Research and Linking Pt. 1-Death Note

http://cjblackwing.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/review-death-note-vol-12/

Recently, I've become obsessed with this anime called Death Note. So, I thought I'd find a blog and see what others think about it.

First, let me tell you about the show. Light Yagami is the main character, later he becomes known as Kira, but I'll get into that later. Anyway, Light is a normal high school senior in Japan, stressing about college and growing up, studying constantly, and, oh yeah, being the top student in his class. Lately, Light has been realizing how horrible of world he lives in and how much he wishes he could change.

That wish may come true.

At the same time, Ryuk, a shinigami (god of death), is bored and sick of his world as well. Shinigami are creatures from another world that write the names of humans in a Death Note and get that humans' remaining years added to their life-span. So, to cure his boredom, Ryuk "accidentally" drops his death note in the human world and, since a death note becomes part of the human world once it touches the ground, must remain with the human who finds it until they die.

As you may have already guessed, that human is Light.

Throughout the series, or the episodes I've seen, Light uses the Death Note to rid the world of criminals so he can become the ruler of a perfect world. The police, however, don't like this too much.

L, a very young detective who keeps to himself and never lets anyone know his real name or who he is, becomes interested in Kira, taken from the English word "killer" and does whatever he can to catch him. L has never failed an investigation in his life. This case, however, may be his first.

What I find so interesting about this show is that you don't know who the good guy is or the bad guy. One is a killer, but he does it to make the world a better place. He does what many humans only wish they could do. The other is trying to catch this killer, making him good, but should he be against making the world a better place?

The person who wrote this blog isn't too fond of this show, and I completely understand. It's something you'd either really, really like or really, really hate. This blogger, however, also asks some very interesting questions.

Is it okay to kill a criminal, especially if they've killed others? Is it ever okay to kill someone? How much freedom are we willing to give up to be protected?

I'm not sure how I feel. Those questions really make you think. The right answer to the first question is obviously no. It's what we're taught to say, but most people are really thinking "Maybe if those who do wrong were gone, there would be less murder and crime." I'm sure a lot of people think criminals should die, but do they say anything? No, of course not. No one would risk being criticized for saying it, even if those criticizing are thinking the same exact thing.

What am I willing to give up to be protected? That I don't know how to answer. I would really like to feel safe in this world, but am I willing to give up my privacy, my friends, my life? I don't think so. Am I willing to give up my morals? Am I willing to sacrifice everything just so I don't have to constantly be worrying about everything? I really don't know.

What do you think?