#ryuk sees all of light and is fucking thrilled by how fucked up he is

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

How would Death Note go if, everything was the same, except the way that Misa and Light got their notebooks was reversed? So Misa just found hers randomly and Ryuk is her Shinigami. But Light was saved by a Shinigami who was in love with him and gained both their book and their lifespan. And Rem. (Don't ask me why the Shinigami was in love with Light lol)

For the sake of this ask, maybe pretend that Misa doesn't get killed in an alley.

Caveat

I mean, in Light's Kira glory days, the Shinigami in general are all interested in what's happening with him and I can easily imagine one or two becoming enamored with this insane human who's giving them the entertainment of their lives.

Before then, well, Gelus clearly romanticized Misa as he watched her and saw her as a tragic figure in need of saving. She was young, beautiful, had a tragic past with the death of her parents, and he couldn't stand the thought of watching her die at such a young age because of this stalker.

The point being that he only knew of Misa from a distance and liked what he could see looking through a window. Now, Light doesn't have the tragic backstory to attract Gelus's interest, he had a great life before canon started with a family that loved him and a bright future ahead of him, but in theory Gelus could have become fascinated with this seemingly perfect young man who's dying of boredom on the inside and want to save him from his untimely death at the hands of a mugger.

So, sure, why not.

Misa Meets a Death God

Misa picks up the notebook and thinks it has a nice asthetic, Misa being very into gothic lolita, and that while morbid humor is the sort of thing she could have as a prop in her bedroom. Fits right in.

I imagine she doesn't think much about it, doesn't believe it, and that's when Ryuk gets bored actually. The thing with Light was that he waited a bit to see what the person who picked up the notebook would do and that he'd planned to keep dropping it around until someone interesting picked it up.

Ryuk felt thrilled when Light picked it up on the first try and went fucking insane with the death count. Ryuk settled happily in for the ride of his life, watching as Light murdered people in interesting ways and tried to murder that detective.

If Misa's not doing anything, and she's likely not, then Ryuk will take it back from her and try again until he gets someone who is interesting. Even if Misa accidentally killed a person, I don't think she'd have the will or interest to be Kira without Light's prior example. What Light did requires... well... being Light. Misa could become the second Kira because she already idolized Light and he'd made it, in a weird way, culturally acceptable. I imagine Misa might kill the man who'd killed her parents but that would be the end of it.

I imagine Ryuk would end up with a mobster eventually and be very entertained as it's used for inter-gang assassinations. But hold that thought.

Light Meets a Death God

Light, I imagine very shaken from nearly dying, walks away from the incident not sure how to feel then holy shit a god of death has come for him. He panics even harder than he did in canon with Ryuk until Rem explains that Light was saved by a Shinigami that was in love with him and here is his new murder notebook.

Now, the thing about canon, is that Light started in as Kira because a) he at first didn't believe it then killed a man and went "my god" b) he thought he was going to be taken to the underworld so started in killing as many people as he could before Ryuk met up with him. Light had about a day to talk himself into this where he goes from "oh my god I just killed someone" to "only I can kill fucking everyone!". Here, the circumstances are different, he hasn't killed anyone and he doesn't have the motivation to make the most of the notebook before a Shinigami comes for him as Rem is pointedly giving it to him.

I imagine Light mulls over it for a bit, a god literally died for him and gave him this as a gift, how should he use it if at all. I imagine his first instinct, as in canon initially, is not to use it/not to want to be a murderer. Then, however, I imagine he thinks of all the people he believes the world would be better without, a world in which he can get rid of violent crime entirely as an unseen god, and thinks about what the Shinigami saved him from.

Had it not been for Gelus, Light would have died, because a human wanted to stab him.

Then Light's back on the "only I can do this!" murder bus and Rem is... not entirely thrilled with any of this (while Rem pointedly never liked Light I do think it was more than just how dismissive he was of Misa but also that Light was casually making use of the notebook for such extremes).

I imagine Rem sticks around, as Gelus died for this motherfucker, but she doesn't like it.

Canon then proceeds pretty much the same except that L and Light end up in this stalemate in college as Misa doesn't have a Death Note to rock the boat. L can't get any real evidence on Light at all, his attempts to rattle him reveal nothing, and Light in turn can't get L's name and Rem refuses to tell it to him out of principle.

Except, at some point, I imagine Ryuk gets jealous. Why does Rem get this batshit insane human and he keeps having to drop the notebook all over the place? I imagine Ryuk asks Rem to trade, he'll give the kid his notebook, Rem can take Gelus's, and they'll switch so Rem can be with the kind of boring humans she likes and Ryuk can stick with this kid.

Rem of course refuses, as does Light who suspects Ryuk and knows how to bully Rem into doing mostly what he wants, and so I imagine a miffed Ryuk makes things hard for Light/more interesting. I imagine he starts killing people in a way so as to provide L 'evidence' so as to be able to get firmer suspicions of Kira.

A man dies shouting at Light that he's the devil then douses himself in gasoline then lights himself on fire. Another person dies doing the same thing but they throw themselves into a woodchipper.

(L hates that he can't use any of this as evidence not just simply because the entire world's gone mad about Kira anyway but also because these fuckers keep killing themselves before L can ask questions.)

I imagine Light, at his wit's end, agrees to trade with Ryuk but only if Ryuk tells Light L's name. "That's cheating" - Ryuk says as he did in canon (also, Ryuk is having a great time inconveniencing Light).

Death Note becomes a weird thriller comedy in which L is hunting Kira, but The Happening is going on, and Light is trying to find a way to manage Ryuk, Rem, and L all at the same time while also planning L's murder in a way that it makes it look like L just caught The Happening.

[seventhfracture]

Q. 3, 5, 8-11, 20, 34, 37, 40, 42, 43, 60, 65, 70, 81, 82 & 87 for the OTP (lawlight?) questions please? <3

1. Who kissed who first?

Light kissed L first, as part of a scheme. And Light’s a good actor, sure, but he was a little more into it than he would like to admit. Meanwhile L was the first one to kiss Light with genuine feeling. That too was a calculated powerplay, but the feeling was still sincere.

2. What do they like the most about each other?

They’re big fucking sapiosexuals. Light writes real Byronic romanticism into all of L’s awkward features because his intelligence and ruthlessness make Light wet. L meanwhile wouldn’t care if Light was a bridge troll with twice the stank so long as he still had his voice. L loves his wit, his smarts, but he also loves the wicked fakeness in Light he can see straight through. It makes Light his own little secret because no one else notices.

3. Who tends to worry the most?

Light has back up plans A through Z-23. He’s always got a second strategy up his sleeve. He likes watching all his perfectly laid dominoes fall into place. L meanwhile has enough confidence in his intelligence that he assumes he will succeed first time and, if he doesn’t, that’s exciting and he thrills in the chance to wing it with real stakes.

4. Who is more inclined to be jealous or possessive?

Light is used to being the centre of attention. He likes having people fawn over him. L knows these people don’t interest Light at all, not really, but it still irritates him when they get too forward and Light smiles all cute. L likes to shut that down very quickly and Light sulks for a second before he revels in L being possessive.

Light, meanwhile, isn’t used to people expressing an attraction to L and it makes him seethe. “No, my L.” He grumbles plotting their demise. L often doubts the sincerity of people who show attraction to him. He’s not trying to be attractive after all. And, even if they are genuine, they’re dull so….

5. How do they resolve their arguments?

They don’t often sincerely disagree but if they do there are stages to an L/Light argument. First there’s the bitching and insulting, then there’s the elaborate backstabbing, then there’s the furious angry sex, then they actually sit down and talk like adults for 5 minutes. Once the issue is resolved they rinse, lather and repeat with something new.

6. Who is the most physically affectionate?

L doesn’t seem like a physical person but he likes to touch. He likes to feel close. He’ll stroke Light like a cat and Light will melt. Light sometimes hesitates to get physical.

7. Do they give each other nicknames?

They have a few epitaphs that are filled with admiration but nicknames? They usually only break them out when they’re having a covert fight in public or if they’re trying to have degrading sex.

8. What do they do when the other is stressed?

L rarely gets work stress. His stress is often more personally based. Light isn’t always quite sure how to reach him when he clams up but Light is nothing is not patient/stubborn. He’s always there when L is ready.

L likes to be proactive with Light stress. If he can solve Light’s problem by throwing money at it he won’t hesitate. Money is replaceable, Light is not. He’s also keen to strategize but sometimes Light is worked up over problems he’s inventing and L needs to call him on his bullshit. Which gets him the cold shoulder for a day before any thanks.

9. Thoughts on PDA(Public Displays of Affection)?

L would fuck Light in front of an audience if he got the all clear. Light meanwhile doesn’t enjoy PDA. He has too many considerations about how others are perceiving him and what it impacts to really relax. Exhibitionism though? Weeeeell that’s a little different. Sneaky fucking in public can be fun.

10. Thoughts on kids?

Light is not keen to have children. They don’t suit him. L has the Wammy’s extended family so he rarely sees the need for more family.

11. Thoughts on each other’s family?

Light loves Wammy’s and he gets very involved as Watari gets older. Light is the one who remembers to send gifts and congratulations for ever life event for the other orphans. L finds Light’s family a little pedantic but they’re harmless and playing nice with them keeps Light happy.

12. Favorite family member of their lover? (Example: Lover 1 enjoys Lover 2’s mother the most)

L will say Soichiro is his favourite because Light adores his father but secretly L likes Ryuk the most. He feels the most authentically connected to Light, knows the real him, and is the kind of creature L would choose to spend recreational time with.

Light will say Mello is his favourite and they’ll gossip like high school girls, send each other stupid presents, laugh like cats. But deep down Light thinks the most of Near. Near is harder to control or manipulate but Light sees more in Near he values and respects.

13. Who will punch someone out if they are rude to their partner?

Light doesn’t punch. If Light doesn’t like you it would be best to take out a life insurance policy. L meanwhile is petty as fuck. If someone insults Light, in a genuinely cruel way, L’s not above trashing their career and their credit score systematically.

14. Who loves kids more?

L is more at ease with random children. Light makes a good show of it but he’s internally quite uncomfortable. Light needs to bond with a specific child before he can really unwind. L is just used to an unending stream of orphans so he’s got chill big brother energy.

15. Who is the hopeless romantic?

They both love a romantic gesture. They’re both real drama queens. Light will go medieval about it “here are the hearts of your enemies” whereas L is more 1950s black and white movies about it “I bought us both plane tickets to Monaco, don’t pack a bag, you won’t need it”

16. Who is the one that sees the big picture, while the other focus’s on the small details?

They’re both very detailed focused. But L is more relaxed about what long term looks like. Light meanwhile will plan the next forty years if you leave him alone for 2hrs.

17. What is an inside joke they have?

Ryuk is one huge inside joke. They both communicate with Ryuk while other people are around in really sneaky ways and they’ll make comments about him to each other in front of people. |

“Go ask your other boyfriend, maybe he’ll say yes?” L will joke

“I’m so glad you’re home. The ghost and I used all the wifi while you were gone.” Light will say.

18. Do one of them sleep talk? If so, what do they say?

Light talks pure nonsense in his sleep. Including arguing that he’s awake when he’s sleep talking.

[mikami]

Death Note Audio Drama 04

Disc 4: Proof of Loyalty - a summary / partial translation

Prior translations / an explanation as to what the fuck this is.

The plot is still manga-close. This episode is honestly fairly boring, it’s full of homophobic jokes that nobody asked for. But hey, Misa is here now!

_____

We begin with a Sakura TV executive conference. Demegawa wants more features like the one about the witness protection victim in Australia. Demegawa suggests provoking Kira or the cops in order to get a story. The ‘moral standpoint’ does truly not concern him. Then a special delivery comes in.

It’s a letter from Kira.

_____

TITLE MUSIC

_____

An announcement for “Kira Speaks” on Sakura TV. It’s styled as a really dramatic advertisement, with echo features and all. 

____

Sachiko visits Soichiro in the hospital.

SOICHIRO: You’re late, visiting hours are only until 8.

SACHIKO: The nurse is Emi, we went to college together. She looked the other way for a moment. 

SOICHIRO (laughs): My wife... The wife of a policeman....

SACHIKO (also laughs): Do you maybe want to arrest me, chief inspector?

Sachiko notices that Soichiro’s heart rate is no longer monitored. It’s because  he’ll get discharged tomorrow. Suddenly, Soichiro notices the TV transmission and turns the audio up.

Kira asks people to turn to other TV channels to see the people there dying, as proof of his identity. 

____

L and the Task Force are also listening. L wants to stop the transmission. Ukita drives over to Sakura TV. Misa’s Kira II speech continues very similar to the manga.

____

Soichiro gets up and leaves the hospital despite Sachiko protesting and telling him to let his team handle it. 

____

Ukita arrives at Sakura TV. He threatens employees with a gun in order to get to the studio quickly. 

____

Demegawa is THRILLED that someone with a gun is coming to the studio. He lets the security transmission of Ukita trying to get in play on a split screen with the Kira video. Ukita gets a heart attack before he can force his way into the room.

____

L stops Aizawa from also going to the TV studio. The Task Force realize that Kira no longer needs a name.

____

Sakura TV employees realize Ukita is dead. Demegawa goes on air.

DEMEGAWA: My name is Hitoshi Demegawa from Sakura TV. I apologize in the name of the program for the images you just had to witness. We’re not transmitting these news and these messages for any kind of awards or for viewer numbers, but for the good of the populace and to save innocent lives.

[He’s referring to Kira threatening their employees if they don’t send the tape. ]

____

A phone ringing. 

SACHIKO (on the phone): Light? Light, are you awake?

LIGHT: Mom? What... What time is it?

SACHIKO: It’s about your dad. 

LIGHT: Dad? Is he okay?

SACHIKO: He just discharged himself from the hospital. 

LIGHT: Oh, uh, good. Are you two taking a cab?

SACHIKO: He lost his mind!

LIGHT: I get it.

SACHIKO: And he stole an ambulance!

LIGHT: He did what?!

_____

Soichiro crashes an ambulance into Sakura TV, as he does. 

_____

Back in the studio.

DEMEGAWA: What happened to the lights?

EMPLOYEE: Power outage. In the whole building. Someone took us out.

DEMEGAWA: Are we still on air?!

EMPLOYEE: I’d say... no. 

DEMEGAWA: Who is shutting off my power?! 

EMPLOYEE: Oh, someone with a light is coming.

DEMEGAWA: I don’t need a light, I need a transmission in HD!

SOICHIRO: You’ll need a hearse, if you don’t do what I say. Hands up!

______

L and the Task Force want to turn the power off and need Kitamura to keep police away from the building. Soichiro calls.

______

Soichiro informs L that he’s got the tapes. He’s escaped and Watari is going to pick him up by car.

______

News transmission about Soichiro’s break-in. Demegawa is getting interviewed and repeats his ‘I didn’t do it for any awards’ spiel almost ad verbatim. People online, however, are commending Sakura TV and Demegawa. Demegawa also did a big donation for Ukita’s funeral.

______

At Ukita’s funeral. L and Soichiro talk about whether or not Kira is watching the funeral. They assume no, because there is a lot of police surveillance. L is still not wearing any shoes. 

Soichiro informs L that forensics hasn’t found any hints on the tapes and envelopes. L weighs the options of whether or not they’ll say yes or no to cooperating with Kira. He decides they need to decline. 

L also points out that there are two Kiras now, based on the different victim patterns and powerset. L also assumes this Kira is younger than the other.

L wants to play the two Kiras against one another and decides to add Light to the task force for real.

______

L calls Light to invite him to the Task Force. After this, Light and Ryuk watch Kira’s answer to the police refusal on TV. Light literally physically got popcorn for it.

On TV, Kira II demands to either kill L or Kitamura and that the police can choose who.

Light is pleased with Kira II so far, but also knows very much that there is risk inherent in their existence. He wants to stay careful.

______

TV broadcast of the fake Kira I message that the Task Force made. Misa is listening, delighted that Kira answered. She immediately goes to record an answer video, remarking on how it’s close to Valentine’s day.

______

Kira II tape, though not yet live broadcasted. This is the message in which she mentions the eyes and shinigami, as well as sends the fake diary. 

______

The task force discusses the new tape. They wonder about the terms eyes and shinigami. Light meanwhile is hiding out in the toilet. (L: “Maybe that’s where he gets his good ideas.”)

______

Light is FURIOUS at Kira II for mentioning the word shinigami on the tape for public TV. He’s in the bathroom to rant a little while letting water run for camouflage. 

RYUK: Come on, soldier. You have to get back in there.

LIGHT: Before they get suspicious?

RYUK: Before they think that you’ve got indigestion.

_____

They discuss the diary entry. Light discovers that it is a message about a meeting place. L then discovers that the Aoyama and the Tokyo Dome entries are about this year and not the year the diary is from. 

_____

Misa humming while getting ready. She wears Nr. 5 perfume. 

_____

They discuss how to look for a single person in a place as big as Aoyama. L analyses the speech of the second Kira. He suspects Kira II is a woman.

[Once more, I am largely guessing which task force man is which.... ]

MATSUDA?: The second Kira is... female?

L: I think so, yes. Listen. “Tried out JUMP yesterday. I liked it.”

MATSUDA: JUMP is a boy’s magazine.

L: That’s why she never read it before. “Dumbass Musume concert with the squad”...

MATSUDA: Dumbass Musume?

L: Exactly. Why would she be so negative towards a girl group?

MATSUDA: Because he’s a boy...?

SOICHIRO?: Because she’s a girl that rejects and looks down on mainstream.

MATSUDA: Still sounds like a boy to me.

L: Then this one. “Met the guy in the cafeteria. Not my type.”

MATSUDA: That proves nothing. Maybe he’s gay.

AIZAWA? (amused): So we’re looking for a gay serial killer?

MATSUDA: I’m just saying, this form of profiling is a little... heteronormative.

L: Your opinion about gay men isn’t exactly non-prejudiced either.

MATSUDA: Well, I’m not an expert of course.

L: You assume that a man who acts girly has to be homosexual...?

AIZAWA?: He’s not saying he’s walking around in dresses and high heels. He’s just saying some turns of phrase seem more like a girl.

MATSUDA: I can’t believe you’re all becoming holy knights of equality now. Just because I--

L: Gay men are also allowed to be criminals. 

Light hits the table and makes everyone focus again, agrees that Kira II sounds sooort of girly. He sums up that they’re looking for a longer girl who is trying to be social. Someone who is smarter than the people their age but nobody realizes. L says she tried to stick out before by being unconventional. Light jokes about being on the lookout for a punk girl or a gothic lolita. Light also assumes she’s a teen.

_______

MISA: Loves me... loves me not... loves me... loves me not....

Her train stop to get off is announced.

MISA: Oh! He loves me!

_______

The task force is hiding in a van in Aoyama for surveillance. They tell Aizawa to put his binoculars away as to not look like creeps. Light and Matsuda, the undercover agents for the day, come around.

SOMEONE: What the hell is Matsuda wearing?

MATSUDA: I’m just trying to fit in, okay?

LIGHT (laughs): Pride Parade is only in May.

MATSUDA: I am talking about Aoyama. The trends happen in this district, my friend. I’d only stick out with suit and sunglasses.

LIGHT: Just do whatever you want.

MATSUDA: And I will.

AIZAWA: Wait, I got it. Matsuda! I think your cover would work even better if the two of you held hands. Over.

MATSUDA (over the comm): I can’t understand. Please repeat.

SOICHIRO: Forget the order, Matsuda. Those two here had clowns for breakfast.

AIZAWA: Two queens couldn’t do it any better either. 

SOICHIRO: Focus, Aizawa. We’re looking for a killer. Keep the channel open.

L is watching from a roof. L orders the task force to split up and check the cafés. Rem and Ryuk are on the same roof as L, watching. L is cold. The shinigami suggest that he’s pretty sensitive, being able to feel their presence.

______

Ryuk and Rem introduce themselves to each other and chat about ‘my boy’ and ‘my girl’ respectively. Both of them are very convinced their kiddo is going to be smarter in this situation. Rem is oddly tempted to throw L off the roof / or kill him in another way. Then Misa got Light’s name and leaves, so Rem leaves too.

______

Misa bumps into Matsuda by accident.

MISA: Hey, watch where you’re walking!

MATSUDA: Oh, sorry.

MISA: ... cool T-shirt.

MATSUDA: Did you hear that? 

LIGHT: Hear what?

MATSUDA: I’m on eye level with the kids. Speak their language. ... uhm, I’m just saying. 

______

Misa moons over how good Light looks to Rem. She looks him up on social media and finds herself impressed with his grades. (”Just the kind of guy I’d introduce to mom and dad..... if they weren’t dead, that is.”)

______

The Task Force is faced with the fact that their investigation didn’t really do anything useful. Aizawa is pissed he had to work on his free day for this. However, Matsuda comes in with a new tape that Kira sent. The tape says Kira II found Kira and nothing else. That confirms Aoyama was the meeting point. L orders to cancel the baseball game in Tokyo Dome, so that the Kiras can’t meet at a second meeting point, since it isn’t confirmed yet if Kira II contacted Kira I.

They now decide to try and turn Kira II against Kira I by making him sound dangerous to her.

______

Yagami household. Misa suddenly shows up and introduces herself as Light’s girlfriend to Sayu. Light also comes downstairs.

MISA: Darling. You never mentioned your sister is such a beauty.

LIGHT: No! No, I.... this sister?

Sachiko comes in and Light asks Misa up to his room, getting away from the crowded situation. 

SACHIKO: This came out of nowhere... 

SAYU: He kept her a secret from us.... 

SACHIKO: Look at those shoes. It’s a miracle she’s able to walk in those.

SAYU: I like her. She’s got style.

SACHIKO: You’re just saying this because she called you good-looking.

SAYU: Because a rational-thinking human being would never get that idea, right? 

SACHIKO: Oh Sayu. You know exactly what I mean.

SAYU: Of course! No wonder I turned out so meek and shy. 

SACHIKO: Don’t be so melodramatic, dear.

SAYU: My own mother thinks I’m ugly!

SACHIKO (laughs): I didn’t say that!

______

Light and Misa are in his room. She explains how she found Light (”I saw you in Aoyama, with your strange buddy Matsuda. What was he supposed to be? A pirate or something?”).  They show each other their shinigami. 

______

Sachiko is very displeased about Light bringing home such a girl and going up to his room with her to make out. She and Sayu chat about it briefly.

_____

Misa declares her motto is “Live fast, die young... slay all my enemies.” when she explains why she took the deal. 

Light and Misa’s “Make me your girlfriend” talk is fairly similar to the manga. 

Then Sachiko interrupts to throw Misa out (politely) and the episode ends.

[qrhymes]

Death Note (2017) –What means being a good adaptation?

Keep the soul, the spirit of the original work.

I know this answers is vague and not really a factor in the goodness of a movie ‘cause you can still be faithful to the original themes of a work and still suck (The suckiness can take a plenitude of forms), however I firmly believe that the first step to be called a good adaptation (not necessarily a good movie or series or whatever) is breath the same air and meaning of your source material even if the plot, the story or even your character change in the process (That’s the reason that the so called “Spiritual adaptations” are a thing).

So, what are the elements that this movie needs in the first place to be called a good adaptation?

The original Death Note, to me at least, it’s a story about how “absolute power corrupts absolutely”; you give the power to decide who lives and dies to a teenager that subsequently becomes, in the spawn of a few day, in a full time sociopath (And yes, one of my absolute problems with the original is the lack of a natural transition between Light and Kira, but you can argue that that was the point) with a god complex.

I know that a lot of people see the series as a study of morality, a conflict between ideologies; the means justify the end, etc. However I have never been able to see this part of the conflict because the series never explore it’s moral dilemma beyond the superficiality of “Is It right to kill criminals?” that is and interesting and deep question that could sustain an entire work however the thing gets reduced to a “if you are not with me you are against me”.

Death Note is juvenile work and its simplicity in how develop its main question proves it…however, even if its wannabe main theme its underwhelming, Death Note still has a lot of goods and greats during its run.

The hypocrisy and the delusion of Light are great pieces for a tale how power corrupt, the entirely Kira cult, our perception of justice and the hypocrisy in those system it’s another interesting point, Ryuk as the wild card of the series is fantastic, the entire Kira task force is amazing and, at least for me, the great savior of the series.

L becomes what Light never could, a morally gray figure, that actually have weight in a morally ambiguous story of the meaning justice and what is right. L may be in the role of the traditional good guy, however he’s selfish detective that only take the cases that he finds interesting, a man that keeps in line with the law but is not afraid to push that lines to its limit, despite his gimmicks and status as a Sherlock Holmes 2.0 L comes along as a very flawed individual, not really seeking justice for the hundreds of thousand, but just challenge for his intellect. The Kira case is a passion project from him…Not really what you could call a hero, however in this kind of work it’s exactly what we needed, a hero antagonist with a lot of shades of black, whose sheer charisma and personality make, maybe not a paragon, but a compelling and lovable character that a lot of people, me include it, fell in love with.

Finally Death Note is a great mystery series, a tense police drama with genuinely thrilling mind games, an incredible pace and an overall fun ride with a ton of memorable scenes and twist, Death Note is a lot of thing and addictive as fuck is one of them, the flow of the series is so good and that is one of the better aspect of the series, what makes it so accessible is a well put and enjoyable show…so how many of these points got checked in the movie.

…Well Ryuk was…actually pretty great…

Ryuk is easily the best part of this movie, he is creepy, unsettling, menacing but also a lot of fun to have around and his character is the closest to his counterpart. I also like how the movie treats him.

He is different; less cooperative, less friendly, more malevolent but still this guy that it’s doing what it’s doing just for the lulz, and his final delivery “You humans are so fun” close his character in a really high note.

And yes, a lot of the credit goes to Defoe’s performance. I don’t know if he gives a fuck about the source material but it doesn’t matter, he is having a blast with role and so are we.

So Ryuk was fantastic…the rest of the film not so much.

There are a lot of issues here, but in general we can summarize all in two great issues. First, the movie it’s afraid to actual challenge the audience, is a tame product, one that goes for the secure route, lacking a lot of the boldness of the original material.

Even if you want to think the best of Light, he still was playing at least the role of anti-villain, someone that has do what he has to do to accomplish his objective, it’s his choice to use the Death Note, to kill criminals, the people that chase him and even his own followers when they stop being useful to him (And don’t we forget the sheer placer that the guy has with out-smarting his opponents. Yes you can argue that some kills were a necessary evil, however he enjoy some of those kills too much for someone that was still claiming that was doing all of that for the greater good). And yes, the ultimate power to kill is a factor of seduction, of course. However is still a choice that Light makes on its own…here he has to be convinced to use the note, first from Ryuk invoking dream like sensations and power fantasies and then by Mia which apparently is getting off from using the note…I mean, leaving aside that Light was probably asexual and aromantic, him using the note here feels more like he trying to impress her that trying to clean the world from criminals and yes, I don’t buy that part of his characterization in the original work, but that part built up in his hypocrisy.

Meanwhile here Light it’s treated more like a victim of circumstance, that tries to avoid targeting innocent people and just going as far as I goes just because the influence of Ryuk and Mia

Apple anyone?

This what I mean that its more tame or secure, the movie goes all the way trying to make Light likable, justifiable and innocent that forgets to add the aspect that make his original counterpart interesting, either as the idealistic young man that falls from grace trying to make the world a better place or the hypocrite, self-centered teenager that justify his murder rampage with delusions of justice. Both are great in the own right, Light Turner however, he is just another protagonist.

However trying to make Light good is just one side of the badness of this movie, the other side is, well, make L look like the bad guy.

As I said before, the magic of L is that he pulls out the character that Light never could and it is just painful seeing get butchered in this version.

L in this version is just a weirdo that likes sweets a lot, seats in weird positions and covers his faces, and yes the original L was that…in the surface.

That’s the second biggest problem of the film; it’s an adaptation of Death Note, but just in the surface.

L was great not because he was quirky or adorkable or hot, he was great because he has a role in the story, he was a contrast to Light (A contrast that doesn’t exist in this version), a perspective in the meaning justice (a side that not is precisely completely innocent or even all that lawful or good) and an interest take in the hero-antagonist.

In the movie L gets stripped from his “sympathetic inspector antagonist” and demoted to a full “inspector Javert” trying to murder Light in the quart of the movie. L it’s just another detective, there is not substance to his character, he wants to resolve the case ‘cause this is what he does. The only attempts to go with something with him is his breakdown after Watari is killed but that twist just make his character even more cliché, becomes it striped him completely of his anti-hero status to become the villain…I mean the secondary villain for the sake of…the Hollywood Formula?

This L is not really a bad or a shitty character, his problem,  in the same way that with Light, is that he is just another character, unmemorable, bland and lacking any kind of role or meaning aside of being a secondary antagonist

I would talk about Mia/Misa, but her character it’s so far away of her original depiction that it would be pointless.

Mia is a weird thing really. Not only is her introduction forced as fuck.

I mean the whole scene was something like “Hey wanna see me kill some random people”.

But the really confusing part just comes in her character. I mean what is she? A sociopath? Is she drunk with power? Is she using Light for that reason? Or the Note just makes her wet? And then the movie makes her the Big Bad, with a really stupid plan and a death also kind of stupid. A twist for the sake of a twist that only serves to cement Light as a great schemer in the last minute…as a character she was the worst in the whole film. She was in the movie because she was Misa counterpart but she has no purpose other than make Light more likeable.

…

Do you remember how tense a suspenseful the anime/manga was? There is not of that here.

Death Note was thrilling supernatural drama, with a lot of twist and turns, mind games and, overall, a great police series. As I said in the begging one of the best things of Death Note is how its flows.

Death note 2017, it’s not a mystery, it’s not a police drama, even the supernatural elements are reduced to their minimum…And it comes down to the begging, the great problem is that this is just a very tame superficial adaptation, the note, the candies, the shinigamis, the KEIKAKUs, but without the substance or the style (Even the genre) that make the original first half so great.