GROUP / SHOTS … Okay, what's the theme, you ask? I know it. But I'm not going to tell you. Why? BECAUSE REASONS. Fine, I admit that it ...
read moreGROUP / SHOTS …

Okay, what's the theme, you ask? I know it. But I'm not going to tell you. Why? BECAUSE REASONS.
Fine, I admit that it took me a (long) while to figure out that it's a "both words can precede X" theme. Usually, revealers for these themes are something like DOUBLE ___ or TWO ___, bluntly pounding you over the head with the idea. I'm not a fan of that approach, especially since this theme genre has been done a lot over the years.
I mostly like Erik's take, forcing solvers to think a little to earn their a-ha. I wonder how many early-week solvers won't bother to spend extra time to grok the idea, though.
Curious layout. I wondered how TEEN VOGUE and MAY I CUT IN fit into the theme — it's unusual for a crossword to have zero themage in big regions of a puzzle. That entire SW and NE, devoid of themers … hmm.
It's snazzy that CHEAP TRICK and HEAD SLAP just happen to interlock — at the same symmetrical location as BODY DOUBLE and LONG JUMP! But I don't think it was worth the confusion. I'd have preferred a more standard "windmill" layout, perhaps moving HEAD SLAP to roughly where MAY I CUT IN resides.
A tough call. The themer interlock does provide a point of distinction from other "both words can precede X" puzzles. Distinction can be good, as long as it doesn't turn into distraction.
Erik is way hipper than me (Exhibit A: my usage of the word "hipper"). FAKE DEEP is … what? Part of the theme somehow, i.e., FAKE SHOT and DEEP SHOT? Those are hockey terms? No, I kid! (Maybe.) FAKE DEEP turns out to be modern lingo for oh who am I kidding; if I try to learn and use it, the kids will laugh at me and then stop using it. Lose-lose situation.
My qualms about grid layout aside, I appreciated Erik's newb-friendly grid, such a smooth product. Even if a solver doesn't get what's going on, at least he/she can enjoy filling in each square to earn a Mr. Happy Pencil success.