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The episodes have such varying ways of proceeding that I'm still enthralled. At first it was a mental game, cat and mouse between L and Light. Then, when L gave up his note the series progressed to a more detective-like style, where there was a clear-cut good and bad. The moment Light got his note back, however, the action ended and we saw nothing but the sheer malice and determination Light had. He had won, and he was gloating, crushing it in with the heel of his boot. Now, we have a three way game going between Light, Mello and Near, but that's not all. The thing that really intrigued me about this episode was:

I have mixed feelings about the whole series now. I think the new characters (Mello and Near) are potentially quite interesting, and it's nice to see Light getting some character development, and I even think it's cool that they killed off L. But they introduced entirely new adversaries so suddenly, without any foreshadowing - the entire series was spent building towards the conflict with L, and then it's just over and there are some random new guys taking over? It just lacks the tension and emotional content that'd been building up. I wish they'd done a better job integrating these plots, or that they'd ended the series with L's death and then started off again as an entirely new season.

I agree with you on that point. And it could have indeed been better if it had been split in two seasons, after all years supposedly passed until this characters apeared.
The L vs. Kira conflict, if I can call it that, will always be casting his shadow into this new one. Even so I think (and hope) the show will pick up again. So far it's lacking the brilliantism shown until episode 25.

I agree with Kayrhandros and Krelian. I do wish that we had a little back story as to how Mello and Near came to be the new competition for Light. I just wish that they were maybe introduced earlier in the series or the show took the time to build up the tension between Light and them like they did for L.

By the way, I can't help but feel bad for Misa every time I see Light being a complete dick to her. She just wants some lovin!

I'm sure we'll get said back story in the next few episodes. It's 37 episodes long, and this was only 28 so we have a ways to go. Besides, we never got any of L's back story either.
I rather like how they had build everything up with L, and then BAM he's out. Tossed away like some useless trash. However, Mello and Near share parts of his personality, so in essence, L's still there, it's almost like now we're dealing with L's split personalities. And Light's stuck in the middle.

It's not so much his sudden departure from the plot that gets me as it is Mello and Near's sudden appearance. There was nothing to even hint at their existence, let alone to build them up as viable antagonists.

Thats what I meant by at least letting us know that they existed before making them such an integral part of the story.

yep, that thought as crossed my mind too. L's sense of justice and levelheaded thinking in Near, and the will to achieve his goas no matter the means, even using criminals will do, in Mello.

I honestly did not find the lack of backstory a problem at first, 'coz thanks to manga readers I already knew they were going to appear, but after seeing the episode till the end I also thought "they apeared outta nowhere. "I believe the lack of backstory could be solved with a recap but I honestly doubt will get much else than some split facts about their background, like we got with L on episode 25.

I think L death had to happen, period. If you ask me episode 25 would have made one hell of an ending to the series. (or to a first season).
The real thing is: L vs. Kira confilct took 25 episodes, and this one will only have 12 to unfold. So things will have to move 2 times faster

Yes true.
Also the series has taken a turn in regards to how the Death Note is viewed. Now it's just a plot device rather than the powerful role it played in the first 25 episodes. The most interesting thing about the series was the Death Note itself and that the series is all about playing on emotions now it's lacking in entertainment because of the poor character development at the beginning.

Thats true, I never looked at it like that. I just have a sense that Near is a looooot more like L than Mello.Well, I didn't read the manga at all since I didn't want to spoil the story after I started watching the anime. I mean, I know what the end result of the series is, but I don't know how or why and I don't want to find out until I actually watch it.

I'm sure we'll get SOME sort of an idea as to how they came to be, but they were just introduced into the story way too fast to serve such a strong purpose as L did.Quite true, I don't disagree that L's death had to take place for the story to progress any further. The problem you mention is what bothers me the most. Since we just reached the second arc of the series, we have 13 episodes less to develop the conflict between Light, Near and Mello. Although, you can tell that this is going to be fast paced just by watching the first real active episode in number 28. With it being fast paced, I think the conflict will end up being the same, just at a much quicker rate than it was with L, thus creating more problems for Light.

Thats my thoughts about it.

I think this will be a slightly different conflict. If my prediction is true, Mello didn't get the Death Note just to kill off the SPK members, he wants to kill NERO. I think he'll use whatever means he can to be the new L, and that's why he wanted it. He intends to both capture Light and erase his competition. That being said, a multi-faceted conflict like this would have to be faster by default, 1v1 can play out, but with 1v1v1 if things get to deep between two people you wind up forgetting about the third entirely, until he magically rejoins the picture.

Yeah, that's for sure. He wants Near out of the picture ASAP. And it's true he wan't L's position but I think he would be more likely to become a 3rd Kira instead of a second L
I'll use Magic the Gathering here as an example (since I used to play). When I played 3 players game, the stratagy turned completly diferent. I couldn't (or shouldn't) make an attack at an opponent without being sure that I had my back covered. Otherwise the second opponent could use the oppening in my guard to strike. From that view I think "plays" betwen Mello, Near, Kira would have to be more pondered 'coz they need to cover both sides. But there won't be much time for that it seems.
The other thing you said is true. If two of them get engaged in a more serious conflict they will eventually open a breach for the 3rd to exploit. That will be interesting to see.

Death Note is fun to watch again. ^^ this episode really got the suspense going for me again, so that was great. and yes, I'm agreeing with all of you guys, the whole structure of the series constantly changes, which is awesome in a way, but sorta shooting itself in the foot because ppl will always be expecting the same awesomeness as the first couple of eps, but that kind of style just can't be played for too long.

I like where things are going though, the 3-way conflict definitely stirs things up in a new direction. L and Kira was really great, but for me at least it got old after a while, so killing L wasn't that bad of a thing to do.

Meh, I don't like Mello or Near. Death Note just isn't Death Note without L.
I agree with everyone on the whole thing about Mello and Near appearing too quickly. And L being killed off was a good idea, but I don't think it does anything for the plot.

I miss L but things have taken an interesting turn, and i'm not all into that whole darkness and despair theme so....idk i wonder what is going to happen but in my op i started thinking Light was evil as soon as he killed Ray

Noone else seems to be sad that L died, both the other characters and the viewers. There was hardly any mourning for him at all, which I found kinda sad. It's just oh he's dead lets move on with the plot.

I like Near a lot more than I like Mello.

haha xD that missile always gets me ><;;

again, an allright ep considering what they had to deal with.. this whole second section seems so tagged on to the end of the first 25 eps, like they wanted L to die but still wanted Light to have some competition and Mello and Near seem like afterthoughts as well -- I agree with everyone else: it would have been better if there had been some forewarning of their appearance rather than 'crap, we killed off one of the main characters because we thought it would be brave and cool and now have no one to replace them.. I know! let's invent some random characters to be his successors!' ¬___¬ grrrrreat plan ¬___¬

what!??!? what the hell is light doing? he's getting owned by a bunch of children!!!!!!! ugh! and what was with that new death god!!??! this is not as fun as when L was alive.. :((

Hmm.. Near seems like a copy of L. Introverted, always does things as he investigates (L usually ate or stacked things, and Near does puzzles and stacks dice).

And at first I thought Mello was a stupid version of Light, but by the way they outsmarted even Light, I'm starting to be convinced otherwise.

He however, seemed to make a huge mistake. Killing off all the SPK members (apart from Near and himself), IMO,was not very bright. It was a dead giveaway.

So I guess I'll find out more about Near and Mello as the series progresses.

Oh, and what's with the dramatic chocolate eating?