Death Note Ending Explained, Plot, Cast and More
by Janani
Updated Jul 19, 2023
Death Note
"Death Note" is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. Serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from December 2003 to May 2006, the story centers around Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student who stumbles upon a powerful notebook called the "Death Note." This mystical notebook, once belonging to the shinigami Ryuk, grants its user the ability to kill anyone whose name is written in it.
Using the alias "Kira," Light sets out to cleanse the world of criminals, aiming to create a crime-free society. However, his actions catch the attention of a skilled Japanese police task force, led by the enigmatic Detective L, who is determined to apprehend him.
The manga's success led to a 37-episode anime television series produced by Madhouse, along with three live-action films and a television drama in Japan. Various video games based on the series were also released by Konami for the Nintendo DS. In 2017, an American film adaptation was exclusively released on Netflix, and a series adaptation is reportedly in development.
With widespread popularity, "Death Note" has achieved over 30 million copies in circulation by April 2015, solidifying its position as one of the best-selling manga series. The anime and live-action adaptations have also been licensed and released in North America by Viz Media, gaining a dedicated fan base in the region.
Death Note Ending Explained
In the series finale of "Death Note," Light, the protagonist, faces his ultimate downfall. Despite defeating his rival L Lawliet, he is exposed as Kira by Near at the Yellow Box Warehouse. During the confrontation, Light is wounded by bullets, but the final blow comes from Ryuk, the shinigami who gave him the Death Note.
Throughout the series, Ryuk was entertained by Light's actions, but they were never friends. When the show becomes predictable and boring, Ryuk decides to end it all. He writes Light's name in the Death Note, realizing that waiting for Light to die in prison would be just as dull as the boredom he sought to escape.
Ryuk's actions suggest that he was more of an audience member enjoying the chaos rather than a true accomplice to Light. He signifies that the fun is over, and fittingly, he becomes the one to bring an end to the chaos that Light had caused. In the series' final moments, Light dies alone on a flight of stairs, a victim of the very tool that gave him power and led to his downfall.
The ending of the Death Note series has been a subject of discussion and interpretation among fans. Here is an explanation of the ending:
In the final episodes of Death Note, the story reaches a climactic point with a dramatic confrontation between Light Yagami, the main protagonist turned antagonist, and Near, the successor to L, who is determined to expose and stop Light's reign of terror as the mass murderer "Kira."
Death Note Episodes
Here is the list of Episode Names along with their air dates.
S.No
Episode Name
Original Air Date
English Air Date
1
Rebirth
October 3, 2006
October 21, 2007
2
Confrontation
October 10, 2006
October 28, 2007
3
Dealings
October 17, 2006
November 4, 2007
4
Pursuit
October 24, 2006
November 11, 2007
5
Tactics
October 31, 2006
November 18, 2007
6
Unraveling
November 7, 2006
November 25, 2007
7
Overcast
November 14, 2006
December 2, 2007
8
Glare
November 21, 2006
December 8, 2007
9
Encounter
November 28, 2006
December 15, 2007
10
Doubt
December 5, 2006
December 22, 2007
11
Assault
December 12, 2006
January 4, 2008
12
Love
December 26, 2006
January 11, 2008
13
Confession
January 9, 2007
January 18, 2008
14
Friend
January 16, 2007
January 25, 2008
15
Wager
January 23, 2007
February 1, 2008
16
Decision
January 30, 2007
February 8, 2008
17
Execution
February 6, 2007
February 15, 2008
18
Ally
February 13, 2007
February 22, 2008
19
Matsuda
February 20, 2007
February 29, 2008
20
Makeshift
February 27, 2007
March 7, 2008
21
Performance
March 6, 2007
March 16, 2008
22
Guidance
March 13, 2007
March 23, 2008
23
Frenzy
March 20, 2007
March 30, 2008
24
Revival
March 27, 2007
April 6, 2008
25
Silence
April 3, 2007
April 13, 2008
26
Renewal
April 10, 2007
April 20, 2008
27
Abduction
April 17, 2007
April 27, 2008
28
Impatience
April 24, 2007
May 4, 2008
29
Father
May 1, 2007
May 11, 2008
30
Justice
May 8, 2007
May 18, 2008
31
Transfer
May 15, 2007
May 25, 2008
32
Selection
May 22, 2007
June 1, 2008
33
Scorn
May 29, 2007
June 8, 2008
34
Vigilance
June 5, 2007
June 15, 2008
35
Malice
June 12, 2007
June 22, 2008
36
1.28
June 19, 2007
June 29, 2008
37
New World
June 26, 2007
July 4, 2008
The final series concludes with Light being cornered and exposed as Kira, leading to his ultimate downfall and death.
Death Note Release Date
Death Note was released on December 1, 2003. Death Note is a manga series created by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It was published in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine, Weekly Shōnen Jump, starting on December 1, 2003, and concluded on May 15, 2006.
The series comprises 108 chapters, which were later compiled into twelve tankōbon volumes by Shueisha. These tankōbon volumes were released between April 2, 2004, and July 4, 2006.
Death Note Characters
Here is the list of characters from the manga series Death Note.
S.No
Character
Japanese Voice Actor
1
Light Yagami
Mamoru Miyano
2
L
Kappei Yamaguchi
3
Misa Amane
Aya Hirano
4
Ryuk
Nakamura Shidō II
5
Nate River
Noriko Hidaka
6
Mello
Nozomu Sasaki
7
Mikami Teru
Masaya Matsukaze
8
Kiyomi Takada
Maaya Sakamoto
9
Soichiro Yagami
Naoya Uchida
10
Sayu Yagami
Haruka Kudo
11
Sachiko Yagami
Ai Satō
12
Touta Matsuda
Vincent Tong
13
Watari
Kiyoshi Kobayashi
14
Shuichi Aizawa
Keiji Fujiwara
15
Kanzo Mogi
Kazuya Nakai
Death Note Netflix
Yes, Death Note is available on Netflix. The popular anime series "Death Note" is available for streaming on the Netflix platform; however, it is not accessible in all regions. Currently, the show can only be found in a limited number of Netflix libraries, with India and Japan being among the select few countries where viewers can enjoy it.
If you are located in one of these regions, you have the opportunity to watch "Death Note" and delve into its captivating storyline. However, if you are in a different location, you may not find the series available on your local Netflix library. In such cases, you might need to explore other streaming platforms or options to enjoy this critically acclaimed and thrilling anime series.
Death Note Plot
The anime series "Death Note" follows the story of a disaffected high school student named Light Yagami, who discovers a mysterious black notebook called the "Death Note." This powerful notebook allows him to kill anyone whose name and face he knows. With newfound abilities, Light begins targeting criminals worldwide, earning the moniker "Kira."
As Light's actions garner global attention, an enigmatic consulting detective known as L is brought in to investigate and apprehend Kira. A complex game of cat and mouse ensues between Light and L, with Light's father, Soichiro Yagami, leading the police investigation.
Throughout the series, various characters become entwined in the power struggle between Light and L, including actress-model Misa Amane, who becomes the second Kira. Light manipulates events to achieve his goals, leading to intense confrontations and plot twists.
Ultimately, Light succeeds in eliminating L, assuming his identity to continue the investigation as both L and Kira. However, new challenges emerge when two young successors to L, Near and Mello, enter the scene. The series climaxes with a dramatic showdown and Light's eventual defeat, leading to his demise.
Years later, a new Kira appears, prompting Near to resume his detective work. However, the new Kira proves to be a mere attention-seeker and is ultimately thwarted by Near.
Throughout its thrilling plot and intricate character developments, "Death Note" explores themes of morality, power, and the consequences of wielding such a deadly tool. The series has captivated audiences with its psychological complexity and suspenseful narrative, cementing its place as a beloved and thought-provoking anime.
Death Note Trailer
Death Note Ending Explained - FAQ
The perception of the climax of a manga series from the audience’s point of view differs, so it depends on them, whether the ending explained was satisfactory.
"Death Note" is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It follows the story of Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a powerful notebook that allows him to kill anyone whose name is written in it.
"Death Note" was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from December 2003 to May 2006. The story revolves around Light Yagami, who becomes known as "Kira" and aims to rid the world of criminals using the mystical Death Note. His actions attract the attention of a skilled Japanese police task force led by Detective L, who is determined to stop him.
The success of the manga led to a 37-episode anime television series produced by Madhouse, as well as three live-action films and a television drama in Japan. Video games based on the series were also released by Konami for the Nintendo DS. In 2017, an American film adaptation was released on Netflix, and a series adaptation is reportedly in development.
"Death Note" has achieved widespread popularity, with over 30 million copies in circulation by April 2015, making it one of the best-selling manga series. The anime and live-action adaptations have been licensed and released in North America by Viz Media, gaining a dedicated fan base in the region.