Rory

Delighted to get back to a classic, unfussy Sunday solve. Needed that after last week.

Punishing.

With the greatest respect, this one felt like a contrivance too far. It’s heading in a very clever direction, but none of the theme solutions actually correspond to their clues, and can only be solved by deduction across two themers. Would have appreciated it more if the solutions were in any way related to their clues.

Really cool Sunday solve. Don’t think I’ve seen a puzzle that combined a triple, double and single solution in one chain like that before. Outstanding construction work!

A very tough one. Didn’t enjoy that the crosses didn’t form real words or phrases with the downs “stealing” the first initial of the artist from the cross.

To echo others… yes this is a US publication crossword, but obviously it has a large international fan base. Easy enough to be understanding of regular US references and brands etc., but stuffing a crossword with it is rather exclusive. Can’t speak for other countries, but here in the UK we don’t have the sort of poison that masquerades as breakfast cereal in America.

Absolutely loved this one. Breezy, clever, fun, perfect for a Sunday morning.

Loved this one! Favourite Thursday ever I reckon.

Some good ones, couple not so great. “Les Miz” is commonly “Les Mis”. “Crossest” made me cross.

Yikes. The trivia here was particularly eclectic and esoteric all at once. Tough one.

New Thursday PB. Appreciate the easy ride, still feel like a hungover walrus after yesterday’s feasting.

Not my favourite of all time, the long crosses being a bit zany… but can respect the creativity

Breezier than a gale, fun.

Well you said it would drive me crazy and you weren’t wrong. One of the more hideous creations as far as the grid looked by the end, a hodgepodge of letters that leaves an overwhelming sense of having not enjoyed my time in getting there. Not what I wanted for my Sunday.

Enjoyed this! First pass gave me anxiety but it all started to fill in with further passes, and even the more obscure trivia was deducible from crosses. Altogether a solid Saturday brain teaser.

Usually a bit ambivalent about solutions that don’t form complete words or phrases, but thought the theme here was clever and not obtuse. Enjoyed it!

Gaah conflicted. Genuinely clever and yet ill never love a solve with gobbledegook on the grid. Every theme cross here is both so smart and GUILTY.

Yeh the struggle was real on this one. Clever idea but strengthens my preference for solutions that are actual words in the grid. What can I say, I’m just a middling crossworder who likes a chill solve.

Usually not the biggest fan of solutions that aren’t proper words on the grid… but this was clever and fun, the trick was consistent, and satisfying to solve. Nice one!

Mixed bag for me. Some really fun and clever word play, but also a good few very tenuous links between the cluing and solution. I’m never too bothered about obscure trivia though, good to learn little gems even if you do have to look it up.

Enjoyed this! Clever theme, not too cute or obtuse. New Sunday PB by quite a way.

Ehehe. Great movie.

Nuggety little test for a rugby fan who knows next to nothing about football, but I enjoyed it.

An easier Thursday for me than yesterday’s football theme, but a rebus free Thursday is never a bad thing in my mind

Fun puzzle, did get caught up on some of the more US-centric solutions (as usual) though. Interesting cultural divide in the “root words” solution particularly, as GOTEAMGO is far more simple and wholesome a chant than we tend to hear in the UK. QDOBA was a straight up google search, shockingly.

Interesting one. Completed without any rebus, so I assume those squares could be filled in with T, V or a TV rebus? I finished with only Ts…!

Some good ones today… a couple of proper baffling ones too though. Help me out please… Puss? Ani?

Enjoyed this for the most part, some good word play, some tough trivia. Couple of mild head scratchers.

Monday PB!! 4:49. Approaching competent 😁

Thursday PB 12:25 🙌 Glacial for some I’m sure.