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Did Netflix Make A Decent Death Note Film?

No [platonic] chemistry between Light and L? The entire manga condensed in 101 minutes? L made more passionate? Yeah, skipping this.

Light and L never had platonic chemistry. Light wanted L dead, and L was dead-set on proving Light was Kira.

mrsticky005 wrote:

" L has been transformed from a scruffy Japanese guy in a white sweater to an African-American man in a black hoodie" L is never once said to be Japanese in the manga or anime. The only thing we know about his background is that he grew up in England. That's it. We don't know where he was born, who his parents were. Nothing. Of course this doesn't disqualify him from being Japanese. But he could just as easily be Chinese, Korean, Russian, European, American, Hell he could even be extremely light skinned African. Honestly it's up for grabs.

I could have sworn that How to Read indicates L is half-Japanese, half-white. Or was that something in the BB Murders book?

Animeking1108 wrote:

Light and L never had platonic chemistry. Light wanted L dead, and L was dead-set on proving Light was Kira.

Respectfully disagree. If you didn't see the chemistry between the two characters at all then nothing I will say will convince you otherwise, but I can assure you many of us who read the manga and watched the anime did. And I am not even talking about the BL tinge at all, just strictly the chemistry between them as forced friends and rivals. Even sworn enemies share a chemistry sometimes, which allows for their struggle with one another to be that more fascinating. Light and L definitely had SOMETHING.

leafy sea dragon wrote:

mrsticky005 wrote: " L has been transformed from a scruffy Japanese guy in a white sweater to an African-American man in a black hoodie" L is never once said to be Japanese in the manga or anime. The only thing we know about his background is that he grew up in England. That's it. We don't know where he was born, who his parents were. Nothing. Of course this doesn't disqualify him from being Japanese. But he could just as easily be Chinese, Korean, Russian, European, American, Hell he could even be extremely light skinned African. Honestly it's up for grabs. I could have sworn that How to Read indicates L is half-Japanese, half-white. Or was that something in the BB Murders book?

Going by Wikipedia which lists How To Read as the source: When asked about L's ethnicity, Ohba responded saying "I think of him as a quarter Japanese, a quarter English, a quarter Russian, a quarter French or Italian, like that".

They both never underestimated each other's abilities, but Light had no interest in ever having any kind of emotional connection to L. He just wanted L dead no matter what.

MysteryOtaku wrote:

leafy sea dragon wrote: I could have sworn that How to Read indicates L is half-Japanese, half-white. Or was that something in the BB Murders book? Going by Wikipedia which lists How To Read as the source: When asked about L's ethnicity, Ohba responded saying "I think of him as a quarter Japanese, a quarter English, a quarter Russian, a quarter French or Italian, like that".

Which based on his appearance would also just make him generally Caucasian. He isn't Asian.

Seriously, why do people keep thinking L needed to be Japanese when the source makes it clear he's one of the few characters who isn't? The real kicker here for these angry weebs attempting to argue authenticity is the the actor Keith Stanfield, actually does hail where L is from. L is English, so is he.

razberry_yum wrote:

Animeking1108 wrote: Light and L never had platonic chemistry. Light wanted L dead, and L was dead-set on proving Light was Kira. Respectfully disagree. If you didn't see the chemistry between the two characters at all then nothing I will say will convince you otherwise, but I can assure you many of us who read the manga and watched the anime did. And I am not even talking about the BL tinge at all, just strictly the chemistry between them as forced friends and rivals. Even sworn enemies share a chemistry sometimes, which allows for their struggle with one another to be that more fascinating. Light and L definitely had SOMETHING.

They both never underestimated each other's abilities, but Light had no interest in ever having any kind of emotional connection to L. He just wanted L dead no matter what.

L on the other hand seemed to be just disappointed because he knew this. We know L didn't really have the luxury for friends and is generally a rather lonely person. Getting to know Light it is pretty much obvious that he thinks that under different circumstances they could have been friends and great allies. But he also didn't allow an emotional connection obscure his view of the Light he suspected all along.

They still were enemies through and through, and both knew this. L is just a little sad about this reality, but I doubt Light really is capable of much empathy at all so he never let that get to him for the most part. He's a sociopathic megalomaniac.

Hell, even that awkward scene with the feet washing (which I know was still a reference to the Bible) to me analyzing it was L realizing he was about to die, and almost trying to appeal to any kind of humanity Light had. He didn't want to die. He didn't want it to end that way.

"That said, there's not much chemistry between L and Light as they match wits, so I don't expect a lot of BL/slash doujinshi to come out of this film."

Seriously though, homosexual undertones aside, the cautious friendship between Light and L and the way they tried to outwit each other was one of the things I liked about the original manga; it was fun and fascinating. I hope in muting the chemistry we still get some remnants of that relationship.