-nod- How would you write the second half of Death Note?

Kudos to the maker of the "how would you Code Geass R2" thread.

No doubt you've heard others complain about how the first half of Death Note was awesome, while the second half was just melodrama. Fans loved Light vs L, but hated Light vs Mello vs Near.

Well, how would you have written it, had you taken control of the manga shortly before, or after, Light's Memory Gambit?

I suppose the thing most people would change is either not killing off the best character or bringing in a better set of rivals than the couple of folks they came up with.

I think the biggest thing would be making Light's downfall his own fault, instead of Mikami's. And if we're talking about the anime, make the ending like the manga, with Light completely breaking down.

edited 13th Jul '13 6:24:28 PM by tvsgood

If you've read the How To Read 13 interviews, the creators flat out say that they had Mikami be the one to screw things up because they thought Light wouldn't make that kind of stupid mistake.

Hmmm well, you might kill me for saying this, but I'd pretty much leave the ending of episode 25 (and the manga equivalent) as it is. I mean, it kinda gives Light the final stroke on his characterization as a Villain Protagonist who's able to manipulate a Shinigami into doing the dirty work for him.

I would, however, change everything after that. Starting on the mafia plot. ESPECIALLY the mafia plot. And Near and Mello... the whole thing between them felt like, "Guys, can you finish hating each other's guts and CONCENTRATE ON THE CASE? YOU ARE NOT FIVE ANYMORE, FOR KIRA'S SAKE!!"

Besides, having three parties in the game kinda ruins the tension. Light becomes a lesser matter as the focus switches over the two rivals. It's like watching those Tom And Jerry cartoons where Jerry is chased by Tom and another cat. Only boring.

I'd make them get along better, not outright cooperating, but not trying to kill each other, either.

And as tvsgood said, Lights downfall will be his fault. And I'd play it in a way that shows the audience why Light was doomed to fail from the beginning, e.g.: his goal became selfish at the end; he treated people as trash; he didn't consider any other opinions besides his own, etc.

... I like the second half of Death Note.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the second half.

To my knowledge, a good portion of the fanbase didn't.

I liked the second half, but it's definitely weaker than the early part and I can see why people were not pleased with how it played out.

The obvious thing to suggest is 'don't kill L'. However, I can understand why keeping the exact same two rivals throughout the entire story might be seen as tedious, or not enough variety. So assuming that L has to die, I think one of two things should have happened.

First, Light could have won in the end, and either become the god of the new world, or been killed by Ryuk once he stopped generating entertainment value. This doesn't fit the intended theme very well, but whatever.

Second, it could have been revealed that L had set in motion some long-term plan to stop Kira, to be continued after his own death. That way, the same moral could be given at the end and it could still be made clear that L is smarter than Light, and we would get to see even more over-the-top strategic CMOAs. Possibly Mello/Near could have been the ones to carry out the plan, although giving Soichiro a larger role could also have worked.

I've heard this is largely because said portion of the fanbase are anime only viewers and the anime screwed up a bit in the adaptation. Apparently the anime rushed up in the second half and skipped through most of the exposition, making it seem like Near was pulling his conclusion directly from his arse*

Not that I can really tell. Never watched the anime.

Here's my perspective: After Light's plans have been completely carried out, and Kira is an acknowledged leader of the world... We have that Computer scene with "L"'s letter, and the butler Watari all alone. Then he picks up the phone, and dials it.

Death Note is then over. The story is finished. A new series begins, set immediately afterwards, with as much as a six month time skip. As little as six minutes. It's a complete reboot; act as if the reader to this series has never read any of the Death Note story beforehand. Introduce all of the characters to a brand-new readership.

A new series, "The Note of Death Gods", or "Notebook God" begins. Everything can play out the same way.

Thanks for the kudos, by the way.

Anyway, I think the second half of Death Note is fine as it is. I wouldn't compare it to Code Geass R2. But that's just me.

Yes, I agree fully. I personally like the second half, although I can see where people are coming from when they say it is not as good as the first part. But comparing it to Code Geass R2 is preposterous to me.

I think I would have Matsuda pistol-whip Light at the end too, get rid of Takada because she was creepy and embarrassing, and make the nun at the end Misa.

I wouldn't bring in Near and Mello at all. Instead, let the other members of the investigation team pick up the case where L left off. I mean, hell, Aizawa very nearly was able to piece it together anyway. Run with that. A story shouldn't be afraid to promote from within; instead of introducing a new guy to become The Main Character after yours has kicked the bucket, why not let one of the long-standing cast members that the fans already know and love take the helm?

Of course, that's if I even did a second half to Death Note. Personally, I think it should have ended shortly after the corporate douchebags arc; the only reason Light's plan came together to begin with is because L spontaneously dropped his paranoia. An appropriate response in that scene would have been, "Light, I am still rather thoroughly convinced that you are Kira. No, you do not get to touch the murder weapon."