Across 1A: explained all the plot holes: (LOST EPISODE + NUDE)* 9A: foundation: N + CLUE* + US (4/7 letters in “muumuus”) 10A: wishing to avoid a conflict: [m]ANTI[s] [s]WAR[m] 11A: have sex: G[e]E(TLUC<)KY 13A: a prophet: O + RAC(L)E 15A: part of ancient Turkey: TR(O)Y 16A: bundled: SO[y] + [y]LDAS< + TEAS* 19A: writer: JAN(USEA*)TEN 20A: thyme, maybe: ddef with “her b” (“her bad”) 23A: winter vehicle: S(L_E)IGH 24A: right before Jurassic: (A SCRI[p]T IS)* 27A: reprimand: IM + P + EACH 28A: wishing to avoid attention: F[i]BULA* around SH 30A: mind-blowing: EAR(THATSTHE*)RING Down 1D: this evening: THING* around O + _T 2D: among others: ETC[h] 3D: where I first grew up: [bo]UT + ERUS< 4D: visionary operation?: “lay sick” homophone 5D: it looks like the egg: [f]LAVO[r]< 6D: Subway line: FEATHERS* 7D: they are reporting: NE(CAWS*)STERS 8D: snake: guesSER PEN Trouser 12D: eagle: AROUND TWERP* 14D: cutting part: [h]EDGE 17D: boot: yOU STruggle 18D: data visualization: BARRAG[e]* + PH< 19D: tea: JA(SM)IN + E 21D: reserved supply: B([t]ACKL[e])OG 22D: trouble: ASSHLE* 25D: one using AI: R(OB)OT 26D: onetime Iranian leader: S(H_)AH< 29D: sat up one day?: FeRgIe
There’s a video about cryptic clues where Erik Agard comes up with an insane fiendish clue for JANEAUSTEN (it was meant to showcase how crazy cryptic clues can get, not to be used in an actual puzzle)
[Good grade for school in capital is half ten, or figure close to ten (4, 6)]
“Good grade” A replaces U “school” (as in university) in JUNEAU “capital”, then S (“half” of “is”), then TEN. JANEAUSTEN is a “figure close to ten” because she’s on the £10 note.
Wow, I do kinda love the J{u->A}NEAU part of that though, but just "capital" for JUNEAU and "is half" for S and the straight definition are brutal haha.
1A: explained all the plot holes: (LOST EPISODE + NUDE)*
9A: foundation: N + CLUE* + US (4/7 letters in “muumuus”)
10A: wishing to avoid a conflict: [m]ANTI[s] [s]WAR[m]
11A: have sex: G[e]E(TLUC<)KY
13A: a prophet: O + RAC(L)E
15A: part of ancient Turkey: TR(O)Y
16A: bundled: SO[y] + [y]LDAS< + TEAS*
19A: writer: JAN(USEA*)TEN
20A: thyme, maybe: ddef with “her b” (“her bad”)
23A: winter vehicle: S(L_E)IGH
24A: right before Jurassic: (A SCRI[p]T IS)*
27A: reprimand: IM + P + EACH
28A: wishing to avoid attention: F[i]BULA* around SH
30A: mind-blowing: EAR(THATSTHE*)RING
Down
1D: this evening: THING* around O + _T
2D: among others: ETC[h]
3D: where I first grew up: [bo]UT + ERUS<
4D: visionary operation?: “lay sick” homophone
5D: it looks like the egg: [f]LAVO[r]<
6D: Subway line: FEATHERS*
7D: they are reporting: NE(CAWS*)STERS
8D: snake: guesSER PEN Trouser
12D: eagle: AROUND TWERP*
14D: cutting part: [h]EDGE
17D: boot: yOU STruggle
18D: data visualization: BARRAG[e]* + PH<
19D: tea: JA(SM)IN + E
21D: reserved supply: B([t]ACKL[e])OG
22D: trouble: ASSHLE*
25D: one using AI: R(OB)OT
26D: onetime Iranian leader: S(H_)AH<
29D: sat up one day?: FeRgIe