# Lateral Thinking Puzzles - third time is best! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214 "2023-07-18T13:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 186
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3701 "2025-07-30T14:57:52Z")
Not on this episode, and no bearing on the need for the break-up ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3702 "2025-07-30T16:13:13Z")
Did the painter or the paintee realize they’d played a causal role in the breakup? Did either of them hope, or reasonably expect, to bring about a breakup? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3703 "2025-07-30T16:30:31Z")
- reply to The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper: Did the painter Did not know or the paintee Knew realize they’d played a causal role in the breakup? Did either of them hope, or reasonably expect, to bring about a breakup? Painter did not know. Paintee did not care. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3704 "2025-07-30T16:53:45Z")
In breaking up the relationship, was the production goal to reduce the amount of time Carol and Tony were on screen together? Was the goal to alter screen time for any of the actors? Are all the characters human? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3705 "2025-07-30T16:57:34Z")
- > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > In breaking up the relationship, was the production goal to reduce the amount of time Carol and Tony were on screen together? Was the goal to alter screen time for any of the actors? > > Are all the characters human? All characters are human and the goal was not to alter screen time. But you are getting warm. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3706 "2025-07-30T22:04:32Z")
was pregnancy involved? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3707 "2025-07-30T22:06:26Z")
Did they want to start showcasing a different set? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3708 "2025-07-30T22:43:03Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > was pregnancy involved? No ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3709 "2025-07-30T22:43:47Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Did they want to start showcasing a different set? Yes ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3710 "2025-07-31T21:28:09Z")
Is Woman X someone we might have heard of outside of the show? A real person, perhaps? Is anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3711 "2025-08-01T12:48:48Z")
- > [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > s Woman X someone we might have heard of outside of the show? A real person, perhaps? > > Is anyone else? No to all ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3712 "2025-08-01T16:42:34Z")
You said it’s about showcasing a different set. Is it that they wanted to stop using one of the other sets altogether for this show? Or just to use it less? Was it because the old set looked great in black and white, but less so in color? Was it because the old set got damaged? Was it because some other show really needed the set? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3713 "2025-08-01T17:20:45Z")
reply to The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper: You said it’s about showcasing a different set. Is it that they wanted to stop using one of the other sets altogether for this show? Or just to use it less? I am not trying to be confusing. The “other set” was the painter’s studio/home, a commonly used set for show scenes involving the painter and his daughter (who is not “X” BTW). Was it because the old set looked great in black and white, but less so in color? Was it because the old set got damaged? Was it because some other show really needed the set? None of this. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3714 "2025-08-02T03:11:09Z")
Was the painting ever shown in the show Did Carol and/or Tony ever see the painting In the plot of the show was the painting in some way supernatural. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3715 "2025-08-02T11:30:55Z")
reply to Buck\_Godot: Was the painting ever shown in the show Yes Did Carol and/or Tony ever see the painting No In the plot of the show was the painting in some way supernatural. Yes ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3716 "2025-08-02T13:23:31Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > In the plot of the show was the painting in some way supernatural. Yes Dorian Gray type of situation? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3717 "2025-08-02T14:00:28Z")
- > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Dorian Gray type of situation? Not exactly the same, but you are getting the drift. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3718 "2025-08-02T19:31:10Z")
Was the painter aware of the portrait’s supernatural aspect? Was X? Did X want to become romantically involved with Tony? If so, was she successful? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3719 "2025-08-02T20:50:10Z")
reply to Fretful\_Porpentine: Was the painter aware of the portrait’s supernatural aspect? No Was X? Yes Did X want to become romantically involved with Tony? No If so, was she successful? n/a ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3720 "2025-08-03T00:47:42Z")
Did the painting have the power to cause people to fall in / out of love? Could any storyline involving the painter have achieved the purpose of showing off this set? Or did it have to be a storyline about Carol and Tony breaking up, specifically? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=185) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=187)