Death Note

Death Note - Episode 11

Nick — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 16:27:26 -0500

This episode features more of L and the Kira investigative team. While Light's father is in the hospital recovering from a heart attack (A natural one, at that), a seedier news stations starts playing tapes that it claims are from Kira. When people that simply spoke out against Kira start dying, it should be rather obvious that this is not the real Kira, and L's perceptiveness serves him well.

Episode 11

Entrance

Light doesn't do much of anything in this episode. Indeed, much of this episode revolves around a news broadcast, L, and the Kira investigative team. Despite the loss of one of the precious members of the investigative team, through the heroics of Light's father, they are able to secure the tapes the TV station had received.

L seriously disapproves of this new Kira as he has been killing innocents. L understands that the Kira they have been chasing only kept to hardened criminals and people that have been chasing him. Light can't help but be amused by all of this, though he is worried about the new Kira revealing information about the Death Note to the police.

The new Kira? "He" is apparently a she named Misa who has gotten access to another Death Note and wants to meet the real Kira. Well, Misa, you indeed have his attention!

Death Note - Episode 10

Nick — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 22:09:08 -0500

Some extreme tennis skills combined and what feels like a mental game of chess between Light and L fill this episode as they attempt to ascertain the other's identity without giving their own away. This episode feels to have a bit too exposition at times as we're practically in both character's heads at all times. Still, it's interesting how much mental weaving they do.

Episode 10

Suspicion

And what an aptly-named title. Suspicion is the name of the game in this episode, wiht L's quest to find any proof that Light is Kira and Light denying him that opportunity. There's several great moments where what looks like a game of detective is actually a game the scientific method, with L giving Light false info about the Kira case to observe his reaction.

Though that tennis match is a bit much, IMO. Almost fillerish, though I'd guess this is L trying to establish how far Light will go to win. It's amusing that they built an audience and people started filling in as referee and linesmen for their impromptu match... Some of the effects were a bit much to my tastes.

I laughed heartily when L was thinking "this is too cheesy to be an act" when they were visiting Light's father in the hospital.

And I found it very amusing when Ryuk dove out of the way of L's first serve at the start of the tennis match.

Death Note - Episode 9

Nick — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 19:41:04 -0500

L pulls a gutsy move here and reveals himself to Light during a college entrance ceremony. Ryuk is finally able to eat apples again (though his twisted up predicament is hillarious). Though the level of suspense feels a bit too hyped up for my tastes, I'm quite enjoying this series.

Episode 9

Contact

I have to say, Light came extremely close to freaking out when L revealed himself in front of him. And it seriously pissed Light off that there was nothing he could do about it. Quite nice to see Light seeing this as a challenge of wits at the end.

Poor Ryuk with his apple withdrawal...

I guess I don't have much to say about this episode. It's quite a pivotal part of the series, but I guess I'll have more to say over the next episodes.

Death Note - Episode 8

Nick — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 23:35:15 -0500

Light gets dangerously close to getting caught by L, and Ryuk has to suffer by going without apples. Apparently, fruits are like drugs to death gods, as Ryuk goes through some wacky withdrawal symptoms (When he explained them, I thought he was exaggerating. I guess I gave the death god too much credit!). Anyways, Light shows more of his very clever thinking by figuring out his house was bugged, and L shows some more of his perceptiveness.

Episode 8

Line of Sight

This time, L finally reasons that Ray Penbar, the FBI agent that tailed Light, might have gotten in contact with Kira with a clue that his fiancé had gone missing soon after his death. Truthfully, though, I think L/the manga author is making up the "5% chance" that Kira is in Light's household... Of course, his father, being the leader of the Kira investigative team, doesn't like this, but agrees. Even if the percentage that this will find Kira is low, he agrees that they should take the chance, as they had very few leads as to find Kira.

How Light finds out about his house being bugged is quite brilliant. The multiple levels of entry-detection schemes he has on his door is something to be admired. Good thing he has a death god that can search for the cameras and bugs without being detected.

I still find that Light is far too confident for his own good. Don't get me wrong, he is very intelligent, but I see that confidence easily being his downfall, and he had a bit of luck of escaping detection so far. It could be because of his age, though. Give him a few decades to mellow out that extreme bravado and he would be equivalent to the Johan (from Monster) or Griffen (from Berserk) level of intelligent evil.

Poor Ryuk, having to go without apples. I don't remember the withdrawal symptoms being part of the manga, but his expression of having to go without his favorite fruit is worth a laugh.

Death Note - Episode 7

Nick — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 19:10:13 -0500

Light is evil. Quite evil and sure of himself. He is willing to use others for his own ends. And he's willing to kill those that get in his way with his warping sense of justice, even if those people aren't otherwise criminals. What's funny is L admits that he's much the same to the very group of cops who are part of the Kira Investigative Team.

Episode 7

Temptation

Light is extremely clever. Though he's also getting to the point of overconfident. He's lucky that he has Ryuk giving things away by laughing when the FBI agent's fiancé gave her name. He's extremely lucky that her ID card had her real name on it, that's for sure!

The falling snow at the end is a nice touch. And I realized her role in this series: to highlight the similarity between Light and L.

Still, I don't really feel any real emotional response at the end the episode. It is quite tragic, but she and the FBI agent don't get a whole lot of screen time for me to really connect to her. The series, being a thriller, really focuses on Light.

And like another thriller series I've watched, Monster, Death Note follows the manga quite well. It's understandable, as both manga series are very complex, and it would be very difficult to change the storyline without heavy modifications. Unfortunately, this can be quite a bit disappointing for people that have already read the manga, as what would be the point of watching the anime if you already know what will happen? The answer, of course, is up to the individual viewer. For me, I watch because I want to see how they present the story and characters in a audio/video form.

Death Note - Episode 6

Nick — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 10:09:54 -0500

Due to Light's actions, L is forced to reveal himself to the Kira investigative team. The rivalry between L and Light slowly builds up as they seek each other out. Light also gets dangerously close to someone that is connected to the FBI agent he killed.

Episode 6

Open Seam

This episode is full of L making deductions of "Kira"'s actions, and Light studying if his actions have any holes. It really feeling more like a chess match, like a good thriller-style anime should. The split-screen effect is used correctly in this one, in my opinion.

There's something off in the background music at points in this episode. I'm not sure what it is, though. It could just might be something in my imagination.

It is lucky for Light that he stumbled on the fiancé of the FBI agent he killed earlier. Unfortunately, I'm not fully sure of her role in this series. Maybe to further show Light's "decline". At least, I see it as a decline.

Death Note - Episode 5

Nick — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 16:34:23 -0500

After finding out the name of the FBI agent tailing him, Light really takes a big step into the path of darkness. This episode drags a bit in my opinion. Unfortunately, I don't see any other way of portraying this part of the manga.

Episode 5

Diplomacy

Again, how Light ferreted out the other FBI agents was quite brilliant. Brilliant, but purely evil. That look Light gives the agent towards the end of the episode is one of malice.

Light is definitely straying from his ideal of punishing criminals, as he's proving that he's willing to kill those that oppose him. It's rather interesting how the protagonist is also the villain.

One small issue I do question is the FBI agent's wife. I just find it odd that she's Japanese, with parents in Japan, who became an FBI agent for the U.S., and who quit the agency to become a wife. I guess it's more of the Japanese mindset to the genders that I"m seeing here. Well, it's a minor part of the series, anyways.

Death Note - Episode 4

Nick — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 23:03:34 -0500

Man, the other Death Gods are really lethargic, aren't they? They don't even want to put up the effort of "dropping" a death note for a human to pick up for fun. Ryuk is also rather forgetful, isn't he? Truthfully, it's Light that's quite brilliant and rather thorough, as this episode proves. How Light deals with the FBI agent following him is quite a treat.

Episode 4

Pursuit

By all accounts, Light is a villain. After he gets over his initial shock about this power, he's quite willing to kill people. Yeah, abeit, criminals, but he's also looking to kill the one person who can catch him. He reasons that he's doing it for the good of the world, but I'm seeing that he's slowly slipping.

It's all good, though...

Death Note - Episode 3

Nick — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:26:23 -0400

More information gets revealed about Light, especially where he gets much of his intelligence and insight! L is also proving to be quite the match for Light. Though I seem to have some issues with the consistency of the animation in this episode, I'm still awaiting for the fourth episode to come out.

Episode 3

Transaction

L makes more deductions and scarily accurate conjectures, Light learns some more about the rules of the Shinigami (Death God) world, and the FBI moves into Japan for an unannounced investigation.

I have to say, how Light sets in motion the distrust between the police and L is quite solid. Though the cliff-hanger ending where Light has to make a choice might piss some people off. Then again, I know what's going to happen from the manga...

Death Note - Episode 2

Nick — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 02:32:43 -0400

Light kills more criminals. People anonymously cheer for him on internet websites. The series makes a rather telling statement of the nature of human beings. Light might have met his match. And Ryuk is amused by it all.

Yeah, this is a good series.

Episode 2

Showdown

I do have to say, how Light hides the Death Note book is rather ingenious. On the other hand, I'm rather disappointed that Light let his ego get in the way of his good sense. Then again, he is human, and humans do make mistakes, sometimes.

This episode seems to slow down a bit while there's alot of dialog explaining the situation some. There is a rather dull portion where several countrie's justice departments are in a huge meeting discussing this rash of criminals suffering heart attacks, though when L comes into the picture to help capture the killer, termed "Kira" (Apparently, it's Japanese Engrish for "Killer"... I like Light's reaction to that name.), the episode gets much more interesting. L's plan for gathering some hints is quite good!

Nice shot towards the end of the episode showing Light and L in split screen saying "I am Justice!" at the same time. I still think the split-screen effect is a bit overused for no good reason.