A mind gets surprised by tons of moments that this series has! I started watching it after seeing its name in the "most popular anime" list. Normally I don't watch suspense and thriller without romance, so it wasn't catching my attention in the beginning, but then I started liking it after 2nd episode. It's almost IMPOSSIBLE to drop this series in the middle! (this itself proves how amazing the series is)
Story is known to everyone, so I won't go in details. A god of death throws a notebook in human world, which is revealed to be a notebook that can cause death of people just by writing the names on it. One high schooler gets hold of it and uses it to create harmony in the world by writing the names of the criminals.
The major focus is on DEATH NOTE and its owner. "The death note never fails." and whoever writes a name on it is died, FOR SURE!
If I had to describe the whole story in one line it would be "an FBI officer Trying to find the criminal"
The thing that audience can yearn to watch is CHARACTER of this series. LIGHT YAGAMI and L (Ryuga)
The way Light and L think is just flawless.👏🏼 Their rivalry to find each other is something that GLUES the audience to the chair, till the end. This show didn't slow down even for a moment👏🏼 They're both unique and likeable in their own ways.
"L" impressed me on how he was finding out "who Kira is" and Yagami Light was impressing me on how he kept his identity a secret.
If we focus on Light, he'd be perfect Heroic figure ONLY IF SOME KINDNESS had been added in his character. He's a witty, intelligent and Brilliant student with a bright future & can make anyone fall for him, (Even L couldn't stop himself from admiring his wit), but he was too evil to kill people so easily, that it creeped me out.
L may seem like a plain character but he isn't. He tried his best to capture Kira risking his life, in each attempt. Deep inside, he really didn't want Light to be Kira because he hadn't met anyone so similar to him in his ways of thinking and he saw Light as a friend, even though he was almost sure that Light was Kira.
Without spoiling much, I can recommend it for those who want to see a thriller. It seemed to me, as if it's a series to enhance your inquisition and it can make you a very good observer.
People of any genre can watch this series. It's my bet that if someone begins watching it, he'll never stop it in the middle. (even if you're someone who only watches comedy romance like me)
*Spoiler alert*
(Read only when you're okay with the story being revealed. This is just an analysis of later episodes✔️)
I HATED LIGHT YAGAMI.
These are the reasons.
1. Seeing him through a 3rd eye, I only thought "This Light guy's creepy as hell." because who would want to be a God, by killing the criminals and thinking that he's doing a favour to the humanity? Killing itself is a crime, an evil act. When he said I'm bringing justice in the world by killing criminals, It made him no different from the criminals because he was also murdering. Killing them through law seems more justified to me, so I was kind of terrified by Light's notions and views (unlike many people who found his notions justified only because he had power) I found L's views more relatable to mine, when he said "He has a very childish mentality. He's driven by his own idealistic sense of justice." & I felt exactly as L.
2. In the beginning, I tried to understand Light's views, keeping myself in his shoes, that how one feels if he actually gets hold of a Death note. When he thought that he wanted justice for innocent people and a new world for them, I somehow could relate. But I started despising him when he started killing everyone who tried to find out who Kira was, even the policemen and FBI officers only because they wanted to know who was he. He was going too far as to kill the innocents rather than the criminals and he was getting on my nerves..🙄 So I watched further episodes only in the CURIOSITY of knowing how he'll end up (To see him dying😤)
That girl Misora Naomi (I'm still sad for her.. ) actually made me so relieved when she was conscious enough not to tell anyone her correct name (not even to a stranger who tried to be so nice to her suddenly) because she was determined to avenge Kira for her fiancé's murder, but Light's lies over lies, just to get the name out of that girl and finally killing her 😑 Ughh! It pissed me off to the extent that I couldn't understand his views anymore..
3. When L put surveillance cameras in his room, his cleverness was commendable because anybody in his place would've gotten panic in such situation.
Going as far as to show his father (who was also a policeman) that he watches dirty magazines so that he may not be suspected at all, made me want to puke.. I was like "whoa! He doesn't even care how his image will get ruined.!"
Light didn't panic, thinking so confidently "A normal person would probably give himself away but you're messing with the wrong person, L. This is as far as you'll get."
4. Many a times, Light seemed like he'll befriend L wholeheartedly but he never did. Feelings and emotions never mattered to this guy, since he was too concerned with his goal. No friends, no girlfriend because he's not touched by any pure feelings and emotions that will block his path. His dialogue "I need to keep Misa madly in love with me" shows how far can he go in using others for his needs and motives. He even had no respect for his father who trusted his son blindly & couldn't even imagine to think that his son could be Kira, still this guy was so relaxed thinking of how smart he is. He even said "Overly earnest people with a strong sense of justice like him always lose" Despicable! Hateful guy!
5. Every time L clobbered him with his wit, especially when he arrested Misa (2nd Kira) and ultimately ordered Light's father Yagami to be prepared for bringing in Light to testify as the prime suspect, Light stroke him back with a better answer every time. Indeed, INTELLIGENCE beats everything! Light & L proved it many times, but Light? He was always 1 step ahead.. He took the risk of sacrificing his memory related to Death note and left everything to Rem. Both of them can keep you wanting to see the next episode, that's for sure.
The only fact that made me like Light Yagami was this one 👇🏼
Even now, I admire how confident Light is, especially while facing and talking to Shinigami (since he was too scary to watch). When he told him about a deal of Having Shinigami's eyes, the look in his eyes made me think that he is going to fall for this deal in the hope of killing L by finding his name, but he instead proved to him how smart he is. ✔️
Ryuk's dialogue reflected my mind's thoughts "Even though I'm a Shinigami, he's not frightened nor does he try to suck up to me. He has no problem giving me a hard time" I got impressed with his conviction. One learns, while looking at Light Yagami, how can you stay calm in situations where you're scared or ALMOST exposed.. One has to admit that being cautious like him isn't an easy deal, yet he did it so well.
This dialogue by Near, exactly explains my thoughts "you're no different from a crazy serial killer who has a god complex. That's all you are. Nothing more, nothing less."
I was relieved to see the ending.
Since I always focus on watching a good Art, the animation was Too dark to be likable, but I can't say it was bad.
Music was poor (without giving a 2nd thought)
Overall I'd rate it as 6/10
Really engaging story, with a good animation and characters. I'm sure if I wouldn't be a comedy romance lover I surely would've rated it as 10/10 and enjoyed more.
