Reviews Manga / Death Note

Oh, goodness... I think I'm in love.

(I've only watched the first eight episodes; I'll watch more later.)

Recently, in a debate over my review of Soul Eater, I was told that Death Note was only good because of the action and plotting. So, I figured I'd get my thoughts together on the whole thing, so I can figure out why I like it beyond that.

The negatives:

• There's a vein of subtle misogyny throughout the show; of about two dozen characters we've met, there have only been four women with speaking parts, and they were all only women because the plot required them to be.
• The dialogue can be a bit stiff and awkward at times.
• The plots occasionally hinge on characters being gullible or not realizing the obvious.

The positives:

• The animation is probably the best I've ever seen in an anime. The character designs are amazingly detailed, their movements are so life-like, the scenery is so evocative... god, it's just so amazing. Probably the best artwork I've ever seen on TV.
• There's a mood of constant suspense throughout the show, making the entire thing a real experience to watch.
• The overarching plot is genuinely unpredictable - I really do have no idea who's going to win.
• Light is characterized with an impressive, almost unequaled subtlety and nuance - his character is established quickly, but we constantly see new and interesting shades of him.
• Grey And Gray Morality is in full effect, which makes everything more unpredictable.
• The translation is pretty good - not the best I've ever seen, but it's not bad at all.

Overall, this is a fantastic anime, probably my favorite I've ever seen. Actually, drop the 'anime' part: this is the best TV show I've ever seen, regardless of the genre. It's suspenseful, it's amazingly animated, it's got a great protagonist... there is nothing at all not to like. WATCH IT!!!