Highlands cryptid, affectionately / WED 7-23-25 / He and I, however not she and also you / Actress Wong of the Netflix collection “Beef” / Canal with a “low bridge” (“All people down!”) / Organ with a particular form / Suffix with rocket / Japanese automaker named for a river / River by means of Khartoum

Constructor: Joseph Gangi

Relative problem: Very straightforward

THEME: this, however not that — theme clues comply with a “this, however not that” sample, the place the examples of “this” and “that” appear like they may belong to the identical class of factor, however do not:

Theme solutions:

• MUSIC NOTES (17A: A, B and C however not X, Y and Z) (“A” “B” and “C” seem like mere letters of the alphabet, however aren’t)
• BLOOD TYPES (60A: A+ and B-, however not F) (“A+” and “B-” seem like grades, however aren’t)
• CHEMICAL SYMBOLS (40A: He and I, however not she and also you) (“He” and “I” seem like pronouns, however aren’t)
• POSTAL CODES (11D: MA and MS, however not BA and BS) (“MA” and “MS” seem like levels, however aren’t)
• GENERATIONS (25D: X, Y and Z, however not A, B and C) (A” “B” and “C” seem like mere letters of the alphabet … however aren’t)

Phrase of the Day: AMANDA Seyfried (36A: Seyfried of “Imply Ladies”) —

Amanda Michelle Seyfried ( SY-fred; born December 3, 1985) is an American actress and singer. Her accolades embody a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award nomination. Named one of many 100 most influential individuals on the planet by Time in 2022, her movies as a number one actress have grossed over $2.4 billion worldwide.

Seyfried started appearing at age 15, with a recurring position as Lucy Montgomery within the CBS cleaning soap opera Because the World Turns (1999–2001). She rose to prominence as Karen Smith within the teen comedy Imply Ladies (2004), later transitioning into dramatic tv along with her position as Sarah Henrickson in HBO’s Large Love (2006–2011). She achieved worldwide fame starring as Sophie Sheridan within the musical Mamma Mia! (2008) and its sequel, Mamma Mia! Right here We Go Once more (2018).

Seyfried’s movie credit embody Jennifer’s Physique (2009), Expensive John (2010), Letters to Juliet (2010), Les Misérables (2012), Lovelace (2013), First Reformed (2017), and You Ought to Have Left (2020). She earned widespread acclaim and nominations for the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Finest Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Marion Davies in David Fincher‘s Mank (2020). In 2022, Seyfried received a Golden Globe Award and Primetime Emmy Award for Excellent Lead Actress for her efficiency as Elizabeth Holmes within the restricted collection The Dropout. (wikipedia)

• • •

The summer season DEAD spot continues to widen with one more very straightforward, very uninteresting puzzle. The theme, as soon as once more, is limp and never terribly coherent—a skinny idea with detached execution. There’s the germ of an concept right here—”these items, however not these different issues that appear like the primary issues” is definitely a reasonably frequent crossword cluing kind, and so turning that kind right into a whole-ass factor … I can see how that may appear to be an concept with benefit. However how are you going to raise it? You possibly can’t simply try this clue kind 4 instances. That is not a theme, that is simply repetition. So there have to be a approach to, you recognize, juice it. Make it particular. Make it one thing. Now, the concept pairs of clues would possibly mirror one another, that is no less than one thing, and you’ve got that right this moment with two of the clues: [A, B and C, but not X, Y and Z] echoed later by [X, Y and Z, but not A, B and C]. Good little flip, provides the pair coherence, superb. However that pair is not even symmetrical (one’s an Throughout, the opposite a Down), and the different (non-central) pair is not a pair in any respect. [A+ and B-, but not F] and [MA and MS, but not BA and BS]?!? These do not match or harmonize in any approach. Then there’s the central reply, which is simply doing its personal factor. And why does the BLOOD TYPES clue not have a second letter on its again finish? (60A: A+ and B-, however not F). Each different clue has an identical variety of gadgets on both facet of the “however,” however not that one. Small element, perhaps, however it’s one other instance of how this theme doesn’t appear to have been crafted, polished, or very effectively thought by means of. An actual listless expertise, from starting to finish.

I do not love LIS (cluable solely by way of [Fleur-de-___]), however then I spent simply ten seconds doing this. Absolutely there are different, even higher choices if the constructor or editors had been prepared to spend any period of time crafting this nook. That’s, in the event that they cared about it in any respect. However this nook is indicative of an total lack of concern concerning the high quality of the fill. The grid is gorged with drained previous “favorites,” as soon as once more—the higher crosswordese group is effectively represented: EXE and ERIE and EELS and ETNA and EER and ETSY and ESSAY and EONS and ETTA and ELSE and EWE and ESC. Twelve examples and I have not even left the letter “E” but! Crushingly uninteresting. Paint-by-numbers bland. There are simply two solutions which have any actual verve right this moment: HECTIC (an awesome 6) and INSIDE JOKE, right this moment’s massive winner when it comes to marquee-worthy solutions. Often, in a themed puzzle, it is the theme solutions themselves which have marquee standing, however right this moment’s are so blah that INSIDE JOKE, as a substitute of being a pleasant lengthy bonus, finally ends up being the one actually marquee-worthy factor within the grid. At this level, I might take an formidable and artistic mess of a puzzle over the soporific stuff we have been getting this week.

Troublesome elements? There have been none. I had SKIPS and ALY earlier than SKIMS (20A: Barely scrapes the floor) and ALI (26A: Actress Wong of the Netflix collection “Beef”), however ATOMIC MASS fastened that ultimately. It took me a minute to determine how PIT labored for 62D: Place to retire? (I had COT!). With a view to re-tire your race automotive, it’s good to make a PIT cease. “Retire” = “Re-Tire” = “Change the tires on.” That is all of the trickery this puzzle has right this moment. I supposed it is doable you do not know who AMANDA Seyfried is, however apart from that, I am unable to see the place any bother could possibly be coming from right this moment.