Death Note: the halfway mark review


Ok, so I’ve watched a little more than half the episodes of Death Note (20 out of 37) but close enough. Anyway, Death Note was one of the few series’ that I loved right from the first episode. My opinion of it has changed (for the better) since my initial review of the first 2 episodes, and now I like it even more and I understand why it’s one of the more popular (but not quite mainstream) series’ around nowadays…

First of all, I think its main appeal comes from the personalities and goals of the main characters, especially Light. Even though Death Note is a Shounen Jump series, Light is far from what you would expect of a Shounen Jump lead male character. He’s not your typical self-sacrificing, hot-tempered, super-powered, “yakuza” guy; on the contrary, he’s mature but obsessive, and intelligent but also scheming and even self-centered. His goal of wanting to “cleanse” the world by using the Death Note to kill off all evil people, etc., seems like something heroic, but as the series progresses, you can tell Light takes things too far and gets crazed with his obsession and “Kira” alter ego, which to some may seem like the most evil person of all. This flaw again adds to the realism of his character and how he breaks away from the stereotypical mold of a Shounen Jump character. What starts off as just killing some criminals becomes killing anyone who might discover his power, and a tedious war-of-wits develops between him and L. The way Light is eventually able to coldly kill people so easily, and how he obsesses over his rivalry with L, makes him seem almost mad sometimes (like in an Edgar Allen Poe story or something). After watching what this guy does for 20 episodes, you can’t help but find him a very fascinating and interesting character.

The other characters are also equally unique and interesting. Like Light, L is extremely intelligent and also doesn’t show much emotion. But since the ongoing plot in the series is the “competition” between these two in order to see who can catch who first, L seems a bit more compassionate than Light since he doesn’t believe Kira’s mass killings are justified. He also has his own unique personality traits, such as the odd way he sits and moves around, how he calmly and abruptly thinks of things, etc,. which all add to his appeal. Misa’s hyper-activeness helps break up the seriousness of the series and add some comic relief, though not so much that it seems out of place in such a “dark” show. And the shinigamis like Ryuuku and Rem are unique too. Instead of being portrayed as incredibly evil, vicious, blood-thirst killers, they’re simply portrayed as their own individual beings from the underworld. They have distinct personalities, such as Rem’s obvious care for Misa and Ryuuku’s carefree attitude towards Light’s use of the Death Note.

Besides the characters, the other main appeal of Death Note is most likely how the pacing moves and how the story unfolds. Once L comes onto the scene to thwart Light’s plans, the suspense continually builds up as Light comes up with one plan after another to keep L from guessing he’s Kira, and as L eventually gets closer to Light and discovering Kira’s identity. Each episode leaves me at the edge of my seat, and how Tsugumi Ouba can keep coming up with ways for Light and L to outsmart each other is simply amazing. Actually, for the last few episodes I’ve watched (around when Ryuuku left), the plot has gotten really complicated with the introduction of the Yotsuba co., and I’m still not exactly sure what Light’s plan is after he and Ryuuku split up. I’m having a bit of trouble following all the details, and who knows who and what, etc., but I get the gist and I’m sure it will all come together eventually. The complexity of the plot and the way it’s carried out is reason enough to keep watching the series. I’m sure if someone looked really hard, they could find flaws in the Death Note details, but I don’t have that skill ^^

Other pluses for Death Note is that it has great animation and background music. You never see any bright or flashy colors – just gloomy and somber colors that match the mood of the show well. The music is perfectly eerie and/or suspenseful, and the visuals+songs of the openings and endings are really intense You can totally feel all the suspense, darkness, and madness of the show in them. Also, from what I’ve heard, the anime follows the manga very well (maybe even better?)

Well, to sum things up, I can’t really say anything negative about Death Note. It definitely is one of the most unique and excellent series’ of all. Its eccentric characters, brilliantly sketched plot, and great themes of mystery, suspense, and the super-natural all come together to make one heck of a good show ^_^

No Comments… read them or add your own.

  1. Danny Choo says:

    Very much agree – currently watching it now (its on TV tonite ^^)
    The animation does get a bit rough in places though.

  2. SailorCardKnight says:

    My friend has gotten me into this series and shes been letting me borrow her mangas (i’m up to vol 8 now, will by getting vol 9 tomorrow). Ive been flying though it, its so addicting! I’m suprised I like this series as much as I do. Usually I don’t get into a dark series that has a mass amount of killings in it, but the writing is what keeps me reading/watching it.

    You heard right, the anime is *very* accurate to the manga. This was one of those manga series which I thought they would have a hard time making it into an anime series, but they did an excellent job overal! The anime added in a few minor things here and there, but nothing big. The manga is also much more detailed than the anime though.
    Ive only seen up to ep 18 so far, but just to let you know (after reading the manga), Light has a brilliant plan to get Misa out of confinement, get the notebook back, *and* to kill L! You will see! It will come together in the end!

  3. Steel says:

    In all seriousness, I cant stand this show.

    I am one of those people who hates seeing people killed. So I watched about 3 episodes of the anime and dropped it. I just hope he gets caught in the end.

  4. Piper says:

    A friend recommended Death Note I have only read up to volume 3, but I’m dieing to have the money for the next on!! ^_^!!!

  5. Meri says:

    my dude friend Jay typed to me that was a good anime sounds sweet! now I know that u like it I’ll defintely check it out! tho XD

  6. Inuyasha luvr^_^ I Love Bleach 2 says:

    Blood…Better just stick to FMA & Bleach. My brother loves that show…NE ways neone got any idea if “Death Note” will premiere in Adult Swim? Ne where else?

  7. Nufunoke says:

    Death Note probably won’t show up in Adult Swim. They stick with what works for them, They won’t go testing the water with a new show.

  8. I hope that Death Note will appear on Adult Swim some day or on Anime Network because that show is just awesome and the storyline is just great. Oh yeah…L ROCKS!

  9. RaunakS says:

    There are certain Death Note episodes which strecth out the grey betwenn good evil to an almost unbearable limit. I would ask all watch DN to do so with a clear mind, all the while pondering the quetion – “What would I DO if I were Kira ?”
    Oh, and the best episode part definitely goes to Episodes 6 & 7 (so far), the ones where Light talks his way to killing Naomi Misora. The art and cinematography there is more reminiscent of a Kurosawa movie than an anime. Absolute genius…

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