[PowerPrep Question Spoiler] Why is the first blank 'deft' and not 'pretentious'

[Prithvi]

According to me the first blank is supposed to be pretentious but the correct answer is deft. I did see that the last sentence does support the fact that he was deft but, the second part of the first sentence kinda hints that he was pretentious.
Can any explain to me why pretentious is wrong?

[ehza]

Notice, the initial phrase “As esteemed literary critic”!!

Esteem is a strong positive word and also after the comma it has be a positive idea. Plus, the second part of the first sentence “his playful exuberance” _______ the traditions, that suggests he is not like us. He is at odds with the traditional approach and that does’t necessarily mean he is “pretentious.” So, it has to be “deft.”

[Prithvi]

Oh, I totally didn’t take into account the word ‘esteemed’. Thanks for the clarification!