I pretty much agree with the Rexnerd about this puzzle, except for one thing: I loved it!
Even though it was about 5 minutes over my Tuesday average at 18:55, I was pleased with myself for doing this in one shot. I saw that Tyler Perry clue though and hesitated… no, no, not again! And since I had wrongly guessed CHART (not alone on this), and then went CAL (also a fail), I felt confident… but ARG, YEA, it was indeed…
Still, not enough to annoy me at all, and even though, sure, the clues are sort of opposite land to the answers, it was overall an enjoyable solve. I kind of like lots of short fill if it’s not too janky, and this one was fine with nice clear clues and few cutes ones such as 43D. Not tooooo tricky, other than the theme – which totally gives way to an easy solve once you see it. A good way to end this year in hell. And now, I’m OFF!
I loved this puzzle too! The theme was perfect: a little bit cute, required just a bit of thinking to figure out, and fun.
Rex is dead wrong about the theme not working. Yes, oxygen diflouride isn’t an ODORLESS gas. No one is claiming that it is. But, _xygen _iflu_ _ide is literally an O-D-O-R-less gas. He seems to think that the theme would work better if the gas, in that example, didn’t have a smell, and I disagree. It would ruin the pun if it were smell less!
Obviously, this is an argument over semantics, but I think it’s a really good example of what annoys me about Rex: needless negativity about one of my favorite sources of joy: puzzles! Shove it, Rex!
Two more sleeps till Christmas for me!