Death Note is the ultimate game between twoanimegeniuses. One is a high school student wielding a notebook capable of killing people when their names are written within its pages. The other is a reclusive detective hot on his trail. The story of Death Note takes many twists and turns as each character gains and loses the advantage in the investigation.
Like any story, there are always moments that make no sense when you think about them. Perhaps Light makes a mistake or a character becomes way too talkative, leading to an impact on the plot. So let’s examine some of these moments and try to make some sense of them.
8What Made L So Sure Light Was Kira?
L’s Early Suspicions Of Light
There are many moments where L investigates Light only to find nothing incriminating. However, this doesn’t stop L from counting Light as the prime suspect. So how is Light constantly under suspicion regardless of his efforts at the start of the series?
Truth is, having the perfect alibi is just as suspicious as having none. When monitored through cameras, Light sets up adult magazines to browse through as a red herring. He also kills criminals while eating potato chips and studying to show his whereabouts during certain deaths. Any other human would naturally slip up even if they weren’t guilty of anything. This near perfection is what makes Light stand out to L, allowing him to hone in on his suspect. Plus, it could just be his gut instinct.
7Giving Up Ownership Of The Death Note
Light’s Biggest Gamble In The Series
In order tobeat Light at his own game, L is constantly looking for evidence that can condemn him. Light always responds in a clever way that turns the tables or leads the investigation in the wrong direction. However, this is mostly because he has control of the playing field. In fact, his most clever move is also the riskiest.
This is where Light relinquishes his ownership of the Death Note. There is never any guarantee that L will free him from his confines, let alone participate in the investigation against the Yotsuba group. Losing his memory also leaves him open to contradicting himself. For someone whose every move is calculated, this choice leaves way too much to chance. Yet despite this, it works out anyway.
6Why Didn’t Mikami Test The Notebook Before Meeting The Detectives?
Double-Checking Before The Finale
Due to Mikami’s independent actions, Near’s team is able to hone in on the possibility that Mikami is holding a fake Death Note. This enables them to swap it out before the final showdown, resulting in Light’s identity as Kira being confirmed.
So why didn’t Mikami test the notebook before arriving? It seems like an oversight to get Light caught, butthe manga presents another possibility. After the case is solved, Matsuda questions this fact and even throws out the idea that Near might have been controlling Mikami through the real Death Note. In other cases, Light simply had to lose some way or another.
5How Was Light Not Caught Talking To Naomi Misora?
Light’s Unplanned Encounter With Naomi
Naomi Misora is Raye Penber’s fiancé. Once Raye is killed by Light, she takes it upon herself to do some private sleuthing. This leads her into a confrontation with Light outside the police precinct. Light does some smooth talking and manages to get Naomi’s real name. He even gets cocky and reveals his identity to her face.
While this seems like a crisis averted, how was Light not captured when he is confronting Naomi right in the open? One would assume there would be witnesses or even some surveillance footage that captures the two meeting? In fact, there are even two witnesses that saw them together and can testify that they made contact on the day she disappeared.
4Why Did Raye Penber Talk So Much?
Ray Penber’s Blabbermouth
When you really think about it, Ray Penber does a horrible job as an FBI agent. While Light does bait him into revealing his identity as an authority figure, Raye is under no obligation to tell Light his real name.
By this point, the need for a name is already known, so why didn’t Raye have a fake name on his ID to give Light? Instead, Raye gives Light way more information than he should, and it results in his death. Even if Raye was caught under pressure, there should have been at least some preparation in case he needed to show an ID.
3How Did Light Not Get Caught Holding Raye Penber Hostage?
Light Yagami’s Most Suspicious Moment
One of the most suspicious things Light does is meet Raye Penber in a crowded subway station. He also makes himself suspicious by keeping his hood on and closely tailing the agent as if by gunpoint.
Light should have immediately been labeled as suspicious even if no one could see his face. In fact, being an agent, Raye Penber could have simply used his reflexes to knock out Light the moment he introduced himself as Kira. After all, Light didn’t demonstrate his ability to kill until after he finished introducing himself. One punch and it would have all been over.
2Where Did All The Wammy’s House Kids Go?
The Missing Successors of L
Mello and Near are by no means the only children from Wammy’s House who were raised to potentially become L’s successor. While Near ultimately gets handed the role after L’s death, there are still other geniuses who were left behind.
Throughout the story, only one other successor plays an active role: Matt, who assists Mello in kidnapping Takada. While the fate of some Wammy children is revealed, there are still many more. Where did they all end up? The anime never elaborates.
1Why Is The Shinigami Realm In Shambles?
The Shinigami Realm Has Little Relevance
One key story element that surfaces just enough for Ryuk to head down to Earth, but that is never fully expanded on, is the state of the Shinigami Realm. It is a dying world that is described as boring to Ryuk. There are even fruits such as apples, but all are dry compared to the Earth’s.
Neither the anime nor the manga gives any indication as to why this is the way it is. It has simply existed for all time and is led by a Shinigami King. There is also a lack of motivation to do anything other than play games.
