What Happened at the End of Death Note?

Death Note's ending garnered a lot of mixed reactions from its fans. Some felt that there were questions left unanswered, while some agreed that the end could not have been more perfect.

The story started when Light Yagami — a brilliant, bored high-schooler who embodied the "model student" persona — came across the Death Note: a supernatural notebook that allowed him to kill anyone within minutes provided that he knew the name and face of the person he wanted to kill.

Light immediately decided that he'd use the notebook to rid the world of criminals, but just as his dream was coming true, the legendary detective L took an interest in the case, triggering an epic battle of cat vs. mouse.

What started as a plan for a utopia quickly led to Light's slow descent into madness, and by the end, Light wasn't just a savior; he was a mass murderer.

So, how did it end?

What Happened At The End Of Death Note?

Near revealed that Makima's notebook was fake in the final episode and that the SPK had the real Death Note. When Takada was kidnapped, Makima unwittingly gave away the Death Note's location by trying to kill her, which allowed Near's team to replace it.

Shocked, Light tried to feign innocence. He claimed that he was being "set-up," but none of them believed him since everyone had heard his confession forty seconds ago.

Matsuda, overcome with rage at Light's betrayal, shot him. Makima, on the other hand, lost his mind and stabbed himself with this pen. Light used that as a distraction to run away.

As he tried to make his way to a safer spot, Light hallucinated his younger self walking towards him without the notebook. This scene expressed Light's remorse in his final moments and how he wished he never picked up the Death Note.

Ryuk soon realized that if caught, Light would be sent to prison and decided it wasn't worth sticking around. He killed Light by writing his name in his notebook.

It was a sad end to a boy with so much potential. Light died halfway through a flight of stairs, a subtle nod to the fact that his soul will go to neither heaven nor hell.

What Happened To Light After He Died?

There's an enduring theory that Light became a Shinigami after his death, but we don't have any official source to confirm that. The only thing we know about Light's afterlife is that he didn't make it to hell or heaven, while everything else remains speculation.

However, this theory by ScreenRant is one of the most interesting possible-scenarios Light could find himself in.

After a character who looked like Light Yagami made a cameo on the show, ScreenRant hypothesized that Light might have ended up in a bar from Death Parade. For those unfamiliar with the anime:

Death Parade is a reimagination of the concept of "hell and heaven." When people die, they end up at a bar, where they're asked to play intense games that determine their fates. If the players win, they get to reincarnate. But if they lose, they're shoved into a void of emptiness for the rest of eternity.

The bar itself operates like a purgatory, which would explain why Light might end up there. He could become a bartender like Decim, where his job description would entail "judging whether souls deserve to reincarnate." (Yagami has plenty of experience playing the judge, this would be perfect for him.)

But even if Light walked into the bar as a customer anticipating judgment, it would be a safe bet to assume that he'd get reincarnated.

Why Didn't Ryuk Help Light?

Ryuk didn't want to stick around waiting for Light to die a natural death. The Shinigami had only one motivation for staying on Earth: entertainment. And as soon as he realized that Light could no longer provide that, Ryuk decided it was best he die.

I've always thought this was a rash move on Ryuk's part. If anyone could escape prison (or at least make the process interesting), it would be Light Yagami.

But perhaps Ryuk saw something we couldn't. After all, it's best to end a story early than let it drag itself to ruins.

Did Misa-Misa Die In The End?

After Light's death, Misa was seen standing alone on the ledge of a building, implying that she had committed suicide. Author Tsugumi Ohba said he didn't have much time to fit Misa's story in the last chapter, but sometime after the manga's end, Matsuda might've accidentally told Misa about Light's death.

It is not surprising that Misa would prefer death in a world without Light. She told Rem as much when the latter declared she would kill Light if Misa got hurt.

Was Death Note's Ending Good?

Though many hoped Death Note would've ended after L's death, it's hard to ignore the fact that the original ending was a cinematic masterpiece. Light's death was executed like poetry. There was hardly any dialogue (besides Ryuk's sinister monologue, which only enhanced the experience), and the scene delivered everything it aimed to.

Light coming across his young self when he knew death was near conveyed his guilt and regret — both he and the audience were wondering what Light's life might've been like if he hadn't picked up the notebook.

Ryuk writing Light's name on top of the highest tower, while Light died halfway across the stairs was a nod to the fact that at the end of the day, Ryuk was the only God in this story, while Light, despite his attempts, could never get close to becoming one.

And lastly, L's apparition looming over Light during his final breaths was symbolic of their friendship and enmity. Even though L died, in the end, he was victorious.