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“Time Lapse: A Year Forgotten, A Tale of Careless Time Travel”

Time Lapse presents an intriguing premise: everyone on Earth has mysteriously forgotten the year 2004. While the idea of an erased year is full of potential, the execution offers mixed results, with moments of charm and wit interspersed with stretches of stagnation.

The story begins with Thirteen and her fam—Yaz, Ryan, and Graham—visiting a museum of future history in 2019, hoping to uncover why the year 2004 is missing from collective memory. A highlight of this section is the playful, perilous encounter with a moth web, flesh-eating worms, and a three-headed vulture. This scene is classic Doctor Who, blending humour, danger, and sci-fi absurdity.

The narrative alternates between the present-day investigation and flashbacks to 2004, where the story focuses on Maria Hackett, an American air force officer, and her enigmatic colleague Richard. Richard, as it turns out, is a careless Time Agent with access to advanced technology and knowledge he shouldn’t have.

While the flashbacks provide crucial context, they dominate much of the runtime, sidelining the Doctor and her companions for long stretches. Maria’s recounting of her time with Richard feels overly drawn out, with little action to balance the exposition.

What sets Time Lapse apart is its lack of a traditional villain. Richard, the bumbling Time Agent, is no mastermind but rather a hopeless romantic whose misuse of time-travel technology spirals out of control. His misguided attempt to erase a rejection from Maria’s memory inadvertently wipes 2004 from the world’s consciousness. This smaller-scale conflict offers a refreshing change from the usual apocalyptic stakes.

While the setup is intriguing, much of the narrative feels static, with the Doctor and her companions relegated to the sidelines for much of the story. Even in the climax, tension is minimal, as the resolution hinges on Richard explaining his actions while the Doctor repairs the damage with her sonic screwdriver.

That said, Thirteen’s trademark charm and resourcefulness shine through in her interactions with both her team and Richard. The dynamic between the companions is familiar and warm, adding a layer of humanity to an otherwise detached plot.

While the concept of Time Lapse is undeniably clever, the lack of urgency and overly long flashbacks dilute its impact. The museum setting and the exploration of time-travel mishaps had the potential for greater excitement and stakes. Instead, the story meanders, only sparking to life in brief moments of humour or tension.

📝Verdict: 66/100

Time Lapse offers an intriguing concept and a refreshing lack of world-ending stakes, but its sluggish pacing and lack of focus on the Doctor and her companions hold it back. While it’s a pleasant enough listen, it lacks the dynamism and excitement of Doctor Who at its best. A decent diversion, but not a standout.