This site is designed for accessibility. Content is obtainable and functional to any browser or Internet device. This site's full visual experience is available in a modern browser that supports web standards. Please consider upgrading your browser.
ローゼンメイデン 
What a fantastic episode. It's been a while since I feel genuinely excited with this series but this is exactly how I felt when I read the last volume of the manga. It's unfortunate that the series were prolonged more than necessary because I think it would have more bite if this confrontation happened a lot earlier. I supposed the author wanted to show how Kira's terror eventually takes over the world. To a certain extent, the series did that. However, I don't think it was thorough. We saw how extreme some people could be in their Kira worship. The thing is, we don't know if they are just a group of extreme individuals or if the rest of the world also joined in the madness. I think it would have been better if they had shown the reaction of some other people. Oh well, next week is the finale. If you don't know the ending, place your bet on who's going to win. If you know the ending, put your knowledge in spoiler tag please.
After the death of Takada Kiyomi is broadcast on air, TV networks are quick to look for her replacement. Light is delighted because last night's judgment unfolded without a glitch so that means Kiyomi and Mikami were in contact. His happiness, however, is cut short when Near makes a contact to confirm that their appointed meeting will be on the 28th. Light confirms this and looks pleased with himself when he hears this because the situation proceeds according to his plan. Aizawa, however, is horrified because he knows they could be dead that day. Meanwhile, Near asks Giovanni if he can come with them as well and Giovanni gives him the confirmation. On the day of the meeting, Near calls everyone to tell them that he's set Misa free. When Light calls her, she confirms that they've placed her in a hotel. After getting Mogi's number to open the safe containing the other Death Note, Light decides to let Aizawa carry the note as an insurance to Near.
The group then travels to the wharf using a car in the middle of rainy day. In the car, Light thinks how this is the beginning of everything because everyone who knows about the note will die here. Once they arrive there and Aizawa confirms that Near is inside, the group goes in. Light is a bit surprised to see Near wearing an L mask but he dismisses the boy by thinking that Near is inferior in comparison to L and therefore is not qualified to wear his mask. Matsuda is unhappy with Near for accusing someone for being Kira and yet he protects himself by wearing a mask. In response, Near tells Matsuda that he's certain almost the face of everyone here has been seen by Kira. The only exception to this is his face. Because of this, he'd like to wait for 30 minutes to see if anyone is being manipulated and dies. Despite Matsuda's protestation, everyone waits for 30 minutes. After the time lapse, Near agrees that everyone is okay so he takes off his mask.
After taking off his mask, Near admits that he's still waiting for one more person that will complete the circle. He explains that since this warehouse is closed off, the only way anyone can get in is through the red door. When Matsuda becomes impatient and asks Near who will come through the door, Near has no choice but to explain that the guy in question is X-Kira. He'll come and write Near's name or rather, he'll write everyone's name here but Kira's. Because of this, Near asks them to not react when the guy in question arrive and peek through the door. Soon enough, a guy with black hair and two red-eyes can be seen peeking through the door, seeing everyone's real name using his Shinigami eyes. Two names particularly stand out for him: Near's real name, "Nate River" and Light's real name "Yagami Light". Upon seeing the kanji for 'God' (Kami) in Light's name, Mikami realises that Light is the 'God' he's been wanting to meet.
Matsuda starts to panic and tries to point his gun at Mikami. However, Lester and Giovanni point their gun at him, asking him to stop. Near assures him that they won't die because he's replaced the page where Mikami writes with a fake one. He explains that Mikami only writes the name of his victims on a page per day. This is why Near replaced the page that Mikami will use today. Upon hearing this, Light gives off a twisted smile and tells himself that he already knew about the page replacement. He reveals that the book that Near altered is a fake that he asked Mikami to prepare. The notebook that Mikami is writing now is the real Death Note which has been hidden up to now. A flashback then reveals that Light asked Mikami to make a fake version of the notebook and sending a few pages of the real note to Takada. The truth is, the person who's doing the judging is Takada while Mikami simply pretends that he writes the name of his victims.
As a result, when he was being followed by Giovanni, he purposely wrote the name of his victim, leading Giovanni to think that the notebook he's using is real. Mikami also ensured that he doesn't write the name of his victims in more than one page. Light believes that the reason Near chooses today is because Near wants to replace the page that will be used for the 28th. However, Light also asked Mikami to check the fake notebook and one day, Mikami confirmed to Takada about this. After this incident, Light was sure that his plan will work. Light mocks Near and thinks he's nowhere near L, who would have recognised the existence of fake notebook and tested it right away. Light then asks Mikami if he has written the name down, prompting Near to point out that it's strange that Mikami reacts to Light's question. The episode ends with Near asking Mikami to come in. Mikami then tells everyone that it's been 30 seconds since he wrote their names.
Impression:
This was a bit stylised but I think it really does help to accentuate the tension. I think this is the first time in a long time where I felt a genuine tension when it comes to Light vs. Near's confrontation. Come to think of it, the two don't actually match wit that often and this is the first time the two put all of their cards in the open. It's interesting to see Light back to his cocky, arrogant self because he's been annoyingly boring when he pretends to be a goody two shoes and not being genuine about it. I think he underestimate Near's intelligence, which is rather stupid, because the boy actually managed to come up with a solution which required last minute solution (the mass riot incident). Because of this, it's highly unlikely that Near wouldn't guesstimate what would happened if Light figures out his plan. Well, next week should be interesting to see because it'll be the end of the series. Despite what others have said, I feel the ending is pretty good and I hope you'll feel the same way as well.
Preview
On next week's episode: The last chapter of "Death Note".
I really like how everything's become down to the wire at the conclusion of this story, all hanging on last minute decisions. Whoever prepared the most for this moment will be the winner. The tension is great, and I agree, knowing the end of the story, that it is a great ending, despite what some others say.
The best part of this episode was the fan movement/sound, in my opinion. The water was a little much, though.
I want some of those Near finger puppets now more than ever.
The water was a little much, though.
I was laughing when I saw that because it looks like it's a pool collection of Matsuda's sweat.
I so love this episode!
...especially Mikami's Sakujo Scene...ROFLMAO!!
-- KFTW --
Heh, I got the finger puppets, I got them when I was in Japan, you can buy them online though, they come with the manga 13th volume special box set. You only get 5 of them, Kira, L, Near, Misa and mello.
The ending is great. very clever.
Mikami face became ugly in the last two episodes/chapter both anime and manga T__T
Anyway, one more episode XD
It's the first time I comment here, but I read your blog since you started blogging about Death Note.
Right now I'm following DN and DtB, but... LOL! XD I sooo love your caps, Garten! "BRAIINZZ", LMAO! I just had to comment today, couldn't keep it, I lol'd so hard with that one...
Oh, and I love to read about your impressions of the episodes, keep up the good blogging! I visit Memento after each episode just to read what you said about it, it's nice to see ya speaking so cleverly about nice series such as DN.
And you know what? I started watching DtB after reading some of your impressions.
And about this episode of DN, it was really nice. I was a tipical L fanboy. Mainly because I really think the guy had a great sense for justice and was reeeeally clever, apart from being a lil bizarre, but that too was kind, cuz he was kinda stylish (lol, I kinda like bizarre things). And after he died, the series lost almost all of the excitement for me. But with the last 2 episodes, I'm feeling excited again, and a lot! I can't wait to see who'll win, but man... if that kira bastard win again, I'll nevah watch anime again.
One last thing: you dun always have to apologize, your blog is great and you do your best (just wanted to say it, u can ignore if you wanna).
Oh, and sorry if I mispelled something, I'm brazilian, english is not my native language =x
They ended this episode on a good note. I was hoping it wouldn't be too early or too late. Looking forward to your review of the last ep! :D
Very good episode, suspenseful.
I'm sure Light's won by now, if he's taken into account Mikami knowing Light's Kira by not having any death date and by switching the Death Note to compensate for the fake notes. What's going on?
Matsuda really talks a lot this time. Also that Near is actually Nate River. (Na)te Riv(er) = (Na)+(er) = Near. Get it? Whereas Mello is Michael Keehl, which sounds close. Now I wonder what is L's real name is? Lester? London? Lee? Loli?
BTW, good episode this time. The finale will definitely a blast. Can't wait.
@Brian: L's real name is L Lawliet. It's revealed in Volume 13: How To Read. So all this time, we've known what his real name is. -_-' Well, his first name anyway.
Fantastic episode. I've already read the manga, but I was still on the edge of my seat while watching this. XD Lots of drama and tension...and the ending was perfectly timed. :D VERY evil cliffhanger. Hahaha...if I hadn't actually read the manga, I'd probably scream in frustration.
I don't think I've actually said this, but Garten, I love your blogging. XD It's awesome, and I love the little caps you put on the screenshots. Always manages to make me giggle. :D
Oh noez! the last episode! Since they've aready used most of the last bit of the manga, then i suppose we might see something new!
Code Geass 24 & 25 will be air 7/28 @ 26:25 (02:25)
@Tiin: I actually screamed "OMG, WHY!" and closed the player in frustration, lol. Soooo EBIL... I was all "O_O that damn kira", then it ended...
Yeah, they really did it well!
The tension feels as if it's the first time I see it, and those dazzling coloured scraps for the ep are great to emphasize everything, and the rivalty that it's suppoused to be between Light and Near, finally came out, I just had felt it forced and to make us remember he is the new L, it was like speaking with some sarcastic but very serious guy on the other side of the line.
Thanx for the Code Geass info, perhaps it is what I've waited the most for the last months, maybe even more than finishing the school semester XDXDXD
Notice how Mikami didn't see a lifespan under Light's name. That's how he knew who Kira is. However, remember when his father died? He had his lifespan out there normally at that time.
Plot hole? Or did Light do something like take possession of a death note again?
@ orionstar
I hope they explain a bit more thoroughly why the winner won and the loser lost, because it took me a couple of reads through the manga to even kind of get the situation. Maybe they're both just too smart for me
@ Glade:
I'm sure Light gave up his ownership of the Death Note, but still kept a part of the Death Note on him to not forget about everything.
I think that's how it went, unless someone wants to correct me?
"it's on BITCH!!" that made me laugh out loud...again!! i love those caps...is that aiber in one of the pictures?
is it me or does Light look a little crappy in this episode? the first few scenes of him looks like he put on all the weight L should have had. anyways it sucks that we only have one more episode...and what a huge relief that some people picked up this show after VIZ sent out that letter to the usual subbers.
why Light was mad to see Near wearing L's mask ??
@Glade
Light kept a death note strapped to his body and gave up ownership of it when he was plotting to defeat mello so his dad won't see that he's kira with the shinigami eyes.
@Katty: I don't think Light was mad...it was more like he didn't think Near was worthy of wearing L's mask because he thought Near wasn't as good as L.
I didnt read manga, and as said to bet...
I hoped kira to win, but as Mikami face looks bad, and also It looked like Mikami killed someone in the train, which is very not secure, I think to Near it should be looked like showing extreemely that he can kill for everyone. If he would be realy a kira he would be more cautious and would not kill by showing it openly.
For other points, Near still looks like he couldnt do anything to save himself.. KFTW!
@ volition
The train bit was important as it showed Mikami was now the X-Kira and carried the Death Note with him to Near. However, it was actually Light planning this and making it look like Mikami had the real Death Note when it was actually Kiyomi that had the real Death Note.
This was a great episode, I love the tension at the end, it makes you wanna watch the next one really badly!...And has anyone noticed that Mikami looks kind of like a pig in one of the screen shots...
OMG!! Only one more episode till the finale!! I can't wait!!
L's real name is Lawliet, according to the manga.
OMG!!! You have got to be joking. You can't kill every single Kira that there is in the show. I have a problem with people dying after everything that they do.
Note:
Please be aware that the following type of comments will be deleted from now on: spams, comments containing l33t talk or rudeness. Check Animesuki, Tokyo Toshokan, or D-Addicts before asking where to find a series. If you want to post spoiler, please use <spoiler>write your spoiler here</spoiler> tags.
The comment area allows post without email address. However, all posters have to fill out the name field. If you have a question unrelated to the particular entry, please email: designchronicle@NOSPAMgmail.com. Make sure you remove the NOSPAM part of the email.