r/anime • u/Holofan4life • 5d ago
Rewatch [Spoilers] Death Note 20th Anniversary Rewatch -- Episode 9 Spoiler
Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.
Welcome to the Death Note 20th anniversary rewatch discussion thread!
I hope you all have a lot of fun <3
Episode 9
Encounter
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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)
What are your thoughts on L posing as a student because he suspects Light might be Kira?
What are your thoughts on L telling Light he is L?
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Series information
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Please do not post any untagged spoilers past the current episode or past the LNs or mangas out of respect to the first time watchers and people who have not read the LNs or mangas. If you are discussing something that is ahead of the current episode please use spoiler tags(found on the sidebar). Thank you!
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Ways to watch
Streams – Netflix
Schedule
| Date | Episode |
|---|---|
| 10/04/2026 | Death Note Episode 1 |
| 10/05/2026 | Death Note Episode 2 |
| 10/06/2026 | Death Note Episode 3 |
| 10/07/2026 | Death Note Episode 4 |
| 10/08/2026 | Death Note Episode 5 |
| 10/09/2026 | Death Note Episode 6 |
| 10/10/2026 | Death Note Episode 7 |
| 10/11/2026 | Death Note Episode 8 |
| 10/12/2026 | [Death Note Episode 9]() |
| 10/13/2026 | [Death Note Episode 10]() |
| 10/14/2026 | [Death Note Episode 11]() |
| 10/15/2026 | [Death Note Episode 12]() |
| 10/16/2026 | [Death Note Episode 13]() |
| 10/17/2026 | [Death Note Episode 14]() |
| 10/18/2026 | [Death Note Episode 15]() |
| 10/19/2026 | [Death Note Episode 16]() |
| 10/20/2026 | [Death Note Episode 17]() |
| 10/21/2026 | [Death Note Episode 18]() |
| 10/22/2026 | [Death Note Episode 19]() |
| 10/23/2026 | [Death Note Episode 20]() |
| 10/24/2026 | [Death Note Episode 21]() |
| 10/25/2026 | [Death Note Episode 22]() |
| 10/26/2026 | [Death Note Episode 23]() |
| 10/27/2026 | [Death Note Episode 24]() |
| 10/28/2026 | [Death Note Episode 25]() |
| 10/29/2026 | [Death Note Episode 26]() |
| 10/31/2026 | [Death Note Episode 27]() |
| 11/01/2026 | [Death Note Episode 28]() |
| 11/02/2026 | [Death Note Episode 29]() |
| 11/02/2026 | [Death Note Episode 30]() |
| 11/03/2026 | [Death Note Episode 31]() |
| 11/04/2026 | [Death Note Episode 32]() |
| 11/05/2026 | [Death Note Episode 33]() |
| 11/06/2026 | [Death Note Episode 34]() |
| 11/07/2026 | [Death Note Episode 35]() |
| 11/08/2026 | [Death Note Episode 36]() |
| 11/09/2026 | [Death Note Episode 37]() |
| 11/10/2026 | [Death Note Overall Series Discussion Thread]() |
3
u/AgentOfACROSS 5d ago
Watching Dubbed
I love that they use the potato chip scene for the recap.
Ryuk is losing his mind.
Nice of Light to buy Ryuk an apple.
I like the detail of Light’s dad and his cop friend having grown some stubble.
I love that L is just eating during this whole scene.
I love L’s weird way of sitting.
Ryuk looks so happy eating apples.
Light’s still going on about being god of the new world.
Light claims he meant to get to his exams at the last minute. Something tells me he’d say everything was according to plan.
Oh hey, L’s here.
You know, if you showed a picture of Light and L to someone who had never seen Death Note and asked them to guess which one was the serial killer I think most people would guess L.
More scenes in the shinigami realm. They’re funny.
Light is in college now.
Hideki Ryuga. Still also probably not L’s real name.
I’m surprised he’s going with a Japanese alias since again, he looks very pale.
Why would L choose the name of a famous popstar as his alias anyway?
L looks so suspicious.
L just immediately tells Light that he’s L. Interesting strategy.
I will be honest, their inner monologues here are kind of funny.
Light freaking out in his dorm room is really funny too.
The new dynamic between Light and L is very interesting.
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
I love that they use the potato chip scene for the recap.
It really is the best
Ryuk is losing his mind.
Poor Ryuk
Not really :P
Nice of Light to buy Ryuk an apple.
Well, of course. It c no longer inconveniences him.
I like the detail of Light’s dad and his cop friend having grown some stubble.
Is this to symbolize a passage of time?
I love that L is just eating during this whole scene.
Overindulging himself
I love L’s weird way of sitting.
It reminds me of the wrestler CM Punk and how he sits cross-legged.
Ryuk looks so happy eating apples.
He feels whatever the opposite he was feeling living in the Shinigami Realm.
Light’s still going on about being god of the new world.
At least he's consistent?
Light claims he meant to get to his exams at the last minute. Something tells me he’d say everything was according to plan.
All according to the Japanese word for plan.
Oh hey, L’s here.
You know, if you showed a picture of Light and L to someone who had never seen Death Note and asked them to guess which one was the serial killer I think most people would guess L.
Dude, I definitely thought Light was L before watching this XD
Actually, I thought L was like related to Ryuk or something.
More scenes in the shinigami realm. They’re funny.
For a place that looks scary, the residents act like grumpy old men.
Light is in college now.
Good for him?
Hideki Ryuga. Still also probably not L’s real name.
It's the name of a pop idol lol
I’m surprised he’s going with a Japanese alias since again, he looks very pale.
And also apparently they are okay with him not wearing shoes to school.
Why would L choose the name of a famous popstar as his alias anyway?
Actually, I can explain that. Remember when the task force did that newsflash to try and spook Kira? Before, Light’s sister was watching that soap opera that apparently starred a pop idol. L probably got that name from the surveillance camera footage that showed Light’s sister watching television.
L looks so suspicious.
Very sus
L just immediately tells Light that he’s L. Interesting strategy.
I thought that was so hype, man. I was jumping up and down in my seat.
I will be honest, their inner monologues here are kind of funny.
They're so over the top
Light freaking out in his dorm room is really funny too.
He got played
The new dynamic between Light and L is very interesting.
What's cool is it feels like Light has finally been gotten to. L shook him to his apple core.
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
Questions of the Day
What are your thoughts on L posing as a student because he suspects Light might be Kira?
What are your thoughts on L telling Light he is L?
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
Thoughts on Ryuk doing handstands from going so long without apples?
Thoughts on Light finally buying Ryuk apples again?
What are your thoughts on L giving up on the cameras in the Light household?
Thoughts on Light feeling if he kills other petty criminals who's names and faces are broadcasted as he watches TV, he won't draw unnecessary attention to himself?
Thoughts on L rationalizing if Kira is among one of those families, he's not going to make it obvious with the surveillance?
Thoughts on L saying this the act of someone childish and immature who wants to pretend they're God?
What are your thoughts L assuming the name of a famous pop idol?
Thoughts on the Shinigami Realm wanting to investigate Ryuk?
Thoughts on Light and L graduating the top of their class?
What are your thoughts on Light knowing he can't kill L because he would be thinking of the pop star he took the alias of?
What are your thoughts on Light getting gotten to by L?
What are your thoughts on Light declaring he will kill L with his own bare hands if he has to?
4
u/Hartzilla2007 5d ago
First Timer
And now I wonder at what point did Light become Ryuk's crack apple dealer? So for all he was going on about the potato chips, Light didn't get much done with it and it cost him a decent amount of money. And it is now that light finally realizes he's in a battle of wits with a lunatic (who has figured out that screwing with him is the best way to get him to be an idiot), or he has a weird stalker. Either way L had made knowing who he is pointless leaving Light to try to genre shift into some weird buddy comedy to try to salvage things.
3
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
I thought it was cool to see Light legitimately be flabbergasted for a change. L pulled his punk card knowing Light legitimately couldn't do anything about it.
He used an alias for an alias. Amazing.
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago edited 5d ago
Thoughts on Ryuk doing handstands from going so long without apples?
Thoughts on Light finally buying Ryuk apples again?
What are your thoughts on L giving up on the cameras in the Light household?
Thoughts on Light feeling if he kills other petty criminals who's names and faces are broadcasted as he watches TV, he won't draw unnecessary attention to himself?
Thoughts on L rationalizing if Kira is among one of those families, he's not going to make it obvious with the surveillance?
Thoughts on L saying this the act of someone childish and immature who wants to pretend they're God?
What are your thoughts L assuming the name of a famous pop idol?
Thoughts on the Shinigami Realm wanting to investigate Ryuk?
Thoughts on Light and L graduating the top of their class?
What are your thoughts on Light knowing he can't kill L because he would be thinking of the pop star he took the alias of?
What are your thoughts on Light getting gotten to by L?
What are your thoughts on Light declaring he will kill L with his own bare hands if he has to?
5
u/awesomenessofme1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/kta_99 5d ago
It's only treated as a throwaway joke, but Ryuk's line about writing down Light's name brings up a topic that's actually pretty important for at least two reasons: 1) On a practical level, he could just do that. If he ever decides things are getting too boring or just wants to move on, there's literally nothing anyone could do stop it. 2) On more of a thematic level, it serves as a reminder that as important as this whole situation is to both the characters and the world at large, to someone on the level of a shinigami it's nothing more than a source of amusement that only matters as a way to stave off boredom. (Hey, is Ryuk us?)
2
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
Remember that Ryuk also said he's neither on Light’s side nor L's. In a lot of ways, he's just a silent observer.
And also I imagine he's just happy to not be a part of the Shinigami Realm that he finds ever so stiffling.
3
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
Hey, guys. Holofan4life here.
Welcome to the 20th anniversary rewatch of Death Note.
Names need not be written down.
Very few anime transend the medium it is a part of. One Piece, Naruto, Dragon Ball, Speed Racer. Those are really the four where even non anime fans know of it. I would argue there was a point in time where Death Note was like this as well where even if you weren’t an anime fan, you knew what Death Note was.
I of course have experienced Death Note through various memes and the like. I even remember checking out a Treehouse of Horror episode of The Simpsons specifically because they parodied Death Note, and I’m not even a modern Simpsons watcher. But despite being familiar with the show for the better part of almost 15 years, I’ve never actually seen Death Note. It’s just one of those things that escaped me.
I’ve heard Death Note is notorious for having a dip in quality. That with the conclusion of part 1, the show isn’t as good as when it started. This rewatch is less a matter of deciding if the show is good or not and more is part 2 really as bad as it reputation suggests. My prediction will be no but it’ll be a show that goes from 9 out of 10 to 8 out of 10.
Death Note was at one point arguably the most mainstream anime in the entire world. And so it’s time we revisit what I’m sure got many people into anime.
With that out of the way, let’s begin.
I’m watching the dub, by the way. Because potato chips.
Recap of last episode
Yeah, we get the glorious potato chip line again.
Light walking with Ryuk
Ryuk is still suffering from apple withdrawal.
How can you take this show seriously when Ryuk is doing handstands?
Ryuk finally gets his apples
Mr. Yagami with L
He is coming to Light’s defense
Light feels if he kills other petty criminals who's names and faces are broadcasted as he watches TV, he won't draw unnecessary attention to himself.
I'm not sure how that works but okay.
L with the police officers
He says they are gonna remove the cameras and wire taps.
If Kira is among one of those families, he's not going to make it obvious with the surveillance.
L calls this the act of someone childish and immature who wants to pretend they're God.
Ryuk looking around
All the camera are gone
Light takes this he's not regarded as one of the suspects.
He's gonna find L's true identity and eliminate him.
Light walking to school
He's taking exams
Oh shit
OH SHIT
L IS ONE OF THE STUDENTS
L IS ONE OF THE FUCKING STUDENTS
Holy shit
Back with the Shinigami Realm
They are playing cards
They call Ryuk a disgrace to the Shinigami Realm.
They're going to investigate him
Flowers blooming
Light in a suit
He's now a college student
L got the highest scores alongside Light.
He's labeled a pop idol
I don't know any pop idols who looks so slovenly.
He even gives a speech with a blank sheet of paper.
L following Light now
He still isn't wearing any shoes
He wants to talk about the Kira case.
"I want to tell you I'm L."
Well, shit. There it is.
L thinks he can be some help in the Kira investigation.
Light knows he can't kill L because he would be thinking of the pop star he took the alias of.
But they look nothing alike!
Light feels it's best to just clear his mind.
End of the ceremony
L heads in his limousine
Light looks on as he leaves
Light back at the house
He is freaking out
He got gotten to
This is great
I like seeing Light worrying and freaking out.
L revealed his identity to him on purpose.
And what can Light do?
Light laughing maniacally now
He's going to earn L's trust
"Then I'll kill you. With my hands if I have to."
Overall, I really liked this episode. I at first thought the whole L joining Light’s class was preposterous. And especially him claiming he's a famous pop idol without even an attempt to change his appearance. But when he revealed to Light that he was L, that was so hyped. Light finally was gotten to and it was so hyped. I continue to love the various ways L tries to get to Light. Surveillance cameras aren't gonna work? Fine. Let me pose as a student. It's so absurd but it works because L isn't hiding anything. He is fully transparent to Light that he is L and that serves as a total mindfuck to Light. It is glorious.
I don't know where the show goes from here, but in this moment I'm so on board with the complete and total absurdity of this situation. I thought the chips were the peak of craziness, but somehow we've topped that. And something tells me we're going to get even more crazy from here on out.
This was my second favorite episode. I'd put only behind the last episode. But both episodes are exercises in madness that make this episode so much fun. So, so much fun.
2
u/Holofan4life 5d ago edited 5d ago
What are your thoughts on L posing as a student because he suspects Light might be Kira?
Absolutely batshit insane. I love every minute of it.
What are your thoughts on L telling Light he is L?
The mad man. The absolute mad man.
He knew this would get under Light’s skin and it worked like a charm. This was the best thing he could've possibly done.
3
u/zeltheturtl https://myanimelist.net/profile/zeltheturtl 5d ago
First Time Note Taker, subs
A second episode in a row with a famous meme - L staring at Light from a seat over! Here I was thinking during the first half of the episode that everything is somewhat calm and we might be getting a cooldown episode. But no, we get the first direct contact between the protagonist and antagonist (and both of them fit either role!).
The way this show handles it is brilliant. Because both of them are super-geniuses, it's possible to make it so they will actually interact with each other without concluding the show in the next episode.
I really liked Light's crashout. Among the small losses he suffered to L so far, this has been the first one to make him this emotional. L is closing in, but that's no place to start feeling disheartened. It is a challenge. And boy oh boy the fire has been lit in Light's eyes.
Lastly, Ryuk's apple antics continue to be hilarious as ever.
QOTD:
What are your thoughts on L posing as a student because he suspects Light might be Kira? What are your thoughts on L telling Light he is L?
2
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
I think Light and L both being super geniuses is really the key ingredient to the show. Because the show already made thrm out to be not normal, you can do situations that would otherwise be implausible and be like "Yeah, I'd buy that".
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
Thoughts on Ryuk doing handstands from going so long without apples?
Thoughts on Light finally buying Ryuk apples again?
What are your thoughts on L giving up on the cameras in the Light household?
Thoughts on Light feeling if he kills other petty criminals who's names and faces are broadcasted as he watches TV, he won't draw unnecessary attention to himself?
Thoughts on L rationalizing if Kira is among one of those families, he's not going to make it obvious with the surveillance?
Thoughts on L saying this the act of someone childish and immature who wants to pretend they're God?
What are your thoughts L assuming the name of a famous pop idol?
Thoughts on the Shinigami Realm wanting to investigate Ryuk?
Thoughts on Light and L graduating the top of their class?
What are your thoughts on Light knowing he can't kill L because he would be thinking of the pop star he took the alias of?
What are your thoughts on Light getting gotten to by L?
What are your thoughts on Light declaring he will kill L with his own bare hands if he has to?
3
u/IndependentMacaroon 5d ago edited 5d ago
Rewatch
First time I felt the pacing dragged a little with all the repetitions and spelling everything out, like there was no need to expound that much how Light is constrained here. Also, yet again more female background characters who do nothing but obsess about the leads' looks. Still, plenty of it like L's pondering is still pretty neatly directed and L and Light in proximity like that is another inspired twist, particularly for how for the first time he's genuinely throwing Light off his game a bit. I appreciate as well how this show doesn't waste any time on school business, like I don't think it was even mentioned Light was graduating.
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
If the episode was just L becoming Light’s classmate, it would be whatever. It's the fact that he tells him he's L and cuts right to the chase that makes it so epic. Light convinced himself L was playing the long game and that's just what L wanted him to assume.
2
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
Just to let people know, tomorrow's thread will be posted an hour earlier at 4:00 PM EDT. This will be a one time thing just for tomorrow.
2
u/ItalianQuagsire 1d ago
first time watching
ok wait this show is cooking it's unintentionally hilarious and dramatic i like it
What are your thoughts on L posing as a student because he suspects Light might be Kira?
it actually fucking STUMPED me i was like NAH NO WAY
What are your thoughts on L telling Light he is L?
fucking holy shit the aura LOL
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Holy shit magazine tits
AND EAT IT
I'm surprised L and Light met this early
He wants Lights apples
Ryuk is so goofy LOL
It's like feeding a dog
Ryuk gonna kill him
NGL I ship them
Damn lights smart
L's 5% chance seems like an ass pull random number lol
ROFL Ryuk leaping for the apple this is a comedy
Ryuk proud of Light, that's hella cute
L looks so weird and stalker ish lol
He has a generational hunchback
HOLY SHIT HE JUST TOLD HIM HES L
OMG wait that's genius and bold AF
LOL Omg this is like a Tsundere is he L or is he Kira baka friendship
1
u/Holofan4life 22h ago
The great thing of the whole twist is as soon as L becoming a student starts to set in, he throws you for a loop by saying he is L. You think the twist is one thing but it turns out to be something else.
1
u/Holofan4life 22h ago
Thoughts on Ryuk doing handstands from going so long without apples?
Thoughts on Light finally buying Ryuk apples again?
What are your thoughts on L giving up on the cameras in the Light household?
Thoughts on Light feeling if he kills other petty criminals who's names and faces are broadcasted as he watches TV, he won't draw unnecessary attention to himself?
Thoughts on L rationalizing if Kira is among one of those families, he's not going to make it obvious with the surveillance?
Thoughts on L saying this the act of someone childish and immature who wants to pretend they're God?
What are your thoughts L assuming the name of a famous pop idol?
Thoughts on the Shinigami Realm wanting to investigate Ryuk?
Thoughts on Light and L graduating the top of their class?
What are your thoughts on Light knowing he can't kill L because he would be thinking of the pop star he took the alias of?
What are your thoughts on Light getting gotten to by L?
What are your thoughts on Light declaring he will kill L with his own bare hands if he has to?
2
u/MegaManLegendsFan 5d ago
man its been 20 years already .....i wonder if they will ever do anything else with this i.p or continue it. really great show. im not rewatching it again tho, as ive done it like ....countless times over the 20 years XD
happy bday tho to death note :)
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
Death Note teach us various valuable lessons. Like it's okay to 21 Jump Street that shit :D
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
This show continues to get more insane and insane with each passing episode. It's not just L posing as a student that makes this peak. It's him pretending to be something while almost immediately revealing his true identity only to Light. And if Light tells anyone this was L, who's gonna believe him? A lot of people don't even know what L looks like. And though L might not look like a pop idol, that's still probably be more believable than him being some law enforcement mastermind based off his appearance.
1
u/Second_Cour 5d ago
What do you mean by the pop idol reference there?
1
u/Hartzilla2007 5d ago
He's using the same name as the pop idol Light's sister was fangirling over last episode.
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
Exactly
2
u/Second_Cour 5d ago
I get that they share a name. He's not posing as a pop idol though - the wording is what got me confused
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
Yeah, you're right. I meant the name of a pop idol.
Honestly, I know we had the conversation last thread about "Maki" disappearing and how preposterous it was. I personally find it more ludicrous that people would buy this person would just show up randomly to school, get top grades all-around, and just happened to have the name of a famous singer. That's a lot of happenstance going on.
1
u/Second_Cour 5d ago
The name of a famous pop singer isn't that crazy. Hideki is a pretty common name, Ryuga I don't think I've heard before. Having the same name as an idol is sure to attract attention, but isn't unbelievable. Plus there's a specific reason which is explained as to why L did that.
There's also a hidden reason to why they ran through Light's thinking about the pop star, which is to re-establish how the rules of Death Note prevent accidental misfiring for those who share names.
To me there's two different logic schools when it comes to judging fiction: one is premise believability (aka dramatic license), and one is procedural believability.
For the premise, given it is fiction and this is a fantasy show, a lot of rope can be given, otherwise obviously there wouldn't be a notebook in the first place. I actually said what you did in my writeup - a barefooted student in the middle of winter speaking to the student body: obviously it's a nah. I actually hate that they did that but I have to turn a blind eye, because we also have an apple loving Death God following Light around haha. Larger than life characters is part of the show's system.
The show's big hook for a lot of people including for me is the logic battle between L and Light. It sells itself as an intellectual battle. It's part of the show's system. L's deduction is on point mostly, and it's a great showcase. So, when something violates the logic of that part, I'm gonna cry foul
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
I guess the way I see it is with L and Light, you can do anything and it would make sense. These two are so unbelievable that I can buy L becoming Light’s classmate just to mess with him. With the other characters besides maybe the Shinigami Realm, you're not given the same leniency.
Still, it's very funny how nobody questions the new student so close to graduation that gets better grades than anyone.
0
u/Holofan4life 5d ago edited 5d ago
L is posing as a pop idol
3
u/awesomenessofme1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/kta_99 5d ago
Well, no, he's not "posing as one". He's using the same name as part of the gambit that Light recognizes, but as seen from the reactions of the students, no one is expected to actually associate him with that guy.
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
Ah, okay. That's makes more sense.
Still, it has to be confusing to see him with the same name as a pop idol not knowing it's an undercover operation.
2
u/awesomenessofme1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/kta_99 5d ago
Maybe, but it's a normal first and last name as far as I know. Like, if I randomly came across a woman named Taylor Swift while living my life, I'm sure it would lead to some jokes at first, but it's a regular enough name that you couls get used to it.
2
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
You would just have to shake it off :P
I can't recall an instance where someone I knew had the name of a celebrity. But then again, I could just be not remembering.
1
u/Second_Cour 5d ago
I guess it depends on your walk of life. In China for instance, I'd come across shared celeb names all the time (for obvious reasons). When I was a kid and working at a video store in Australia, given I would get hundreds of people's names per day I'd also get that all the time.
It's just probabilistic: most people in their every day life only get the first and last name of very few people they meet (we introduce ourselves by our first name, after all). The chance of someone matching a celeb's name is probably also 1 in some thousands, so the chance of meeting someone is low on an individual basis, but higher for someone who runs through getting people's names for work.
1
u/Holofan4life 5d ago
I know there is that Namibian politician named Adolf Hitler. I believe he dropped the Hitler part from his name which yeah 😶🌫️
4
u/Second_Cour 5d ago
The best thing about this show is that I'm simultaneously rooting for both Light and L.
I do think that the way they present L is a bit much haha. I get it when he's in his room or even at work but coming to university bare foot…sitting like he does. No shoes and that outfit in winter? Someone undercover would draw the entire school’s attention to himself. Homie’s making things far more difficult for himself. But under the pretense that the show doesn’t shy away from caricatures, I think it’s fine. Still, I would have liked him to at least put some shoes on :P
We’re now set up for some very interesting cat and mouse action.
Overall an interesting episode. Flew by, as usual.