Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: E. M. Capassakis

Constructor: E. M. Capassakis

Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium

THEME: 3-digit numbers (?) — theme clues are all 3-digit numbers that stand for or are associated with their answers:

Theme answers:

INTRO CLASS (17A: 101)
BOND (19A: 007)
CANNABIS (31A: 420) (explained here)
THE BEAST (47A: 666)
INFO (62A: 411)
FULL CIRCLE (64A: 360)

Word of the Day: mullion (2D: One in a mullion? = PANE) —

A mullion is a vertical element that forms a division between units of a window or screen, or is used decoratively. It is also often used as a division between double doors. When dividing adjacent window units its primary purpose is a rigid support to the glazing of the window. Its secondary purpose is to provide structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Horizontal elements separating the head of a door from a window above are called transoms. (wikipedia)

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This is the third day in a row where I have not been entirely confident that I understood the theme completely, even after successfully filling in the grid. I keep thinking there has to be more ... these theme clues are all 3-digit numbers that stand for things. There are at least a couple such numbers left on the table (e.g. 747, 911), but that's not the problem. The problem is the concept itself seems too loose, not to mention too dull. As I was solving I kept looking for the hook, but the hook was just 3-digit numbers. That's it. That's ... it? If there's something more, "I DON'T SEE IT" (11D: "Where?"). And the theme answers are things like ... INFO? If I'm not missing something, then I have to say that this theme does not feel like it's up to NYTXW standards. And the answers themselves don't even have anything to recommend them, really? They're all so short: 10, 10, 8, 8, and then two "bonus" 4s. That is not a lot of real estate, and none of those answers are what you'd call "sparklers." I guess FULL CIRCLE is not bad as a standalone answer, but the theme answers are all so straightforward that I am left wondering what, exactly, is puzzle-y about this, beyond the superficial similarities of all the theme clues. In addition to the theme answers being generally lackluster, THE BEAST is borderline unforgivable in its incompleteness. "666" is the mark of THE BEAST, or the number of THE BEAST. That is always how that number would be described. THE BEAST on its own is laughable. I mean, I'm not literally laughing, so maybe "laughable" is too generous. Also, technically, if I asked you what 411 stood for, you'd say "Information," not INFO. So that one missed too. 101 is an INTRO CLASS, 360 is FULL CIRCLE, 007 is BOND, 420 is marijuana (or CANNABIS, if you need you answer to fit in eight squares)—no problems there. But INFO and especially THE BEAST—they miss the mark.

As usual, I had the greatest amount of trouble right out of the gate. No idea how to make sense of 1D: Arizona in Hawaii, e.g. (SHIP), completely forgot what a "mullion" was (2D: One in a mullion? => PANE), and thought 1A: Twitch, e.g. (SPASM) was for sure going to have something to do with the live-streaming service. Further, I thought 5D: Be a sponge (MOOCH) was gonna be SOP UP. So I was striking out like crazy up there. I don't know where I went from there. I feel like I started getting traction somewhere in the west, with BANJO or ALAS, somewhere in there. I know the first themer I encountered was [666], but I didn't know it was a themer. Also, when I got THE, I wanted BEAST but didn't write it in because it seemed incomplete (see above). Then I thought "Oh, maybe all the theme answers are going to be missing their initial 'MARK OF' or 'NUMBER OF' ... I wonder how they're going to tie that together?" But still, I abandoned that answer and moved on. The first themer I completely *got* was FULL CIRCLE (64A: 360), and I thought that since it was last, maybe there were a bunch of early clues that went through the other segments of a circle: you know, 180, 90 ... 45? I don't know. I must've forgotten I'd already seen [666]. I was just desperate to make any of it cohere. Eventually I worked up to CANNABIS and realized none of it was going to cohere, the theme was just 3-digit numbers, that's that. Again, I'm genuinely surprised that this was deemed sufficient, and I'm genuinely sorry if I'm missing what makes the whole thing special.

Had to think for a bit about the [Eponym of a neighborhood in Queens] but then remembered My Daughter Lives There (ASTORia). Still not totally used to the fact that she lives in NYC now. Outside of the NW, I don't see any real troublemaker clues today. Is "a noodle" a brainstorming session or something like that? I inferred IDEA from the expression "using one's noodle (i.e. brain)," but something about the phrasing on 16A: End of a noodle? struck my ears as awkward. CTRL-C is certainly the ugliest thing in the grid, but it's accurate enough, I suppose (45D: Copy command on a PC). Funniest thing that happened to me was confusing the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges (14A: Marx brother with a curly wig => HARPO). I had the "R" from ARTS and wrote in LARRY. Wish I had more zaniness like that to relate, but this was a pretty plodding experience overall. Hope you found it more delightful than I did. See you next time.

Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld

P.S. I'll be reminding you all week that These Puzzles Fund Abortion 4 is now available. Here is my description of the details (from this past Sunday's write-up):

These Puzzles Fund Abortion 4 (four!) just dropped this past week—over 20 original puzzles from top constructors and editors—and you can get the collection now (right now) for a minimum donation of $20 (donations split evenly among five different abortion funds—details here). You can check out a detailed description of the collection and a list of all the talent involved here. I not only guest-edited a puzzle, I also test-solved puzzles. I have now seen the finished collection, and it's really lovely, across the board. General editors Rachel Fabi and Brooke Husic and C.L. Rimkus put in a tremendous amount of work ensuring that it would be. The attention to detail—test-solving, fact-checking, etc.—was really impressive. Anyway, donate generously (assuming you are able) and enjoy the puzzle bounty!