June 17, 2020

Title: WOLF PACK

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

LONE RANGER (16A: Character often said to have been based on Bass Reeves)

TEEN CHOICE AWARD  (36A: One of 28 won by One Direction)

GRAY MATTER (60A: Brains)

Theme synopsis: The first word of each theme answer is a type of wolf: LONE WOLF, TEEN WOLF, GRAY WOLF. Together, the theme answers are a WOLF PACK.

Things I learned:

• HIJAB (1A: “Yes, I’m Hot in This” garment) Yes, I’m Hot in This is a comic strip by Huda Fahmy. The comic strips focus on Fahmy’s day-to-day life as a Muslim in the United States. You can find Fahmy’s work on Facebook or Instagram, and I recommend it. This was a delightful way to clue HIJAB.
• LIN (22A: “Better Luck Tomorrow” director Justin) Justin Lin is a film director whose works include some of the films in the Fast & Furious franchise in addition to Better Luck Tomorrow.
• EARLE (49D: “The World is Blue” author Sylvia) Sylvia Earle is an Explorer in Residence for the National Geographic Society and a former Chief Scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She has authored many books, including The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean’s Are One.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• TEEN CHOICE AWARD (36A: One of 28 won by One Direction) TEEN WOLF is a TV series (and a 1985 movie) about a young werewolf who defends his town from threats. TEEN WOLF may not be as familiar to solvers as LONE WOLF or GRAY WOLF. The TV show ran for six seasons, though, so I think it’s fair game. Even if you didn’t know of TEEN WOLF, it wouldn’t interfere with the solve of the puzzle.
• ANA (40A: “Devious Maids” star Ortiz) Devious Maids was a TV series that followed the lives of four Latina maids working for wealthy families in Beverly Hills, California.
• AUNT (17D: Hilda or Zelda to Sabrina Spellman) Sabrina the Teenage Witch is the name of a comic book series, a movie, and several animated and live action TV series. Sabrina Spellman is the title character, and as this clue indicates, Hilda and Zelda are her AUNTs. This was a fun way to clue the word AUNT.
• APRIL (51A: National Siblings Day month) and JUNE (3D: National Best Friends Day month) This was a fun clue pairing. In case you’re wondering, National Siblings Day is April 10 and National Best Friends Day is June 8.

Geography Review:

• ARUBA: (13A: Island whose capital is Oranjestad) ARUBA is a Caribbean island and a constituent state of the Netherlands. Oranjestad is its capital and largest city.
• MALI (15A: Country bordered by Niger) MALI is a land-locked country in West Africa. It is the eighth-largest country in Africa and Africa’s third largest producer of gold.

When I see Zhouqin Burnikel’s name as the constructor, I know the puzzle’s fill will be solid and smooth. This puzzle was no exception. The theme was light with just three theme answers, but that didn’t detract from the enjoyment of working the puzzle.