#567 - "The Leftovers" - April 12, 2019

[BrianMac]

Week 2 of “Gentle April” is looking for something you might say while struggling with a tough meta.

Oh, I can think of a few choice words...

[Icdogg]

I think maybe a few years ago this would have been a week 3 level but we've seen enough similar mechanisms to where I knew what to look for and I probably should stop right there before I reveal anything

[bunella]

Got it without too much trouble but I too have seen similar metas. Matt did say this was a kinder, gentler month of metas.

[Thurman8er]

And the streak goes to 7! I'm loving these easier months.

[BarbaraK]

I think maybe a few years ago this would have been a week 3 level but we've seen enough similar mechanisms to where I knew what to look for and I probably should stop right there before I reveal anything

That's an interesting observation. If so, it makes it tough on the newbies.

I thought this was a bit hard for a week 2, but not totally out of range - maybe a 2 1/2 or 2 3/4.

[Meg]

What a relief! It seems like I either find the right rabbit hole within the first 30 minutes or so, or I torture myself for the entire weekend. I’d say this was a week 2.

[Hector]

It's a nice grid for having to get all of that stuff in it.

[LesY]

Solved before finishing the grid. Agree lengthy meta-solving experience helps make this feel more like a week 2 than a week 2.5-3.

Hoping for slightly harder ones the next 2 weeks but he seems to be making good on the "gentle April" promise. Thinking I'll need to wait until May (which has 5 weeks!).

[ChrisKochmanski]

Agree that the process, and the whole puzzle, felt familiar. But I enjoyed it.

[dmorack]

Definitely familiar, but fun! I don't want to say more for fear or giving away a hint.

[hcbirker]

Finally got it after going after it the wrong way. Seems like a Week 3 to me! (Heidi)

[Bill Twardy]

I had to sleep on this one overnight, but after a bit of searching, I caught on to the theme. Neat construction. Good weekend for puzzles so far. I'll get to the LAT and NYT Sunday puzzles tomorrow.

[TMart]

This was a fun one, and well constructed. I got it pretty quickly (and had a good idea what to look from the title). I guess I’m starting to think like Mr. Gaffney.

[Darryl H.]

I applaud y'all that got this one...been staring at it since Friday. I see something but step 2 eludes me.

[FrankieHeck]

Well I just bought a subscription to Matt's puzzles, and got the puzzle email about an hour ago. I hope my brain goes into overdrive this evening!

Update: I just figured it out! Now my brain hurts.

[boharr]

Beamed.