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Explore the iconic ending of the Death Note anime, with an in-depth analysis of its final moments, fates of the main characters, and more.
Tsugumi Ohba’s Death Note is undeniably one of the most popular anime series in the world. For many, it served as the introduction to the world of anime, and for good reason. At its core, Death Note is an intense psychological thriller that kept audiences hooked till the very end with jaw-dropping twists and revelations.
Throughout the years, the anime has captivated viewers all over the world with its intense battle of wits and cat-and-mouse game between the genius high school student Light Yagami and the enigmatic detective L Lawliet. That said, the anime’s ending is perhaps its most divisive aspect, sparking countless debates among fans about its narrative choices. With that said, let us take a deeper look into the Death Note anime ending, the controversy surrounding the anime’s conclusion, the fates of the main characters, and more.
How Does the Death Note Anime End?
Following L’s death in episode 25 of the anime, Light assumed his victory to be assured and thus claimed the title of ‘God of the New World.’ The anime then features a 5-year time jump, where L’s successors, Near and Mello, take up his mantle to expose Kira.
The final confrontation between Light and Near took place in a secluded warehouse, where the former was accompanied by the Japanese Task Force, whereas the latter was accompanied by the members of the SPK. This meeting was conducted so that Near could expose Light as Kira. Upon arriving at the warehouse, Near told everyone that the person who would give away Kira’s identity would be Teru Mikami, who was his loyal follower and had been carrying out Kira’s killings on his behalf.
Near further claimed that once Mikami arrived at the warehouse, he would kill every single person inside. However, he urged everyone not to take action against this, since the members of the SPK had managed to locate and replace the empty pages of Mikami’s Death Note with fake pages. As such, Near said that when Mikami finishes writing everyone’s names in the notebook, he will peek inside to check if he had managed to kill them. When that happens, Mikami would subsequently be arrested, and the only name not written in the notebook would be Kira’s.
Upon hearing Near’s plan, Light revealed to himself that he was prepared for this scenario. Apparently, the notebook that Gevanni, a member of the SPK, had tampered with was a fake notebook all along. The notebook that Mikami was writing down the names in was actually the real, untampered one. As such, when the countdown to everyone’s deaths reached its end, Light confidently declared his victory out loud against Near.
However, in a surprising turn of events, none of the people gathered in the warehouse died after the countdown. As Light and Mikami stood shocked by this outcome, Near explained that while the SPK did replace the pages in Mikami’s notebook with fake ones, they had already replaced his real notebook with a fake one when Mikami had inadvertently revealed the location of the real notebook to kill Kiyomi Takada. After arresting Mikami and confiscating his notebook, it was revealed that the only one whose name was not written in the notebook was Light, thus exposing him as Kira.
Desperate and cornered, Light tried to claim that it was all a setup to frame him. That said, neither the SPK nor his own task force believed in him, especially after he preemptively declared his victory against Near before the countdown came to an end. As such, Light broke down and tried to justify his actions before trying once again to kill Near with a piece of the Death Note hidden in his watch. However, Matsuda, a member of his own task force, intervened and fatally shot Light. Bleeding and defeated, Light somehow managed to escape to an abandoned warehouse. As he lay dying on the steps of the warehouse, Ryuk wrote down Light’s name in his own notebook, thus marking the end of the road for him.
Fates of the Main Characters As of the Death Note Anime Ending
The Death Note anime ending saw Light Yagami’s ambition to create a utopian world ending in his downfall. After being exposed as Kira by Near due to Teru Mikami’s incompetence, Light was abandoned and fatally wounded by his allies. Although he managed to escape, Light eventually gave in to his injuries and died of a heart attack brought about by Ryuk writing his name down in his own Death Note. In his final moments, Light saw a vision of L, which symbolized the justice he failed to defeat.
As for L, he died in episode 25 of the anime. It happened after Light manipulated Misa Amane’s shinigami, Rem, into killing L. His death was a pivotal moment in the series. It paved the way for his successors, Near and Mello, taking up his mantle to finish what he started.
Nate River, aka Near, emerged victorious in his final confrontation against Light. He successfully managed to expose Light as Kira, thus solidifying his place as L’s true heir. As for Mihael Keehl, aka Mello, his actions were crucial to the success of Near’s plan. Although he died before the final confrontation, his efforts ultimately resulted in Kira’s downfall.
Ryuk drove the final nail in Light’s coffin by writing down his name in the Death Note. By doing so, Ryuk fulfilled the promise he once made to Light. As for Misa Amane, she seemingly took her own life at the end of the anime.
Why the Death Note Anime Ending Is Controversial
For many years, the ending of Death Note has been a topic of heated debates among fans. Firstly, the majority of fans believed that the series lost its edge after L died. This is because the chemistry and rivalry between Light and L were central to the series’ appeal. As such, not many were fond of what came after L’s death. Some even viewed Near and Mello’s introduction as a weaker substitute for that dynamic.
Fans also pointed out Light’s decline in competence after defeating L. Light was initially portrayed as a master strategist who came up with impossible plans to ensure his victory. However, he made several reckless decisions in the latter half of the series, culminating in his defeat. As such, fans felt that this drastic shift severely undermined his character. They also criticized the latter half of the series for its rushed pacing and less engaging narrative as compared to earlier episodes.
Should L Have Lived Till the End of Death Note?
L’s shocking defeat and subsequent demise was undoubtedly a major turning point in the series. For many, it also marked the end of the brilliance of the Death Note series, which had managed to keep them on the edge of their seats with the battle of wits between Light and L. As such, fans believe to this day that the series should have simply ended after Light killed L.
Whether or not L should have lived till the end of Death Note is a difficult question to answer. Keeping L alive would have allowed the show to maintain the dynamic between him and Light till the very end. His presence could have also provided a more cohesive narrative arc. In other words, it would have avoided the abrupt shift in tone and characters after his death. That said, dragging out Light and L’s rivalry till the anime’s 37th episode might not have worked well either. As such, the only way the series could have maintained its brilliance would have been to conclude with L’s death in its final episode.
Conclusion
The ending of Death Note is as thought-provoking as the series itself. It provided a definitive conclusion to Light Yagami’s rise and fall as Kira. While fans may still remain divided over its ending, there is no denying the series’ impact on the world of anime, as it continues to be hailed as a masterpiece to this day.
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