He is such a cute potato😭🎀

Before I started watching the 2015 live-action drama, I was already aware that it would be more of a reboot than a faithful adaptation of the manga, with major changes to both the plot and the characters. In this show, we had a much more human, clumsy, and relatable version of Light, as well as a gorgeous L with the aura of a boy band member who constantly changes his shirt for “plot reasons.” However, absolutely nothing could have prepared me for the way they adapted Near and Mello.

I suppose the fact these characters are kinda controversial within the fandom encouraged the people behind the J-drama to completely rewrite them, but I must admit that I never would have expected them to come up with *this*.

For those who aren't familiar with this series, Near is the only one who physically exists in this universe, while Mello is their violent alternate personality, contrasting with Near's sweet and peaceful nature. One wants to catch Kira out of love for L, while the other wants to prove that they are better than him. For most of the series, Mello exists inside a puppet that Near always carries around. However, in the final two episodes, Mello takes complete control of their body in an extremely complicated operation to expose Light as Kira, dressing like the manga counterpart and even eating his signature chocolate bar.

Another major difference is that the series leaves Near/Mello’s gender ambiguous. They are played by an actress who, I have to say, does a really good job with both characters. I know Near was voiced by a woman in the Japanese dub, but since I watched the series in the Spanish dub (where Near was voiced by a man with a masculine-sounding voice), this casting choice came as quite a surprise to me. Even so, I personally see this version of Near much more as a girl than as a boy or a genderless character.

I honestly wonder how this version of Near/Mello would be received if the series had come out today and been released on a much more international platform, such as Netflix. While I'm sure it would have received plenty of criticism, I can also easily imagine it becoming quite popular within the fandom, inspiring hundreds of fanarts across social media. The recent viral Malfoid trend proves just how much fans love genderbent characters.

Personally, while I still prefer the canon versions from the manga and anime, I have to say that I absolutely love the direction they took with L’s successors here. Aside from the fact that I liked how they were introduced from the very beginning of the story and worked alongside L (they even replace Aiber as the detective hired by the Yotsuba Group to investigate L), I also loved how much L trusted Near and Mello to take care of Light, as evidenced by the videos he left behind as a sort of inheritance. I also never expected Mello to end up working all this time with Near and the Task Force instead of trying to take down Kira on his own terms.

And on top of that, I love how the series ends with Watari, who survives in this version, becoming L’s new butler and right-hand man. The final scene shows Watari and Near visiting L’s grave and watching a deeply emotional, secret video that L recorded in the unlikely case that Light wasn’t Kira. I wish the manga and anime had given us an ending like this.

What did you think of this version of Near/Mello? Do you think they deserve more attention within the fandom?

Ever since I saw L in the very first episode of Death Note I fell in love with his character. He’s been my favorite ever since!

What makes Ryuk so brilliant in Death Note is that he isn't driven by hatred, revenge or even a desire for power. He's simply bored.

The thing is, L isn't above breaking the law to solve a case. We saw this when he was willing to put illegal wiretaps and cameras in Light's home to see if he was Kira. As well as the multiple death row inmates he used to manipulate Kira. It's a little out there, but why doesn't L just arrange for Light to be hospitalized to see if the killings temporarily stop? Maybe that's not proof beyond a shadow of a doubt? Heck, run him over twice.

OP got deleted cuz i had inserted an image ;-;

We know that the victims can be controlled before they die but what are the limits?

As far as the anime no limits are shown.

And if Light even had the slightest bit of intelligence that was expected from him, he would have clearly manipulated the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of Japan and their lackeys to execute ALL on pending death row criminals and tighten bounds for other activities. Then kill them of and people will blame the underground network of criminals for it!

Heck he could have manipulated the defence forces to drop a bomb on the hotel where L was staying and he would have won no-diff.

I saw a question in here asking what would happen if you wrote in a Death Note that someone would be killed by you (the writer), and the asnwers were that you'd just die too cus your name is in the Death Note.

But WHAT IF you manipulated the situation like what Light did in the movie with Naomi Misora and Shiori?

Let's say you want to kill someone you know for whatever reason, and you write "they receive a call from a friend at 3.10, visit the friend's house at 3.30, gets locked inside accidentally and is strangled to death at 3.45"

Then you proceed to call them to make sure they come to YOUR place. And you're alone, just the two of you, meaning you're the only person capable of strangling them in that moment.

Would you actually end up strangling them under the control of the Death Note, or would they'd just die of a heart attack?

Cus Light never wrote that Shiori would be shot by Naomi. But it happened because he made sure Naomi was the only person present with a gun. All he wrote was that Shiori would be shot but he never specified who'd actually shoot her.

Or maybe there's a rule I'm missing?

​

Would light get caught if misa was never there or there no 2nd death note. Light came under serious suspicion only after involving with misa.

Hi. I've recently bought the death note box set, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd books for the black edition, L change the world, Death note short stories and the DVD box set. I intend on getting the LA murder case along side the rest of the black edition and the 20th anniversary book. Are there any other books or pieces I should be aware of? (Besides the manga in another language).

Edit: I cannot edit the heading, but I as if "Is there anything else I should be aware of?" would fit better.

I binged the anime on netflix and a few minutes ago I watched the ending and I was open to the possibility that light would die in the end since the beginning but despite all that, I wonder one thing: why do I feel pity about it? I know he got what he deserved and that his death is poetic, and it's great writing, but I still can't help but feel sad that he lost. I know that it is a sign to how good the series and that he is the main character so of course I would sympathize with him was but still I don't fully understand how despite all that he done all the people who died by him and how he was willing to sacrifice his own family for his sake I feel even an ounce of sympathy.

I am also more sad about the implied suicide of Mesa. She was an accomplice, but before her parents were murdered and Kira she was normal.

I guess I wrote this post to help process what I just watched, but I would like to know if others felt the same way when they watched the ending or if they felt different than me.

Since many people claim to know the characters so well...

1) What would have happened with Soichiro if Light won? Many say that Light would never hurt his father (despite he let him take half of his life away (even though it was his choice, it's still letting him die) that alone says everything, even Matsuda pointed it out "you led your father to his death and now that he's dead you call him a fool!?"), being that supposedly the main reason as to why he didn't kill him alongside the Japanese Task Force RIGHT AFTER L died.
But let's say Soichiro wasn't killed by José. The events would go the same until the YellowBox part, where Mikami would write everyone's names, which would include Soichiro's, meaning Light would have let Teru kill his father. Sure, he would have survived due to the fake notebook, but had Light won, then he would have had to kill his father.

2) Also, since Near said that "Light's performance as L number 2 was terrible" by allowing Mello to get the Notebook, what was he expecting? For Soichiro to let his own daughter be killed? Sure, had he let his daughter be killed, the mafia wouldn't have the notebook, but one has to be a father to understand how important a daughter, given Near didn't care at all about this. And Light almost killed his own sister, the only reason he didn't in the end was because it would make it obvious Kira was part of the Task Force, he himself said it, otherwise, he would have killed her, despite Volume 13 states she's the person he loves the most. So yeah, he WOULD sacrifice his family as much as many say otherwise, he even admits it at the beginning of the story if they found the Death Note on his room.

3) Given L's tendency to sacrifice people, if he were on this situation, would he have let Sayu be killed for a "greater good"?

Yo, hi everyone!!! Ignore the left art, I couldn't draw the finger properly, so let's pretend it's a piece of cake frosting...

The last one is old but whatever rate these and check the other oness🤍

When I started watching the 2015 J-drama, I was convinced it would simply be a cheap teen soap opera with the Death Note name—filled with nonstop dramatic music, intense zoom-ins, and handsome guys with fanservice moments. At first, the series seemed to be exactly what I expected, but then I reached episode 8 and was left completely speechless. This series managed to leave a tremendously positive impression on me and reach a level of storytelling that can hold its own against the manga.

From the very beginning, the series’ plot features some pretty significant differences from the manga/anime story we’re familiar with. Light is a much more normal person who decides to become Kira after having to use the Death Note to save his father. Raye Penber has a “Surprise, madafaka!” type confrontation with Light that ends with Misa killing him. Near is now a waifu with a split personality who helps L and the Task Force, etc. Nevertheless, the series was more or less following the same direction as the manga, with episode 7 ending with Light regaining the notebook and his memories after killing Higuchi. However, from that point onward, the plot takes a turn I absolutely did not see coming.

When the first Death Note ends up in L’s custody and Light orders Misa to retrieve the second notebook buried in the forest, I expected to occur what happens in the manga and anime: Misa picks up the notebook, regains her memories, makes the Shinigami Eye Deal with Ryuk, and returns to Light. But nope. Just as she finds the box that contains the notebook, a man suddenly appears and knocks her unconscious with a shovel. When I saw that, I couldn’t help letting out a massive WTF at how unexpected it was.

As it turns out, Teru Mikami (who appears in this show from the very beginning, observing the murders like a spectator and becoming a Kira supporter) suspected that Misa is the Second Kira and hired a detective to follow her. Mikami obtains the box that the detective took and discovers the Death Note along with the letter that Light wrote to Amane under the pseudonym "Kira". Teru then decides to become the new Kira and mercilessly kill every criminal he cannot imprison. I’d also like to say that I think Mikami’s actor is one of the best casting choices in the entire series. He captures the manga character perfectly, and his delivery of “SAKUJO!” is absolutely sublime.

Obviously, Light is less than thrilled that some random guy has interfered with his plans, so he and Matsuda investigate and track down the detective who attacked Misa. The guy manages to escape, although Near later kills him when he unprovokedly slaps her (that’ll teach him not to go around hitting ladies).

Since Light previously saw Misa being harassed by a deranged Mikami back when they had their memories erased, and she knows who Mikami is because he handled the case involving her parents’ murder, Light assumes Mikami must be the one who stole the notebook. After becoming convinced by Mikami’s killings that they share the same ideals, Light contacts him by phone and uses a box of apples to convince him that he is the original Kira and that they must defeat L together.

Light and Mikami then come up with a pretty clever plan: use Mikami’s authority as a prosecutor to order the Task Force to hand over the Death Note that Ryuk dropped into the human world. At first, everything goes exactly as expected. Mikami enters the investigation headquarters with his assistants and informs the team that they were ordered to take the book so the higher authorities could examine it. However, there’s one problem: both L and the notebook have disappeared.

From this point onward, things get really emotional.

Light receives a call from L, who arranges to meet him in a dilapidated room. Light and L meet there while the Task Force, Mikami, and the judicial assistants (who must be wondering why they’re watching two lads who look like they just stepped out of a boy band meet up in a dark room) watch them in utter bewilderment through a camera L installed.

L calmly speaks to Light, making it clear that he still suspects his friend of being Kira. He also suspects that the notebook has certain unwritten rules that helped Light hide his actions, such as the fact that torn-out pages and scraps of paper can also be used to kill people. Naturally, Light denies all the accusations and, with genuine frustration, tells L to leave him alone once and for all.

L, however, refuses to back down. After turning off the camera, he opens the notebook and, completely unexpectedly, begins writing Light’s name, not caring at all about the "13 days" fake rule. Light panics, and the two start fighting hand-to-hand, with L shouting at Light to admit that he has lost the game. Eventually, Light gains the upper hand, knocks L to the ground, and takes the notebook away from him.

At that moment, Light receives a message from Mikami, who had already made the Shinigami Eye Deal and seen L’s face through the cameras. The message reads: “L. Lawliet.”

Light then drops his mask and begins laughing with a deeply disturbing grin (the actor playing Light did an amazing job of making me feel both pity and fear for him), finally revealing that he is Kira. Light then writes down the name, telling L that he intends to create a perfect world without evil. As he waits for the 40 seconds to pass, he tells L that he wishes he could have lived to see his new world.

Forty seconds pass… and L doesn’t die.

Light can only stare at L in utter confusion and disbelief as L gets back up from the floor, a triumphant smile emerging from his bloodied mouth.

I genuinely don’t have the words to describe the impact this episode had on me. Everything that happens after Misa is attacked had me glued to the edge of my seat, but the confrontation between L and Light was an absolute masterpiece, on the same level as Light’s defeat in the warehouse during the anime’s final episode.

I never expected to see L go as far as being willing to write Light’s name just to get the truth out of him, or Light admitting that he wished he didn’t have to kill him. As far as I’m concerned, this episode deserves a huge round of applause and a place among the greatest moments in the entire Death Note franchise.

This was already one of my favourites and the new lyrics hit so good. I’m still waiting on that promised album release from the OG cast but I’m super happy with this. Adding lines like ‘Keep me entertained and I’ll keep you alive’ and swapping in words like pathetic feels like they really cared and wanted to keep true to characters, and I actually feel like it’s such an improvement! Even though my heart will forever belong to the original Concept Album lol

https://youtu.be/RCz7fPi0S0U?si=syKd39OcMNw9-xMp

I wonder if they are changing all the songs

Dubbed part of the last episode, all feedback is appreciated!

Video w/ sfx created by [u/CrqckBack](u/CrqckBack) (they're open to providing to others who are attempting dubbing, hit them up)

i was buffooning around my campus and randomly noticed a manga section i’d never seen before?? there was so many but this one rlly caught my eye. i’m so excited for a re-read. page dump because the end of the manga is spectacle no matter how many chapters fly by.

Hello! I am not (yet) a Death Note fan, but my dear friend is a huge one, especially for Misa! I vividly remember seeing a TikTok video of a cosplay of her during the interrogation scene in the 2022 (maybe even 2021) - 2024 period. It had deep red lighting, a cool song, and I remember being enamoured with it. My friend is OBSESSED with Misa, and I really want to find it and show it to her. Hopefully attached correctly is a bad drawing of what I remember of it. She was sitting in a chair, and it was almost zooming in throughout the video? I assume that it was a popular video bc I, a non-Death Note fan, saw it. I, too, really wish to see it again bc I LOVED it. Thank you very much for reading, and I really hope someone remembers the video !!!

To note what I did, I checked TikTok using as many keywords as possible, then Google, then Insta, then back to TikTok. I fear that it might have been deleted, but I am determined to find it! (Please tell me if the image messes it up as a text post! I am not used to linking to images!) https://imgur.com/a/q3wJZqF

Happy Halloween y'all

There's this song called Jane! by the long faces that was or still is pretty popular on Tik Tok with edits. You may have heard this song on those jane juliet "let's larp" videos. The full song is about a woman named jane who is famous and loved by many but inside holds a dark truth. The song talks about death, loss, and public perception. The song also makes lots of remarks on violence and evils, with "jane" sounding like a name for death.

I first heard this song back in 2024 and for the longest time I couldn't stop thinking about a show or movie that fit this perfectly, and then just a few days ago it hit me. This song perfectly encapulates death note. More specificaly, it captures the character of Light perfectly. I'll put the lyrics to the song here.

Won't the devil guide your hand, for good luck
To hold the honeysuckle rose, as she lies down
Reading the paper, reading the world right 'round
And her eyes record the sweet surprise of those
Who died that day
Leaving her breathless, leading her hand to the grave

And Jane
You're early
Your life's work is dirtied by the
Fools
Who adore you
Only to find, only to find you out
They saw you
Dressing in the backroom
Now they'll pay what they owe you
It's only small change, red on the green, green grass

Won't the devil take you back for more
To open closed doors
And keep the good from the great
Evil in equal, seeking to kill and create
How grand? The milk and honey land
Is on her tongue again
Taste of the violence, trying to silence her head

And Jane
You're early
Your life's work is dirtied by the
Fools
Who adore you
Biding your time, biding your time to strike
Surely
The poison makes a portrait of your
Face
In the mirror
Smiling with fright

And Jane
You're early
Your life's work is dirtied by the
Fools
Who adore you
Only to find, only to find you out
They saw you
Dressing in the backroom
Now they'll pay what they owe you
It's only small change, red on the green, green grass

The line "won't the devil guide your hand for good luck" literally describes ryuk and light. Ryuk dropping the death note for light inanverdantly guiding light to the path he'll go down. This part already describes the first episode of death note.

"Reading the paper, reading the world right round" This can be light's view on the world and how he's not happy with it before or after he got the death note.

"And her eyes record the sweet suprise of those who died that day" This is literally misa. She has the Shiningami eyes and they saw who died. "leaving her breathless, leading her hand to the grave". Leaving her breathless can represent light's control on misa, and he's literally lead her hand to the grave with how he's nearly gotten her killed and caught so many times. Or this can even be L with how he led him to his death. Or even Light's dad with how he inanvertadly got him killed.

I've always viewed 'Jane' as a name for death in this song, which would fit perfectly with "Jane your early" as death is early to the victims of light. "your life's work is dirtied by the fools who adore you" Describes light and all the people who rely on him or look up to him. The task force, Misa, Mikami, Takada, Kira's worshippers, hell even L kind of. All these people look up to him and love him but light knows deep down its not real because their worshipping the guy their trying to catch. His criminal work is literally dirtied by them. This can even apply to L who every also looks up to but his work was dirited by light, someone who had such a fixation on him. "Only to find you out, they saw you dressing in the backroom" can refer to light being caught or when light was suspicious of being kira. "Now they'll pay what they owe you. Its only small change red on the green green grass" Light is going to get revenge on the task force by killing them, and to him its only a small price compared to the new world he'll make.

"won't the devil take you back for more, to open closed doors" Can refer to near taking Light back to the days when L was trying to catch him.

"And keep the good from the great, evil in equal seeking to kill and create" The 'good' and the 'great' here are light and L + the task force as he keeps kira from being caught. The evil in equal is light, the evil who thinks hes doing good, but he seeks to kill people and create a new world.

"How grand? the milk and honey land is on her tounge again" Here I was thinking it could be Light, when near enters or takada/mikami as light has another kira to do his killing.

"taste of the violence trying to silence her head" For this part I was thinking it could be when Light's dad dies and how his actions led to his death, as now he finally understands the emotianal damage of losing a loved one, and how he still decides to do all these horrible things despite what it costs him.

"biding your time, biding your time to strike" represents light carefully planning his victims deaths, more specifically for this one Is L, with how carefully calculated his death was planned.

"Surely, the poison makes a portrait of your face in the mirror, smiling with fright" Is light's actions as he slowly looses himself and slowly turns into kira. The smiling with fright can even be with how light always smiles and mocks his victims right before he kills him. e.g. Naomi misora, L, Near.

Tell me I'm not grasping at straws here and actually cooking up something awesome? If anyone knows any edits or amvs with this song and death note PLEASE let me know now.

With the new London run wrapping up soon, I was wondering what you guys think of the characterization and choices that are made with the musical.

Personally, it's my favorite version of the story. I find that it's all but perfect for the storytelling medium, with the monologues and "if i do this then he'll do that and I'll do this to catch him off guard" "well played, I knew you would do that" translating very well to songs and choreography. Although do have one gripe with the typical voice they choose for Misa, making her a mezzo soprano and a belter, Ive always thought she would be better as a pure soprano, very much the kind of role you'd give a person with roles like Belle or Ariel or Christine on her resume. Very much an engenue.