2024 Wrapped – The Hatchet

2024 Wrapped!

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Sachin Toor

“It’s a hard decision,” Sachin, a senior at Washington, says when asked about his favorite movie of 2024, “but I would probably have to say Joker 2.” A sequel to the 2019 Joker movie, Joker: Folie à Deux expands on the dark and mysterious world. For Sachin, the movie’s grounded storytelling and acting made it a cinematic masterpiece. “Everything in the movie made a lot of sense. And I felt that really helped the story be grounded in reality. Joker's whole personality is grounded in reality.” “The writing was really great,” Sachin adds. “I really enjoyed it. I especially liked how the director thought of the character. He really put that into the story and made it seem like the character was well written and thought out.” Joaquin Phoenix’s performance was a critical part of what made the movie a masterpiece. “He was great,” Sachin says. “I think Joker 1 was necessary for context but this sequel really hit home. It’s much more critically acclaimed and better overall.” Sachin also feels a personal connection with the Joker’s humor and character. He says, “The Joker and I are very similar.” It's evident that Joker: Folie à Deux has had a lasting impression on him, not only as a 2024 favorite but also as a significant motion picture. His excitement for the movie encapsulates what makes it so compelling to viewers, emphasizing its ability to strike a balance between emotional impact and skillful narrative.

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Supreet Basi

Out of the huge variety of music that was released in 2024, SZA’s “Saturn” stood out to senior Supreet Basi. For Basi it’s the defining song of the year. “I really like the lyrics and the overall flow of the song,” she says. “It’s just really catchy.” Though she is relatively new to SZA’s music, Supreet has quickly become a fan. “I didn’t really start getting into her until 2023 or 2024, so I’d say it’s relatively new,” she explains. Supreet appreciates how “Saturn” is unique while still having a connection to SZA’s signature style. “Each song is different in its own way,” she says, recognizing SZA’s ability to create new but familiar tunes. Saturn debuted at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100. When asked about the song's popularity, Supreet says, "I don't think it's overhyped. It deserves the attention it gets." For her, the beat and instrumentals resonate strongly, creating a piece that is enjoyable and impactful. “I wouldn’t say it’s a deeply emotional connection,” she clarifies, “but I appreciate the music so much.” Though Supreet was unfamiliar with SZA's discography, she was enthralled by her distinct and passionate musical vision. Even as a new listener, Supreet was drawn in by the rich layers of her sound and the depth of her lyrics.

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Movies: Lauren Phan & Aarna Sripada

For movie lovers, 2024 brought unforgettable stories. Lauren Phan, freshman and tennis player at Washington, couldn't stop talking about Challengers. “Tennis is my favorite sport, so when a movie about it came out, I had to see it,” she shared. Phan was drawn in by the film’s intense love for the game. “The character really resonated with me. I loved her passion for tennis because that's exactly how I feel about the sport,” she explained. The movie’s heartfelt narrative and talented cast made it an instant favorite for her. On the other hand, freshman Aarna Sripada was enchanted by the romance and nostalgia of The Idea of You. “It felt like I was watching a movie from the 2000s again,” she said, highlighting the film’s refreshing appeal. For Sripada, the connection between the main characters was especially captivating. “The chemistry felt so genuine throughout the film,” she noted, mentioning how the plot kept her completely engaged. Both films illustrate how storytelling–whether through sports of romance–can forge deeply personal connections.

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Books: Lauren Phan & Aarna Sripada

Mystery enthusiasts had a lot to cheer about in 2024, particularly with the launch of Holly Jackson’s The Reappearance of Rachel Price. Both Lauren Phan and Aarna Sripada declared it their top book of the year, lauding its captivating twists and engaging storytelling. “I devoured the book in just one day,” Phan said, enchanted by the drama, romance, and surprising developments. “There was never a dull moment, and I appreciated the depth Jackson infused into every subplot.” For her, the blend of suspense and rich character development made the book impossible to put down. Sripada concurred, highlighting the novel’s exhilarating unpredictability. “It kept me hooked the whole time, and I could never foresee what would happen next,” she noted. The book’s knack for sustaining tension while crafting a compelling mystery was a standout feature for her. “Reading it felt like I was part of the narrative,” she remarked, pointing out how vividly Jackson’s writing brought each scene to life. The novel’s complex plot and well-rounded characters solidified its reputation as a fan favorite, showcasing Jackson’s ongoing expertise in the mystery genre. In addition to its thrilling storyline, The Reappearance of Rachel Price struck a chord with readers due to its emotional richness and startling twists. By intertwining mystery, suspense, and character-driven narratives, Jackson crafted a book that left a profound impact. With an expanding fan base and critical praise, this novel has emerged as one of the most discussed thrillers of the year, reinforcing Jackson’s status as a prominent figure in modern mystery literature.

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Jackson Maloney

For many students at Washington High School, music plays a large role in their school day. Jackson Maloney, a sophomore at WHS, shared his thoughts on the best music of 2024, detailing his favorite artists, albums and songs from last year. When Jackson was asked about his favorite album of 2024, he instantly brought up Solitary 2 by Autumn. “He has crazy versatility, and I’ve been listening to him for so long, which played a major role in my choice,” he said. Jackson’s love for Autumn's work wasn’t just limited to Solitary 2 but rather two songs in particular within the album: “Where Yo Cash At!” and “Don’t Come Around Interlude!” “They’re great songs, and I could listen to them all day,” he stated, highlighting how much the album meant to him. As his pick for Best Artist of 2024, Jackson chose Lucki, a rapper he’s listened to for years. “Lucki dropped an album called Gemini this year, but I’ll still take Autumn’s album over his,” Jackson said. Even though Lucki’s album may not have been his top pick, Jackson’s love for Lucki is apparent. “I love my lean gut boi,” he added. This phrase is referencing Lucki, as he’s known for his laid back personality and the repeated mentions of lean within his music. Jackson’s taste in music spans a wide variety of genres, from R&B and rap to underground Japanese pop and indie. “My music taste is very broad, and I typically don’t limit myself to one genre.” His open minded perspective aided him in discovering many new artists and bands during 2024, including Cephalo and the Dododos. While choosing his pick for the best song of 2024, Jackson had a difficult time deciding, however his pick was surprising even for him, “Careless Whisper, even I don’t know why, but I found a deep love for it,” Jackson confessed, displaying his appreciation for many types of music genres.

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Alex Jeung

When asked about his favorite movie of 2024, WHS sophomore Alex Jeung mentioned Wild Robot. “It really made me think about how precious life is,” he said. Wild Robot is the story of a robot from another planet saving animals within a forest on Earth. “Before saving them, the animals didn’t get along with each other, but afterwards, she brought them together. It warmed my heart,” Alex explained. The movie’s overall message about togetherness and compassion really resonated with Alex. He appreciated the robot’s development throughout the movie as it had begun to see how important it was to understand other beings and work together even while having many differences. Wild Robot’s theme of being connected was more than just a theme to Alex but a message of how even if you are vastly different from one another, everyone will always understand each other in times of need. Jeung loves TV shows and movies one thing was apparent during his interview: his admiration for Jo Yuri. For him, the best performance of 2024 was Jo Yuri in Squid Games Season 2. “She used to be in a former k-pop group called Iz*One, but now she's an actress,” Alex said, impressed by her career change. “The way she showed her character’s emotions through her acting was exceptional.” As a matter of fact, Alex truly believes that she was the best actress of the year. “She’s someone I really admire and look up to, and seeing her go from k-pop idol to actress was really inspiring to me.” Alex’s favorite TV show of the year was also Squid Games Season 2. “The cast was phenomenal, especially Jo Yuri,” he added. He also praised the director, Hwang Dong Hyuk, saying, “He did a great job connecting Season 1 with Season 2, and his casting choices were perfect.” He thinks the director’s vision for Squid Game really helped the show’s popularity skyrocket as he wasn’t afraid to take risks.

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Shriya Tripathi

2024 was definitely a year for the books, and one thing that made it so special was the immense achievements in the music and entertainment industries. Shriya Tripathi, a junior, reflected on some of her favorite pop culture moments, starting off with her favorite movie, Inside Out 2. This movie holds a special place in her heart because she felt like she was able to relate to the main character, Riley, and followed her journey from the first movie to now. A performance Tripathi enjoyed was Renee Rapp in Mean Girls, the movie musical. “I didn’t like the movie itself, but I thought Renee Rapp did an amazing job with all of her songs,” she said. She also mentioned that she loved seeing brown representation in the movie through Avantika Vandanapu: “In general, I feel like there was a lot more Indian representation in movies and shows which made me want to watch them more.” Tripathi’s favorite show of 2024 was Bridgerton season 3. “I was waiting for the third season for a while and when it came out I could not stop watching it,” said Tripathi. While Tripathi discovered some of her favorite shows and movies in 2024, she also found great music. Tripathi said her favorite album was Billie Ellish’s Hit me Hard and Soft. “I’ve been a Billie fan for a while and I love playing her songs on the guitar, so I was really excited for this album,” she said. Tripathi also loved Kendrick Lamar’s new releases. Her favorite pop culture moment was the Kendrick and Drake war because both artists released a lot of good music at the time. Overall, Tripathi made many new favorites and revisited old classics of pop culture in 2024.

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Aditi Kathuria

Aditi Kathuria, a junior at Washington, loved Cynthia Erivo’s performance in Wicked, especially in “Defying Gravity.” Kathuria said, “I found a new love for music in movies and I think I’m going to start watching more musicals in 2025.” Kathuria also got to hear new music from her favorite artists. The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams came out on June 21st, 2024. Kathuria listened to this album nonstop over the summer, with her favorite song being “That’s so True.” She said, “It makes me so happy to see how far Gracie has come. I’ve been listening to her music for a while, and it has never let me down.” Another one of Kathuria’s favorite songs was “Good Luck, Babe” by Chappell Roan. “I feel like the song had so many different elements in it: slow parts, fast parts, and overall it was just fun to listen to.” Kathuria also said that she thought Chappell Roan was the most influential artist of 2024. She thinks Roan revived pop through her unique musical style. “I feel like she created her own little niche of music that everyone loves with songs like ‘HOT-TO-GO’ and ‘Good Luck, Babe,’” said Kathuria. While discovering new music in 2024, Kathuria also got the surreal experience of going to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short and Sweet Tour.” Kathuria says it was a great experience to see one of her favorite artists perform some of her favorite songs live. “I’m going into 2025 with some of my favorites from 2024, and I can’t wait to see what my favorite artists do this year,” said Kathuria.

Avni Mishra

Avni Mishra is a senior at Washington High School. She grew up in Fremont, California. This is her second year at the paper and she is will be co-editor-in-chief. She is also part of Whs DECA and has been doing Indian Semi-Classical dance for the past eight years. She hopes to become a print journalist in the future!

Ava Rezai

Ava Etemad Rezai is a junior at Washington High School and currently in her second year with The Hatchet. She serves as Co-Editor of the Arts and Entertainment section, Co-Manager of the Social Media team, and is also a member of the school’s podcast, Burying the Hatchet. With a strong passion for pop culture, Ava enjoys exploring how media and the arts connect to student life. Originally from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Ava moved to Fremont five years ago. At Washington, she is also involved in Leadership as part of the Campus Life Commission, where she helps plan and coordinate school rallies. Beyond school, Ava works as a floor manager at Minicaton, a cat adoption lounge, and over the summer she assisted as a medical assistant at their surgery clinic branch. Inspired by this experience, she hopes to attend veterinary school in the future and eventually open her own practice.

Kothai Pillai

Kothai Pillai is a senior at Washington High School. She was born in Mountain View and has lived in the Bay Area all her life. This is her first year being a part of The Hatchet, and is excited to cover news in the local community. She enjoys trying different foods, traveling, exploring new cities with her friends,reading, going on nature walks with her labradoodle, as well as going to concerts. In the future she hopes to attend a college in California or on the East Coast majoring in politcal science and philosphy

King Rivera

King Rivera is a senior at Washington High school. Originally from the Philippines, King moved to San Mateo at a young age, and has been living in Fremont CA since 2024. This is King’s first year on the paper. He’s interested in writing about sports and nature. His favorite ways to pass the time are reading, playing games, hanging out with friends and exploring nature. In the future he plans on joining the Air Force with the goal of flying fighter jets.