Death Note

[Giorno Giovanna]

Well, I am a fan of Death Note and I was really impressed with the manga and anime not only because of the characters or great cat and mouse guessing games but also the philosophical issue it dealt with (whether Kira was truly good or evil, etc).

I wanted to know your opinions on the series

[GhostontheNet]

Well, I am a fan of Death Note and I was really impressed with the manga and anime not only because of the characters or great cat and mouse guessing games but also the philosophical issue it dealt with (whether Kira was truly good or evil, etc).

I wanted to know your opinions on the series

You'd probably have a better turn-out if you posted this at Theology Web's sister site, Christian Anime Alliance. I always tend to think of Death Note as the story of a utopian-minded tragic hero and his ever-mounting pile of skeletons in the closet. For those unfamiliar, Death Note is a popular manga (Japanese comic book) and anime (Japanese animation) series. The story follows Light Yagami, who recovers a death note dropped by a shinigami (death spirit, kind of like the grim reaper). The death note grants the one whom posesses it the power to cause anyone whose name is written on it to die. Shortly after realizing the power he wields in his hands, Light decides that he can bring about a utopian society by removing all evildoers from the world with the death note. Light's efforts soon brings the attention of the international authorities, who label him "Kira" (Killer) and send a mysterious detective known only as "L" to crack the case. And so the two play a continuous game of cat and mouse to discover their adversary's true identidy as Light becomes more and more megalomaniacal in his quest for utopia.

[Abykale]

There are at least a few gung-ho fans here on Tweb. I myself am one of them, having discovered the manga shortly after it finished in Japan thanks to a thread started by ACupofNo (or whatever name he's going by now . . . ThouShaltNot, was it?). For a while I had quite the crush on L which now I'm a bit embarrassed about.

As for whether Light is good or evil, I can sympathize with his original goal but personality-wise he seems pretty darn evil to me. Also I think that apart from the question of whether his goal was right, there were some good reasons for others to oppose him (basically he's setting himself up as dictator of the world with unlimited power; there's no way to stop him if he decides to start doing things you disagree with.)

As well as the plot and characters, I think Obata's amazing artwork really helped make the series what it is. It really pulls you into the story. I wish more manga were that well-drawn!


By the way, if you're looking for other series that are similar you might want to check out Naoki Urasawa's Monster and 20th Century Boy. They probably tend to appeal to the same kind of people, and also bring up sticky philosophical issues.
On the other hand the one I've found most similar would be Spiral, which has the same sort of complicated puzzles and mind games.

[Epoetker]

Ack, when you said Spiral I thought you meant Uzumaki, which is...eh...quite different.

The most interesting thing about Death Note is that shinigami are actually a relatively recent myth-so they can be either the watchers of humanity or their protectors, a la Bleach.

Unfortunately, the Japanese philosophical mind, while so broad it can surround every side of a known issue with swift ease (and create characters to represent a majority of those positions with equal swiftness), it's about as deep as a puddle when it comes to making any lasting judgments. (Notable exception so far: Hellsing.) That's why the stories and series tend to last so long and yet often have endings that just seemed determined to please everyone a little bit but no one enough. (Or just confuse everyone entirely when the former isn't an option-go, Mahoromatic, Evangelion, Metal Gear Solid 2, Grandia 2, etc., ad nauseam.) This is actually pretty infuriating, since the aforementioned ability of Japanese philosophizing to hit all sides of an issue with something resembling equal treatment can lead to a much better understanding of the nature of whatever it is they were philosophizing about. (I'm looking at YOU, Grandia 2!)

Enough of that tangent. Just bear in mind that Death Note pretty much suffers from this same tendency at the end. You have been warned.

[Zero Tolerance]

My little brother just turned me on to Death Note. I just got it, but I have yet to read it because I'm finishing Sin City and The Watchmen first, but I'll be sure to come back and post my thoughts when I'm done with Death Note.

[disciple100]

I'm a fan of Death Note. I agree with Epoetker, the ending could have stood to be a lot more satisfying.

Possible SPOILER ALERT if you haven't read that far into it.

I felt alittle uncomfortable when they brought up Mu, (the fate of all humans, nothingness). But I did read that it wasn't the author's intention to be philosophical . I also like the name Raito better than Light.

As far as good vs. evil, his intentions might have started off good, but they took a back seat when his maniacal ego reared its ugly head. The quote, "The pathway to Hell is paved with good intentions." comes to mind. He murdered the officers that were trying to catch him; even if the killing of criminal scum is justifiable, how can the murders of the officers be justified?

Also, where would it end? Say it got the point were the most heinous crimes commited were jay walking, belching, and breaking gnarly wind, would the killing then stop? It was looking like Raito/Light was becoming quite the tyrannical dictator the way he killed people off.

But I digress.

All in all, a thrilling manga that (intentionally or not) introduced a different philosophical way of thinking.

[Zero Tolerance]

I've read the Manga. I cheered for Light, and I thought the "L factory" (those who have read it know what I'm talking about) was LAME. It totally ruined the first half of the Manga.

[disciple100]

I've read the Manga. I cheered for Light, and I thought the "L factory" (those who have read it know what I'm talking about) was LAME. It totally ruined the first half of the Manga.

Sometimes I did wonder how on earth they could be so stupid as to not realize the culprit was in their midst.

[Darth Executor]

I've read the Manga. I cheered for Light, and I thought the "L factory" (those who have read it know what I'm talking about) was LAME. It totally ruined the first half of the Manga.

I disagree.
*SPOILERS*

Although L's fate pissed me off since he could run circles around Light intellect-wise, N was a satisfactory replacement. Oh, and I was cheering for Light's demise, so I guess this is yet another reason why I'm better than you.

[Darth Executor]

Ack, when you said Spiral I thought you meant Uzumaki, which is...eh...quite different.

The most interesting thing about Death Note is that shinigami are actually a relatively recent myth-so they can be either the watchers of humanity or their protectors, a la Bleach.

Unfortunately, the Japanese philosophical mind, while so broad it can surround every side of a known issue with swift ease (and create characters to represent a majority of those positions with equal swiftness), it's about as deep as a puddle when it comes to making any lasting judgments. (Notable exception so far: Hellsing.) That's why the stories and series tend to last so long and yet often have endings that just seemed determined to please everyone a little bit but no one enough. (Or just confuse everyone entirely when the former isn't an option-go, Mahoromatic, Evangelion, Metal Gear Solid 2, Grandia 2, etc., ad nauseam.) This is actually pretty infuriating, since the aforementioned ability of Japanese philosophizing to hit all sides of an issue with something resembling equal treatment can lead to a much better understanding of the nature of whatever it is they were philosophizing about. (I'm looking at YOU, Grandia 2!)

Enough of that tangent. Just bear in mind that Death Note pretty much suffers from this same tendency at the end. You have been warned.

I didn't have a problem with the end. I just wanted to see light dead and in that regard I was extremely satisfied. I do think light's final speech was much better, but then again I don't think N cared about the ethics involved in the first place and just gave a canned answer for the hell of it. N was just in it for the game.

[disciple100]

I didn't have a problem with the end. I just wanted to see light dead and in that regard I was extremely satisfied. I do think light's final speech was much better, but then again I don't think N cared about the ethics involved in the first place and just gave a canned answer for the hell of it. N was just in it for the game.

so was L, it wasn't about and wrong, it was just a neat case.

[Abykale]

so was L, it wasn't about and wrong, it was just a neat case.

I disagree. L may not adhere to traditional morality, but I don't see any reason to think he didn't believe strongly in his cause.

Spoilers: (just in case any of the uninitiate are still peeking around)

Speaking of L and Near, I found it interesting to see in an interview with the authors that Obata thought Near was a jerk and didn't like L much. Fans generally tend to assume that he and Mello both idolized L, but looks like he just saw him as the one to beat to get to the top.

Oh, and here's a funny quote:

Translation on deathgod.org

Critiques which analyze themes such as Light's morals or internet society are probably talking about a completely different Death Note than the one we were thinking of. Things like "life and death" or "justice and evil".... Like we said in the interview, we weren't putting that much deep thought into those subjects. We were simply hoping it'd be good entertainment.

© source where applicable

[sc_q_jayce]

I like Liar Game.

[disciple100]

I disagree. L may not adhere to traditional morality, but I don't see any reason to think he didn't believe strongly in his cause.

Spoilers: (just in case any of the uninitiate are still peeking around)

Speaking of L and Near, I found it interesting to see in an interview with the authors that Obata thought Near was a jerk and didn't like L much. Fans generally tend to assume that he and Mello both idolized L, but looks like he just saw him as the one to beat to get to the top.

Oh, and here's a funny quote:

Translation on deathgod.org

Critiques which analyze themes such as Light's morals or internet society are probably talking about a completely different Death Note than the one we were thinking of. Things like "life and death" or "justice and evil".... Like we said in the interview, we weren't putting that much deep thought into those subjects. We were simply hoping it'd be good entertainment.

© source where applicable

Well, yeah, they weren't intending on being deep, but that didn't stop people from taking a "justice and evil" spin from it.

[Darth Executor]

I disagree. L may not adhere to traditional morality, but I don't see any reason to think he didn't believe strongly in his cause.

I do: he said it himself. He only takes cases he finds interesting. If he had a deep moral stake in his cases he'd take the ones that would be of most help to the world (which were not necessarily the most difficult).