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).

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.

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?

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.

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?

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

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

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.

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

Nice puzzle. Got any Thursdays though?

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

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

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.

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.

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

Nice Tuesday. Good tension and effort required, but still steadily progressing. Hope everyone had a nice day.

What a wonderful puzzle! Well done! Fantastic theming and incorporation of the theme answers. On top of that, all the clues and fills felt natural clever. Really impressive! More please!

Good mix of challenging and easy. Too many names though.

Surprised this was negative. I enjoyed this challenge very much. Loved the idea! Some very tricky stuff like GSIX, but it’s not a big deal.

Neat idea! Very nicely done by the art and coding team to pull this off! Fun!

Loved it! Wonderful revealer and theme. Super speedy, and good fun! Welcome to the NYT Crossword!

Easier than usual Thursday, not that I’m complaining. Good fun.

Very fun puzzle, though also a very quick one. Not a PB, but close.

Well that’s one of the easiest Fridays in a while, but I’m not complaining. It was super fun!

Fun Saturday!

22A is technically incorrect for most extra innings now.

I guess I’m not the only one having an issue completing the puzzle, which is reassuring but also confusing and frustrating. I have a 1200+ day streak going I don’t want to lose…

Pretty sure that was too easy for a Friday. Could have been a Themeless Thursday or a Wednesday. New PB for Fridays that I’m unlikely to meet again.

Reasonably cute and straightforward. Enjoyable.

Nice puzzle. I didn’t get the second “spun” answers until the puzzle showed me, but it was an impressive accomplishment.

Overall great puzzle. 45D has a tense mismatch, I think? “TRIED not to draw attention” vs “LAY low”? Shouldn’t it be LIED LOW or a similar change to the clue?

Nice work! Very fun to solve! One constructive tip: Some reference to Einstein, Hawking or Star Trek to connect it all.