Mickey

I kept solving the ‘themed’ clues without getting the theme at all. Deeply deeply unsatisfying. Kudos to the constructor for the intricate work required to pull this off, but where’s the fun? Given how things have been going recently, I’m thinking we’ve entered a period of puzzles that are more excruciatingly grinding than they are engaging. I know things do change over time, hoping it’s not a slog for weeks to come.

I will certainly regret saying this, and maybe I’m still recovering from Thursday, but this was one of the easier Saturdays in a while! No complaints, I need this to recharge my ‘excitement battery’ for NYT crosswords after the ordeal culminating in Thursday’s debacle. No I don’t think I’m being dramatic, WHO SAYS IM BEING DRAMATIC. Well done!

The archaic/obscure clues and words made this one feel like solving a crossword from the archives, maybe from the 1940s. It’s one way to make things more challenging without making them more fun.

Lovely! tricky but lots of fun. The vault opener was chefs kiss. Well done Jackson!

Love Friday difficulty level, but did not enjoy this one. The magic is in getting that lightbulb moment when you figure something tricky out, but instead a lot of these clues feel a bit cheap. It’s easy to make something difficult by inventing a borderline incorrect or nonsensical meaning.