Light Yagami as a character

[ahill1]

Nowadays I think he's just a hollow character. There's nothing special in him...

 

[Papasmurf]

He became a villain by chapter 2, not very interesting beyond just being clever.

 

[ahill1]

Agreed. He didn't even have a grey area in regards to making the matter of winning a meaningful thing other than just him wanting to win in a logical way.... He could have some nuances but yeah he was written as a charismatic in the sense he's pretty smart and collected and cold at the same times, but there weren't many nuances... I used to overrate him

 

[Yoshi]

Light suffered the worst form of character regression I’ve ever seen in a Shonen protagonist.

 

[Kyo]

Light's conviction and rivalry with L made him special, and DN had no interest in being a character study of any kind. It's like calling Sherlock Holmes a hollow character. Go check out some DN knockoffs and it becomes more apparent why Light stands out.

 

[ahill1]

Light's conviction and rivalry with L made him special, and DN had no interest in being a character study of any kind. It's like calling Sherlock Holmes a hollow character. Go check out some DN knockoffs and it becomes more apparent why Light stands out.

I'm not saying the show intended to make Light Yagami as a "good" character. They wanted to make him a character that people would be drawn in a certain way, so rather, a more high-engagement character ... since the feeling of tension between a duel of genius attracts only a very specific niche if there's no appeal in the characters --- it's almost always (quite obviously lulz) more interesting to readers in general, that are not just interested in smart thinking by just two geniuses, to be enjoying that high thinking being done by those characters, hence, the need for their appeal.

I didn't quite phrase it as good character, what I said in regards to hollow character in the end fits well with what you mentioned ---- special, (but as I noticed, the need for something unique of their own for engagement) --- be it his perfectionism, his denialism over being wrong and still showing, right after, a more cool headed way to deal with that, dealing with pressure (but not much explored)... his life as a bored student that is sick of the world, a trait that draws many in... I say hollow, since to me especially, a more in depth take helps to create even more consideration for the character and thus, a more will to read regardless of wanting to see the battle of wits in its tiny details. And that being hollow applies because to me specifically (for many too), I can't get that hype from characters that seem hollow in the sense of lacking that deeper exploration --- which may not be seen as hollow traits for others --- but that which, again, revolves around the main topic of whether he was hollow. Go read Kingdom and you'll see how exploring characters more works very well in the hype for strategic battles --- well, for some at least, for you maybe it doesn't.

 

[Son.Gohan84]

Yeah I don’t know. Death Note when I first watched it I thought it was the best shit ever. But increasingly after L died it got more and
More stale. Light was basically IMO a less interesting Walter White. He turns into a massive eugenicist douche as soon as he gets the notebook and has no apprehension or regrets. He even plans out the “I’m gonna kill lazy people!” Stuff in the FIRST fucking episode.

He became a villain by chapter 2, not very interesting beyond just being clever.

Pretty much. That’s why I basically view him as a less interesting Walter White. I thought L, Near and Mellow tbh were all more interesting characters.

 

[Warmmedown]

How do you people remember these shows in so much detail? Did you write notes while watching? I watched it a few years ago and don't remember much.

I guess he starts as an anti-hero, but becomes more of a straight-up villain, because someone gets in his way and to him the ends (of becoming an anti-hero like at the beginning) justify the means (of killing anyone who gets in his way or risks him getting caught). He saw the police/L as getting in the way of him enacting justice, so he saw them as bad.

 

[Son.Gohan84]

How do you people remember these shows in so much detail? Did you write notes while watching? I watched it a few years ago and don't remember much.

I guess he starts as an anti-hero, but becomes more of a straight-up villain, because someone gets in his way and to him the ends (of becoming an anti-hero like at the beginning) justify the means (of killing anyone who gets in his way or risks him getting caught). He saw the police/L as getting in the way of him enacting justice, so he saw them as bad.

I kinda disagree. IMO he was always pretty evil or psychotic (well not pure evil I view him as evil but as an anti-villain). he said in EP1 he wanted to start killing lazy people eventually. It's not as much hero to villain as Walter White.

 

[ahill1]

I think Light was bored af and found ppl uninteresting... Basically, found most ppl worthless and considered himself above everyone

Before he got the DN I mean

 

[Scott]

Death Note is a solid example of why the sentiment in my signature is correct.

 

[sei'taer]

How do you people remember these shows in so much detail? Did you write notes while watching? I watched it a few years ago and don't remember much.

Some people just have better memories.

 

[Son.Gohan84]

I think Light was bored af and found ppl uninteresting... Basically, found most ppl worthless and considered himself above everyone

Before he got the DN I mean

Yeah that’s why I say he was a less interesting Walter white basically.