History Characters / DeathNoteNear

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[[center:[-[[Characters/DeathNote Main Character Index]] | [[Characters/DeathNoteMainCharacters Main Characters]] | [[Characters/DeathNoteLightYagami Light Yagami]] | [[Characters/DeathNoteLLawliet L Lawliet]] | '''Near''' | [[Characters/DeathNoteTaskForce Task Force]] | [[Characters/DeathNoteShinigami Shinigami]] | [[Characters/DeathNoteSideCharacters Side Characters]] | [[Characters/DeathNoteNovelPilotAndMovies Novel, Pilot, and Movies]] | [[Characters/DeathNote2017 Death Note 2017]]-]]]

!!Near (ニア;''Nia'') / Real Name: Nate River (ネイト=リバー;''Neito Ribā'')
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/137380.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Keep all important information in your mind only."'']]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:Click here to see Near three years later, during the events of the One-Shot Special.]] https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/near_as_the_third_l.png[[/labelnote]]]]
->Voiced by: Creator/NorikoHidaka (JP), Creator/CathyWeseluck (EN), Masumi Mitsuda (Spain), Bruno Coronel (Latin America), Charles Emmanuel (BR), Vincent De Bouard (FR)
->Played by: Narushi Fukuda (film), Mio Yuki (TV drama)

->''"If you can't win the game, if you can't solve the puzzle, then you're nothing but a loser"''.

After L's death, he's the main [[TheAntagonist antagonist]] of the series, [[HeroAntagonist but not the villain]].

A detective presented as very similar to L. Characterized by the contrast of his mature conversation with his childlike playing with toys, he runs the SPK, a force from the USA specially designed to unmask Kira. He suspects Light to be Kira and periodically makes life difficult for him both unwittingly and wittingly- the former by reminding Light of L through the style of his speech and analytical skills and the latter by sowing seeds of doubt amongst the Task Force to make some of them suspect Light as well. He soon comes to suspect Mikami and Takada to have something to do with Kira as well.

In the ''Death Note One-Shot Special'', which takes place three years after the end of the Kira case, Near is the main protagonist. In the other ''Death Note Special Chapter'', which takes place ten years later, Near takes more of an interested spectator kind of role.
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[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:A-F]]
* AdaptationalEarlyAppearance: In the TV drama, he's involved from the start.
* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Far more benevolent in the TV drama (which, ironically, makes L a case of AdaptationalJerkass).
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Mello felt that he was this to him. After coming out on top in the series finale, Minoru, ten years later, proves himself to be this to Near himself, soundly defeating him. However, this was because Minoru was uninterested in playing games with anyone and didn't even give Near an opportunity to play whereas Light was obsessed with proving his own superiority.
* AmbiguousDisorder: He's extremely intelligent, perceptive, and intuitive; is an [[TheChessmaster exceptional manipulator]], incredibly charming and friendly in his interactions with his allies, [[TheStoic rarely shows emotion]], is totally dedicated to prioritizing results, plays with toys even as an adult, and [[NoSocialSkills absolutely lacks social skills]]. Certainly, he's somewhere in some type of personality disorder. On the other hand, he's incredibly loyal to Mello and L, which is one of his most redeemable traits.
* AmbiguouslyEvil: At first. With his KubrickStare, his robotic, stone-cold personality... it's hard to tell how good Near really is. However, much of his goal is to avenge his mentor L, and "How to Read" confirmed that he is a sensitive person.
* AntiHero: Near is a morally ambiguous hero from the get-go, possibly more than L. Like L, he is more than willing to use morally questionable tactics to catch Kira,. He's also very emotionally attenuated and robotic.
* ArchEnemy: He sees [[BigBad Kira / Light Yagami]] as one. After all, he is largely motivated by [[ItsPersonal revenge]].
* AuthorFilibuster: His ShutUpHannibal summation of Light is meant to be a reflection of writer Ohba's personal beliefs.
* BadassAdorable: He's a lot more traditionally cute than L and just as cunning.
* BadassBookworm: He's cunning, intelligent and clever.
* BatDeduction: In the anime, Near's eyes turn white and he has the clues he needs. The manga avoids this, but does show his {{photographic memory}} and ability to watch and listen to a room full of TV sets showing as many different news items and taking them all in at once.
* BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame: Theorized by Matsuda. At the end, he uses the Death Notes to find out which is the real and fake ones that he can trick Mikami into taking.
* {{Bishonen}}: In the ''Death Note One-Shot Special'', he's a very attractive young man.
** In the ''Special Chapter'' (now with 28 years-old), [[LongHairedPrettyBoy his hair is incredibly long]]. He has reached the point where some fans have confused him with a girl.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Near loves playing with toys just as much as L loves sweets. He stacks dice and matchsticks just as L stacks milk-pots and sugar-cubes.
* CainAndAbel: Both him and Mello were the successors of L. Near is the Abel to Mello's Cain.
* CelibateHero: Just like L, he was never interested in romantic relationships.
* CharacterTic: Near is always doing something with his hands. If he isn't playing with toys or stacking things, he's twirling his hair.
* CheshireCatGrin: Looks like the c: emoticon, transposed onto a human being.
* TheChessmaster: Just as good as L and can go toe-to-toe with [[VillainProtagonist Light]] and [[TheDeterminator Mello]].
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: He has odd gestures and a very unusual personality.
* CombatPragmatist: Though he rejects offhand the idea of "[[WhyDontYouJustShootHim just shooting him]]" as dishonorable, he's still a cheater and Ohba suggests that that's why he survives. It is still argued on whether or not he used the notebook to control [[SpannerInTheWorks Mikami]] in the final confrontation.
* ColorMotif: Light Blue. Probably to show that he's still new to being L's Successor, L's color being dark blue.
* CreepyChild: Played with. Near [[OlderThanTheyLook is 13 when he's first introduced and 17-18 by the end of the story]], but he gives off CreepyChild vibes all the same.
* CreepyMonotone: He speaks in a rather monotonous voice pitch.
* CrosscastRole: In the TV drama, he's portrayed by actress Mio Yuki.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Like all successors, he's an orphan, making it likely he [[HarmfulToMinors witnessed his family die]], with apparently no remaining family that could have (or wanted to) adopt him, and was [[LaserGuidedTykebomb groomed]] from an [[ChildSoldiers extremely young age]] (likely being confronted with [[HarmfulToMinors very graphic crime scene evidence]] during the process) to succeed the world's greatest detective, and actively being pushed to compete with his peers no matter the cost to his mental health. [[SarcasmMode No pressure.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: Just like his mentor L, he is shown to have a dry sense of humor, stating that Light was "popular with the ladies."
* DefectiveDetective: He has the minimal possible rank in the "Ability to Live Everyday life" part of his stats in "How to Read", in the slot that indicates a character's special talent or significant weakness.
* {{Deuteragonist}}: [[spoiler:After L's death]], he's the opposing deuteragonist to Light.
* DoesNotLikeShoes: As with L, he doesn't wear shoes, though he at least puts socks on his feet (except for a couple of scenes in the manga).
* EpicFail: During one phone call Near is shown throwing a dart at a board which completely misses. A few scenes later and the viewer is given a top-down view of the dart board showing a large pile of darts on the floor and ''none'' stuck into the board itself.
* EveryoneHasStandards:
** Toward the end, he points out that he doesn't believe in an absolute code of right and wrong, but doesn't like Kira killing people in the name of justice.
** He also acknowledges that at least some of Kira's followers truly do believe in the cause he himself is fighting, but voices a low opinion of people he sees as just taking the "Kira" flag as a personal excuse to make noise and cause mayhem.
** He also doesn't see possessing the Death Note as being something evil or illegal on itself, instead considering that it's the actions people take with it that turns them into criminals. Which is why he doesn't actively pursue people holding a Death Note if they're not doing anything illegal with it.
* ExtremeDoormat: Even moreso than L. He doesn't hunt Kira out of any moral obligation but just because it's what he's been trained to do- although his final showdown with Light might imply a personal touch considering he wears the L mask and makes it a point in how important Mello's contribution was with his miniature doll.
* FinalBoss: Of the entire series.
* {{Foil}}: To Light Yagami. Like Light, he's incredibly smart, cunning, smug, and arrogant. The big difference is that while Light has social skills and is perfectly capable of socializing, Near [[NoSocialSkills absolutely lacks social skills]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:G-L]]
* GeniusSweetTooth: In the epilogue of the manga at least, in which he's seen eating a chocolate bar. It's thought he's doing it in memory of Mello.
** Also, in the drama, he is fond of Watari's cakes, much in the same way L is in the anime/manga.
* GracefulLoser: He accepts defeat with a soft smile at the end of the 2020 ''Special Chapter''. Although it's also implied many times that he wasn't trying hard to solve the mystery since he believed [[spoiler:there wasn't anything illegal happening]].
* GuileHero: Outwits Kira.
* TheHero: [[spoiler:After L's death]], he's the first in line to succeed L and the mastermind behind the S.P.K.
* HeroProtagonist: In the ''Death Note One-Shot Special''.
* HiddenDepths: The [[AllThereInTheManual How to Read]] volume suggests that he cut his ties with the outer world because he's really sensitive.
* {{Hypocrite}}: If Matsuda's theory that he used the Death Note to restrict Mikami's actions, enabling the group to expose Light as Kira is correct, he would qualify.
* IdenticalStranger: He and L could be mistaken for brothers given their similar appearances and quirks, but they aren't blood related.
* TheImmune: In the AlternateContinuity film ''Film/LChangeTheWorld'' he is the only one to survive ThePlague that [[DoomedHometown afflicted his village.]]
* IntelligenceEqualsIsolation: Was a loner from the beginning.
* JerkassHasAPoint: While his partners don't always like working alongside him, they do agree with him and his plans, especially when he [[KirkSummation tells Light that he is nothing more than a serial killer]].
* KirkSummation: He rejects Kira's ideals entirely, especially after confronting an implicated Light:
-->'''Near''': No. You're just a murderer, Light Yagami. And this notebook is the deadliest weapon in the history of mankind. If you had been a normal person and had used this notebook once out of curiosity, you would have been surprised and scared of what had happened, regretted what you had done, and never used this notebook again. To speak of extremes, I can actually understand those who would use this notebook for their personal interests and kill a couple of people, and even think that they're normal. But you yielded to the power of the notebook and the Shinigami and have [[AGodAmI confused yourself with a god]]. In the end, you're nothing more than a [[AxCrazy crazy]] SerialKiller. That's ''all'' you are. Nothing more... and nothing less.
* KnightOfCerebus: Subverted. While L was a WorthyOpponent for Light, the series gets even darker with the introduction of Mello and Near. Although, this is a rather odd example as Near is an AntiHero like L; it's just that Light's character becomes much darker at this point as he becomes a full blown villain and Mello and Near happened to show up once this progression takes place.
* KubrickStare: Look at the picture.
* LaserGuidedTykebomb: So Light, you thought you'd gotten rid of L, huh? Say hi to his successors.
* LightIsGood: Though not as morally questionable as Light himself, Near wears white pajamas, and his hair is white - white being the color of death in Japanese culture, though whether he knows this is debatable. It's not really delved into in the story, but [[AllThereInTheManual How to Read suggests]] that he's cut himself off from the world because he's "overly sensitive".
* LonersAreFreaks: Has closed himself off from the world, and seriously creeps Light out.
* LooksLikeCesare: In the ''Death Note One-Shot Special'', Near is shown to have sharp bags under his eyes, probably because he's TheInsomniac (just like L).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:M-S]]
* ManChild: He's 17-18 in the post-timeskip (21 in the post-series one shot and 28 in the second post-series one shot) and he's always seen playing with toys.
* MeaningfulName: His real name, Nate River, is supposed to symbolize how his talents flow from L like a river flows from UsefulNotes/{{Canada}} to UsefulNotes/{{Alaska}}.
* MessyHair: Well, messy and somewhat wavy. Ten years later his hair not only is incredibly messy and wavy but also extremely long.
* MindRape: Just ''look'' at chapters 103 and 104 of the manga.
** In the one-shot [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] sequel he [[DrivenToSuicide drives the next Kira to suicide]] [[BreakThemByTalking with his words alone.]]
* NonActionGuy: Unlike L, it is completely unknown if he can really know some kind of martial discipline (eg, L knows UsefulNotes/{{Capoeira}}), and his abilities come solely from [[GuileHero his own deductions and intellect]].
* NoSocialSkills: Even more so than L, to the point where he is apparently unable to make his own travel arrangements. How To Read, the series encyclopedia, points out that this is a significant weakness, as he can only make full use of his brilliant mind when surrounded by support because his basic social and living skills are so bad.
* NotSoDifferent: Near's like a more vengeful version of L. He's not above stooping to Kira's level of mind games and manipulative tactics. It's also teased that Near used the notebook to defeat Kira.
* OfferedTheCrown: Given the title of L's successor by Mello in a fit of sour grapes before the latter storms off.
* OhCrap: His surprise to Light pulling out the last [[{{Pun}} trick up his sleeve]], the piece of the Note in his watch. His expression is clear in the manga, but remains absent in the anime.
* OlderThanTheyLook: Many assume he's ten or so by his appearance, behavior, and voice: he's 17 or 18 by the end. He looks about 15 three years after that and still looks like a teenager with long hair by the age of 28. He's even referred to as a "boy" by the President of the United States.
* PajamaCladHero: He spent his entire appearance clothed in [=PJs=], although in the anime this appears to have been changed to a PJ top and jeans.
* ParentalAbandonment: Like all the other Wammy's kids, he's an orphan.
* PetTheDog: Despite the fact that he doesn't express his emotions and tends to be cold and robotic, his loyalty and friendship towards L and Mello is unquestionable. In fact, he shows a considerable respect for L, and that's the reason why his vendetta against Light is very personal.
* PlanningWithProps: Uses his toys for this sometimes.
* PolitenessJudo: Very [[PassiveAggressiveKombat passive-aggressive]].
* PunchClockHero: More so than L.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:
** Gives an ''epic'' one to Light at the end.
** He also gives one to C-kira that drives him to suicide.
* RedOniBlueOni: The blue to Mello's red. While he and Mello are geniuses, Near's more calm and logical.
* ReiAyanamiExpy: He has even poorer social skills than L and white hair.
* TheSmartGuy: Just like L, he's incredibly smart and calculating.
* SociallyAwkwardHero: Extreme emphasis on "socially awkward."
* SoleSurvivor: In the AlternateContinuity film ''Film/LChangeTheWorld'' Near is not only orphaned but [[DoomedHometown is the last survivor of his village.]] Also in canon he is the only Wammy’s Kid to challenge Kira and survive.
* SplitPersonality: Appears to have one in the live action series.
* TheSpock: Operates almost completely on logic, and is a brilliant strategist.
* TheSpook: Very little is known about his past.
* TheStoic: Rarely, if ever, shows any emotion.
* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: As with L before him, he is shown to be thinking exactly the same thing as Light when planning out his strategy for defeating his opponent.
* SuperOCD: Is it the majority of his agents dropping dead all around him from the Death Note or his tower of dice falling over that he is most saddened by in chapter 66? You decide.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Quoting from the folks at IGN, "Near is the darker, colder, angrier version of L. L represented justice and Near represents vengeance."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:T-Y]]
* TechnoWizard: Seems to have turned into one by the age of 28. Claiming he was working on a facial-recognition system for Shinigamis.
* ThousandYardStare: [[https://sindarfrom.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/death-note-episode-33.jpg Look at him]].
* TranquilFury: He never loses his stoicism, even when he's annoyed.
* {{Ubermensch}}: As he put it, after Light responds to his withering [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech complaint towards his personal character]]:
-->"Nobody can tell what is right and what is wrong, what is righteous and what is evil. Even if there is a God and I had His teachings in front of me, I would think it through and decide if it was right and wrong myself. I'm [[NotSoDifferent no different]] to you. I believe in what I think is right, and believe that to be righteous. You are no god. And I find the whole idea of you setting the path for all the people to follow is neither peaceful nor righteous. And anybody who claims to be a god and kills people from left to right is neither peaceful nor righteous."
* UnscrupulousHero: At first, he's almost as bad as Mello, but in the bonus chapter (post-epilogue), he's a little bit more reasonable.
* TheUnSmile: Sometimes he gives an extremely unnatural smile like looks like a living version of the "c:" emoticon, in a great contrast to L's WhenHeSmiles moments.
* VoiceWithAnInternetConnection: As "N"
* WalkingSpoiler: It's hard to talk about L's successors without giving away the fact that L himself dies.
* WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys: Quite literally. He gets a full list of his toys in the 'How To Read' book, complete with their price and how difficult they were to obtain.
* WhiteHairBlackHeart: Downplayed. Near has natural white hair and he's a morally ambiguous AntiHero.
* WorthyOpponent:
** While at first he viewed Light as nothing more than a crazy mass-murderer, by the time of the epilogue he has come to view Kira in a better [[JustForPun light]], refusing to consider C-Kira as an equal to the original Kira.
** He also came to respect A-Kira as an equal, or even better, for handling [[spoiler: the selling of the Death Note]] so brilliantly to the point that he didn't want to find him to pull any charges but just to meet him in person.
* YouMonster: A variation of this trope. In the ''Death Note One-Shot Special'', he calls C-Kira an "abominable murderer."
* YoungAndInCharge: Is still in his teens (and looks much younger) and heads the SPK, which consists of several experienced FBI agents.
* YoungConqueror: Defeats Light at the age of 18.
[[/folder]]
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