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I can forgive overuse of clues that are too clever by half to make up for easy fill or clunky fill to make double triple stacks work, but not both. Sorry to the constructor and editor but I gotta rate this one a POOR.

I convinced myself that, despite having a near minor in math and never having encountering a MAXIMUS, surely ABYSM is not a word. Nope.

Too many clues that were overly obtuse or too clever by half.

This was definitely constructed by a millennial. I as an almost 40 year-old was completely on his wavelength with the references and puns.

Deb, thanks for your always cheery attitude and helpful responses. It’s always a shame when a constructor’s hard work is blemished by technical glitches.