Death Note – The End
9 July 2007
So, I’m bittorrenting all 37 episodes of Death Note. I’m saving them for when I’m bored, because from what I garner, the whole thing is almost identical to the manga and I, judging from the few episodes I’ve seen, enjoyed the manga more. Aside from the fact that Takeshi Obata is the God in my world, his art is amazing. Amazing, it’s so detailed and meticulous, it’s gorgeous.
Well, now, to the main point: The End of Death Note.
Manga – I knew that Light was going to die. It’s been spoiled for me for a damn long time. What intrigued me more than anything was how his death came about and who drove him to that end. Both of these points of intrigue were resolved in the manga. Sufficient to say, I didn’t really like the manga ending. I thought it was too abrupt, too plain. Many may disagree with me on this and I’d understand.
Typically, I enjoy a “happily ever after” ending, laced with just enough of bittersweet sentimentality to keep me satisfied, ending but leaving room for future musings. I’ve rarely, if ever, seen this happen. In fact, I find it rather difficult to cite an example. Possibly Iroha, which left me with a “happily ever after” ending, laced with a small bit of bittersweet sentimentality and definitely enough room for future musings. As did, strangely enough, Gundam Wing, not so much on the future musings, but enough on the bittersweet sentimentality to make up for it. Anyways, I guess I just wasn’t satisfied.
Maybe it irked me that, Yagami Light, the aloof, sinister mastermind behind the show died a horribly undignified death. It was rather belittling, in my opinion, to his character. But one can always argue that in his last moments, clinging desperately on to life, the true nature of Yagami Light became clear, a whimpering man begging for life. Nonetheless, perhaps it’s because I found his character to be very attractive, or just simply because I felt his actions were totally out of characte, the manga ending bothered me, a lot.
The ending didn’t pack enough of a punch, maybe that’s a better way of saying it. It was supposed to be the climax, but it lacked that heightened, “oh my dear god, I can’t breath” feeling. It was worse than the Sopranos. You didn’t get to see Tony die, it just went blank and for two minutes you gawk at your blank TV screen, wondering if your four year old cable box betrayed you. Then you realize, that yes, that was the ending, the most ridiculous, inconclusive, I have no idea what the hell just happened, ending. It didn’t really bother me much, I’ve never been a fan of the Sopranos, it was just a big “What the fuck?” moment.
Back to Death Note. What I’m trying to say, in the end, about the manga ending, was that it wasn’t dramatic enough. The very end, I don’t care how perfectly insane and suspenseful the chapter was, the last three pages where Light actually dies disappointed me to pieces. It was all good, all good, perfect actually, up to the part where he started begging Ryuk. Even the Shinigami said that it wasn’t like Light to beg.
You know what? I’ll cute the crap, it just bothered me to hell that Light died like that, the most undignified death ever for a character of such caliber, to have his last words be “Damn it,” his last moments begging for life. But then, as I think about this, it was probably just because Light was so damn stubborn, the “Damn it,” being a sign that, even on the door steps of death (I’d say hell, but apparently, those who write in the Death Note go to neither heaven nor hell) refuses to admit defeat. Foolish, even when he’s done for, cornered and begging, he refuses to admit defeat to Near. In any case, the manga needed a grander, more epic, if you will, ending.
On the the anime! I’ve been honest, I watched episodes 1,2,3,4,7, half of 15, a bit of 25 and then I just skipped to 37. I was so glad that on a lucky guess, I watched 15. That was the one Light kissed Misa, fangirl, can’t help.
Alright, so in regards to the anime ending: Now, that’s what it should’ve been like! It was so flipping sentimental, sentimental to hell! The sunset, the flashbacks, “eru” appearing, Ryuk writing down Light’s name, Misa on the building. That’s what it should’ve been like!
Alright, so it followed the manga exactly, an identically that is unmistakable to a point where I can remember which panel connects to which scene. And then it deviates, right after Matsuda shoots him.
To call it bittersweet would be an understatement, it’s comparable to eating dark chocolate made from 70% cocoa.
—In fact, if we compare Death Note characters to chocolate, Misa would’ve been a total milk chocolate overdose, L would’ve been white chocolate (which, according to Wiki, has neither cocoa solids nor chocolate liquid), the varying types of chocolate confectioneries, by which I mean, your semi-dark, semi-sweet, your M&Ms, snickers, candy bar chocolates, ice creams and cookies, all of which can be attributed to a character, and then last but not least, Yagami Light, a heart so misguided by his own false judgment in an attempt to better the world, is just pure, unsweetened chocolate, chocolate liquor.—
And now, back on topic. It was like a well made cake, just the right amount of everything, baked to perfection, tasted just like a slice of heaven. I have to hand it to Mamoru Miyano. Aside from the fact that his voice was perfect for what I imagined Light would sound like (fangirl moment,) he was damn convincing. That maniacal laugh captured indecently well and channeled Light’s emotions perfectly. And oh yeah, his voice acting skills added to Light’s hotness, if you will.
And, Mikami killed himself. I actually chuckled at the scene, Mikami’s limp form squirting blood, it was a mood breaker. I couldn’t help but laugh. The poor man, his God a mere illusion. The poor man, poor Mikami. Oh well, what the hell.
Overall, unlike most instances where the anime ruins the manga, Death Note’s anime complimented rather nicely the manga, the ending especially. The anime ending was exactly what I’d imagined it to be, exactly what I wanted too, a very, almost incorrigibly so, bittersweet sentimental “happily ever ending.” It pushed the right buttons, tugged at the right strings, played the right notes, it was just…good.
Death Note, as a series and manga, is going to stick with me for a while. Yagami Light, as a character, I will never forget. Yagami Light is the pinnacle of a flawed flawless character. Death Note, as a story, I thought was exceptional, exceptionally unrealistic as well, but that’s what was fun of it. The plot has such potential, the intricacy with which this whole ‘thing’ was put together and orchestrated was much more than I expected from a manga plot line. Takeshi Obata’s art with Tsugumi Ohba’s riveting story line made Death Note one of the most memorable series that I’ve encountered. I say this, realizing it’s flaws and shortcomings, but also with an honest sincerity that I do not just simply bandy about in reference to everything.