Death Note: Episode 37 (END)
Rating: 9.5/10
Overall Series Rating: 9/10
Impressions:
The rating you see here is one given by me when I think about the episode perfectly objectively. The quality, the way everything ties up and such are all exceptional. However, if I look at it subjectively, keeping in mind how I despise how Light loses, especially in such an unfashionable manner, I would give the episode a zero instantly. The ending sucks. Big time. The manga ending sucks even more because Near actually becomes the new L—I mean what the hell, Near, who plays with his dolls all day, becomes L? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard! At least in the anime, the ending is rather sad instead of disgraceful.
The cinematography of the final few scenes with the reddish sundown lighting contribute to the overall closing feel excellently. Misa’s appearance is awesome in the way it is depicted, though it’s a bit forced if you ask me since she’s so annoyingly thick-headed. As I’ve said before, if only she was a third party with a head good enough to match against Light…Speaking of third parties, Mello’s role in the story was diminished so much that it didn’t give that feeling of epic-ness. The entire second half of the story was condensed to nothing, which makes the manga so much better (apart from the last chapter).
What pisses me off the most is how Light gets defeated by a freaking baby who hasn’t graduated from his doll collection. No matter how you look at it, he’s just a brat. L was genuinely awesome, and it wouldn’t have been as bad if he emerged as the final victor. Another thing, the mangaka decided to portray Light so poorly during his final moments that it simply ruins his character. Sure, some would say that considering all the events thus far, Light becoming insane at this point was to be expected. However, I’m pretty sure a lot of viewers supported Light, and this outcome would definitely make them all upset. I personally don’t want to think about this show ever again.
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I found the ending exceptional really. The directing, the art the animation, the music, the mood, the atmosphere. Everything was on a whole different level. I’ll have to disagree with your thoughts though. His behavior was actually one of things that made the ending memorable to me. His reaction wasn’t just realistic it was a knee-jerk moment in which he was at a loss. Light is used to always have his card played before hand thus having the winning hand almost everytime during each confrontation. This time though Near (I hate Near found him too superficial to take L’s place) thought ahead of Light and was able to win. Light in response was so used to himself winning and never felt the feeling of being a loser reacted in a way in which he lost his cool. Extremely enjoyable if you ask me considering all that he has done. (forcing Rem to kill L is justification enough for such a pathetic death, really) Oh and Misa hmm I have nothing to say about her, I hated her from the start and I still hated her as the credits rolled in episode 37. She might’ve been vital to the story, but that doesn’t change the fact that she was just a Light fangirl and thats it. All in all I found Death Note extremely enjoyable and will remember it as one of the classics IMO. The last three episodes plus the ending alone warrant a watch.
I read the manga, like what, 2 years ago? So when the anime started I was originally excited about it. But it ended up being so close to the manga at the beginning at least that it couldn’t hold my attention a second time through. I’m just happy the anime was better then those gawd awful LA movies. I haven’t actually seen how the anime ends, but from what I hear they don’t include the epilogue, and thats my biggest disapointment.
Also since we all seem to be talking about how we view MisaMisa, I loved the idea of the second kira. And I like Misa being the one who it is. But I have to admit, she could have been a whole lot cooler if she wasn’t so easily controlled.
And after all that trouble, and after shortning her life twice for the guy. She never got to sleep with him once. And that’s when I knew Light had gone crazy.
As for the idea that Near could catch him when L couldn’t. Near had a lot more time to work on everything, Light had become rather sloppy over the years since L’s death. I mean, he’s just asking for trouble by sending the DN to other people who are no where near as smart as himself.
And I’m rather sure that Light thought of himself truly as a god, so the idea that he lost would surely affect him greatly.
Death Note easily won the title of being my favorite anime. It was the most thrilling anime I ever watched. Episode 36 literally had me shaking. With that said, I was very dissapointed in the ending. So much so, that it made me wanna question whether it was still my favorite. I was on Light’s side the entire series and I was even glad when L died. I wanted Light to win. I wouldnt have cared if light actually won in a simple way, but i do care that he died in a simple way. That was to easy of a victory over light. It should have been more complex. Although episode 37 wasnt that bad. Ryuk did kill him in the end, and i was okay with that. But still if light was gonna lose it should have been harder for near. The anime ending was way better than the manga ending because in the manga light was pitiful, but one thing i did like about the manga was how they showed that the world was turning into crap again now that kira is gone. Overall I choose to remember death note for the thrills it gave me and how it impressed me. So its still my favorite anime.
glad to know that u supported a mass murderer who was very much like hitler, jim jones and Idi Amin. they all thought they were doing the right thing too. something is seriously wrong when u want a mass murderer to succeed. i loved the manga ending more. Light deserved to be shamed and become even more pathetic. dude was fucking killing hundreds of people for fun man… what the fuck is wrong with u??
i really like this ending. I can say its better than the live action movie. Well, at least he dies with more dignity. I’m probably going to read the manga and that ending might be better than this one, I don’t know.
kauldron26, not exactly an objective analysis.
For one, Light was right that his plan would work. The manga at least (don’t recall in the anime) outright says he stopped all war and almost all crime. His methods work, the only question is whether the ends justify the means.
For two, what separates L from Light? L promises to kill Light, albeit indirectly, so he obviously doesn’t mind homicide. L also continues the investigation past when the government officially contracts with him. He also planned to use the Note as well (the only reason he was unwilling to write himself is because of the fake 13 day rule). Ditto all those for Near, who didn’t even want to give Light a fair trial, but rather to just “disappear” him (in the manga).
I think it is a reasonable argument to say Light was wrong, but he certainly isn’t comparable to Hitler. He executed the worst criminals in an extra-legal fashion, which is hardly the worst thing anyone has ever done (he killed some non-criminals, but in self-defense).
As to the reaction, I think it wasn’t in character. Back in the beginning of the series, Light expected to be dragged to Hell by a death god, and certainly was not freaking out. Light was extremely stoic throughout, which is how he was able to manipulate people so well.
No.
That is the moral slippery slop you all Light lovers fall, he have NO RIGHT to make the decision of who lives or dies, he have no right to decide what a life is worth.
That is why he reacted that way in the end, he had a god complex and his entire world collapsed the moment he realized he was not god.
In short, he was a mass murder hypocrite with a god complex … THAT is your hero.
ITT; whining faggots being unable to mentally get over the death of a fictional asshole character.
Also, discussion about justice, lolz.
Regardless of morals, justice, righteousness etc, the fact is, there are a lot of Light supporters who want him to win, including me. Hey, this isn’t REAL, unlike Hitler etc. Of course in real life, I would not be a Nazi lol. But for the sake of ENTERTAINMENT, I believe that having Light win and take over the world would be of highest entertainment value (a little like Ryuk I guess). So guys don’t bag people who like Light, Light’s cool.
My non-Kira~~! -wails- Bah, I still haven’t gotten around to blogging the ending. But really, this ending was upsetting on SO many levels. Although Light had gone insane and technically deserved what he got, this was just too much. I still wish Light got out on top.
Now it’s time to read the manga and watch the second LA movie xD
I hated the way they portrayed Light. Ugh, I was hoping for Near to get his ass kicked, and then, alright, Light can die. But, ugh!! Talk about justice. Light needed a more dignified death. I thought the anime did it better than the manga, who was just plain out of character in the last chapter.
About the ‘Near becomes L’-bit. There will be a summer special about what happened after the Kira-case, according to Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Death_Note_episodes
Excellent summary. I agree 100%. Although I haven’t read the manga, I was planning on it, I think I’ll put it off for a while and read it when the series isn’t so fresh in my mind.
Actually, I too, hate Lights death, and despise Near taking over, but watch the Second Movie.
It ends it very well.
In my opinion, Light fullheartedly deserved it. Also, the way you wrote about Near, I’m sure that there’s something wrong with that too. o_O’
Ah, I’m extremely sad Light and Mikami lose though
I think it potrays how Light come to this stage where no one can save him when he’d killed all of his supporters and removed Misa’s memory(Good thing Misa loses her mem else I cannot imagine what will she do in that warehouse). Mikami’s captured as well. No one can save him other than the Police investigation team from Jap. Masuda and the others.
you see, I like that part where they put Light and Kira different yet the same person. After Kira is defeated, The rest of the investigation team begun to chase LIGHT after Light ran out. It’s a balance between friendship and duty mixed together.
But yet all these I hate the ending. Kira shouldn’t lose
I hate Near.
Heh, ya’ll don’t get it. Mass murder or not what the difference.
Did Ryuk care for anything in the end? He saw the whole thing as a distraction.
Nor did he help Light? Two other Shinigami’s died for almost nothing compared to their relationship.
I never seen anyone go out his way and help someone really, most of the time it’s so cynical that I think people try to act cool once they say things with moral value or when they help others.
Think about it, one must be aware of his doing if good or evil right?
So who is there to judge someone by simply pointing his finger and saying that is evil or wrong?
If we don’t start fighting with our souls and bodies without weapons we will never find a god.
Now if someone says mass murder is evil and associate it with Hitler isn’t he someone who would fall through natural selection and just deteriorate evolution.
Hitler is the asshole in history not because of his ideals but because he just killed too many people.
Does it really start itching’ somebody if someone dies.
I mean shit man, you either believe in god and his mysterious ways and shut the fuck up or I will become a god myself. I can’t handle it anymore… our world is a lot more rotten.
Than again, I talk a lot of shit… Too complicated to put into words what I feel.
I couldn’t agree with you more!
Objective opinion: great animation, music and overall conclusion.
Subjective opinion: what a CRAPPY way to make Light lose. I mean, after all those grand schemes and awesome plots of his, he just gets beaten by the freaky kid? Bah! Putting aside the whole serial-killer thing, Light was my favourite character and I thought he deserved a super impressive conclusion. I already deduced what would happen after watching episode 36.
Actually, even after all this time, I still can’t believe “L” died. I expected him to be around until the very end of the series (well, that’s why DN is good… it’s unexpected). It just wasn’t that much fun to watch without L. -_-
nooooooooooooooooooooooooo i hate hte ending i neva wanted light to die,wht the hell i watched the whole cartoon jus for LIGHT n he died burn this cartoon man! it sucks
I didnt really watch the anime because its hard for me to watch an anime after the manga . for some reason i tend to read manga AFTER i watch the anime . yes yes . i know . im weird . i am planning to . so far , i havent reached the end of the first episode ==” .
anyways . i actually liked near . in the beginning i liked Light but in the second arc , to me he just became crap , wanting to become a “god”.
I think near is one of my favorite character , next to L of course . But thats just me, you cant hate me for my likings. Near didnt doubt the possibility of Light being Kira . Though i didnt like how in the manga he became L himself . i wouldnt mind if he just took on the job and called himself near but he named himself L !
I liked how Light planned each of his actions carefully so i couldnt completely hate him . I thought his way of doing things was just plain wrong . I think there are some criminals who actually regret what they have done and actually are willing to repent . I think they diserve a second chance in life.
Mikami was even worse . He killed people for even the smallest crimes . What happens if they didnt yet were simply accused and just couldnt convince anyone that they were innocent ?
Like of course that doesnt just commonly occur but it does happen.
I didnt mind how Light died . I found it quite … pitiful . Though Light was an interesting character, the impact of the shock from Light dying hit me less than L . Though I agree that how Light lost was really crap . I was expecting something more than a speech from Kira than trying to write on the extremely small note even with blood .
Okay . what im saying is really confusing me so i dont even want to go with this comment .
Though i didnt know there were so many people who actually LIKED Light in the second arc . Probably all my friends and my brother, who have read and watched death note, did not Light. My friend who read the manga before all of us even knew about deathnote completely detests Light.
My brother just hates him for killing L
HELLO EVERYONE PLZZZZ IF NE READ THIS MESSAGE PLZ DO FOLLOW IT THE MESSAGE IS THT PLZ RIGHT THE NAMES OF THOSE CARTOON WHICH HAV N AMAZING STORY JUS LIKE DEATH NOTE WHICH IS SUSPENSE OR ACTION BUT PLZ MAKE IT SURE THT THE STORY HAS SOME LOGIC IN IT LIKE DEATH NOTE N THE MAIN CHARACTER SHOULD ALSO BE HANDSOME LIKE LIGHT SO PLZ RIGHT DOWN THE NAME IN UR NEXT COMMENT WITH MA NICK NAME WHICH IS JAY-V IN IT PLZZZZZZZZZZ DO FOLLOW IT I WANNA WATCH CARTOON LIKE DEATH NOTE
When in the final episode we were told that every human owner of a Death Note neither would go to Heaven or Hell… I thought that Light would come to die eventually or accidentally and so would become a Death God, just wandering aimlessly in the Death World like al the other Gods of Death.
But yeah, so the climax turned out to be more realistic than that. I didn’t hate Light losing in the end, in my opnion his shameless plead at the end just illustrated how maniacal mass murderer with delusions of grandeur act when caught.
The fact that I, sitting behind my computer, got ashamed of how Light was begging for help proves to me the writers did a hell of a job. And I didn’t hate Near, didn’t like ‘em either… L. is still the main man! But, I did find it respectfull of the writers to point out that Near + MELLO equals L. and not Near alone.
Death Note is by far the best anime I’ve ever seen, the most thouroughly and suggestive…
Too bad it’s over…
jay-v, I have something you should read or watch before you watch THOSE CARTOON WHICH HAV N AMAZING STORY JUS LIKE DEATH NOTE … It’s called “Learn to Type Properly.” Nobody will take you seriously or want to help you out if you cannot ask a question sensibly, or in a way we cannot understand. And all-capital letters makes you look like you have a very low IQ. Try not to insult yourself so much. Good luck.
My quick thoughts on the Death Note ending, since I haven’t read the manga, I objectively thought it was excellent. And even finding out the manga ending, still excellent. Light started off with good intentions and the willingness to sacrifice his soul, in order to save the world. However, the absolute power corrupted him, and his intentions became more focused on winning rather than helping the innocent. This was what made the ending HAVE to be of him paying for it, most likely with his life. So while I knew he would end up dying, it was how and when that remained to be seen.
And the anime did a great job; they knew there are Kira-supporters in the audience who long for the world peace he was bringing about, yet also L-supporters who acknowledged that he was still a mass-murderer, believing himself worthy to judge others as if they were below him. That’s the thing, the anime makes you think; I believe Light (Kira) was evil. And yet, if I found a Death Note… I miiiiight have done the same thing. Minus evil laughter… o.o And minus killing those opposing me; I’d instead lie low and continue working for justice. And yet, I feel sick thinking about it, that I would consider doing such a thing. But yeah, that’s why this anime is so thought-provoking, and thus so good. You explore facets of yourself that you may never have imagined before, and question a lot of the world around you.
Anyway, his death was well done. Considering anti-Kira fans would need to see him die, and pro-Kira fans wouldn’t like seeing him wallowing in a puddle and looking utterly pathetic, they compromised by killing him, but giving him some dignity. Letting him glimpse himself before he became what he was, to remember the good intention he had started with… before his own ego led him to his doom. Letting him feel some human regret. The quality of the animation, the extreme emotion in the actors’ voices (they should get awards for this ep! Whoah-ly cow!), and the music… all of it made this a powerful ending.
And yet it seems next to nobody is satisfied with it. Everyone either wanted Kira to take over the world, or for him to have died long ago by being eaten by a bear holding a shark from the toes up or some other such slow and painful demise. But they couldn’t please everyone. I think this was the best compromise possible without diverging too extremely from the manga. And I will continue to hail this as one of the best anime series created to date.
I really like Eru-kun to win, but I didn’t want Raito to lose..
The story was very beautiful, it was a palm-sweating, heart-pumping anime..
This is my favorite anime, I like the twists, I like the lines and I love L simply because his a very intellectual person.
In the last episode, I was touched with thye lines of Raito. I found him right with regards to his view of righteousness. I was depressed for three days thinking of the end of the story. It was avery good anime.
I am taking this opportunity to extend my appreciation to the makers of the movie and anime entitled ” Death Note”…
(if ever I made certain typographical error, please forgive. I am on the rush in typing this.)
Eru-kun rockz!!!
yo u guys cool but yeh to be honest i agree with every comment posted , but personally yo me the anime was BRILLIANT and i fucking hate it at the same time because that light died i mean dude he was the main character therefore losing the plot and sense of the story. manga wtf is the point of carrying out his legacy when he is dead. near i hate him and evny him for his victory but he had his reasons i guess. by the way i belive that kira lost his justice in killing the people but still he brought crime down to a minimum or maybe none so in ways i hoped he could have lived
kira’s death was a crucification of the ‘god of death”, like jesus,light yagami was a sacrifice and will be warshipped.
the aurther of the death note portrayed light as “second coming of jesus”
it is obious from the title pages of the death note that he is pictured as a cruficied crist. it is a irony how “second coming od crist” defines jesus to “judge the living and the dead” perhaps Death Note shows the aurthor’s defination of bible.
to be fair, i’m not surprised that light met his death in agony, from the start, he was a sacrifice to the world.
many cultures in the world have “god of death” and some are portryed positively, like hindu god and egyptian god. it is because ancient believed that “clensing” of the world is neccesary to build another world. in order to improve and advance humanity, some must die. this ideal is also portryed in manga called “rurouni kenshin”
light needed to be heartless in order to achieve is ideal. when i read this manga, i saw him as a god of death, meant to be sacrificed for the good of humanity.
the argument over the true “evil” in this story is argued over and over, but the truth is that “good” and “evil” are just concept. light said in book 9 that “if kira wins this fight and rules the world, than he is good, if he loss and get caught, he is evil” i think there is no other word that defines better.
the winner is rightious, there is no rules set in stone that defines good and evil.
in philosophical point of view and realistic point of view, i think aurthor did a perfect job in crucificying kira.
ss. i noticed that when light gave up his ownership of the notebook and went into confinement to L, he was waring his watch on his left, but when he was handcuffed, he was wearing his watch on his right. a person don’t usually change the arm that they wear watch. i was worried which wrist he was wearing his watch when he captured third kira. was this some mistake by the aurthor?
The book and anime was very good in my opinion. I was on both L and Kira/Light’s side. Because everyone, even hitler(who must’ve had a terrible past or whatever) has a reason. I like how he(Light) dies in the anime, not the manga, L should’ve won in person and if he did die, not by just a heartattack. I think that Mello or his ghost should have been beside Near, like, not just an image, but as if watching his enemy (Near) side with him and realize that being # 1 isn’t everything. I think that people with / without the Death note don’t go to hell or heaven, that’s what it said in the book, when Ryuk tells light that he cannot go to hell or heaven, and Light responds that even if he didn’t have the deathnote he wouldn’t go to hell or heaven, Ryuk actually says he’s right.
A lot of you are saying that the way Light died was “crappy”. Maybe because you feel he died without dignity. Although he seemed a lot out of character, Light’s reaction to being defeated can be justified by just that… he was defeated. He knew he could do nothing and that for the first time in his life, he didn’t have a way out of being backed into a corner. So, the more he realizes that he has been defeated, that it’s over, the more insanely he acts. The craziness can be seen as desperation, I think. At that point, he realized how alone he really was. And I realized how pitiful and unfortunate a person he was. He was at his wit’s end.
I cried for him even though I wanted him to die or at least, be put in prison. For me to be happy, one of these two things had to happen but in the end, my happiness was bitter-sweet. In the end, both Light and some viewers realize how human he really is and how God-like he really isn’t.
Overall, a truly incredible, intelligent, compelling and thought-provoking manga/anime series.
“Light started off with good intentions and the willingness to sacrifice his soul, in order to save the world. However, the absolute power corrupted him, and his intentions became more focused on winning rather than helping the innocent.”
I agree! Light deserved what he got!
The end (especially how Light was portrayed) was really reasonable…
Those of you who think he had a crappy death anyhow - get over it! L’s death was even less spectacular.
(It’s always L vs. Light… I think both of them had noble goals but chose the wrong methods. Maybe that’s why neither of them succeeded and both of them died.)
does anyone know the music played when Light is running awy at the very end? Not when he is dying the one before that
Light Kira: It’s called Chichi no Shi, and it’s from the third OST
Why did Light have to die? This anime is obviously portrayed in a way that expects you to support Light. To me at least. It was just unbelievable that after all that tension, after my *ahem* celebrating after the 36th episode, he just lost.
It was maddening, the ending just left an empty feeling and didn’t feel like any close happened. Maybe for you Near supporters but for me, I say Kira should have won.
While it IS true that I didn’t like Light, he unwillingly became my favorite character after L sadly died. What I mean is,
WHAT THE FUCK? NEAR THAT HOE BECOMES L, ARE YOU FRICKIN’ SERIOUS? NEAR IS THE WORST CHARACTER I HAVE EVER SEEN. I HOPE HE GOES TO HELL, THAT PANSY COCKSUCKER! SKDLFjslk;dajflkajfLKDJSF
Rant complete.
I looked for postings like this because I just finished watching the anime today, 19th of April 2008 and I am PISSED!!!!
I understand Light is a psychopath but he was a smart smart super intelligent psychopath.
I absolutely hated the way he was beaten by Light.
And it turned out that it wasn’t even his fault.
No, the ending sucked.
For me, Episode 36 was the last Episode and Light won.
Not Near.
You could tell from the beginning that Light was going to lose, its just gonna happen. Oh well, I was also hoping for a Kira victory, but I knew it wasn’t gonna happen, there would be way too many people complaining about how “the greater good should win” or some such. I just like the way Light explained it way back in the first episode. “If you were asked in school if bad people should be killed, you would get up on your moral high horse and say ‘no killing is wrong’ But this is what people really think… when they can hide behind the anonymity of the internet” and so forth.
For the record, yes I wanted Kira to win. I was able to figure out how he was going to lose, and for the last three episodes or so, I figured out Light’s plan to stay alive. I was basically yelling at him to not trust the lawyer guy, and to just give a spare sheet to him as a just in case measure, but noooo. They found the fake and real DNs, and Near won because of this. Light’s death was done well, and at least he died like I expected him to. Oh well… at least prison costs went down for a while eh?
I AM SO GLAD LIGHT LOST! THAT ARROGANT PUNK GOT WHAT HE DESERVED! I just wished he had gone to prison to rot for a bit. He killed people in cold blood just to protect his identity. Allowed his own father to die b/c of his “plan”. I despised him since Episode 1!
KIRA IS DEAD!!! YESSSSS!!!! HA HA HA!!!
light is dead? hahaha that’s good! Lol i hate him so much. all hail L!
the ending pretty much sucks.. anyway, my fave was L! after he died, i didn’t know on whose sight i was xp i don’t like near at all
and light is kindof a psycho (: isn’t he?
i like the manga just a little bit more ;D
woo! i just realized on whose sight i’m at! RYUUK! < he’s on no one’s sight (:
who i forgot to mention xp :
i liked light in the beginning but he became really .. the worst! (: hah
just gotta say it