Death Note - Reviews

I can't wait to watch it for my fourth time. I love the story the most. It is so well put together and the characters are very grabbing to the viewer!!!

Story
The premise was extremely compelling but I found that the plot got very confusing and convoluted as it went on. Most of the time I was able to understand what was going on, but attempting to grasp everything that was happening was difficult and took away from my enjoyment a little. This would be much easier to understand and enjoy on a second watch.

It was kind of annoying to see Light constantly calculate what was going to happen, to the point where whenever a new obstacle was set up it almost made me think “okay, so how is Light already plotting to get around this?”.

Additionally, there was one arc that was really boring and I just couldn’t wait for it to be over. Anyone that’s watched Death Note knows what I’m talking about, and this is where Death Note got convoluted to me. I will say that this arc ended FANTASTICALLY, and a scene where it really ends in terms of one character’s state of mind is up there in my mental “best anime scenes of all time” list.

Overall, Death Note has a wide range of scenes that range from idiotic-comic-relief to WTF? to boring to bittersweet to extremely emotional and saddening -- two particular events involving two different Shinigami and a female main character were so beautifully human and heart-wrenching I could barely stand it. Death Note has a mostly procedural feel despite the whole people-killing-people dilemma, yet when it gets emotional or crazy, it really knows how to incite strong feelings in the viewer.

Art
I’m not qualified at all to talk about art, but it seemed pretty standard for an anime. I will say that the Shinigami designs are AMAZING (did you know that for some reason Microsoft Office capitalizes Shinigami? True fact). Ryuk, Rem, Shidoh, and all the other Shinigami have unique designs that managed to make them not only likeable but also terrifying in some cases. I’m not unsettled by much, but Shidoh is probably one of the most terrifying pieces of art I’ve seen. The Shinigami world was a delight to see every time it was shown. I wanted MORE. While I’m on the subject of the Shinigami world, one of the two particular events involving a Shinigami and a female main character was so beautifully set up and animated that I’m pretty sure it’s one of my favorite scenes in an anime ever. If you’re curious and haven’t figured it out yet, shoot me a PM because I think I could talk about that particular scene for ages.

Sound
Again, I’m not qualified to talk about sound, so I’ll just talk about the opening songs (nobody got time for the ending songs, especially on Netflix). I don’t like the first opening song just based on it reminding me of every time I tried to watch Death Note and then immediately stopped for some reason. It sounds like a pretty standard shonen anime opening song. The second opening is GREAT, though. The song, along with the visuals, perfectly communicate the sense of chaos and madness that occurs in the anime.

Character
I found Death Note to have likeable yet flawed and undeveloped characters. Light, L, and the main characters are very one-note (excuse the pun) and we don’t see them personally progress much, other than an extremely satisfying character conclusion that comes at the end.

Light: I didn’t like Light, yet I realized I was rooting for him almost the entire time. His personality is of course very dry and calculating, and it got very tiring constantly hearing him monologing his plans, but when it comes down to it, he’s the heart of Death Note. If you don’t find Light at least somewhat entertaining and even likeable, there’s no point in trying to watch Death Note. Side note – in an industry(?) where protagonists are sex-obsessed and men of mystery and intrigue like Light are always pulling in hot women, it was refreshing to see Light completely uninterested in sex because he was so focused on his goals.

L: L is pretty much the same as Light – so analytic that it took me a while to like him. However, I grew fond of him after an event that everyone reading this review knows about. Hey, the guidelines say no spoilers!

Ryuk: I LOVED RYUK! SO MUCH! I don’t think it’s possible to dislike Ryuk. Ryuk provided great comic relief and was the voice of reason throughout the anime. I can’t say whether or not he was underutilized because I don’t think I’d ever be satisfied with enough Ryuk. I LOVE HIM. Near the end of the anime, he is in some absolutely gorgeous scenes that almost brought me to tears. Easily my favorite character in the anime.

Other Shinigami: Death Note is pretty clever in that the freaking DEATH GODS are actually the sane beings whereas the humans are shown to be insane, irrational, and calculating in order to get what they want. Rem was great to watch and his not-very-scary design totally fit him. Shidoh was another great source of comic relief – while he’s easily the scariest Shinigami, he has this totally dopey voice and just has one simple goal! I would have loved to see more of him.

Misa: Misa annoyed the hell out of me – she’s so stupid, selfish, boy-obsessed, and vapid that I almost wonder if the writer intentionally developed her as a satire of the ways women are sometimes stereotyped. However, I grew fond of her throughout the anime when she comes useful and provides comic relief. I thought it was annoying that many of the major events in the anime hinged on her completely unrealistic and all-encompassing devotion to Light. Another fun fact – she is very obviously voiced by the same woman who voiced Konata Izumi from Lucky Star, so I couldn’t hate her that much.

Near: I thought Near did a very good job in fulfilling his role in the anime. His thoughts were actually pretty easy to follow most of the time, and I thought his obsession with playing with toys was really cute.

Mello: He didn’t play as much of a role as I would have hoped, but Mello was a very interesting wild card character for a portion of the anime. I feel that Mello being ignored almost as soon as he factors into the anime was a pretty obvious indicator that Death Note was adapted from a manga – it felt structurally off and kind of like a tease considering the events that Mello spurs on in the beginning of his arc.

Policemen: As I previously said, most were one-note but Aizawa and Matsuda were very likeable. I thought one of their character closures was brilliant and made me tear up because of how clever, well-timed, and heartening it was.

Enjoyment
I think coming into this show with completely unfounded expectations, along with the confusing plot, soured my enjoyment of it a little bit. I don’t think this counts as a major spoiler, but I was assuming Light would have the notebook the whole time and I was not expecting the plot to be as crazy and complicated as it is. At times, the anime had no emotion, which seemed bizarre to me considering it's about a guy killing criminals to create a new world. As I said before, trying to understand what each character was doing dampened my enjoyment of this anime because of how confusing it was sometimes, but I think it will hold up better on a second watch. This show managed to keep my attention throughout most of it, but for some reason I found myself looking to see when each episode was going to be over in every episode – maybe the constant internal monologing of each character and relative lack of emotion in most events caused my boredom at some points.

Death Note definitely has very boring episodes and very exciting episodes. I think that the exciting episodes and the WTF and emotional moments almost made up for the boring ones. There are a lot of “well, x did y, so I have to do z” scenes, but the scenes that leave you absolutely flabbergasted or in tears will almost make you forget about the boredom you experienced.

Overall
Death Note was a relatively interesting anime that held my attention for most of its episodes. However, it has a lot of very dry and unemotional moments that consist of each character quite boringly calculating their next move. This, along with some other complicated plot events, made me very confused at times. Death Note also suffers from an arc that might make sense within the plot itself but is not very engaging for the viewer. The characters, while mostly flat, are captivating and grow on you throughout the anime regardless of whether you like them or not. Most of the supporting characters get their time to shine, which I appreciated very much. The Shinigami realm and Shinigami characters themselves are my favorite thing about this anime, hands down. Death Note absolutely deserves a watch – not only for how popular it is, but for how engaging and emotional it is at times. Plus, how can you resist that premise?!

This review is copied from my MAL.

"Death Note" is a psychological thriller anime that has left an indelible mark on the medium, thanks to its complex characters, mind-bending plot, and moral dilemmas. The series revolves around Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student who stumbles upon a supernatural notebook called the Death Note. This notebook allows its user to kill anyone whose name they write in it, as long as they have the person's face in mind. Light, now equipped with the power to play god, embarks on a mission to rid the world of criminals and create a utopia under his rule.

One of the standout aspects of "Death Note" is its cat-and-mouse game between Light and the enigmatic detective known only as "L." Their battle of wits, intellect, and strategies forms the core of the series and keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The mind games and psychological warfare between the two protagonists are riveting and make for a suspenseful viewing experience.

The moral and ethical questions raised by the series are thought-provoking. As Light takes on the role of judge, jury, and executioner, viewers are forced to grapple with questions about justice, power, and the consequences of absolute authority. The exploration of these themes adds depth and complexity to the narrative.

Visually, "Death Note" features a dark and moody aesthetic that suits the tone of the series perfectly. The character designs, especially for Light and L, are iconic and memorable. The animation is fluid during critical moments of tension and action.

As for areas that could be considered weaker, some viewers might find that the pacing of the series slows down in the second half, as new characters and plot developments are introduced. Additionally, the ending of the series has been a subject of debate among fans, with some feeling it was a fitting conclusion and others desiring a different outcome.

In summary, "Death Note" is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that delves into themes of power, morality, and the consequences of playing god. Its captivating characters, intricate plot, and thought-provoking dilemmas have made it a classic in the anime world. While some may have reservations about the pacing and ending, it remains a must-watch for anyone seeking a mind-bending and morally challenging narrative.

I absolutly LOVE Death Note, but like any other anime, this does have some flaws.

The first half of the anime is so... juicy (I guess? Don't know how to describe it) it's filled with humor, excitement, nail-biting moments, one-sided romances, and parts that make you think about the world we live in. Some of the characters are an enigma itself.

Unfortunately, after some point in the anime, the series gets really dry and uneventful, which is why this doesn't get a 10/10. I love this anime, I really do, which makes me sad the second part is so horrible. The second part of the anime is not really worth watching unless you want to know what exactly happens to the main character, Light Yagami, and the secondary characters.

If you do watch this series, just beware of it's dark and surprising plot twists and some parts that just might make you cringe.

So here it is. The review of the acclaimed Death Note series. Like it or not here it is. Enjoy. Oh and short as ever.

Opening: 1) The World by Nightmare. Excellent song that truly fits the Death Note atmosphere. The visuals are purely genius work. They managed to represents all the important keys of the series without feeling like a slideshow. And the subtle symbolism here and there? Absolutely marvelous. One of the best openings I have ever seen executed with mastery and intelligence.

2) What's up people? by Maximum the Hormone. Good song with great visuals. They are provocative, colorful and full of blasting energy, although a bit chaotic.

Ending: 1) Alumina by Nightmare. Excellent song and visuals once again. Tainted with subtle darkness and artistry, it is simply a beautiful ending that matches the excellent opening. A pure delight for eyes and ears.

2) Zetsubou Billy by Maximum the Hormone. Excellent song with matching visuals. Innovative and lustrous. I love it.

Positive points

-Breathtaking story with so many twists and balls to keep the viewer hooked.

-Provocative and innovative premise

-Unforgettable main characters; Light Yagami and L stael the show to themselves only

-Realized with uttermost care and precision

-Exciting developpement that never feel left out of place or unlogical

-Beautiful soundtrack. No. Divine soundtrack.

-Excellent and precise character design

-Excellent adaptation of the original manga by Obata Takeshi and Ohba Tsugumi; it takes risks and innovates with it's own ideas to make tha animation a totally new experience and it actually succeeds.

-Miyano Mamoru's performance such as Yagami Light is beyong words. It truly shines with dexterity and minuty. he is heavenly to hear as he is perfection itself. Boredom to absolute craziness, Miyano is terrific in everything he does.

-Yamaguchi Kappei's performance suc as L (Ryuuzaki/ Ryuuga Hideki / L Lawliet) have nothing to fear from Miyano. He is truly exceptionnal and adds a ne image to the adored character. He is simply perfect too and I just love it that way.

-Hirano Aya offers a good prestation as Amane Misa.

-In general, excellent voice work for the entirety of a series that shines with quality.

-Charistmatic and awesome characters that matches the high level of the story

-Good animation that knows how to shine in the key moments.

-Excellent pacing

-Philosophy? I'm in 1000 PERCENT

 

Negative points

-Extremely heavy dialogue scenes that requires a lot of thinking from the viewer (headache anyone?)

-Animation is imperfect

-Second part (episode 26 up to 37) is a bit weaker to the gripping first part

-Have a tendency to lose the viewer in the main characters fight of wits

-If the series have a weak point is the second part and the Yotsuba ark

 

Overall, if you're in the mood for a quality series that shines with originality and intelligent plot twists instead of unflavourful battle sequences, then you're in. Yes, even if you have already read the manga beforehand. Death Note is now acclaimed anywhere on earth (maybe exept China...) and it is a successful premise done right without bullshit. Manga and anime alike.

PS: I already own the entirety of the manga series along with the excellent guidebook and one of the DVD volume. But I am now determined to own the entire series on DVD. I will then complete my review with the DVD presentation critic.

Score: 8.9 (or maybe 8.9999999999). An excellent series slowed down by some small issues. But fantastic nonetheless.

As life present itself to me now....I don't know what I'll be reviewing next. Maybe Hakaba Kitarou.