Tom C

Is there a term of art for when you think a puzzle is harder than usual for the day of the week, but you somehow finish under your average time? Whatever that's called, that's me today.

Wonderful puzzle! I enjoy a fair rebus applied with restraint and I thought that applied here. On balance I thought the difficulty was nicely calibrated (on the lighter side) to make up for those who have to hold their nose for a Sunday rebus. My favorite Sunday in many weeks!

I don't know if the editors had a spirited debate on this or not, but I'd have given the eye as a freebie (pre-solved) here. Dipping into a rebus for one square that was not marked was a bridge too far given everything else going on here. I also think it's just another nod to the visual aspect of the solve. (It is Wednesday too after all, right?)

Just because liking a puzzle and being faster than average is often so correlated: this was much longer than my average solve (on paper unassisted) at 53:12, but I thought it was delightful nonetheless! Great puzzle!