While solving crosswords, black squares of the grid are just the dividers which help me to separate the answers from each other. Their important role in the puzzle is undeniable, but let’s face the truth: we do not pay as much attention to them as we do to the clue squares. However, the NYT Crossword of March 5 is something else and poses a wholly new approach in this regard.
What if I tell you that in today’s NYT Crossword you should fill the black squares to have the complete answers? If you haven’t checked the grid yet, you may ask how that is even possible. I’m here to say: yes, it is possible. In fact, Hahn Huynh, the constructor of this puzzle, made it possible.
Join me in this NYT Crossword analysis March 5 to delve into one of the most innovative grids of recent weeks. A grid in which the black squares are part of the solving process.
NYT Crossword Analysis March 5: Theme
The peculiar situation of the grid struck me at 19-Across: Remove from power. I assumed that the answer would be Overthrow (I was right with my first guess), but a black square blocks the way and I had to write OVERT for this clue.
20-Across became my savior. This clue (Boarding pass info) solves to ROW. By seeing the word row, I suddenly realized the theme: the black square must be filled with the letter H. As it is Thursday, I was expecting to see more of these theme clues and fortunately, I wasn’t wrong.
35-Across (Bring shame upon) and 37-Across (“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; ___ for the arrow that flieth by day”) are the next theme clues which solve to DISH and NOR. Again, for 35-Across there is a missing letter in the middle, which is O, to become DISHONOR.
Let me review one more theme clue and then leave you with the rest of them to have the enjoyment of solving. The hard part of the grid comes at 38-Across, 39-Across and 40-Across. Their answers are EVE, PRE and ENT, respectively. For the real answer, I had to look back at the whole sequence. I tried to fill the black squares with the letters R and S and voila, the answer is here: EVERPRESENT.
NYT Crossword Revealer: Dark Horses!
66-Across can be named one of the best revealers of recent grids. It has a companion (68-Across) which gives meaning to the whole puzzle.
66-Across (With 68-Across, long-shot candidates … or a hint to six squares in this puzzle) and 68-Across (See 66-Across) solve to DARK and HORSES. Together, they are dark horses. You may wonder how this is related to the theme of the grid? The point is that you should not read Horses as an animal. In fact, it is the letters H O R S E S which are placed in the “dark” squares. Funny and smart, eh?
Did the DARK HORSES theme leave you completely stalled out or did you catch onto the invisible letters early on? Let me know your Thursday solving times in the comments!
If you need the answers for daily crossword puzzles like the NYT Crossword or the NYT Mini, make sure to check Daze Puzzle every day to find the solutions you need in record time.
