Death Note has been loved by fans and critics alike, for its amazing characters, its intriguing premise, and its thriller story. Based on the critically acclaimed manga by Tsugumi Ohba, Death Notehas been called the best anime ever created. It has also been adapted into a widely-dislikedmovie adaptation by Netflix.
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The series follows a high school student, Light Yagami, who finds a notebook that kills whoever's name is written in it. The constant battle of wits between Light and L has some of the best-written moments in anime history, with fans debating who was smarter, Light or L. So, here are 5 times Light had the upper hand, and 5 times L did.
Light - Killed Criminals Despite Being Under Surveillance
After L deduces Kira might be someone Raye Penber was investigating, and after getting permission from Chief Yagami, he sets up surveillance cameras in their house, which Light finds out about thanks to Ryuk.
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Light, however, uses a bag of potato chips and tricks the Task Force into thinking he's studying while killing criminals with a scrap piece of the Death Note. He was perfectly calm and smart under pressure.
L - Deduced Kira Was In The Kanto Region
After being asked for help by the ICPO, L creates a plan to locate Kira. Since his first victims were from the Kanto region in Japan, L deduces that Kira might be someone from there, and tricks light into killing a fake L.
Furthermore, L is also able to prove that Kira is a human who needs a name and a face to kill someone, which is why he couldn't kill the real L when he challenges Kira to do so.
Light - Convinced The Task Force He Wasn't Kira By Being Confined
When Misa is captured by L for being the second Kira, Rem threatens to kill Light if he doesn't free Misa. Light then tells L he's ready to be confined, and he is detained for weeks, while the killing stops.
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L then believes the power has passed to someone else, and with Light already forfeiting ownership of the Note and losing his memories, he can convince the Task Force that he wasn't Kira.
L - Deduced Kira Was A Student
After he's able to deduce Kira's location, L finds a pattern to the criminals' deaths. He realizes that criminals are only dying in the evenings and on random timings throughout the day on weekends.
Using this information, L was able to figure out that Kira was most likely a Japanese student, as he conformed to the timings of his school. It was a genius move on L's part as he was able to narrow down the number of suspects and understand his mentality.
Light - Confused L By Changing The Death Note's Rules
After getting confined by L to prove he wasn't Kira and helping capture Higuchi, the Task Force discovers the existence of the Death Note. However, Light had made some changes of his own to the rules of the Notebook.
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Light had added two fake rules which would not only divert suspicion from himself but also prevent the Task Force from destroying the Notebook. Using the 13 Day rule, in particular, had allowed him to clear his name.
L - Figuring Out There Were Two Kiras
Although Light knew about the Second Kira as well, L's deductive abilities were quite impressive in figuring out the existence of another Kira. Light knew someone else had another notebook, he didn't need to use his intelligence to figure that out. Thus, L gets more credit for this discovery.
His reasoning was flawless, and it took him no time to figure out the existence of 2 notebooks as soon as he saw one after apprehending Higuchi.
Light - Killed Naomi Misora Before She Could Talk To L
After Naomi Misora figures out Kira can kill people in ways other than heart attacks, Light luckily finds out and plans to kill her before she can tell the Task Force and L about it, blowing his cover.
While she initially uses an alias, Light can manipulate and trick her into giving him her real name. Light then writes her name in a scrap of the Death Note, forcing her to commit suicide so the police can't find her body.
L - Confronted Light At To-Oh
After L is backed into a corner, he reveals himself to Light at the To-Oh University Induction Ceremony, introducing himself to Light as Hideki Ryuga, saying he was the real L. This rattles Light and he tries to calm himself.
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Later, upon reaching home, he explodes in anger, saying he can't kill this individual irrespective of whether he is L or not since him dying as soon as he met Light would be extremely suspicious. He then calms himself, before announcing the battle has just begun.
Light - Manipulated Rem Into Killing L
After Misa and Light's names are cleared of being Kira, Light tries to think of a way to finally dispose of L and stumbles upon the perfect way to do it. In "Silence", Light manipulates Rem into writing L's real name in her Death Note, killing him.
Thus, Light wins the battle with L, where he not only kills his enemy but also assumes his position as leader of the Task Force, controlling the Japanese Police on the inside. However, he may have won the battle, but he loses the war.
L - Paved The Way For Near and Mello To Capture Kira
After L's successors, Near and Mello, work together, with Mello having to sacrifice his life, L's vision is finally realized - Kira has been defeated and all the notebooks are safe and under the possession of the authorities.
Without L's resources, information and successors, Kira may have never been captured, so even though it was Near who figured out how to beat Light, one can argue he couldn't have done so without L.
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