![LALC Vice President of External Affairs Raeanne Li (11) explains the International Phonetic Alphabet to attendees. "We decided to have more fun topics this year instead of just talking about the same things every year so our older members can also [enjoy],” Raeanne said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_4627-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
“Elementary”: A unique take on the age-old tale of Sherlock Holmes
CBS Television Studios
Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu play the parts of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. “Elementary” has just been renewed for a third season.
“Elementary”, starring Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes, is a contemporary twist on the age-old tale of “Sherlock Holmes” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Sherlock Holmes, a recovering drug addict, has just relocated to New York City following a brief stint in rehab. Leaving behind his hometown of London, England, and job at the Scotland Yard, Holmes hopes for a fresh start and wishes to someday bring his nemesis, Moriarty, to justice.
To ensure that his son does not lapse back into his previous drug-addled state, Holmes’ father hires a sober companion, Dr. Joan Watson (Lucy Liu) to look after him. At first, Holmes shows nothing but contempt towards Watson and wishes to be rid of her. However, Holmes soon grows to respect, and possibly even admire Watson, eventually establishing a partnership with her. Together, they become a team of paid consultants working under Captain Gregson (Aidan Quinn) of the NYPD.
Holmes is faced with a plethora of troubles along the way, including the challenge of finding Moriarty, the person who he believed had killed his girlfriend, Irene Adler. Holmes clearly cared for Irene deeply; it was after her death that he became a heroin addict.
Watson also comes with her fair share of problems. Previously a surgeon, Watson resigned after malpractice resulted in the death of a patient. Watson becomes a sober companion in order to save lives; she wants to put her past mistakes behind her.
I originally began watching “Elementary” to shorten the time between episodes of “Sherlock.” I admit, I did not have high expectations before watching the show, but was pleasantly surprised after I did. “Elementary” offers a refreshing take on the age-old story of Sherlock Holmes. The solid cast does nothing but contribute to the general excellence of the show.
One of the best parts about “Elementary” is how Dr. Watson is female; Lucy Liu has proven time and time again to be an exceptional casting choice for the role. She is the embodiment of a powerful woman, often standing up to Holmes’ rude behavior, and dealing with his idiosyncrasies.The banter between Holmes and Watson is quite entertaining, and one of the best elements of the show. Perhaps their banter hints at a future romance?
While “Sherlock” may still be my favorite of the two shows, I admire how Miller’s Holmes is more of an everyman. Viewers can relate to certain aspects of Miller’s Holmes, and empathize with him. “Elementary”’s Holmes is taxed with problems anyone could face; he is short on money, addicted to drugs, dealing with the loss of a loved one, and at one point almost out of a home. “Sherlock”’s Benedict Cumberbatch depicts Holmes as being less flawed (possibly even less human), and is not as easy to relate to. That being said, no one can rival the caliber of Cumberbatch’s overall portrayal of the character of Holmes. One of the only faults I find with “Elementary” is how repetitive certain storylines can be at times. Overall, I definitely enjoyed watching Miller play the part of Sherlock Holmes.
The pilot episode of “Elementary” garnered about 13.41 million views. Rotten Tomatoes users rated the first season at 97%, and the second season slightly lower at 94%, while IMDb’s users have deemed it an 8/10 stars. Among other distinctions, “Elementary” has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards.
The talented cast combined with the show’s unique take on the tale of Sherlock Holmes, result in “Elementary” being a must-see. The show is currently nearing the end of its second season, with the season finale set to air on April 24. CBS has renewed the show for a third season, which will likely air in the fall.
Tara Parimi (12) is co-Editor-in-Chief of Harker Aquila, and this is her fourth year on staff. She has been involved with the upper school's journalism...