Jonny Lee Miller stars in “Elementary”

In an age of modern adaptations of cult classics and high-definition remakes, it's often difficult to reproduce quality entertainment while putting an alternative spin on a product. Fortunately enough, CBS has managed to do this and more with its spin on the iconic character Sherlock Holmes, who you can catch in the season 3 premiere of "Elementary" airing Thursday, Oct. 30, on CBS.

Sherlock Holmes is a timeless character who has been reimagined and repurposed time and time again. From the short-lived cartoon "Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd century" to the box office smash "Sherlock Holmes" (2009), starring Hollywood mega-star Robert Downey Jr. ("Iron Man 3," 2013), we've bore witness to several adaptations and reworks of the deductive detective hailing from 221B Baker Street in London, England.

What "Elementary" does differently from others is that it tweaks the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to its own tastes. In most cases, Sherlock is based in London and works as a third-party detective who operates on his own accord. In "Elementary," we learn that while Jonny Lee Miller's ("Trainspotting," 1996) Sherlock once did work with the police force in London, he's relocated to New York City after a fall from grace and a brief stint in rehab. This is where he meets Dr. Joan Watson, another one of "Elementary's" twists on the old story.

Lucy Liu ("Kill Bill: Vol. 1," 2003), stars as the female version of Dr. Watson, who is a former-surgeon-turned-sober-companion of Sherlock's after she lost the life of a patient during surgery. She's hired by Sherlock's father to keep an eye on him once he's released from rehab, which he left on his own accord as he felt he had a better type of therapy to heal him -- solving mysteries.

As time progresses, Joan learns the ins and outs of Sherlock and what exactly makes him tick. She adapts his deductive reasoning towards solving mysteries and stays with him as a confidante, even though Sherlock's father had ceased payment, essentially leaving her without a job. Sherlock eventually confesses that he knew Joan was working unpaid and offers her the position of being his apprentice.

Sherlock and Joan are perfectly paired with one another, seamlessly playing off each another's quirks and strengths. But what of Sherlock's classic rival, the criminal mastermind Moriarty?

Natalie Dormer ("Game of Thrones") plays Irene Adler, a former love interest of Sherlock's during his time in London. After her tragic death that led to Sherlock's spiral into drug abuse and his visit to rehab, he and Joan discover that Adler is indeed alive, but all is not what it seems. Sherlock is attacked by an assassin hired by Moriarty, and it's revealed that Adler, the love of his life, is in fact Dr. Jamie Moriarty -- the longest known enemy in all works of Sherlock Holmes.

Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu as seen in “Elementary”

It's these types of twists and turns that makes "Elementary" different from other adaptations of Sherlock Holmes. In original Sherlock Holmes lore, Sherlock and John are two men who have a unique chemistry, subtle infatuation and general respect for one another. Until "Elementary," Watson and Moriarty have both been a male. The latter hasn't changed much in personality, but the change from villain to love interest is a cool alternative to the common storyline.

Another turn "Elementary" takes in season 3 is Sherlock's acquisition of a second apprentice. Most adaptations of Sherlock Holmes have only seen the detective take on one apprentice -- Dr. Watson. CBS has decided to change that in "Elementary." Ophelia Lovibond ("Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014") will play Kitty Winter, Sherlock's second student. While Kitty's arrival and her interest in becoming Sherlock's newest student is shrouded in mystery, there's one mega clue that isn't hard to follow -- Joan is not a fan.

Rhys Ifans ("The Amazing Spider-Man," 2012) will reprise his role as Mycroft Holmes, who revealed in season 2 that he was an undercover MI-6 agent moonlighting as a restaurant owner. Upon this reveal, Sherlock had to help clear his brother's name of murder and treason. Once they succeeded in doing so, Mycroft offered Sherlock a position back in London with MI-6, which he takes.

At the end of season 2, fans were left with a bit of a mystery of their own -- what will happen to Sherlock and Mycroft in London? Will Joan continue her investigative duties or buckle under pressure due to the void Sherlock left? Is Moriarty still locked away after her arrest? Season 3 looks to address these issues and more, with the introduction of several new characters, including Raza Jaffrey ("Homeland," 2014) as Joan's new boyfriend and Christian Camargo ("Dexter, 2006") as her ex-lover.

It's no surprise that "Elementary" is back for a third season. For a show that revolves around characters created in the late 18th century that have been adapted and repurposed countless times, CBS finds a new way to make it work. Switching the gender of a few main characters, changing the Sherlock's surroundings and mixing villains with lovers, these components make up a modern mystery. Don't miss the season 3 premiere of "Elementary" when it airs Thursday, Oct. 30, on CBS.