After binge watching one of the most talked about anime series of its time, “The Death Note”,I, like many fans, was disappointed with the ending of the series. So what! That’s nothing new, however what bothered me was it felt like old wine sold in a new bottle.
Coming straight to the point, the series has a brilliant start where you discover high school student named Light Yagami who finds the "Death Note", a mysterious black notebook which can kill anyone as long as the user of the book knows both the target's name and face
The story continues where Light Yagami wants to create a world with no crime. The world hails the new justice maker and dubs him as Kira – (Killer in Japanese) considering him godlike.
However he has someone to stop him, an enigmatic consulting detective called L. L is a creepy genius who has time and money at his disposal. He also has an all-rounder godfather and butler who is his one and only confidant.
Haven’t we heard this story before? A rich boy, who has money and power at his disposal and a butler to guide him?.
If you haven’t already guessed, I am of course talking about Batman – ‘There’s even a Robin’, who comes into the picture as N, as L’s successor. The whole plot felt like it was conceptualised on the story of Batman trying to make the City of Gotham a crime free place to live in. In this case, Light is trying to make Tokyo and the world a crime free place.
Well if there is Batman and Robin, there should also be the Joker.
So where is the Joker? If you look closely, Lights has a Shinigami known as Ryku , it kind of resembles the character of the Joker from Batman, with his dark clown-like smile. Considering he is the ghost constantly attached to L, the writer has managed to perfectly split the face and the character yet keep them together, as Light plays the Joker while L saves the world as Batman and N as Robin. All in all, it feels like Batman trying to save Gotham from crime and corruption.
Optimistically there is a sequel which gives answer to What reason did someone as privileged as Light, with a respected and loving family, turn out to kill people and take justice into his own hands? Why did Watari have the need to start an orphanage for special kids?
Once L dies and N takes his place as his successor, it felt like the writer was telling L's story all over again simply making sure Light's actions continued. Introducing new characters like that at the last minute is thoroughly unjustifiable.
The protagonist and the antagonist seemed to have no root motive to connect with each other and are roving away from one place to another. Overall it is definitely a good watch and I would say 35% of its contents is original
Nancet Marques
Author
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2021 Nancet Marques
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