Question

Satire may be brutal and scathing or gentle and good-natured, but it always involves a criticism that remains (blank) rather than explicit. It's fill in the blank.

Answer 1

Using context, I would say subtle.
Rather than explicit means it’s the opposite of,

Hope that helps :)

Answer 2

maybe the answer is implicit because they say ___ rather than explicit (which is the opposite of implicit)?

have a good one!