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Posting this before I read any comments: THIS is what a Saturday NYT crossword puzzle is supposed to be. And it was hard! And it took an extra hour to complete! But it was also fair. The Saturday puzzle is not supposed to take 20 minutes. I am sure I will now learn this is "the worst puzzle of decade" or something. Nah, it was just hard.
My wife and I have a streak going, ~2300 days. So I feel qualified to say, "not the worst puzzle in the past five years but I do think it's top-50 lamest." If I finish a puzzle and can't figure out the theme it means two things: constructor was too clever for their own good AND the wordplay column will adore the puzzle. Check and check. Finished the puzzle, normal time, but could not for the life of us figure out the theme (and groaned when I read it here). So yes, top-50 lamest themes of the past 2500 puzzles.
@Lewis I am Gen X and currently have a 2,300 puzzle streak,. I thought this puzzle was mid at best with a few too many Natiks (I was really bummed the NHL player was not named OREO). I seldom comment, love difficult puzzles and roll my eyes at the haters. But this sort of Naticky-puzzle is not what I love about the NYT puzzle. There are really great (and difficult) Saturday puzzles with almost no name trivial. Just something off on this one, and that's OK. Not everyone has to love every puzzle.
@Weak FWIW the older grids are filled with pop culture and references from the time - we get Biden's cabinet, those older puzzles get Clinton's cabinet. I remember 25 years ago I visited England and went to a pub trivia contest. Everything was pop culture and I realized "wow, there's almost zero crossover." It's the same thing, 25 years later - I'm Gen X and I'm not pulling up 70s pop culture one hit wonders like I would have in my 20s.
@jennie the worlds only Waunakee?!
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