The show is as well written as any TV show to date (that includes all TV shows) and it features characters that have transcended the Anime world and are now part of pop culture itself. I didn't need to see the show to know who L or Light Yagami were. And a lot of others are the same way. They may not know Anime, but they know "Death Note" is good (or at least insanely popular).
The art itself is very good, but it doesn't need to blow you away with visuals when the plot has your heart beating a mile a minute and I should mention that this may be the most binge-worthy show in Anime history. If you're going to watch this show, get some food, some caffeine, some privacy, turn off all phones, and just watch. You'll thank me in the morning.
The Sub vs. Dub conversation is something of a draw. I think it's a mix especially when it comes to the two main characters. I like Mamoru Miyano's performance as Light, but L was done better by Alessandro Juliani in the English dub. Overall, I'd say the Japanese cast was better, but not by much.
Now, why after all that praise is the show not perfect? Well, I think the show gets a lot of accolades due to the audience that watches it. For most, after they're done with Pokemon, DBZ, Naruto, etc. their tastes develop and almost all immediately go for "Death Note" and get blown away by it's superior quality. For the rest, "Death Note" simply *is* their first dive into Anime and therefore all future shows they watch will be judged up against it.
I myself waited until the hype had died down and watched many other shows before "Death Note". And I think it's great... until you get to Episode 25. The show by then had run it's course. The ride was over. Then, we get taken on another one. It took us to the finish line and while it certainly wasn't bad, but was a slow and steady decline. I wasn't wowed by the ending and was more glad that it was over rather than ecstatic about the journey I had been on.
Reviewing this show is an exercise in futility. Everyone has. My opinion is probably the same as thousands of others. I think it's a touch overrated and suffers from a second-half slump. But, make no mistake about it, this is a truly great TV show and not just from an Anime stand point. Anime fans must watch it and form their own opinion. TV fans should just watch it because it's better than 75% of what ever else is on right now. Cheers!
