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We rewatched Death Note recently!

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here have an L dump

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U ever think abt L taking light’s hand and kissing the back of it? Just lifting it to his lips and winking? Light blushes hard but grasps L’s hand harder.

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so i’ve been listening to gorillaz again

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From that unpopular opinion, when did L ever torture someone? I agree L isn't perfect and broke quite a few laws, but torture is inflicting serious pain on someone, and I don't think we ever saw that, unless I am mistaken.

Oh no, we do see that and it is canon.

This is a real thing L says to Watari during Misa’s confinement and the meaning is not exactly left ambiguous. This is L fully intending to have a confession tortured out of Misa. This is later referenced again:

Now, VIZ has made this more harmless in their translation than it is. I didn’t bother looking up Misa’s whole phrase but she does explicitely use 拷問 (torture) as a descriptor and other translations I know have put it ‘I won’t talk, even if tortured’. L confirms she won’t - he knows, because he tried it.

The anime even takes it a step further and actually shows Watari getting ready to torture Misa explicitly:

But even if we disregarded that keeping somebody completely immobilized over weeks like L does with Misa is torture in its own right already. Had Death Note played out realistically, there would have been severe health consequences for her (and Light as well) - both of them would have had to be hospitalized after being let out thanks to the effects of L’s prisonkeeping.

L absolutely does have people tortured, that is textual truth.

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Do you have a head cannon for what daily life was like for youtsuba!Light and L during the handcuff period?

Hey !Oh my god hahaha I have so much headcanons. (thanks to kocodye for beta reading the following answer)Beforehand, I must say that I am heavily influenced by my “spiritual mentor”lynkemma and their demonstration of a possible queer reading of DN (x).This short meta is… sacred to me. If you’re interested in Lawlight, you’ll likeit.In Starcrossed, I explore the canonicalsubtext of Lawlight, including during the Yotsuba arc.Much of headcanons arent’t headcanons in the strictest sense of the word,because I always try to refer back to the pattern in the text / pictures ^^”.Take this for instance.

This moment is SO IMPORTANT. Intuitively, as a viewer,you know it might be an echo to something Light said when he had his memories.Let’s try to prove it.Yotsuba!Light is often seen telling L he’s innocent. It is possible that atsome point he told L something along the lines of “I would never lie to those Ilove”. He does act like L is his friend during the Yotsuba!Arc (seeStarcrossed). It’s very much possible Light who does have a “corny” side wouldsay that. 

Look at how corny he can be with L

When Light endorses Kira’s role again (for reasons I explain here(x) and here (x). Basically he has nochoice but to be Kira as long as he remembers having crossed the red line andkilled because those memories endanger his sanity. HE can’t bear being a killerso he accepts being a God to people) what does he do ?He tells L this line “I don’t lie to those I love” (edit : I saw another translation which is “I take care not to tell lie that could hurt others” or “I don’t lie to ppl I care for” but the global idea is the same : there are people he doesn’t want to hurt and he won’t lie to them). If it wasn’t an echo tosomething Yotsuba!Light said, why L does look so … resigned ? Kira knew itwould hurt L. That’s Kira’s goal. Why is L hurt? Because he realizes that at some point, the boy he accused ofbeing a liar was actually telling… A LIE when he told him heis incapable of lying to people he loves. Or a lie that would hurt someone (which is…pretty much the same. You’re only hurt when you’re being lied to by people who matters but for the sake of being precise let’s be precise)

And L knows that, as painful as it is, he knows theman he has feelings for is unreliable even when he tries his best.

L’s lucidity and Light’s will to behave correctlywith people he loves are used as weapons by Kira (Light himself who probablyfeels…. uncomfortable with his soft side. Interesting to note that many sexistmen fear being seen as “feminine” and “emotional”. Is Kira ill at ease withLight’s tendencies to be emotional, spontaneous and mushy?).Anyway, this scene is heartbreaking but it proves the intensity of feelingsbetween L and Light.Light is capable of lying to people he loves. He probably did love L at some point, as a friend or else, otherwise Kira wouldn’t have said that to hurt L . Kira is punishing a side ofhim - Light- for his weakness and he’s punishing L for trying to stop him.And Yotsuba!Light, when he told him he never lies that hurt people… did liedespite his best intentions. Horrible. The worst thing is that it’s Kira!Lightthat exposes Yotsuba!Light as a liar ! Light fell into his own trap.

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ABOUT LIGHT, KIRA AND SOICHIRO YAGAMI You know, I’ve always liked how Madhouse include the moon symbolism to underline the dichotomy between Kira and Light.  I don’t think there’s a neat frontier between Light and Kira, since one created the other. Not to mention one could even go further and distinguish between beginning!Kira, postL!Kira and, of course, cornered!Kira. Kira is, I believe, the armor Light committed himself to wear when he decided his justification for killing people would be carrying out Justice. Kira is strong, sharp faced, smooth and ruthless. There is a part of Light  (even Yotsuba Light)  that believes “working for the greater good” require to be firm to the point of cruelty. It is shown when he entertains the possibility he might be Kira but also by the fact he doesn’t criticize on L’s very…. unorthodox methods. Light’s and Kira’s alignment is lawful, of course.

But Kira’s and Light’s relationship is wicked from the start. Light needs Kira.Light’s reasoning when he has forgotten everything about the DN is often close to Kira (whom he invented so that’s logic you might say BUT  it creeps Light out). Kira doesn’t believe he needs Light. This is very much underlined when Light!Kira tells Rem she can kill memoryloss!Light if Misa isn’t released within a few years by L (x). Kira!Light doesn’t hesitate to potentially sacrifice his other self if need be (perhaps he thought he would be smart enough to make a last minute plan to save himself from Rem, if L had never released Misa. But how, if he’s deprived of his memories ?). Kira is stronger than Light. Light works well in team, doesn’t always speak his mind (during the Aizawagate with L he remains silent even though L is indubitably wrong (x)). Kira is in charge, he’s probably everything Light wanted and strived to be even when he was that rather isolated teen depressed about the world. I digress. Why do I like these screenshots ? Because you don’t only see a light in Light’s eyes when he forfeits his ownership. It doesn’t only represent the fact Light -when he doesn’t remember being a killer- had the potential to be a good person. It shows a moon, which make us think about the meaning behind Light’s name. When Kira is too strong, Light disappear. It’s a strange paradox, being killed by our own creation, especially a creation that was supposed to be a protection. But who is Light Yagami ? Light had the potential to become the man his father was. But he chose to become Kira. never forget, HE chose, like Raskolnikov did. Light wasn’t chosen by fate or anything. Did he really want to become like his father, deep inside ? I believe he was quite conflicted on that matter, as it is underlined by Light!Kira coldness (x) or even rudeness (x) towards Soichiro. I could write a book about Light and his father, but I’ll be as short as I can. Light loved Soichiro as a father, he cared for him. When he begins to act as Kira, he sweats (x) when he thinks Kira (notice how Light still distance himself from Kira here. Later he’ll take the habit to say “Light” because his inner self has become more Kira than Light. The mask has become the person. The person has become the mask) might have to kill his family. I won’t discuss the fact Light loved his family, it’s established. However, Soichiro remained a distant figure in Light’s life. And I believe Soichiro’s rigid moral compass and his very complex and conflicted relationship to his father (x) explain a LOT of things about Light/Kira. Let me explain. Light probably didn’t know or see his father - who is always seen WORKING- much. But he was aware that he was respected and deemed a “good man” by society and his colleagues (x). After all, everyone, even L, seem to praise Soichiro ? Put yourself in Light’s shoes. If you’re the son of such a great man but you don’t totally adhere to his methods…. what does that make you ? Certainly not the prodigal perfect son who intend to follow in his father’s footsteps Light aims to be (why does he desperately need to fit society standards ? maybe death note is also a political and societal critique of Japan. I can’t explore that theory here sorry) ! Light never has the courage to disagree frontally with his father. But : - Notice Light’s provocative behavior. Just after the family dinner during which Soichiro explains he’s looking for Kira…. Light goes to his room and kills not less than 23 persons (x). - Notice how he uses the DN under the pretense of carrying out Justice while Soichiro disagrees totally with Kira’s “ideology” (which is partly an excuse because he finds personal relief in killing and partly true. I will write a meta on Light and death penalty later). - Notice how he sides with L rather than his own father here (x) (Light dares say his mind because it was L’s idea. He’s not facing his father alone. He hesitates then takes L’s side because he agrees with him) - Notice the resentment when he talks about his father in front of ever loyal Matsuda in the end. And that’s maybe a key moment. Because it shows that Light resented his father for what he believed to be naiveté (which is funny when you consider Light’s ideology). Light - because under Kira’s madness one can see LIGHT speaking. He finally breaks the mask and tells the world that he believes what Soichiro was doing might be fair but useless. Maybe, maybe the fact his father was not really present (when Sayu is upset because Soichiro isn’t there, Light says “….” and turn his back = 1) it’s his fault Soichiro isn’t there, since he’s the ghost his father is chasing relentlessly 2) Sayu expresses her disapproval of Kira who “ruin” their family life 3) Maybe Light is so used to his father’s absence he’d like to say something but fear to break the mask) and often working, applying methods that Light didn’t find effective, losing the time he could spend with his family chasing crime in the rotten world has fueled Light’s resentment. But that’s a maybe here. –> And here you see why Light was so provocative when he killed 23 persons after Soichiro’s speech in front of his family at the dinner. Because he wanted to make a point. “You might be right, father, but I am the one carrying out Justice. I’ve rendered you powerless”. Ah, Light’s arrogance vs Light’s inner doubts. Arrogance is often a facade to deal with one’s inner doubts and conflicts (arrogance =/= self confidence in the sense many self confident persons don’t have a competitive spirit because they’ve got nothing to prove while arrogance may drive a person to take risks and attack and be competitive in order to assert themselves. Soichiro is self confident. Light is arrogant.). Yes, there is a strong power game between Light and Soichiro and Soichiro isn’t even aware of this. Light!Kira purposely use Soichiro’s gift (a mark of love and respect…) to carry out his sinister plan of ruling the world. –> But Light also desperately want to make his father proud because he DOES admire him too (x). He’s DESPERATE when he realizes his own father might trust L’s over him (x). Also, when Light says in the end he know that “what I did what wrong” it’s obvious he referring to what his father would have thought. He doesn’t explain himself to the Japanese team. No. Light is talking to his father in this scene. his father who would have never, ever approved of his actions. Light is conflicted because he’s torn between what he should be -his father’s son, a nice boy with a strong moral compass- (and what he probably WAS….partly) and what HE feels is right and what makes him feel strong, powerful and a better Justice knight than his father. Light is both the man who craves for his father’s love and approval but also the man who want to prove him wrong and surpass him, resorting to means Soichiro would never use. Does he feel worthy of his approval ? TL;DR : Everything is linked to Soichiro when it comes to the dichotomy between Light and Kira.  Kira stems from Light’s struggle between applying and believing in what his father taught him VS what Light believes to be useful and Fair (because what serves Justice is fair in Light’s books). Who is Light Yagami ?

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Honorbound : family, duty, honor

Since I was nicely asked to talk about my favorite scene here it is in volume 8. I feel like this scene is pivotal to understanding Light, Souichirou and Kira.

“Man is neither angel nor beast; and the misfortune is that he who would act the angel acts the beast.” (Pascal, Pensées) 

In the Yagami family, there a theme common to all characters : sacrifice. I won’t talk about Sayu (whose sanity is unwillingly and indirectly sacrificed for Kira’s plan by Light who knew his grand scheme could ultimately endanger his family - didn’t he make a very dangerous trap in his house ?) and Sachiko (who chose to sacrifice her peace of mind to follow her husband instead of leaving him in a very touching scene  oh how Sachiko and Souichirou love each other and how dutiful they both are) here since they don’t appear in the above scene.

Light  sacrifices his “peace of mind” (volume 1) to endorse the role of Kira so as to redeem himself by changing the rules of the world and not to be seen as a killer. He acknowledges Kira’s actions are “evil” (volume 12), but “necessary” : now that he has killed, his hands are tainted and he can only move forward and try to justify his killings by implementing a new universal paradigm of justice since he cannot be forgiven under the current rules. He’s sacrificing his mind to save his social status, how he is perceived by others (and thus himself) and indirectly… his mind. Light’s quest is a sacrifice for himself. A priori, Light is a pure egoist.

Souichirou is often seen speaking about sacrificing his life for justice. He ties the idea of sacrificing his life to honor and duty both as a father (when he rescues Sayu) and the Chief of Police. His creed ? Never “succumb to evil” (volume 1) (evil = Kira… the icon Light yielded to instead of confessing) and he’s seen putting willingly his life in danger in many instances. Despite his age, he’s more rash and bold than most of the characters,  shouldering immense responsibilites (while Light denies responsibility with the concept of fate…) A priori, Souichirou is the perfect hero.

But maybe we shouldn’t see everything about Souichirou and Light in black and white. And this scene reveals how complex their characters are.

Afficher davantage

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death note is so good. you guys, i forgot just how goddamn fucking good death note is. what the fuck. honestly it’s just legendary. i know L’s introduction by heart and it stil had me grinning like an idiot as i watched light getting publicly shamed on national television for about the hundredth time. the script is so well done. the voice acting is spot fucking on. i love light yagami so much and i’m still in awe at the sheer amount of development he goes through in the first two episodes. god, what an amazing show. holy shit.

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This world 🌎 is rotten 🤢😤, and those who are making it rot 😱😰deserve to die😡💀🔪. Someone has to do it, so why not me🤔🤔? Even if it means sacrificing🔪 my own mind😱 and soul👻, it’s worth it👍🙌. Because the world😞… can’t go on like this😔😤😣. I wonder🤔👀… what if someone else👨 had picked🤚 up this notebook📔? Is there anyone😰 out there other than me🙅‍♂️ who’d be willing to eliminate the vermin����🐀 from the world🤔🤷‍♂️? If I don’t do it👊, then who will😧? That’s just it: there’s no one🙄🙅‍♂️. But I can do it☝️🤞. In fact, I’m the only one who can😋😜. I’ll do it😉😙. Using the Death Note☠️📔, I’ll change the world😋😫.

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I saw this text post with over 1k notes that insinuated Light Yagami was “forced to watch Rem brutally kill the only person he ever loved” and I was like? Rem didn’t kill Light, Ryuk did lmao.

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it’s esp weird because like?? people will find all sorts of ways to excuse not thinking about why it is they so vehemently hate this kid who’s systematically oppressed, and abused and manipulated by everyone he encounters like people will go “YEAH WELL SASUKE’S SEXIST” rather then just thinking about the fact that maybe they’re wrong about a character but then it’s like?? the entire naruto universe is sexist?? sasori makes comments about women being weak in two major fights off the top of my head and the fandom universally adores him. shikamaru is a walking talking sexist trashbag and he’s universally adored AND people try to find ways to excuse it by going “well obviously he’s gay” as if??? that makes it okay?? jiraiya isn’t hated. naruto isn’t hated. none of the other characters in this series who say and do things far more openly sexist are hated, so why do you feel the need to disguise your hate of an abused kid with canonical ptsd as some crusade against sexism?

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Too sleepy to keep his eyes open. He’s so not a morning fox!