Brando

Tell a Vietnam Vet who was drafted that he enlisted and see what he says… I don’t think you’d make it out of that conversation without some scars. I get that xws don’t have to be so on the nose but this one needs to be reworked.

Reaaaaally disliked this puzzle to the point I considered unsubscribing from the app today. But puzzle addiction is real and I can’t help myself and that adds to my frustration. How many naticks and ARCANE trivia can one pack into a clunky grid…

I found this puzzle extremely easy for a Saturday (and I’m a novice). I’ve never had the Wendy’s burger, but somehow the commercial grossed me out enough to linger in my mind. That made the end of 25A easy enough to correct from everyone’s complaints here. My only moment of pause was 28D crossing 33A and I’m still not sure what it means but my random guess was correct. Great puzzle!!

As some others commented, the cross at JAKE/JAPE was my main nit, along with MASSE/EASEL. I got the theme right away with half of 17A entered and was able to quickly fill in the other themers. I actually enjoyed this puzzle more than some other commenters, but yeah, that NE corner was a slog. Loved a lot of the clues and answers outside of that area though.

Well that was underwhelming…

13D is incorrect, service members are not eligible for those benefits until they become veterans, as the name implies.

This felt more like a Tuesday than a Thursday. Where’s the mindtricks I so crave this late in the week? Easy peasy, if not an otherwise clean puzzle (barring 46D and 66A, ew!).