Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Karunya123
I thought I knew where this story was going, but Death Note kept making me question everyone.
The whole battle between Light and L is what hooked me. Watching them constantly try to outsmart each other is so satisfying, and I loved how every small mistake could completely change the situation. Light is incredibly clever, but his ego and obsession also make him a fascinating and flawed character.
The story gets darker as Light becomes more consumed by the Death Note, and the characters' reactions to everything feel surprisingly believable. Even when I disagreed with their decisions, I could understand why they made them.
The art style is simple but fits the dark atmosphere perfectly, while the music adds a lot to the tension. The second half feels different from the beginning, but I stil…
Read at the sourceYamiLoon
Spoiler Warning; This review contains major plot details and heavy spoilers.
Death Note was one of the first anime I ever watched, and I absolutely loved it. I can easily say that it's one of the best supernatural psychological anime out there, with a heavy and serious atmosphere that grabs you from the very first episode. The powerful music also makes the anime even more memorable, especially the openings and endings. On top of that, you have the dark and detailed art style, great voice acting, and morally gray characters who are somehow both right and wrong at the same time.
It's basically a battle of minds between two geniuses. One of them wants to create a better world, but through a terrifying method, while the other wants to stop him because he believes that this path is wrong.
Ca…
Read at the sourceXulipsssss
Foi um dos meus primeiro animes que me arrependo de não ter assistido na época da escola... Todos meus amigos meio "nerds" falavam muito bem disso, e eu repudia qualquer tipo de anime.
Desde do primeiro episódio, foi algo SENSACIONAL! me prendeu desde do segundo episódio entre a sua famosa guerra entre light x L, você fica curioso para saber quem é o mais foda entre os dois.
Acho que o que me prendeu também, foi a questão de relacionar os personagens com nomes de pessoas que eu conheço e que assistiu junto kkkkkkk, isso foi que me deixou totalmente ansioso para acompanhar até o final.
Assisti Dublado PT-BR e... PUTA QUE PARIU! O ELENCO DA DUBLAGEM SIMPLESMENTE SELECIONARAM OS MELHORES DUBLADORES PARA DUBLAR ESSE ANIME E FICOU TOTALMENTE INCRIVEL! Ele foi o meu primeiro anime dublado, tam…
Read at the sourceTinyTony404
I binged this whole show in less than 24 hours and I’m glad I did.
The story is genuinely one of the most unique and interesting I've seen in an anime. Every episode leaves you with more questions, and the payoff at the end is worth sticking around for.
The plot twists and mind games are absolutely crazy. Every episode had me thinking one thing, only for the show to completely flip it on its head. The first arc with L is easily the peak of the show for me. The back-and-forth between him and Light is some of the best I've seen. The second half of the show is weaker compared to the first, but it still has plenty of great moments.
Madhouse absolutely nailed the animation. It still looks great today, and the darker, gothic atmosphere fits the story perfectly.
The soundtrack and sound desig…
Read at the source2-EDGY
I’ve watched "Death Note" twice so far, and it remains my favorite; the brilliant maneuvers of the highly intelligent characters can quickly make you feel stupid or even leave you struggling to keep up at times, but that’s exactly what makes it so good. The story hooks you immediately and then rapidly picks up pace. I also really liked the ending; it was executed perfectly. After watching the series, you definitely find yourself questioning certain plot developments or wanting to learn more about it. Pure suspense!
Good
- Brilliant story
- Unforeseen events
- Ruthless killings
Bad
- It tries to be funny in a few places, for a serious anime
- A little too long here and there
Read at the sourceCcolebeckk
this is the first anime that ever really hooked me. death note has a story that you can follow and be shocked episode by episode, but it doesn't complicate itself to the point you need to search for an explanation on why things are happening. probably the greatest cat and mouse story I've seen as well. also was easier for me to get into for one of my first anime as there's really only 2 characters you really need to follow, the supporting characters are great but not as crucial to the story as much as other anime.
fav characters: light, L, Ryuk
Read at the sourceAnimeMilka99
Honestly, one of the best anime I've watched so far. If you haven't watched it yet, I recommend doing it ;3
I really like how the characters are written, the artstyle is nice too! The original sound track is really good too, some of the music is so nice I could listen to them for solid 10 minutes. I even make one OST my ringtone because it was so peak! I really enjoyed watching this anime and I hope I will find more animes like this.
Watching this anime in 2026 is kinda funny to me, because a lot of voice lines and sounds are now memes and I personaly didn't know most of them were from Death Note, I got suprised hearing these things lol
Read at the sourceMache9
I think this was my 4th time rewatching Death Note and this review comes about 20 years after it aired, and the only reason I am reviewing this is because I had to spit out all my thoughts to try to remove the bad aftertaste from the last 12 episodes. Because no matter how much I liked this show, ever since I first watched it the last cour never sat right with me and it is disappointing. The ending was amazing but the way it was achieved was so lame, and I am not even a Kira sympathizer.
This show is paced to be dramatic and engaging. Every episode was made to be either a cliffhanger or a satisfying closure of an arc that slowly and meticulously put the characters in puzzle scenarios where Kira would come out on top but at the same time leave behind leads, pieces of evidence that would sl…
Read at the sourceMuguiwara_Ya
So, this is my first review here, and it's fitting that it's about a peak show. Death Note is, for the most part, a fantastic experience. The sheer thrill of the cat-and-mouse game and the legendary rivalry kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Light Yagami is easily one of the best representations of a "god complex" in fiction, and watching his incredible, terrifying descent from a brilliant high school student into an absolute maniac is nothing but a masterpiece.
Yes, you could argue that after a certain major turning point in the story, the show loses itself a bit, and the characters introduced later feel somewhat forced in my opinion. However, the final two episodes completely redeem that arc. They are incredible, and the final episode is easily my favorite, delivering one o…
Read at the sourcesimonanimeman
Death Note is about a brilliant high school student, Light Yagami, who discovers a notebook that can kill anyone who has their name written in it. Wanting to create a crime free world, he uses the name “Kira” and starts executing criminals, through this a detective named L strives to arrest him.
This series is broken up into two major parts, Light vs L, and Light vs Near and Mello. All I’ll say is one of these parts is significantly better than the other. Let’s start with the first half dealing with Light vs L.
The plot itself is very unique and engaging, I’ve never seen this replicated so well in an anime before and it was done really well here. The cinematic and score was great, the gregorian chants infused into the gothic score makes it instantly recognizable. The way this series can…
Read at the sourcejacksonalves
It’s impressive how it has remained strong and famous even after so many years, in an industry that increasingly seems to push aside anime that make people think—something the newer generation doesn’t always appreciate.
It also highlights the growing gap the anime world has fallen into in recent years. Still, it works as an excellent entry point for beginners, with a visually striking style for its time and art direction that enhances its dark atmosphere.
The story is original, centered around psychological strategies and deep ethical dilemmas. At its core, the work is defined by the intense and intelligent rivalry between L and Kira—a true mental chess match that grips you from start to finish.
Read at the sourcexKyro_
Bro,this anime is my favorite anime ever,i mean it was a bit bad after L died and Near appeared but still was peak,and even if L died,those 37 episodes of it are worth it and i would watch it over and over and over dude.
This anime is the reason i started to watch Dexter the show because its like the same between Light and Dexter,and im afraid even if i liked L so much,Light Yagami was right,he did all those things with a purpose,criminals shouldnt go to jail because after they escape from their sentence,they wont learn anything,they need....a more cruel punishment
And anyway,this anime is one of the best Psychological animes i've ever watched in my entire life,and im very proud because i watched it because i experienced peak fr,so Overall,this anime has a 10/10 from me,a peak anime and…
Read at the sourceAnimeExplorer21
Death Note - A Masterpiece That Leaves You Questioning Everything
Man... what an anime.
Death Note is easily one of the best mystery/thriller anime I’ve ever watched. You know an anime is special when the moment one episode ends, your hand instantly moves to the next episode button without even thinking. Death Note had that effect on me from the very beginning. I genuinely lost track of time while watching it.
Very few anime managed to hook me like this. For me, titles like Erased, Monster, Classroom of the Elite, Darwin’s Game, and Death Note all share that same feeling where the plot just pulls you in completely. But Death Note still stands at the top because of how deeply it plays with morality and psychology.
What I loved most is how the anime constantly challenges your thinking. I…
Read at the sourcekittyhood
Death Note is one of the most gripping psychological thrillers ever created. From the very first episode, it sets up a simple idea - what if you could decide who deserves to die - and turns it into a high stakes battle of intellect, morality, and ego. What make it exceptional is the Light vs L dynamic. It's not just a protagonist and antagonist; it's two geniuses constantly trying to outthink each other while pretending to cooperate. Every conversation feels like a trap being set in real time. The pacing in the first half is nearly flawless. There's no wasted time - every episode escalates tension or shifts strategy. The show keeps you thinking, guessing, and second guessing what "justice" even means. Visually and atmospherically, it stays grounded but intense, letting the writing and dial…
Read at the sourcesagebeigephage
Death Note maintains a good pace and moves along smoothly; each episode pushes the narrative into novel circumstances and tightens the noose. Despite its dark subject matter, there's a campy affect to the drama that keeps the atmosphere light (if you'll pardon my pun).
Because the anime is so focused on the death note's logic and limitations, the anime falls into particular genre of shonens that center their entire plot on establishing, bending, and breaking a set of rules. These kinds of plots risk creating hollow characters whose inner lives get swallowed by a deluge of if-then statements. Sometimes Death Note characters suffer from this, and other times the script delves into the psychological or thematically relevant (hubris is a big theme, for example). Light Yagami is sufficiently s…
Read at the sourceMisterUnreliable
One of the best "first time to anime" experience for anyone starting to watch anime, and for those who want a classic anime not just to enjoy, but to understand justice and morality lying on a single shoulder.
This anime perfectly captures what happens when a single high-school teenager is given the responsibility of the whole fricking LIFE of people who "seem" to deserve for what they did, but the story takes a dark turn soon.
The "nemesis" of the protagonist believes that the protagonist is STUPID, but can't seem to prove it.
And it's true.
How would someone?
The characters are great, not so "realistic" (given this is type of anime where the protagonist is a born genius), but keeps you hooked throughout the stretch of the episodes.
(And to end it all, it also shows how real-life bu…
Read at the sourceAstroSpire
The characters have extremely recognizable designs. (10/10)
The art style is still really good almost 20 years later. (10/10)
The MC / Light
He was so well written and genuinely showed what a god complex looks like and how egotistical he is. As the show progressed, you see how much more cocky and confident he got. His crashout in the final episode is iconic because it shows that he is in a state of panic and relief that his secret is finally out and known by the world. He is just a really good character that I can’t even really put into words how good he is as a villain.
The MC / L
This show was really good at showing how well he understands the criminal psyche and how his thought process is just really in depth on the smallest details that even the viewer missed. He is a little weird,…
Read at the sourceOlorin666
This anime is often recommended to people who are just starting to get to know anime. And for good reason! First of all, this is a detective story seasoned with mysticism. The detective story is written in such a high quality and detail that you are simply amazed. This confrontation between the two main characters is one of the best of the battle-of-two minds genre in the history of cinema. The brilliant visual style and music only complement the story, and it is not only fun to follow, but also fun to watch. Plot, visuals, music - all three components of any good show or movie are here at the highest level. Probably the best anime in the detective genre. Don't listen to anyone who says that the last episodes are not interesting, this is a complex deep show, where everything is thought out…
Read at the sourceFreedPointer
It's a chilling detective thriller. The protagonist, Light Yagami is a brilliant high-schooler gifted with a Death Note. The Death Note kills anyone whose name is noted, under certain conditions. As Light begins killing all criminals in the world to become a hero and a God to public, the brilliant detective L opposes him. Two geniuses fight an intellectual cat-and-mouse game.
However, the early episodes rely heavily on repetitive mind games that start feeling formulaic. On the other hand, the final arc ramps up unpredictability and tension in a way the earlier episodes didn’t. Although the pacing was a bit messed up, not too much of an issue.
If you like dark psychological thrillers, you will enjoy it. If you expected a conventional predictable good guy vs bad guy detective story, then th…
Read at the sourcejapaneseanime98
Death Note is a 2006 Japanese animated television series. It is a cat and mouse game between a detective and a serial killer. The show is purely psychological. Characters monologue and strategized what is going to be their next moves. Often making a mistake has fatal consequences. It is like watching a grand chest game. Death Note explores themes of what is justice? Is vengance justice? The show does have a few plot holes and a few inconsistencies here and there. Those plot holes and inconsistencies are minor.
The Characters are merged withing the story. The story is watching two chest masters play against each other and other chararacters are chest pieces. This show is purely psychological. You have to pay attention to detail.
I give it 94%. A-. For myanimelist rating of a 9 out of 10…
Read at the source
