戏份。
这项研究由BT TV 委托制作，通过分析，发现《绝望主妇：冲击》第三季第七集拥有高达33%的动作场面，堪称之最。
与此同时《摩登家庭：夏威夷》第一季第23集拥有74%的喜剧成分，荣登搞笑之首。
在2000名英国人投票中，获得票数最高的《老友记》则拥有48%的剧情设计、29%的喜剧效果、2%的感情戏份和21%的人物冲突和惊喜。
电视评论家伯伊德·希尔顿称：“这项调查之所以有趣和特别，是因为它帮助我们了解为什么一部与众不同的电视剧会对观众有那么大的吸引力。
“这是制作金牌电视剧的不二法门。”
BT TV的负责人迪莉娅·布希尔也表示：“现如今电视行业能与电影齐头并进，这归功于众多精彩的电视连续剧、不容错过的体育赛事和我们所播放的卖座电影。
“当BT TV开始了下一个令人兴奋的发展阶段，我们想了解是什么让电视有吸引力。通过这项研究，我们已经破解了这个密码。”
据研究表明，最具戏剧性的电视剧是《行尸走肉：》第五季的第一集。在这集中，剧情设计高达98%。
在最惊险的剧集上，《实习医生格蕾》与《嗜血法医》打成平手。《实习》第六季第23集和《嗜血》第一季第10集同样拥有23%的戏剧冲突。
至于最浪漫的电视剧的头衔，毫无疑问落入了《欲望都市》手中。在《欲望都市：情迷巴黎》第六季第20集里，高达28%的感情戏份点燃了满满少女心。
（译者 菠萝油八戒）
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