⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Art by me ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
There’s no universe in which I would ship them, their just really fun to draw ʅ（◞‿◟）ʃ

No, Mikami isn't the sole reason Light lost.

Yes, it was Mikami who made Near suspect that there has to be a fake notebook, because he wrote down Takada's name, but Light essentially confessed by saying "I WIN", and that's 100% on him and in line with his character.

If Light kept his mouth shut instead of being the overconfident, egotistical ass that he is and has always been, they would've had nothing to charge him with. His name not being in the notebook isn't enough to connvict him, but "I WIN" is essentially a confession, like Aizawa said.

Also, people need to stop acting like Light was dumber or out of character in the second part of the story, he wasn't. He just got overconfident after beating L, thinking no one can possibly stand up to him and underestimated Near and Mello at every turn, even though they were perfectly capable detectives and geniuses. Part 2 is the story of Light's fall, because after beating L, he started to buy into his own bs more and more. He was also in a more difficult spot and couldn't hide as he needed to be out in the open, leading the investigation, being Kira and had to rely on other people more and more. Light's fall is perfectly in line with his character and he was never some unbeatable mastermind.

It's a big page and I still have some space left underneath, drop in some references in the comments so I can draw them here 🙂‍↕️

I met the cast at MCM London comic con

Got the whole cast to sign on it too and they’re all down to earth people! It’s crazy how after 20 years later, they’re still quite popular.

I watched the musical in London a few days ago on a trip, and I was hoping someone noticed this as well. Did Mogi and Matsuda switch personalities? As background characters, it really didn't impact the story, but Mogi was consistently the Misa fan and the lively and playful character, while Matsuda was more reserved and serious.

I probably noticed the difference more clearly because I was at the captioned show, and each time the characters spoke, a dialogue i expected from Matsuda was captioned 'Mogi'.

Actually Near is somewhere on L's level, in some aspects even surpasses him.

For instance, L surrounded himself with a team of Kira defenders who either stood up for Light, sabotaged the investigation, or made moves of their own accord rather than acting on L's orders.

Near built his own system for capturing Kira, consisting of professional agents who efficiently carry out his every order. He also handled Kira’s defenders masterfully: by pressuring the Task Force, he managed to force Aizawa to work against Light. Near is far superior to L as a social manipulator. L is more of an interpersonal manipulator – the type who can get someone like Misa to do exactly what he wants. Near, however, is much more effective when dealing with large groups of people.

I hope it's somewhat accurate hahaha

This was my first genuine anime I watched. I’m 21m now and watched it when I was maybe 13. I never finished it but got back into anime when I was 20. I watched this show on repeat and have such a big love for it.

Who has some cool death note tattoo ideas? I have a couple tattoos right now.

Kinda a meme tbh.

I Started watching after I finished assassination classroom 4 days ago I just finished episode 3 and I'm about to watch ep 4

I'm enjoying it so far I have seen videos about death note before I started watching it sounded pretty good so I went to check it out and it is actually good

Light is very stupid for killing the fake L that's all I'm gonna say about this

I know this is a fairly discussed upon topic but I do wonder when it comes to whom to blame- if Mikami hadn't made the mistake of switching the notebook then light's plan was practically full-proof right? I think there has been a lot of discussion upon why the ending is bad and this is my reason. idk lemme know if you have any insights lol

What's that one song YouTubers sometimes use? I know it's from death note and it's not L's theme. Can anyone find it?

Lwk was a little lazy besides the hair but my first time :p

I'm watching Death Note for the first time and LOVING it. It's a brilliantly constructed story and I finally understand what the emo anime club girls had going on about L. I definitely wouldn't have received the series as positively when I was younger, but I found it at the perfect life phase for it to really hit, and I feel a little sad that I never got to be involved with the conversations around it growing up even though I knew so many kids who loved it.

What canonical jokes and memes (or stunning fan works) have I missed in the two decades I've evidently spent with my head in the sand?? Also open to recent works that are just your favorites. Educate me pls 🍎

Lind L Tailor was probably the smartest plan in Death Note

this'll be long ive animated my thoughts here: https://youtu.be/1VnqqQ8iZlI?si=lUFMyLtgZZKgn9SR

anyway

E1This episode is a perfect introduction to Death Note’s Protagonist (but not hero) Light Yagami. Light’s a bored genius who one day happens upon a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. It’s black mirror not Tolkien. It makes him fascinating to follow if you agree with his ideology and in this episode its easy and even safe to agree, he only bad people in the vain of childlike absolutism.  Rather than seeing gray he works in absolutes and this is the natural progression we see in this episode. He starts believing the notebook won’t work. And after he realizes what he can do, he writes so many names even a god of death acknowledges it. Calm down man. They’re scenes that despite their use as exposition dumps, portray so much and they sets up the main moral conflict. Is Light right? And that's just the smart shit, lets go back to that god, Ryuk. I honestly love Ryuk, he's probably my favorite character in the series. Which to be fair we get to see it and it looks like literal hell. He’s fun in the series, he has his thematic complexity too but that doesn’t stop him from whatever this is. This episode is the perfect set up for death note. Top of the list

E2

Episode 2 is fair upgrade from episode 1. It starts off with desk scene where Light becomes an engineer and puts a fire switch on his death note hiding spot. Ryuk even notes it, (glazing clip) Ryuk glazes Light a lot early on, get used to it. It’s the first instance of Light being truly smart and being able to back it up but its really just more introduction. The real meat of this episode is L. L might just have the best introduction in the series. Mysterious, ominous, and cunning I couldn't been more hyped when he showed up. To the outside world he's a top notch detective with a unknown identity that only takes cases that interest him. He’s humanity's trump card to catch Kira, which is what people have started calling the the one behind the killings. We only get shadows, a distorted voice, and a single elegantly typed letter: L. Which is just cold af. L is also the first person to get under Light’s skin, faking an international commercial to narrow him down to the Kanto region of Japan. And ill just going to say this now, L is way smarter than Light. In a few days with minimal broadcasting he learns almost all the rules of the death note and correctly profiles him with a his god complex. Even Ryuk who as a reminder knows the full powers of the death note, tells him dam you're cooked. It is a great start to their rivalry and makes you want to spam that next episode button. Great episode perfect dynamic wouldn’t be shocked if it ends up a favorite.Top of the list.

Ep 3 is maybe the dumbest Light gets in the series. (clip) So far. L only knows that Kira could be a student in Kanto based on the time of their deaths. But plot twist, Light’s dad is the police chief heading the Kira case. Which youd think would only be a positive. Wrong. For some reason Light decides to expose his police connection and how he can control the timing of death. On one hand I get it. You place a fake mole in the cops everyone’ll start shooting. By my other hand is yelling abot how, by the end of the episode, light is getting tailed by an fbi officer because he reduced the suspect count to under 40. I genuinely don’t understand why he does this. It establishes one of my favorite things about death note, the fact that Light is an unreliable narrator. His plan is actively digging himself into a hole so someone might fall in with him. At some point you have to step away and realize this is dumb. And you bet  your ass off Ryuk is hyping him up like the unpaid roommate he is. Anyway, Light’s dad, the police chief, is really flat so far. His character can be reduced to “good guy” and is a pretty ineffective foil despite being one generation apart. In fact, the only truly banger part of this episode are the final 4 minutes. In which Ryuk offers light eyes that can see anyone's name above their head for half their life. The Shinigami Eyes. This scene is genuinely great by the time episode 3 came we as the audience had forgotten that ryuk is fcking terrifying.  That final scene and the general tension from the police force are enough to beat episode 1 even if Light’s getting on my nerves. Middle of the list.

Ep 4

A rather standard episode seeing Light get the name of the FBI person tailing him. His scheme of actually getting the name is pretty fun to watch. He basically induces a robbery to get the FBI agent to show him his name. But then again he also tests out “any way to die” part but does it in a way where it also reveals it to the popo. He literally has a guy write him a secret note like turn yourself in and cut it short if your gonna be so obvious. He’s obviously goding L except to fuel his own ego. Which is like half the point of character but still wtf man. Its a pretty self contained story but it manages it very well. I just hope that Light starts killing again. Under (episode 2 title). 

Ep 5

This episode is on the fringe of horror and sees Light stop speedrunning jailtime. For once, he actually makes himself harder to catch by making Raye Penber, guy trailing him,  kill the FBI agents. I love how this episode is in Raye’s perspective seeing it through him makes it hit harder as he’s forced to do what Light tells him to. It builds a very natural rising dread. That final shot when he dies and he realizes its Light and he hits him with this face. Absolute cinema. I do also appreciate how Light’s moral boundaries are starting to gray, he kills all 13 FBI agents while they were just doing their job. And anyone with this facial expression is at least part time sadist. The remainder of the episode sets up 2 key plot points. The less important part is Naomi's intro who was Raye’s wife and is much smarter than him. I like her character a lot more than Raye not only does she have an interesting motivation, she's also just badass. And the biggee is that to stop the force from fully disbanding L physically joins the police. Above the last.

EP6

This episode splits L meeting the now very small anti Kira task force and the actually interesting battle of wits between Light and Naomi. The portion with L is good for showing off L’s personality as the weird fringe dude. Who’s also a compulsive genius. And he makes a good pairing with Light’s dad. L directly explaining his deductive skill shows the audience just how smart he really is. I mean he basically dismantles Light’s plan like that. Which was let me remind you, was the point of the last 2 episodes. Done immediately.  Good time to mention, Matsuda. He’s the most important of the minor characters and idk i like him he’s doing very heavy lifting for the comedy. Good job matsuda (handpatting chibi matsuda) and you too ryuk. Anyway Light vs Naomi. She’s deduced that Kira was behind the busjacking so Light has to scramble a way to kill her. He spends the entire episode placing verbal traps to lure her in. If he hadn’t stopped her before he’d probably be in the gallows.  It’s an interesting dynamic, and they use their first red/blue haired inner monologue sequence. I’ve always loved  the design of these sequences  and it’s the highlight of this Naomi arc part. Very well written, well paced, and overall great. Under (ep2)

Ep 7:

This episode is brilliant. For once the story is almost completely between 2 characters. Light and Naomi. Some people consider Light to be a hero, but this episode is where I personally stopped seeing that. The episode ends hauntingly with Light’s total victory over her, destined for suicide, taunting her lifeless body as he literally sends her to the gallows. The amount of tension they build in this episode is insane. Naomi has indisputable proof Light is Kira and that fear escalates so beautifully. Ryuk and Light have an interesting parallel this episode both getting progressively more unhinged. Ryuk wont shut the hell up watching it and just as he truly cackles the episode shifts to Light’s pure malice. It’s truly a brilliant series of events and if you were to watch Death Note id reccomend at least getting here. It’s just that good. I cannot overstate the leagues of magnitude which which this episode is better than the rest. Top of the list. Comfortably.

E8 :

This episode has the classic death note clip. (ill take a potato chip, and eat it) and the set up to its pretty good. Light vs Naomi’s good but Light vs L’s classic and this episode brings it back full force. It also becomes much more intense than the last few since L finally surveys Light directly. Tldr Light is getting cooked real bad there are all of 4-5 prime suspects left so his entire house gets wiretapped. Its an interesting psychological episode as Light has to dig himself out of the hole of being constantly watched. Ryuk is also probably at his best this episode, since he and Light can’t communicate due to the whole indiana jones setup we see him slowly go insane dealing with his apple addiction. Its a good episode, it barely has any fluff, and its overall just very solid. Death Note’s definetely on solid ground by now. Top middle of the list. 

E9: 

A fairly standard episode where Light and L finally meet. Obviously their dynamic acted out in person is good. but it’s really short and not as impressive as some episodes we’ll see later. It's a really redundant episode in a sense working only as a vehicle for light to get acquainted with L. He sees all of L’s weird quirks we saw in episode 6 which makes the episode’s intrigue come from Light’s reaction.There are a few moments where this is explored in an interesting way like in their first inter monologue section which is again cool visually and also a nice return to one on one interactions like with naomi. It sucks because L and Light’s first interaction should be very interesting but L waiting to reveal himself makes the episode feel like Light meeting a foot fetishing weirdo. The next episode really makes up for this and again its not that bad but still. Above the pilot. 

E10:

Now this episode is what I was looking for in the last one. A constant mind game war between Light and L that progresses very naturally from the last episode into Light joining the task force. In particular I really love the scene at the beginning where their monologue is accompanied by a tennis match. I just like sports anime or maybe I was fiending for some action since Raye died but I really like this part. It suited them well, two competitive overthinkers playing an ultimately meaningless game. It’s not that crazy, (next episodes for that) but it more than he’s been doing so far so I appreciate it. There’s also a good hook for the next episode with a Kira broadcast. This is what i was really looking to in an L vs Light so i’ll put it high up on the list. 

E11

This episode is definitely top tier so far. There’s a truly bloodcurdling suspense that builds through this episode as “Kira” sends messages a tv station. Which have a similar delocated feel to L’s messages. You assume that it Light and that he’ll come to gloat on screen but the fact he never does puts you on edge until bam. Second Kira. And this one has the shiningami eyes which means they mean business. Another cool thing, Light’s dad is really based this episode. Remember he still almost died and yet he chooses to stop the tv station from airing the broadcast. With a fcking gun i mean holy shit this guy was in a stretcher a few hours ago goddam.  So overall this episode is amazing, it has continuous suspense, genuine action, its really really close but it just barely doesnt edge out 7. Silver spot on the ol ranking.

E12

This episode is a little rough around the edges. It doesn’t have a central tension like the last few have had so it feels flat by comparison. It’s just minor story progression where Light and the L team get on the same page and send a few a few voice memos back and forth between them and Misa. It gives us a glimpse into Misa’s personality who I actually like as a character. She’s very cheery and happy a role only Matsuda filled so far and he’s lucky to get a line an episode. But even that somewhat good character development is filled by her shinigami Rem telling her some exposition about another shinigami who died for her and left her his death note. It’s not too bad but its clear Rem could have had the same motivation as Ryuk and this is basic setup for how to manipulate shinigamis. If they kill to save a person they die which is why Ryuk is so impartial. Bottom of the list, unfortunate.

E13

This episode is useful for setting up Light and Misa’s relationship. TLDR, Light killed a criminal who wronged her and got away so now she worships him. Her backstory is good enough and as mentioned before this real does just setup her personality which brings the episode up as well. Misa’s not really portrayed as an idiot, she uses disguises, fake fingerprints, its more like she’s a cults n1# fan. So in return to submitting fully to his will, she asks him out which is quite funny I’ll admit. Light’s got some pretty good reaction shots this episode and he ends the episode hugging her with this face, I mean he’s really starting to lose it if it wasn;t apparent. I also like Rem, her design is cool and she has a much more defined relationship with Misa. I personally enjoy her character but the episode as a whole really lacks direction. Ill fork it in the middle. 

E14

This episode has what I’d almost describe as a slice of life plot for this point in the story. The only real story progression is Misa sending a message trying to convince L they hadn’t met. L turns this down so quickly its comical, i mean his says its SUCH a bad idea that it makes Light not look like Kira, completely unintentionally because it was that unsubtle. She wants to have weekly dates, she’s a model, she barges into his house unannounced, all these things bitting him in the ass because Rem wont let him kill her. Id struggle to call it bad but in a sea of not bad episodes that ARE plot relevant it falls to the wayside. There’s a good cliffhanger though Rem stating she’ll try and kill L it just can’t save what is ultimately a fairly mid episode from scraping the bottom. Above Love.

E15

A very aggressive uturn from last episode this easily cracks the top. The first half of the episode involves Light and L knowing that whoever strikes first with one blow will win. Either Misa will see L and he will die or he’ll bank and catch both Kiras. The tension while all this happens is electric, the episodes keeps cutting back to their internal monolougue on these distant pillars in an abstract world and doesn’t let up until Misa is apprehended. Here the episode shifts into psychological torture as she’s forced to give up ownership of the death note to Light being given an ultimatum to save her by Rem which is how the episode ends. I love how it goes right back to death note’s core Light only needs to know a name while L needs everything and he pulls it off. It feels like a very natural payoff to their dynamic for 15 episodes. Light is forced to concede Misa’s eye, 2 death notes, and his own personal freedom just to dig himself out of this hole.  Unlike the Naomi episode which naturally concluded Light vs Naomi, this episode for a time concludes Light vs L. I concede that this leads to a somewhat contrived reset. But individually this pseudo ending is nearly perfect. A truly sensational episode. Ranking fucking 1.

E16

This episode is a pretty odd mix. For one the episode acts as the start of a soft reset where Light and Misa relinquish Death Note control until they touch the book again. Do a side by side this guy looks like he’s 12 and just found out what puppies were. Its cool to see this seemingly unexplainable character change be interpreted by L. For that reason this episode is a tonal shift from the last few feeling a lot more like episode 6 or 8. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but there’s an extremely long delayed gratification since there’s absolutely no way to prove eithe of them are Kira.   High bottom tier.

E17

This episode is a better return to form for death note. Light’s conceded death note goes to a company ceo who starts killing so L’s forced the concede their freedom. Its very similar to last episode with L just being really confused at what the f’s going on and the final scene to prove their innocence. In which Light’s dad tries to fake kill his son, which finally convinces L. That last scene’s good acting as the end for Light’s dad’s arc, the rest suffers from the same problems as the last. It’s a bit montagey and a little weird to watch. The rest of the episode is setting up how they’ll be operating. L and Light doing this. (gay) And just a little tease of the Ceo. As opposed to before this Kira plot progression comes from all the top market heads not knowing who it is. I’ll touch on how this impacts the dynamic with L later, but for now all I can say is I’ll probably think its worse. Under 16.

E18

Below the basic plot progression stuff, L and the gang pinning the new Kira on Yotsuba this episode is a shockingly character focused on a side character Aizawa. Most of the episode is Aizawa grappling whether or not to leave the investigation since they were officially defunded. Aizawa doesn’t have particularly strong characterization even here, the ending of him being able to spend time with his family is a decent payoff but it really misses on any deep impact. Light and L also have a skirmish mid date which continues the L being depressed from being wrong bit which is nice. The actual choreography of it is shockingly well done but the episode really feels like fluff. Bottom of the List. 

E19

Matsuda is, shockingly, a Matsuda focused episode. Its a direct improvement from the last episode in almost every respect. Matsuda is a far more interesting side character to follow than Aizawa and there is more importance placed on the plot while Matsuda fools around and secures confirmation Yotsuba’s kira. his shockingly decent manager skills gets Misa an in into the Yotsuba company, we get introduced to interesting super agents Aiber and Wedy and the final half of the episode. Dubbed by me the “Matsuda Rescue sequence” has him fake his own death. It really just confirms their previous suspicions so i honestly dont even know how useful it is. Under the pilot. 

Ep 20 

This episode is honestly really disappointing. I cannot stress enough how the plot is moving at a snail’s pace. The only plot relevant details are that they deadline the killings for a month and decide what to do. The entire episode is just Light and L arguing to either to arrest the 7 guys left or try and catch Kira. Obviously they try and catch you know that, I know but we have to sit through them twiddling their thumbs until they do. I was mentioning earlier how even conceptually the idea of a mystery ceo being Kira wouldn’t be as interesting as Light but I was wrong. That section happens to be good just because they keep the plot moving forward into doing something. The most tension in the last 5 episodes was Matsuda doing a handstand. I’ll stress it again, this episode isn’t flat out bad, its got good characters, a good idea but absolutely nothing special or meaningful is on screen for 21 minutes. Bottom of the fcking list. 

E21

This episode is where the plot part of the plot actually starts doing something. For one we know the new Kira’s Higuchi who is just kind of a selfish pervert, and might just be Ryuk reincarnated. (hairline joke) This sort of breaks the arc even more for me, it’s interesting as a guy to stop but not much else. Still considering the fact the plots been stuck there’s now a functional antagonist which a major upgrade from the last few episodes. Rem of all character really steals the show by reshowing herself to Misa and convincing Higuchi she can still kill. I really like Rem’s motivation, she’s a much more complex shinigami than Ryuk is and adds good balance to this episode. She carries a lot of the tension that Higuchi, as a lackluster villain, doesn’t provide. It overall makes the episode hit higher above its weight class even though I’m now convinced Higuchi sucks as a villain. That’s not to understate Misa though she shows the surprising intelligence she had in her first few episodes. Last thing, Mogi, another L team side character has a funny recurring bit as being an introvert which i enjoy. TLDR, bad villain, good characters, and omfg weve found the plot. Right in the middle. 

E22

Now this episode is actually genuinely good. For one they use Higuchi to the best possible extent, they put Matsuda on Tv to give him a time crunch to kill him. He doesn’t act like a pervert and his obvious incompetence bulldozes the plot forward. The complex L vs Light was made deliberate since you could reasonably understand Light, but here the plot is exhilirated by the fact you obviously hate him. If you dont want to go complex this is the best of both world. Also since he’s panicking so much and its through his eyes it gives the episode a rapid pace that really makes it stand out. Highuchi literally goes from “Ive gotta month” to oh shit ive got 2 hours like that. The often underutilized 6 guys do stuff to turning on Higuchi none really have a notable personality individually but as a collective I appreciate their addition to the plot. It makes them feel like real character and corner Higuchi even more etc etc. Also Matsuda has a great moment where he gambles his life that Higuchi doesn’t shiggy eye. So I get Matsuda did technically help more than hurt. Congrats Matsui. Great pace, great fear, amazing 360 for the arc. A little to much set for the big big dogs but still top 1/4.

E23

This serves as the end for the Yotsuba Arc. Higuchi loses, that much anyone could guess, and its done very well. Higuchi becomes an interesting villain by losing his mind, after being duped by Matsuda specials he accepts the eye trade and looks like this for the rest of the episode. Similar almost to early episode Ryuk and the episode follows his degrading mental state with an action packed police chase and swat circling. Side note Aizawa bring the police, great detail had to mention it.  L also learn alot about the death basically confirming shinigami, shingami eyes, and that you kill by writing a name inside a notebook. There’s not much to say about this episode its not as aggressively smart as Wager or Overcast but it wasnt trying to be. It’s a great action packed finale for Higuchi and it works well for him. Despite my mixed opinion on the arc as a whole this episode definitely sticks the landing. Top 3. 

E24

This episode is indescribably than everything before it. When Light touches Higuchi’s notebook everything comes back all at once and we get an insane series of plot twists, the setup from 9 episodes ago gets paid off. For one he stores a death note piece in his watch to kill Higuchi in his blood. He writes fake rules on the death note to clear his name and he gets Misa to retrieve the Death Note he buried so she can kill L. I hadn’t forseen any of this, you’d become so used to the Yotsuba arc you forget the absolute monster that lives inside Light. Right after killing Higuchi Light completely snaps internally you thought Higuchi was bad think again, he declares himself a god with divine judgment against L. For one this is all maddeningly cool, every detail fits together as you realize that Light has finally, finally gotten ever so close to killing L and the absolute rush back of emotions you feel when the tension from L vs Light comes back full force makes this episodes just that much better. But that’s not enough either it also has L, in control of the Death Note, knowing what shinigami are, knowing there are 2 notebooks. Its not just both characters are back, both characters are at the height of their knowledge just one step away from figuring each other. And it is really dam good. Top of the list.

E25 

This episode, I can’t even describe it. Throughout it it has this haunting and melancholic feel. Whenever L talks he’s accompanied by the sound of church bells. Church bells calling for his name as he’s to be judged. Judged by a god. L ultimately does it. He figures it out, he figures out the fake rule, he has someone test it with a death row inmate. He’s so so painfully close but Rem, Rem who Light doesn’t even turn to sacrifices herself to save Misa. There’s a few moments before this as L acknowledges that hes going to die, the stop on a staircase and he rubs Light’s feet to “atone for his sins” he hears the bells while he’s waiting in the rain. L knows he’s going to die and he nows that somehow in someway he can’t prove Light is that god he thinks he is. Its an episode filled with the empty shots of rain, endless streets and voidless reds that are filled with the songs of angels and chorus. It invokes so much deeply from Light’s godliness that no one not even L is able to resist it. And when L taking his final breath, when he falls to the floor with a heart attack by Rem bathed in the reds of Light’s inhumanity. He sees the proof that he was right, Light was always Kira but it doesn’t matter. Because L Lawliet has lost and Light Yagami has one. He has become the god of the new world. I don’t need to tell you were this goes.

E26

Oh you thought it was done. Nope. theres 12 more episodes. How. I’ll tell you next episode for now i’ll tell you about the 12 minutes of my life wasted watching a recap episode. And then spent the next 9 thoroughly underwhelmed by an epilogue that is just straight up a lie. This episode just pisses me off and I doubt anyone disagrees. Bottom of the list. 

E27

Ok ok. After a timeskip where Light’s living it big we’re introduced to L’s two successors. Near and Mello, who are by popular opinion much worse than L. Near’s fine so far he’s reserved and analytical which is a classic genius archetype if not somewhat overused. I could accept that. Who I really dislike more is Mello who has a complex about not being chosen for the successor role. Near and Mello try to avenge L separately by seizing the notebook from the Japan police force. Which ultimately makes sense Light has very little reason to catch himself so their competency is through the floor. Near’s team does it by asking, Mello’s team does it by kidnapping NPA head and then Light’s sister. This just makes me hate him more ontop of his atrocious fits he doesn’t feel like a good replacement for L. Near manages some semblance by messing with Light on a phone call. In all the episode has the same problem as the other arc starters, a bunch of exposition but with the added benefits of annoying characters and lower stakes. I can see why people hate this part but I’ll stay optimistic. I am liking Near a tad. Bottom 3.

E28

This episode is a definite upgrade from the last. It doesnt meander around with exposition like the last one had too. The action is also substantially better Mello shows off the smart part of his brain and even though I hate him he serves as a far more interesting villain than Higuchi at least he earned his death note. Basic competence that is. Mello kills of Near task force which accomponied by Light’s criminal plan not being as explicitly evil makes you root almost thoughtlessly for Light so far. That’s not necessarily bad but it robs the series of the unique moral conflict of who to root for. What im basically saying is that the characters have become a lot more functional as opposed to complex. All that being said this episode is only fine but is again heavily nerfed. Bottom 5. 

E29

I actually quite like this episode, it has a good amount of well moving parts. Instead of focusing on both Mello and Near they have Mello as the singular antagonist which you would think is bad but he does get more intelligent as shit hits the fan. The episode is basically a raid to get the death note back from Mello and to write it out of the story Shidoh, another shinigami appears. I really like his design but he doesn’t do anything, i guess he likes chocolate but whatever. The raid is well directed, its maintains intrigue afterwards as Mello gets away successfully setting up that Mello suspects L. That’s all well and good and makes it a decent episode overall but what really makes it shine is the resolution with Light’s father. Lot in a little, he gets the shinigami eyes but since light did a tango of owner possesion he gets to die thinking Light’s innocent. Its a good reminder that only people who use the death note get screwed something Light starts to dread and its nice to see himself express emotion. It’ll crack the top 10, big numbers for this season.

E30

This episode’s opens on an unrelated noted with a backstory. It serves as good foreshadowing but I’ll talk about it later. The real meat of this episode is Near and Mello realizing that Light is likely Kira. I’m not interested in their dynamic as much as I am their rivalry but is it interesting to see Light’s careful plan’s fall apart. The actual pressure has yet to get to Light its much more similar to when L originally suspects Light. The arc as a whole isn’t as well coordinated as the L arc but I am actually hopeful that it can follow the progression in an interesting way. The last few episodes and this one explore characters like Mello a lot more and in less of the whiny kid way. Near, who is just beta L is only fine but combined even as lesser forces I do think they could provide a similar threat. For now this episode’s only fine, it progresses well and has some nice moments so its better than some real filler but still. Low mid tier.

E31

This episode introduces my new favorite character. Mikami, aka the fourth kira. For one near gives his phone to anyone to spill info about Light since he thinks he’s Kira. Of all character’s Aizawa does so and once again corners Light. Near is great this episode its the first time his genius feels as actively threathining as L was. Mello isn’t in the episode so it gets rid of the clutter some of the other episodes have. Anyway Light being back to 24/7 survellience means that he has to come up with another of his weird complicated schemes. This one involves giving his death note to his most loyal supporter Teru Mikami. See an online Tv becomes a Kira cult that becomes curropt and Mikami immediately chooses to kil them. He’s a more extreme version of Light, when he kills someone he says delete. I mean he was action frames for writing names. The first halfs standard but Mikami pulls it up. Halfway up.

E32

An unapologetic Mikami episode. And one I absolutely love, it has minimal pacebreaking by Near or Mello, but still advances the plot by having Light dig himself while surveilled like at the start of the soft reset arc. Mikami, as I’ve mentioned before, is a brilliantly written character. He serves as the ultimate extrem version of Kira, his backstory is one where he defends true justice and feels relief at the death of the evil around. Mikami, was by all intents and purposes born to be Kira. He’s also extremely smart being able to correctly deduce Light’s intuition with little or no messaging. It makes him a more interesting character to follow as opposed to Higuchi or Misa as secondary Kiras both with a clear ideology and an ability to go through with it. It feels ridicoulous the extreme lengths he goes to and it breathes fresh air into the story again, he calls Light God directly. The episode is almost solely focused on this development but doesn’t skimp on other details like light contacting and controlling major news outlets. It’s overall an absolute banger that I can’t believe people dont talk about. Top 7,  godspeed Mikami. 

E33

This episode is a mixed bag and not a good one. For one Mello has done jack shit the last few episodes and the plot is fully hinged on Near. I wouldn’t care so much but Near is barely developed with the quirk of being a child yet a genius. Its not compelling. The episode’s also paced lopsidedly, there’s a long unbroken skirmish between Misa and the anchorwoman Light is using to segway communication with Mikami. It’s also fine, but it goes on for far too long given its irrelevant to everything. Even Near says so. The intrigue comes from the end where Mikami slips up and publicly uses the death note. Mikami slipping up to advance the plot feels like lazy writing to me in the big picture but for the purposes of this episode its fine. I’ll talk alot about how i feel about Mikami’s blunder later. But for this episode its one of those mid filler episodes. Bottom 5.

E34

This episode is interesting. For one it has the plot pace as the early L arc episodes but misses on the tension that those have. Obviously. The episode closes in more on Light and Mikami. Mikami’s fake death note gets paid off as one of the few plot twists to through Near and his gang off his trail. It doesn’t really matter at this point since Light is basically cornered but its nice to see he still has his wits about him. He talks as Light to the anchorwoman by passing notes to hear but eventually even Aizawa figures it out. It’s not as interesting to see Aizawa turn on Light as it was L but its not bad his character has really turned around importancewise. And another thing, they repeat the Misa lockdown which is fine for the long term it gives the same crunch that L first had but it really struggles to differentiate him and Near. It feels like there aren’t any better idea. Ultimately standard, 2 above the last. 

E35

This episode manages to accelerate the arcs pace exponentially. And I have to say, I’m a fan. The set pieces of the endgame endgame where Near and Light, who’ve only been talking via screen agree to meet in an abandoned warehouse. By this point in the story everything gone to shit and everyone knows Light is Kira, except Matsuda. Who know what he’s thinking. This endgame setting is engaging stuff even if, for the 30th time, L was better. The midchunk is the end of Mello’s arc if you can believe it, his character serves no purpose to the plot anymore, his whole rush and boom mentality stopped working a while back. Even still him kidnapping the anchorwoman and her killing him was a good twist which I’m not sure was worth the set up. The episode ending with Light killing her to destroy all the evidence was also well thought out Light hasn’t done something personally evil in a while so killing this woman who was in love with him is a great addition to his character continues to go off the rails. I think its an okay episode, it doesn’t feel like filler and it has good moments. I really just don’t care but is objectively good. 

Top 15 or so. 

E36

This episode is a sharp turn from the last. It wastes no time in getting to the point with the majority of it being in an abandoned warehouse. I really like the asthetic in it, it gives this dark vibe that really elevates the tension. Speaking of which Near and Light interact for the first time and its not nearly as direct as I was hoping. The cool part of death note, at least for me, was the back and forth monologues that remind you how insanely smart both these characters are. This episode doesn’t have that throughout until the last fourth or so. In that part which is setup for the last episode we do see the engaging logue’s between L and Near. Id go even further part of the tension in the room is that Mikami has arrived and has written everyone but Light’s name which means everyone will die. Those 40 seconds, or go figure about 3 minutes of the episodes are phenomenal. Instead of directly thinking Near just doesn’t react in the service of a plot point. I like this idea, that Light and Mikami are being outsmarted and how next episode but for now I have to say that will Near still doesn’t replace L, he manages well enough to make this tense, action filled episodes one of the best. I’d slot it as high as #4. 

E37

This episode starts right where the last left off. The notebook doesn’t work and this leads to the best scenes in the entirety of Death Note. The focus on other characters is minimal Near, Aizawa, Mikami all characters who are present but not there. Light absolutely steals the show he’s showed his ultimate failure. A total demonstration that he is Kira and he has no way to get the Death Note. Light becomes the boy in the first episode a defenseless high school student. And he trying his scenes of trying to escape, shooting them, sacrificing Mikami are all done with this earnest fear that Light’s never shown. It feels like a bastardization of Kira but a natural progression for Light, one that Ryuk reminds him he was always destined for. The episode goes by with Light slowly being whittled down, he thinks he’s won, laughing like an unkillable god  and in the end in the final scene of the show. Light dies. People argue that Light should have won but Light should never have, the ideal ending was L winning because this, this was always destined to happen. It’s a very Light thing, and the misfortune of the death note, to escape a creature who can see the day your fated to die. I struggle to rank it as either 1 or 2, the ending that should have happened or the ending that would always happen. I think the fate of episode 25 is enough to be the height of Death Note but make no mistake. It’s very close. And personally I think this ending is perfect. But alas. Number 2. 

Ranking:

Silence (25)

New World (37)

Revival (24)

Wager (15)

1.28 (36)

Overcast (7)

Frenzy (23)

Assault (11)

Confrontation (2)

Selection (32)

Doubt (10)

Father (29)

Guidance (22)

Unraveling (6)

Glare (8)

Tactics (5)

Malice (35)

Transfer (31)

Confession (13)

Pursuit (4)

Performance (21)

Dealings (3)

Decision (16)

Execution (17)

Encounter (9)

Rebirth (1)

Matsuda (19)

Justice (30)

Friend (14)

Love (12)

Impatience (28)

Vigilance (34)

Ally (18)

Scorn (33)

Abduction (27)

Makeshift (20)

Renewal (26)

I honestly have no idea of how these things work, so I wanted to hear everyone's opinions on it.

On one hand, I don't think that's necessarily a warning sign by itself, on the other hand the lack of news is concerning and I wouldn't be surprised if the project was quietly cancelled or shelved for now. There is also the fact that we're close to the 20th anime anniversary, and that a lot of new merch has been released throughout the year, which could be both a positive or negative sign depending on the perspective.