Jairus
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New York
Hate to be that guy, but moving in for a closer shot is to zoom or push in. Panning is moving horizontally with the camera (from "panorama"). So "pan in" isn't right here and doesn't really exist.
I'm sorry but Super Mario Bros is far from obscure. It's as totally valid a subject for a themed NYT cw puzzle as the Oscars, sports, Star Trek or any of the other countless themes they've done before. Not everyone will know everything and I think that's fine. I'd rather see something a little nerdy and weird from time to time on a Sunday than just another boring standard puzzle. To the haters today, I'm sure you have a theme just around the corner that'll give you a little jolt of nerdy happiness and make you smile like this one did for so many of us today. Apologies that our pleasure came at the expense of your Sunday happiness lol
Difficult, yes. Expected for a Saturday. But for the wrong reasons imo. Too many "know it or you don't" references and trivia, mixed with clueing that has too many valid responses to choose from, and a lot of the good ole "who but the author would ever think that." Leaving on a positive: very well constructed and clearly intelligent.
Ah. Ok. Got it. Yet another theme where the rearrangement has absolutely no relevance to the puzzle, theme, clueing, reveal. Great. Thanks.
See, this is the perfect example of puzzles that really bother me. Without spoiling the theme, what exactly does the rearranged answer have to do with the clue, the theme, anything at all? Absolutely nothing. I don't think it's enough to have a concept, execute it as a theme, and then arbitrarily toss in words just to finish it off. I think both the literal answer to a clue and the reorder answer should both relate to the theme. Constructing crosswords is extremely difficult and something I will likely never do, and clearly something I love to complete. So, kudos to constructors. However, I think clueing like this is kinda cheap and frustrating because you have nothing to base the answers on in the end, and your only reaction is "oh, cute, but what...?"
Yo. Haven't finished it yet but just got the theme and had to come rn to say CLEVERRRRRR. Nice work. Great, fun, cohesive theme.
@Linds yeah I've thought the exact same thing and I'm 44. Answers are frequently vocabulary or references for MY parents' generation, which makes it even tougher for younger demos, I'd think. I think it's funny when a clue will say "slang," and I'm thinking Cool, they're integrating GenZ or Millennial verbiage... And it winds up being something my grandparents used to say haha. However, I've noticed a lot more actual modern references, slang, pop culture coming up lately which is refreshing. I'll echo Josh's comment that Sat is the toughest puzzle of the week. So, more modern clues tend to be earlier in the week. I don't think you're simple-minded, but there is a trick to doing crosswords that only comes with doing them more, regardless of archaic clues/answers. My suggestion is to cheat when you're truly stuck. You'll start seeing patterns to clueing, repeat usage, etc, and start learning/retaining bits of older history which is important I think. But you're absolutely right, the Times needs to encourage crossword creators to get more current. They seem real dusty sometimes.
*rubs eyes* Is it Saturday today...?
You ever get, like, 5 mins until a puzzle and think, "Oh, great... It's going to be THAT kind of puzzle today." Yeah. That.
@Asher B. I understand completely what you mean and fully agree. I've mentioned here a few times about how convoluted themed puzzles can be (like today's). Imo if there's a double answer, the second answer should have something to do with something: the clue, the theme, the reveal... anything. Instead, most times they're just nonsense that are either random meaningless words or even just random letters. When I've raised my (polite) voice here, I'm told I have unrealistic expectations of the crossword creator, don't understand how themed puzzles work (I do), I'm not having fun, it's Thursday get over it, etc etc etc. So, I'm sorry to say that our shared opinion is in the minority here and generally not welcomed haha. I've settled for turning my gripe into an eyeroll and move on with my commute. Hope tomorrow and Sat are more thatisfyingly themeless for us (get it...) 😆
@MExpat @MExpat On your 2 points: I don't think anyone's claiming this is anything but a crossword. Yet, being a word puzzle, answers should be justified. There are 5 answers here that are completely unjustified. Can I go about my day unphased after completing this puzzle? Sure. Do I need spiritual inspiration from crosswords? Not really. Do I expect more refinement from one of the most visible crossword publishers in the world? Absolutely. I know many, many American football fans that would take major issue with you claiming their sport isn't meaningful haha
Show me you're a Saturday puzzle without telling me you're a Saturday puzzle haha
Welp, it's grey duck. But whatever :)
@SP wow you're right. How in the h did that become the plural when the Greek plural of agora is pretty much just agoras haha. Those Romans...
@Vernon Where to even begin with comments like these...
Good puzzle, cute theme, had fun. But yet again, another puzzle where the theme answers are just arbitrary words and phrases that have no link to the theme, clueing, reveal, nothing. I know this doesn't bother most people, and some say this is unrealistic expectations of the creators. But I really think if you're making a theme, it should all connect somehow, otherwise it's just..."oh, well ok 'time machines' but why?" Anyway, morning on, pet peev airing done. Have a good Thursday.
Fun puzzle. The linguist in me has to be a d bag for a sec though and mention that "mer contents" is leading you to a plural but the answer is singular...
Lol not everybody flocking here to continue complaining about Sunday's crossword...
But... They're misspelled. Okay. Still get it, but why? Oh ok, so then the revealer will have some association with or explanation why they're misspelled, right? Oh. So they're just misspelled. For no reason. Meh. Moving on with my day.
I love (actually not love) how this sometimes becomes a place for people to just boldly string out tons of answers. Am I the only one who comes here mid puzzle for a little break, read some gripes, collectively commiserate/celebrate on the day's puzzle a li'l bit before heading back to finish? Only to have a few clues ruined. Every time. Yeah, my problem for continuing to do it. But why, really? That's really what the answer key is for.
@Sean I get what you're saying and totally agree
@Lin It's not the trickiness, difficulty, or innovation that we're discussing here. Quite the contrary. We know how the Times crosswords work. I've been happily coming to these for decades for a reason. Mon-Sun, love them all. But I believe if a theme is being imposed, it needs to be cohesive or there shouldn't be a theme. Whether or not it's difficult to solve is completely separate. I'm not complaining about that and I don't think Asher is either.
Admittedly, English native speaker but francophone here, and pretty sure the feminine petite elides the final E when followed by a vowel, regardless of gender, to petit amie. Similar to bel amie. One of those things you learn early on that makes you wonder how you're able to recognize any gender or plural in French when speaking haha. I think this cluing is wrong here and misleading. Any native francophones here to provide insight?
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