Selective Walrus

I feel bad saying this, because I’m sure people worked hard to make this puzzle. But it was such an unpleasant experience that I need to voice my opinion: I really didn’t like it at all. I think part of the issue was that the across clues didn’t highlight the relevant downs. So, I was constantly trying to figure out which down was supposed to go with which across. On top of that, one letter in the across answers was irrelevant to the down which made it impossible to read. Then, while it was cute to run with the theme of “stolen” letters. The remaining across fills really should have been actual words. Just really something I hope to never see again. This was a bad idea.

I am on iOS. The underlines did not show up for me. This is like the third time in the last three months, NYT. Get your mobile development team together and figure it out. This is unacceptable (in a “first world problem” kind of way).

New PB for a Tuesday. Did someone switch the Monday and Tuesday puzzles this week? Yesterday was much more difficult.

Generally disliked. Thought the trick wasn’t worth the squeeze. Knew what the rebus square had to be, but I just didn’t care. Non-American though, so your mileage may differ.

I have never heard anyone refer to a recording studio as a STU.

Tough Monday, or maybe I’m tired.

I have to give a big congratulations on the “Shell fish?” clue and answer of GASSTATIONSUSHI. Loved it.

That was fun. Side question: Did someone spike my drink, or is this a Thursday puzzle?

Good puzzle in which the theme doesn’t work at all for me. I am neither entertained or amazed by the wordplay.

Well constructed and very enjoyable. Had that great Friday quality of feeling overwhelming at first and it slowly whittles away to an excellent sculpted solve.

Cute and clever! Loved it! Well done! Just the right level of difficulty for a Thursday. Delightful!

Waaaay too many names! Sorry but I cannot remember some obscure trivia just to put in LARA or ESSO or IVAN. Really quite absurd.

Wasn’t a big fan. A lot of names, foreign words and answers that just a seemed forced.

I hated this puzzle, but I’m mainly just brain dead tired.

Oh what a lovely Thursday. Absolutely loved the theme. Nicely done, designer! Wonderful debut! Congrats!

Solid puzzle and a great Friday. Tricky at first but perseverance paid off.

Woof. Not my favourite. Too much American university sport nonsense. (TCU, ACC). A lot of euro-languages which isn’t the worst, but felt like a crutch here. Some spelling variants I didn’t love like AMON-RA instead of AMUN-RE. AORTAL instead of ATRIAL. A lot of abbreviations like PHYS URBS CIRC EDS. OBTUSER is, fittingly, obtuse. The theme itself was equally weak. I think this didn’t meet my expectations of the standards of the NYT crossword.

Brutal, brutal puzzle. Lots of new things which is great, but I take issue with “Get bronze” and not “Get bronzeD”. I also don’t live 37D’s spelling of OMIGOSH. That’s a bit of a stretch. The theme was well executed though, but definitely made it hard.

Mildly infuriating indeed. Is this just an anti-joke?

Well that might the best 1A clue and answer I’ve ever seen. Wonderful puzzle! Thanks muchly!

Tough tough puzzle. Not sure the juice was worth the squeeze on the theme.

Very lovely puzzle. A joy to solve, though I must point out (not in any negative way) that it was solved in about half my usual Saturday time. Very fun nonetheless!

An easier but much-enjoyed Friday. Thanks for this lovely puzzle!

Fun Fact: Alfred Butts also designed one other game. Do you know what it was called? “Alfred’s Other Game” (Yes, seriously).

Lovely puzzle. Solid clues. Breezy for a Saturday, but I really enjoyed it.

Fun! Loved the sense of humour.

It’s unfortunate how easy that puzzle was. Now my personal best Thursday will never be beaten until another unnecessarily easy puzzle comes along on a Thursday. Reasonably fun, but the slavish adherence to the pi day theme put an otherwise easy puzzle on what should’ve been a much harder day.

Solid. Enjoyable. Only one I didn’t love was the clue for BEANIES.

I don’t love the clue for “PENTATONIC SCALE”. I can see how it “progresses” but the term progression in music usually refers to a sequence of chords changes like a 2-5-1.

This was great fun. I loved the crossing of the British John and john. HOTMINUTE was fun too.

What a delightful puzzle! Loved it! Super cute and fun.

New personal best for a Saturday at just over 9 mins. Is is just me or was that easy for a Saturday?

Lovely puzzle! Totally solvable Friday!

Nice puzzle. Got any Thursdays though?

That has to be the single hardest NYT puzzle I’ve ever done. WOW.

Tricky Monday

I guess I’m in the minority, but I will report that I did not enjoy that puzzle.

Either I’ve been doing these puzzles too long, or that was an easier Friday.

As soon as I saw the themer at 20A, I thought “It’d be funny if they…”. They did. One of my absolute favourite movies. New PB though for Mondays since they did this, but I love it nonetheless.

Tricky Wednesday! Nice to mix it up a bit.

Well, I solved it. I have no idea how the theme clues worked, but I solved it.

Bruuutally hard. So obscure. I appreciate that you’ve constructed this (and the requisite effort), but I did not enjoy this puzzle at all. Glad to not have to see it again.

Tough but fair.

Nice Friday. Definitely more in line with what I assume are most folks’ expectations for the day of the week.

Another fairly straightforward day of clues. Even the rebuses weren’t that tricky by NYT Thursday standards. Not that I’m complaining. It was enjoyable.

Solid. No complaints. Very cute theme that was Wednesday-appropriate.

Amazing puzzle! Well done!