All Hail the God of the New World
Combining the supernatural with police procedural, at its core this anime was nothing more than two brilliant minds with opposing ideals clashing in the ultimate game of wits. The winner would become the new embodiment of justice, while the loser would meet an early grave. Plus, there’s a God of Death who loves eating apples while observing the whole thing. Honestly, is it any wonder that people still adore this series?
The cat and mouse dynamic between Light and L was fascinating to observe from beginning to end. Seeing the serial murderer known as Kira try to outwit the world’s greatest detective gave us no shortage of shocking moments, but which was truly worthy of being called divine?
Fair warning, there are MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
#3: Light’s End
While not everybody was taken with L’s successors, there’s no denying that the final standoff between Light and Near still had everything we could want from a conclusion. Just as the God of the New World thinks he has claimed victory, he is shocked to find that he’s stumbled at the final hurdle. Exposed and outwitted, his castle of cards crumbled before his eyes. Even as he tries to flee the scene, he meets his demise when Ryuk decides that the game has finally come to an end, writing his name in his Death Note in one of the best examples of poetic justice that we’ve seen in an anime.
#2: Just As Planned
Light’s decision to erase his memories in order to avoid suspicion was an incredibly dangerous move on his part, since he practically ended up hunting down himself. However, it turns out to pay off, as after managing to remove himself from L’s investigative focus, he manages to regain his old-self and resume his role as Kira, where he proceeds to plot L’s downfall.
#1: The Death of L
These two foes shared such chemistry that we would have loved nothing more than to see their mental war go on for the full length of the series, but alas all good things must come to an end. By using all of his pawns at once, Light manages to finally end his nemesis in a truly heartbreaking scene. Feigning pain while internally revelling in his victory, he believes that nothing can stop him from attaining his perfect world. At least until Near and Mello enter the picture…
Be sure to check out our video below to see who came out on top between Code Geass and Death Note!
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