Ashton Anderson's puzzle was not a smooth solve for me despite Rex's easy-medium rating...had in my mind that impenetrable script was LINEAR B and managed somehow to make its seven letters fit into the six of the grid...Xed that out because I knew UVA was Bobby and Teddy's law school..kinda knew Natalie was born in Israel, but switched her birthplace with her college years by writing in CAMBRIDGE..with all of that messing up, the nice NW took time to emerge.
I don't disagree with Rex's respectful assessment, but this puzzle did not excite me. I could rationalize my reaction--a fair number of words, no answers above nine letters, ANDI ain't pretty, no implicit theme bubbled up--but there are pretty good counter-rationalizations--low black square count, plenty of good answers like EL CHEAPO and YES, MASTER, which is nice as a bottom of the puzzle, "row of death" entry. So I'll just leave it as matter of personal taste and ideosyncrasy--maybe I would have loved it if JUST SAYIN', ENCHILADA, and JERUSALEM had all come clear to me like sun in the heavenly city instead of remaining shrouded in fog.
Two little points: The sort of weak WHAT A SHOT is much improved by crossing with FADEAWAY. On the other hand, TOO HOT I think is weakened not improved by being paired with NOT in the cluing. Yep, it's a phrase, but it's a downer. TOO HOT is not, but it's, well, hot.
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