Back on target! Let's stay that way for the rest of the week.
Today's theme is highly inventive. The revealer comes at 56A: Where your eyes might stay during a suspenseful scene ... or the only place you'll find the "eyes" in this puzzle (GLUEDTOTHETV).
And in fact, there are only three pairs of Is in the puzzle, each in a long across answer around the letters TV. How many answers can you find with the string ITVI? Not a lot. Nicely, each set crosses the two words in the theme answer phrases.
TRANSITVISAS and CROSSFITVIDEO are far more standard phrases that HOBBITVILLAGE. I suppose that Hobbiton is exactly that, but never referred to in that sense in the canon of Lord of the Rings. Mostly we just hear about the Shire, and a little of each settlement's names.
Anyway, it's very inventive, and I love that the remainder of the puzzle avoids the Is.
This puzzle took me slightly longer than typical for a Monday. I'm not sure why. I think I was thinking about the theme rather than solving the grid. Or is that the way you're supposed to enjoy these? I sometimes worry that I am too caught up in trying for the best possible time that I'm not actually having fun. Or it's its own kind of fun. Who am I to judge?
I love the word BLITHELY.
- Colum
Colum, your review today really struck a chord. I took longer than usual as well - I thought it was just a titch harder than the average Monday. Plus, sometimes you're in the zone, sometimes not so much, and I was a little distracted while doing this one. The thing about enjoyment - I too have had those kind of thoughts, as I often find myself blasting through, watching the clock and not properly appreciating (or sometimes even twigging to) the theme. It's kinda how I roll, I know, but I feel sometimes that I'm doing the setters a disservice.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I loved the "it's its" at the end of your review!
Thanks, Philbo! Also, I clocked the "it's its" also.
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