Crossword Genius

Curious to see them so relaxed after extremely deficient final season (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

interested

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'curious' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)

'relaxed after extremely deficient final season' is the wordplay.
'relaxed' becomes 'rested' (I've seen this before).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'extremely deficient' means to look at the middle letters.
'final season' becomes 'winter' (last season of the year).
The middle letters of 'winter' are 'inte'.
'rested' put after 'inte' is 'INTERESTED'.

'to see them so' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for interested that I've seen before include "Partisan" , "Showing curiosity" , "Concerned" , "Wanting to know" , "Attentive" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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