Death Note ep.19

February 21, 2007 | 15 Comments

Wow, this episode really does feel like a Mission: Impossible episode. I was particularly amused with their attempt to make it look as if an accident has happened because that's the kind of things that Mission: Impossible team normally do. So far I've actually been enjoying this Yotsuba arc quite a bit, which is surprising since I've heard many people think that this arc is rather boring. At any rate, this should have been called Matsuda's Exciting Adventure since the bulk of the story focuses on the hapless and slightly idiotic detective. I suppose they need to develop him due to what happen in future episodes but it really doesn't help that they portray him as a bumbling fool in this episode. Having said that, it's kind of worth it just to see L being frustrated with the guy. I never thought I’d see L running out of patience before.

The episode begins with Misa shooting her film and demanding that they keep her love scene mild. While this happens, Matsuda notices that Yotsuba building is not far from where the shooting takes place. In an attempt to prove himself, Matsuda decides to sneak into the building when the guard is not looking. Meanwhile, Light wonders what he would do if he has power to kill people by knowing their name and face. He thinks that while there are people that don't need to exist in this world, he wouldn't go as far as trying to change the world by turning into a killer. Light decides that he can't possibly be Kira since he can't possibly kill off a large amount of people and not remember. When L notices Light's serious face, L wonders if Light is offended because he eats cake on his own. Light denies this and their conversation is interrupted when Watari informs them that a detective called Erald Coil received a message asking about L's true identity.

Upon hearing the name, Souichirou remembers that Erald is one of the famous detectives apart from L. Watari then informs them that the person who requested the information about L is Kida Masahiko, the head of the planning department at the Yotsuba group's Tokyo main office. Souichirou thinks this is dangerous because Erald Coil is also a famous detective whose services can be bought easily. Much to his surprise, L tells him that there won't be any problem because Erald Coil is basically L. In fact, the 3 biggest detectives in the world known as L, Coil, and Danuve are all L so if someone looks for him, they won't get anywhere. Having said that, L wants them to keep this as a secret. At the same time, Matsuda entertains the thought of going back but realises that his attempt would have been in vain if he did this. Thankfully for him, he overhears two employees talking about secret meeting, which takes place on the weekend.

After seeing the lift stopping at level 19, Matsuda decides to take the stair. Meanwhile, Aiber confirms to L that he can get close to the guy quite easily while Wedy plans on hacking into the security cameras and systems of the Yotsuba main office. Cut to a scene of Matsuda eavesdropping the conversation of the meeting from outside the room. While this happens, L tells the others that they can't let anyone from Yotsuba to know that they are investigating the company. L believes that as soon as they are found out, the possibility of catching Kira goes to Zero. At the same time, Matsuda hears the people inside the room using words such as "Kill" and "Kira". Unfortunately for Matsuda, the door is suddenly opened and two people catch him in the act. At the same time, L is in the middle of briefing Aiber and Wedy when Watari lets him know that Matsuda has just sent a distress signal from his belt and it's from Yotsuba main office.

At the same time, Matsuda pretends that he's Misa's agent and simply wants to know if the company is interested in using Misa in their advertising. Back inside the hotel, L is unhappy about this because it means he now has to rethink their strategy. Matsuda himself tries his best to convince the two employees that he's Misa's manager. All of a sudden Matsuda's phone rings so one of the man tells Matsuda that he can answer the phone as long as he doesn't tell the guy on the other side that he's in here. Matsuda quickly hears L identifying himself as 'Asahi', wanting to know if Matsuda is indoors and on his own. When Matsuda confirms both questions, L asks him if he wants to go to bar tonight. When Matsuda refuses, L asks him if his financial situation is in a 'tight spot' again. Matsuda laughs and tells confirms this. After the conversation ends, Matsuda goes back trying to pimp Misa, claiming that she'd bring big profit to the company.

Inside the board meeting, one guy suspects that Matsuda might have overheard their conversation so another man thinks they should kill Matsuda. Another man wonders if Matsuda really is an agent instead of a police but another man thinks he can't be a police since they've promised to take their hands off the Kira's case. Meanwhile, Misa has just finished shooting her film when she finds a message from Light, Light immediately asks Misa if Matsuda is not with her. As soon as Misa confirms this, she gets another phone call from her work phone. When Misa picks it up, she finds out that Matsuda wants her to come to Yotsuba building as soon as she finished her work. He claims that there is a chance that Misa will get assigned to Yotsuba's new CM. Upon hearing the conversation between the two, L tells Light that they might be able to save Matsuda and he knows Misa will listen to us if Light is the one who is talking. A few minutes later, Misa appear in the Yotsuba building.

Misa tells the board executives that she doesn't do nude but she doesn't mind wearing swimsuit or underwear if required. She then tells Matsuda that the company has agreed for a special reception party for the Yotsuba. Because of this the Yotsuba executives come with Misa and Matsuda to a hotel that she has specified. Upon entering the place, they are greeted by girls serve them food and wine. Matsuda uses the opportunity to go to the toilet and contact L. L thinks that the only way for Matsuda to stay alive is if he's dead before getting killed. Because of this Matsuda pretends to be tipsy before climbing his way on top of the balcony's ledge. He then drops himself, knowing that his colleagues will catch him with a mattress. They then throw a wet bag to give the impression that Matsuda has plunged onto the street. Downstairs, Aiber pretends to be the dead Matsuda while Wedy pretends to be a passer-by who sees the dead guy.

In the aftermath, Misa asks the Yotsuba guys to leave because they will take care of this. Meanwhile, Light and L pretend to be ambulance and pick up the 'dead' Aiber so he too can escape unseen from the area. The next day, Kida Masahiko sees the news confirming the death of Misa's 'manager' but his relief turns into terror when Aiber calls him, pretending to be Coil. Later on it is revealed that 'Coil' demands a 2 million advance cash and 8 millions cash later on for his service. And even if they decide not to use him, he wants 2 million as a hush money. The group realises that Coil has an idea of what they want to do. Upon hearing this, a panic Hatori thinks this is dangerous. He tells them that he wants out of this team. Upon hearing this, Higuchi laughs and thinks Hatori would probably be dead tomorrow. A few days later, Wedy manages to install surveillance camera inside the meeting room and upon seeing the images, L realises that instead of 8 people, there are only 7 members left in the meeting.

Impression:

I almost had a brain meltdown when I saw Matsuda plunging from the ledge. I know his 'death' was planned by L but that doesn't make what he did less dangerous/horrifying. I think my brain went to some unpleasant places (anywhere synonymous the word 'splattered') just thinking of how it could have gone wrong. What if Matsuda fell beyond the mattress range? I can't believe I felt sick just from watching the scene. The thing is I don't usually have problem with height. However, I always find it scarier watching others doing things on the ledge than doing the same thing on my own. On that note, I have to give props to Matsuda for having the balls to do that upside down move using only his hands near the ledge. I am actually surprised that he didn't make any mistake at all in this regard. Especially since we're talking about Matsuda, the hapless detectives who got caught red-handed while trying to eavesdrop on a meeting a few scenes prior to this one.

The most interesting conversation in here probably belongs to Light's monologue. I find it interesting that he starts pondering the possibility that he might be Kira. The strange thing about this is that, he dismisses any possibility that he would kill others in order to punish the criminals. To me this suggests that if someone else found that note before Light and Light knows the kind of problem that it causes, I'd like to think that he won't use the note if he finds it later on in the story. However, I think it's a bit too late for this now. The Light that made the decision to forgo the Death Note a few episodes ago was clearly Light who enjoyed his criminal acts. The only reason he gave it up was not to start fresh but so he won't get caught. However, he clearly intends on continuing his deeds. Otherwise, he won't craft a complex situation to put the Note in the hand of Rem and told the Shinigami to order another person to start killing criminals.

It's a bit unfortunate that Light chose that path. Because no matter how good this new Light is, his choice is already pre-determined by what the previous Light. In other words, when Light made the decision to hide the Note, he didn't do it to start over his life but to resume his life of crime when the time is right. We've had discussion before if Light is innocent or guilty and if Death Note influenced him or not. I think Death Note influenced him but the part where he made the decision to part with it so he can continue his crime was his own decision. I think just like the part where Light killed Lind L. Taylor, this is another example where Light chooses the wrong path instead of the right one. He didn't even think twice about starting over because he was blinded by his life as the judge of the criminals. Anyway, the whole issue of probability in life itself is interesting. I often wonder how life might have turned out if I choose another subject to study or have taken the opportunity that I missed.

Preview

© memento 2003