Death Note ep.17

February 7, 2007 | 22 Comments

Once again sorry for the late entry. I was planning to do it earlier but I was too tired to do it thanks to the flu. Anyway, this is a rather tense episode and contains what I think is one of the best moments in the series. The animation looks generally decent except that sometimes the characters look a bit off. I also note that in order to save some budget, the animators change the way several scenes are shot. Scenes which originally meant to be a close up of 3 characters, for example, end up being a long shot or a shot of someone's back while one character is talking. This is rather disappointing and something that I didn't expect on an adaptation of popular series like Death Note. I was particularly hoping to screencap this shot of Misa looking pissed off at L while L is unfazed by her anger. Unfortunately that shot never made it here.

The episode begins with a man writing down the name of criminals onto Death Note while Rem assures him that after this he can use the note as he wishes. She thinks this is a good business deal for the two of them. Meanwhile, it's been 50 days since Light and the other has been imprisoned by L. L reminds Souichirou that there's no reason for him to keep doing this but Souichirou tells him that since the murders have started again, he believes that his son is not Kira. Therefore, he'd get out of the prison together with his son. Speaking of the son, Light tries to tell L that he thinks the reason the criminals have stopped dying is because Kira is someone who knows all about him. L, decides to lie and tells Light that the reason the murders have stopped is because Light is Kira. As for Misa, she's confirm L's guess that she's unhappy being detained in this manner and demands L to let go of her because she wants to see Light.

Upon hearing these conversations, Matsuda concludes that all 3 are at their breaking point. Aizawa thinks the fact that Misa and Light haven't been able to receive any kind of information and yet criminals continue to die is more than enough for them. L, however, disagrees with this assessment, claiming that the only thing that they know is Misa's abnormal love for Light. In retaliation, Aizawa tells L that this is just L being unable to accept that his theory about Light being Kira is wrong. Moreover, as Light pointed out, Kira killed Lind L.Taylor and the FBI agents. Without any information, there's no point for their murder. Aizawa also points out that L once mentioned that Kira doesn't commit unnecessary murder. Matsuda finally understands what Aizawa tries to say: if Kira can kill people easily, he wouldn't have to worry about the FBi agents. Aizawa adds that since it's been 50 days, instead of doing this, they should catch the real Kira.

L eventually decides to call Souichirou again, telling him that he needs to tell Souchirou something in person. He basically wants Souichirou to hear his decision on the case as Light's father. 3 days later, Souichirou is seen driving a car carrying Misa inside it. Misa at first thinks that Souichirou was her stalker but Souichirou denies this, claiming that he's a detective. Upon hearing this Misa remembers how she was detained by the police due to suspicion for being the 2nd Kira. Having said that, she doubts this because she thinks there's no way detective would bound her in such manner. She also protest the fact that her arms and legs are still cuffed even though Souichirou is setting her free. The two eventually arrive at a downtown parking lot where Light and Aizawa waits. Souichirou swaps car with Aizawa and then orders Light and Misa to come with him. Inside the car, he informs them that they will be taken to execution chamber.

Light and Misa are shocked to hear this but Souichirou explains that L has determined that Yagami Light and Amane Misa are the 1st and 2nd Kira. L argued that if these two are killed, the murders would stop. Light is surprised to hear this because he thought the murders have stopped. Souichirou denies this, telling him that the murders still continues and that L probably just told Light that to force Light to confess. He also tells the two that their murder have been approved by top officials and his death will be kept secret from the public. Light tries to convince his father that he's not Kira but Souichirou tells him that this is not his decision but L's. L even claimed that he'd take his own life if after killing Light the murder does not stop. Light tries to protest, saying that this doesn't sound like L since L usually comes up with a definite proof. Before Light can say anything else, Souichirou already takes them to a quiet place under the bridge.

Misa thinks that Souichirou is going to set them free but instead Souichirou tells them that since the place is quiet, he decided to bring them here instead of to the execution chamber. He then turns around and informs Light that he would kill the two of them here and then kill himself. Light and Misa are freaked out to hear this. Misa tells him that Souichirou killing his own son would make him similar to Kira. Souichirou denies this, claiming that he has a responsibility as a father and a police officer. Light agrees with Misa, telling his father that if they are killed now, they can't find out the truth. In response Souichirou informs them that the decision to execute them have been made and therefore he'd rather be the person who kill him. He then tells Misa that he would kill his son and himself here and leave Misa so the other agents can pick her up and take her to execution chamber. He then points his gun to Light's head and pulls the trigger.

As it turns out, however, Souichirou simply fired a blank shot. Souichirou then apologises to the two but there was no other way to free them but to do what he did. However, he wants Light to know that he did this because he believes that Light is not Kira. He then asks L if he saw everything as well as the fact that he's still alive. L confirms this and tells Souichirou that if Misa was the 2nd Kira, she could kill just by seeing the person and would have killed Souichirou before he could kill Light. In addition to this, L believes that Kira is the kind of person who won't hesitate to kill his own parents if his life is in danger. Although L thinks that Light could have known that this was just an act, he promised that he would set the two of them free. He, however, will place Misa under surveillance until evidence about the videos are uncovered. As for Light, L would allow his participation in the investigation providing he can be with Light 24/7.

In order to facilitate this, L chains himself to Light using a handcuff. This makes Misa wonders if L is that kind of man but L claims that he's not doing this because he wants to. Misa, however, wonders what will happen if she and Light are on a date. In response, L informs her that the three of them will go on a date together. Misa freaks out to hear this especially when L informs her that he'd be watching the two even if they kiss. This prompts Misa to call L hentai. In retaliation, L asks Light to ask Misa to be quiet. Because of this Light asks Misa not to be selfish since she can still be free even though it's been proven that she's the one who sent those videos. Misa is shocked to hear this and wonders if Light doesn't trust his own girlfriend. Light claims that Misa was the one who fell in love first and went after him. Not wanting to be outdone, Misa points out that Light was the one who kissed her after she confessed her love for him.

Upon hearing their argument, L asks Misa if she met Light on the 22nd at Aoyama. He particularly wants to know why she went there and what she wore. Misa curtly answers L that she just went there on a whim and can't remember what she wore. L, however, points out that she fell in love with Light after coming from Aoyama and yet she can't remember how she knew his name. When Misa confirms this, L asks her what if Light is Kira. After hesitating for a while, Misa bravely tells L that if that's the case, it'll be even better since Misa has always feel grateful to Kira, who killed her parents' murderer. If Light is Kira, she would love Light even more. L reminds Misa that this is Kira they're talking about and wonders if she's not afraid. Misa, however, claims that rather than being afraid, she'd try to be useful to him. Upon hearing this L declares that there's no doubt that the 2nd Kira is Misa and decide to place Misa under surveillance.

L still allows Misa to model but from now on, her manager would be Matsuda. Misa is unhappy that an 'old guy' ends up becoming her manager, prompting Matsuda to wonder which part of him displeases her. Aizawa eventually snaps and orders them to stop all of this talk about date, kiss, and MisaMisa. He reminds them that this is an investigation on Kira so they need to be more serious about it. With this in mind, he grabs Misa and puts her in her own room. After Misa left, L asks Light if he's serious about Misa but Light claims that it's one sided. Upon finding out about this, L asks Light if he can pretend that he's serious about her since it's clear that she has connection to Kira. Light, however, tells L that even if it's to find Kira, he refuses to play with a girl's emotion. He even claims that the people he hates the most are those who trample on other people's good will. Upon hearing this L realises that Light's personality has changed.

At this point in time, L can only conclude that Amane Misa was controlled by L and so was Yagami Light. L eventually agrees with Light's opinion but he asks Light to tell Misa not to blab their investigation to anyone else. After agreeing with this, Light tells L that they better off stop moving between hotels and do investigation from one place. Because of this L shows Light and the others a hotel which will be completed in a few days. The place has 23 floors and a place for 2 helicopters in the rooftop. L wants everyone to live there as much as possible and even if they have to increase the amount of people involved in the investigation, they can accomodate at least 60 people. He even wants to give Misa a floor of her own. Upon seeing this, Matsuda wonders where L gets the money for this but instead L simply tells them that it means he wants the case to be solved as soon as possible. Aizawa immediately points out that's not the question.

Light, however, cuts him off by saying that he can't forgive this murderer who caused his father and himself in this position and want to capture him no matter what. Upon hearing this L suggests that Light pretends to be serious with Misa again but Light refuses. L pouts upon hearing this, amusing Aizawa in the process. Aizawa encourages L, Light, and Souichirou to capture Kira. Poor Matsuda has to remind Aizawa that he's forgotten all about him. Meanwhile inside a company called Yotsuba, a group of people are having a meeting to decide who they should kill. One person called Takahashi wonders why Kira suddenly undertake assasination instead of killing criminals. The others, however, point out that this will be profitable for Kira. Another person wonders if Kira is actually one of the eight people here. Despite this, one of them suggests they should go back to their original agenda: deciding who they should kill. As she observes from a corner of the room, Rem makes a comment that humans are truly horrible beings.

Impression:

It was really weird watching Light in his innocent mode. If I didn't know any better, I would really root him to solve this case. It's strange how without Death Note his personality is completely different. It's like he has a whole set of moral value he didn't have before. Considering Misa behaves in a similar way even without her memory, I would have thought that Light would also exhibit latent nasty streak. However, her refusal to use Misa sounds like someone completely different. If the Death Note was responsible in corrupting him, it must have done one hell of a good job. It's actually creepy to see L being even more ruthless than Light in this episode. Some of the methods that he used in this episode can be placed under the 'questionable' tag. I am not even sure if police can actually detain a suspect the way they detained Misa. The way he lied to Light and forced the guy to admit to being Kira sounded like one of those forced interrogation.

Nothing, however, beat asking one of your detective to threaten his own son with a gun. The result was quite a spectacle to say the least. I'd imagine that if I didn't know the ending this would have been a lot more tense. Despite the serious nature of the episode, there are actually some good comedy thrown in this episode. L once again confirms that he's an S&M freak. I wonder what could possibly be achieved by chaining himself to Light. The appearance of the Yotsuba group was interesting to say the least. The problem with them is that L will immediately notices that the murder has now shift to entirely different targets. Wouldn't it be better if Rem actually gave the note to someone who upholds similar values to Light? Either way, there are 8 possible suspects for the new Kira. If you have not read the manga, please take a look at this picture and guess which one of them is the new Kira.

Preview

On next week's episode: Some more gaijin arrive in Japan.

© memento 2003