Death Note: How the Greatest Anime Series Failed Its Fans With a Weak Ending

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Summary

  • The ending of Death Note is unable to overcome the strength of its original premise.
  • Light Yagami’s defeat feels unsatisfying due to rushed plot details.
  • Death Note’s ending fails to provide a satisfying conclusion, lessening the enjoyment of the early parts of the show.

The “Death Note” series has gained immense popularity and is frequently suggested for those new to anime. With its gripping plot reminiscent of a thriller, every episode delivers unexpected twists, shocking revelations, and tense strategies as Light Yagami navigates the authorities while pursuing his dark ambitions for society.

In simpler terms, the initial captivating aspect of Death Note lies in its intricate character interactions and mental puzzles, but the final outcome leaves viewers feeling unsatisfied because Light is not vanquished through superior intellect, strategy, or a debunking of his beliefs, but rather by his own arrogance and what seems like a plot device. The manner in which Light was defeated in Death Note, along with the lack of a fully resolved explanation for his motivations, contribute to this unsatisfying ending. Essentially, the message conveyed in Death Note is that even when a series has been skillfully written up to that point, if the conclusion doesn’t provide a fulfilling resolution, all the prior efforts can seem wasted.

Life After L

The Narrative Is Unable To Overcome the Strength of Its Original Premise

First-time viewers are frequently intrigued by the initial engaging dynamic between Light and L in the series. A significant chunk of the early episodes delicately portrays their strategic dance towards one another, much like a game of chess. The plot appears to be gradually escalating, hinting at an ultimate showdown between these two characters, where they will settle their contrasting perspectives on justice.

This world is rotten, and those who are making it rot deserve to die. -Light Yagami

Initially, the early episodes feature a dialogue through monologues by both Light and L, speaking from distinct locations. They express contrasting perspectives on the same topic, demonstrating their antagonistic roles. However, it’s interesting to note that despite being adversaries, they maintain unwavering beliefs about justice, each viewing it as an absolute principle.

Ultimately, Light outsmarts L by convincing Shinigami Rem to kill him instead. Although Light appears to have won the game of wits, the concepts of justice between them remain unresolved and the series continues after L’s demise. Now, the challenge falls on the show to conclude the story in a way that satisfies viewers, given the absence of L and the introduction of new characters midway through. This makes it a tougher proposition for the audience to engage with.

Light Yagami’s Defeat

Defeated Physically but Not Intellectually or Spiritually

Following L’s demise, the anime leaps forward approximately four years to depict the conclusion. Throughout this period, Light was given free rein as Kira, but fresh adversaries were required to halt him. Unfortunately for newcomers Near and Mellow, they had limited time to grow, resulting in characters that seemed like inferior copies of L.

Although these characters could’ve replaced Light in driving the plot’s conflict, they didn’t reach the depth or impact that Light had earlier in the series. The initial philosophical debates about justice, deceit, empathy, and future possibilities were not fully explored through Near and Mello’s actions to resolve the story. This results in a conclusion that doesn’t meet the expectations set by the early episodes, making repeated viewings less satisfying and leaving fans wanting more insight into these thought-provoking themes.

Another reason the ending felt unsatisfying is that Light wasn’t genuinely defeated mentally. In the anime, it appears that Near stumbled upon the real notebook’s location due to Mikami’s error, which was essentially beyond Light’s influence. Although this blunder supports the idea of Light’s overconfidence as his undoing, it doesn’t seem like a convincing method to defeat him. Additionally, the details surrounding their final encounter are hastily explained and somewhat unclear, leading to questions about how clever Near’s strategy was and how much of it relied on plot convenience.

Revisiting Death Note, the initial thrill from the early episodes seems somewhat diminished knowing that the build-up won’t lead to a rewarding outcome. Light appears to bear his destiny with grace and tranquility, leaving viewers feeling unsettled by the unfulfilling ending.

Death Note can be streamed on Netflix

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2025-04-07 16:06