July 3, 2022

Title: ENDGAME

Constructor: Amanda Rafkin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

IT'S WORTH THE RISK (19A: "I'm prepared to gamble on that")

I'M TERRIBLY SORRY (35A: "My sincerest apologies!")

WELCOME TO MY LIFE (50A: "Now you see what I go through all the time!")

Theme synopsis: The END of each theme answer is the name of a classic GAME. Today's ENDGAME: RISK, SORRY, and LIFE.

Things I learned:

• CHARLIE (22A: One of the protagonists in "Heartstopper") Heartstopper is a Netflix TV series adapted from Alice Oseman's webcomic and graphic novel of the same name. Heartstopper is a coming-of-age series telling the story of CHARLIE Spring (played by Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (played by Kit Connor). The show has been nominated for Dorian Awards (presented by GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics) for Best LGBTQ Show, Best TV Drama, and Best TV Performance.
• YEAR (59A: "The ___ of No Mistakes" (Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz book)) The YEAR of No Mistakes is Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz's sixth book of poetry. The autobiographical poems in the collection chronicle the author's move from New York City following the end of a 10 year relationship.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• Easter Eggs: As Amanda promised in yesterday's notes, the title of today's puzzle is a follow-up to yesterday's puzzle centered on the INFINITY STONES featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Although the theme of today's puzzle stands alone and is unrelated to the MCU, Amanda has included a few Easter Eggs for us. (As always, let me know if you find some I've missed.)
• ALT (1A: Key by the spacebar) The movie Avengers: ENDGAME deals with ALTernate realities.
• COMIC (4A: Word before "book" or "strip") A lovely bonus!
• OLDER (20D: Like "Avengers: Infinity War" vis-a-vis "Avengers: Endgame") Avengers: Infinity War (the focus of yesterday's puzzle) was released in 2018. Avengers: ENDGAME was released the following year in 2019.
• ANG (41A: "Brokeback Mountain" director Lee) ANG Lee won an Academy Award for Best Director for the 2005 movie, Brokeback Mountain. The movie has received acclaim for helping move queer cinema into the mainstream. I remember when Brokeback Mountain was first in theaters, but had forgotten that ANG Lee directed it. I'm happy to be reminded of that.
• DOLPHIN (46A: Marine mammal that makes bubble rings) Blowing bubble rings is one example of playful behavior DOLPHINs have been observed to exhibit. DOLPHINs have also been observed playing with objects by carrying them along or passing them to each other.
• MUCH (6D: "That Don't Impress Me ___" (Shania Twain song)) Shania Twain's song, "That Don't Impress Me MUCH" was released in 1998. The song was a worldwide hit, charting in the Top 10 in 16 different countries. I've always liked this sassy song.
• ROBES (25D: Thawbs or kimonos, e.g.) Thawbs are an ankle-length ROBES commonly worn by women in the Middle East. Kimonos are traditional Japanese ROBES. This is a nice example of a clue that gives two examples, and to be successful a solver need only be familiar with one of them.
• SKYE (29D: ___ terrier) SKYE terriers are named because the dogs were found on an island in Scotland, the Isle of SKYE. This breed is considered vulnerable and in danger of extinction.
• WORDPLAY (34D: Puns and such) This is an appropriate answer to find in a crossword, isn't it?
• ACAI (45D: Three syllable berry) I know the word ACAI is pronounced with three syllables, but I can never quite remember the correct pronunciation. My approach is the avoid speaking about the berry, and only write about it! Merriam-Webster online has a helpful audio button with the pronunciation.
• DOMEE (46D: ___ Shi ("Turning Red" writer-director)) DOMEE Shi has been working for Pixar since 2011, and is the first woman to have a solo directing credit for a Pixar feature film. In addition to Turning Red, DOMEE Shi directed the 2018 short film, Bao, which won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. 

Geography review:

• ARUBA (14A: Dutch Caribbean Island) ARUBA is an island country in the Caribbean. ARUBA and two other islands, Bonaire and Curaçao, are known as the ABC islands. When I filled in this answer, I began singing "Kokomo," the 1988 song from the Beach Boys. "ARUBA, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take ya..." In my head, this song is always sung by the Muppets.  
• TULSA (3D: City in Oklahoma) TULSA is the second-largest city in Oklahoma, after the state's capital, Oklahoma City. The city of TULSA was settled in the 1800s by a band of the Creek Nation. Most of the city of TULSA is on territory of the Muskogee (Creek) Nation.
• ROMANS (43D: People from Italy's capital) When I think of people from Rome, Italy, I am reminded of Marc Antony's soliloquy from Julius Caesar, which I had to memorize in ninth grade. "Friends, ROMANS, countrymen, lend me your ears..."
• ERIE (52D: Lake whose floor is higher than Lake Ontario's surface) This is an interesting fact about crossword's favorite lake. The surface elevation of Lakes ERIE, Superior, Huron, and Michigan are approximately the same (between 569 and 600 feet). Lake Ontario has a lower surface elevation than the other Great Lakes (about 246 feet). Since Lake ERIE is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, and at its deepest the depth is 210 feet, the entire floor of Lake ERIE has a higher elevation than the surface of Lake Ontario. This Vivid Maps article has a diagram illustrating the depths of the Great Lakes.

When I opened today's puzzle, I was delighted to see my guess about its title was correct. (A little victory!) This was a playful theme, and I enjoyed it, just as I have enjoyed playing each of the three classic games featured. I also liked that all three theme answers were sparkly, grid-spanning conversational phrases. In addition to the theme and the answers I've already highlighted, the following answers were great: STAGE LEFT, ROSEMARY, REWRITES, CASH ONLY, and NOT IN HERE. Thank you, Amanda, for this ENDGAME that was a superb way to start my Sunday.