I HAVE A BAD FEELING - FIRST React to Death Note 1x6

[@SirStevenHoff]

Just as a heads up, Light has only killed people with heart attacks that the police and L know of. Even when controlling their actions, he had them die of a heart attack… it’s Kira’s calling card. So the thought of him killing in a way other than a heart attack is a major clue that brings new possibilities and brings much more suspicion to Light.

[@thefonz8373]

But I think L does know about the timeline of Kira attacks. His second kill, the guy who tried to SA who got hit by a bus or something. Maybe it is a random enough death that L probably didn't factor that in?

[@tbush6657]

I just noticed L did an accurate immitation of Light's speaking patterns when explaining his thought process of "You're the real evil ones"

[@infiniteshay8660]

As someone who also naturally sits like L and who has naturally sit like that since I was a toddler, L likely is high functioning autistic. Me personally I sit like that because my legs feel anxious when I don't. There's security and control when you do that squat. He later goes on to say he can't think when he doesn't sit like that and I totally understand, it's crazy. It's also super comfortable when you've been doing it for a while, and I have 25 years experience lol

[@MattJDave]

It should be noted there's a distinction between L and the Police knowing that Kira can control his victims before they have a heart attack and them knowing that Kira can kill without heart attacks (ie: With accidental death like the bus jacker). Naomi suspects the latter, L and the Police (at this point) only know the former.

[@lacel4753]

To answer your question about L's sitting position being possible, it's generally a pretty typical way to sit among people in China, but there's some speculation as to whether or not that's due to asian people having somewhat smaller body types than westerners or it just being far less comfortable for people in the west who didn't grow up doing it a lot, but either way yeah people do do it, however the writer sorta suggested that L's weird posture is meant to be indicative of autism

[@peffiSC2source]

I don't think it has to do with autism. In the manga there is a tidbit that says sitting like this increases L's concentration by 20% or some such.

[@Wollfanges]

i mean i'm really tall and from europe france and i can sit easily like that i often do it, it's an habit to have and your body is used to it

[@lucenyty]

I didn't know that not everyone could do that until recently

[@jpcsdutra]

The way of sitting like that in itself isn't autistic. The fact that he sits like that *on top* of chairs and couches can be midly autistic.

[@mavericksolomon395]

Sometimes when I’m really invested in a game or something, I’ll sit with one knee up like that and sort of lean my chest against it as a support. No clue why, but it’s not uncomfortable at all.

[@tbush6657]

I used to sit like that throughout most of middle and high school, long before I started watching anime/Death Note. I remember there were people who started sitting like that to immitate L. Posers I call them

[@DFAnton]

I love media that has an unapologetic villain protagonist. The sad and scary part is that so many fans actually take Light's side. Not just the "killing bad people" part, but the "killing those who get in the way" part.

[@MrZAP17]

Regarding the sitting, if I recall correctly in the post-series supplemental manga volume it's called out that Tsugumi Ohba, the writer of the manga, actually sits like that. Takeshi Obata, the artist, used that as one of L's many personality quirks to illustrate the character.

[@amandac.d.4216]

I'm impressed that, unlike a few other reactors I've seen, you immediately understood the Shouko Maki / Light situation and how Light is manipulating her! It's easy to dismiss how the actions of a manipulative antisocial person like Light can affect someone as vulnerable and alone as Raye's fiancee. Kudos! ✨

[@peffiSC2source]

As for L paying for the coffee table, he's actually very rich because him and Watari played the stockmarket to become billionaires due to their canonical genius intellect. Later on that wealth becomes a minor plot point to explain how L can afford random stuff. He's just loaded.

[@jpcsdutra]

Not only that, but solving such high profile cases as he does surely also pays quite the buck, and he's backed by intelligence agencies. Money would never be an issue for him regardless.

[@LukeJLB]

Fellow lit academic here--one of the most interesting parts of watching your reactions has been your immediate and instinctive understanding of Light as very clearly antisocial and amoral. He is that, doubtlessly, but many of us, especially those of us who were very edgy white boys who watched this show as children or in our young teens, often processed Light in the way we processed Naruto, Ichigo Kurosaki, and other shonen protagonists of that period. They were vehicles for our masculine power fantasies, and our mode of engaging with these stories was to imagine ourselves in these characters' shoes. Death Note was particularly alluring because our identification with Light felt transgressive--other shonen protagonists, even the ones with superpowers, still have to train, overcome opponents who have equal or stronger powers, etc., but with Light, we got "what if you could literally just kill anyone you wanted," and that particular fantasy was very easy to confuse with real intellectual exploration. As adults, we look at Light and very easily say "wow, this dude's a real sociopathic jackass," but as children, and particularly boys, Light's actions resonated in a way that I remain uncomfortable with into adulthood. It's especially interesting that you're also watching AoT, as there are some phenomenal parallels to get into there, later in the series--might be fun to check out F.D. Signifier's video on it once you're done. He speaks to some of the ways AoT's audience responded to its conclusion, and that might give you a deeper sense of how boys in the mid-late 2000's might have responded to Light. Anyhow, if you're ever looking for another anime to put on your plate and want to dust off your copy of Discipline and Punish, Psycho-Pass (s1, at least) is well worth your time despite a rough first episode.

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

AY!! Welcome fellow lit academic!! That is a really interesting perspective. I've done a lot of research into masculinity and the power dynamics but not through the lens of anime as a vehicle for masculine power fantasies so you've given me a new topic that I want to research and explore! I think, despite my gender, that I also would have related to Light as a jaded teenager. I think the reason I don't is primarily because my frontal cortex is fully developed and I can see just how slippery a slope Light is on with having such power and ego at such a young age.

[@MrZAP17]

@@DrSophieDarlingReacts Yeah, @LukeJLB is spot on. When I first read Death Note in high school in the mid 2000s, I was also an intelligent, arrogant, emotionally immature teenage boy, and I remember Light being very relatable because of that. That, along with the wonderful plotting, are what initially drew me in. The thing that always held me back though from relating to him fully was the actual context. I could never get behind the idea of killing others, even then. In fact, as the next few years went by I went into the complete opposite direction, into the realm of pacifism and even transhumanistic philosophy, rejecting death altogether. That's what finally allowed me to see Light for person that he is, and frankly also gave me some uncomfortable insights into my own psychology at the time. It was a valuable learning experience. Death Note is interesting because there aren't many stories for that age with that kind of nuanced villain protagonist. There are antiheroes, but you can still get behind their motives. With Light, you can't deny the evil of his actions or the narcissistic delusion of his motivations, but he's still the viewpoint character whose perspective you see the story through, so you can't help but empathize with him, especially if you haven't experienced much similar fiction before. And the anime, more than the manga, treats him as more of a tragic villain at certain points. In the Death Note fandom, every once in a while you'll come across a new fan, usually younger, maybe who only saw the anime, who thinks that Light was in the right, and it's always distressing to see that but you can understand how they got to that point, especially if they might come from a more conservative background that accepts capital punishment as just. When discussing with these fans, you really can't pull any punches, because Light's philosophy even taken at face value is poison.The truth is Light is not a morally nuanced character: everything is ego. He talked about killing only criminals and the moment someone challenged his worldview he didn't hesitate to kill them. He will kill anyone to save himself, or even to just make himself feel better about himself. He really has no redeeming qualities, and the writers hammer this in again and again throughout the story, and it only ever gets worse. I know it will be a while, but I look forward to seeing your assessment of Light after the last several episodes of the series, and also your assessment of how he is portrayed in those episodes. I suspect your opinion will be unchanged, but you'll have a lot to say about the end. And when you get there, I would actually suggest reading the final volume of the manga (vol. 12) as well to compare, because there are important tonal differences, and that's the biggest thing that trips anime only fans a lot about Light.

[@tjarkschweizer]

In a way, death note is the anime version of breaking bad. The main character in both shows is actually the villain and their character can be reduced to their ego. And a lot of immature men fail to see this in both cases.

[@peffiSC2source]

The next episode is one of the best ones in the show. Also, there is a novel regarding Mrs. Penber working on another murder case. It's an intersting read for DN fans.

[@freakcan]

Maki isn't married, only a finacee.

[@aarslandrakes473]

2:46 That's a common way to sit in asia. But doing this on a chair is awkward.

[@Driahva]

I once caught my japanese school friend sitting like L. That led to the first time we ever talked. 👌

[@adamhurd1560]

We've all tried sitting like L at one time or another. Welcome to the club haha.

[@jpcsdutra]

It's slightly serendipitous, but the most serendipity the series has is actually the fact that Light is the son of such a high ranking police officer. For the purposes of some things getting into place at least, if we think of the odds, Light getting the notebook was more than 1 in 8 billion anyway, so his position in life is a lot less consequential. Overall the show is pretty good because it's a good police mystery with a magical weapon instead of being a show about a magical weapon.

[@quieness]

I have never looked up into it, but the way L sits is a very stereotypical way of sitting depicted in movies with asian gangsters xd It is possible to sit like that and some people do it when they sit on the floor for example. I myself, tho not asian, not even close, can and do sit like that. As a matter of fact i've sat like that since i was a boy, sometimes* even on seats. Back then when i was like 14ish somebody i met in school asked me I sit like that because of L, but i hadn't watched DN so i had no idea what he was talking about, its just very comfy for me x'd Then i caught some DN episodes on a network channel and was like: hey, anime on tv, thats unsual, lets see whats about. And then i came to know who L was and was like OOOHHH this guy is who i sit like x'd Ps. i'm pretty sure it must have something to do with articulations and body mass too. I'm very thin person and i think my joints are more flexible than average. Ive noticed most people who try sitting like that, cant bend their knees as far as to make it so that your posterior is met with your ankles.

[@isabelvenegas7000]

About how L sits, I always sit like that because I'm hyperflexible and sitting "normally" usually makes my back hurt while sitting like L is super comfortable. I'm also autistic and being hyperflexible is really common in autistic people, which I also think L is. Sitting like that also feels really safe, idk why.

[@InocencioPatronJr]

its easy to sit like L, asian people do this in rural areas... its easy if you are used to it and been doing it since a kid...

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

I can squat without issue but doing it on a chair would be a struggle haha!!

[@Wyrd-Oh]

Light's way of thinking is spinning exactly the way that L said it would; the people who protect the guilty are also guilty, and anyone trying to stop him is protecting the guilty.

[@shadowdude9181]

L’s sitting position is weird. He addresses it a little later in the series, briefly lol

[@ryoka2399]

So glad that you changed to the English dub as it is my personal favourite ^_^

[@mantra7552]

when light killed her, that's when he became from a really good main character to a god for me. This episode was just beautiful

[@PMProut]

I always thought that L sat that way because he's not physically strong, and thought that he mostly eats sweet things because that feeds the brain

[@PatheticApathetic]

The next episode is my favorite. It’s so good

[@yusrawaleed9772]

In Breaking bad, (idk if you'd watched it or not so I will keep it spoiler free) Jesse say, "Mr. White is the devil. He is smarter than you, he is LUCKIER than you!" These psychpaths really tend to have luck on their side which may be the reason that gives them God complex. It's the feeling of being untouchable. That they're so superior that inexplicable factor like luck favors them. Light saying "it's like god is on my side" shows that complex

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

I feel like I now need to add Breaking Bad to my watch list haha!!

[@TheFireMonkey]

Actually, in Japanese philosophy, Blue represents calmness, stability, and security as well as being a lucky color, and dark blue represents mystery, intelligence, and the profound. Red, by contrast, represents authority, strength, sacrifice, joy, and happiness, and, ironically in this case, it is believed to ward off evil spirits. I would say without question that the colours are being used symbolically, that is typical in aname, but I would expect the Japanese symbolism - though you are right that at least some of the material here is drawn on Christian symbology. I would, however, suggest that from Kira's viewpoint, the Japanese interpretation of Red would fit him. So perhaps the colours are drawing on western ideas but I would not dismiss the Japanese view point.

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

I'm aware 😊 I just wanted to look at the show from a new lens of symbolism as I thought it was interesting to delve into.

[@TheFireMonkey]

@@DrSophieDarlingReacts It is - I love looking at the symbolism used in shows and good anime definitely used a lot of symbolism.

[@Lo0serx3]

don't worry, you'll find out why he sits like that :p also you missed an important detail in the police station scene! Light has helped them solve cases before

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

I didn't miss it 😂 I believe it was mentioned also before this episode that he's helped the police.

[@skiwlz]

Red and blue don't contrast on the color wheel. They are dominant or primary colors. Contrasting would be red and green or blue and orange but I understand what you're getting at. I don't think the any of visual style is without meaning and likely several interpretations at that. Nothing is mere coincidence or has been left to chance in this show which is why it works so well if you've rewatched it 5, 10, three dozen times as most of us have 😂

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

Yeah sometimes I flub what I'm trying to say haha! I meant contrasting colours as in dominant colours but just failed to explain it very well. That's on me. Thank you for the correction 😂😊

[@skiwlz]

@@DrSophieDarlingReacts no worries. I like your explanation of the religious aspect of the show and the one episode that you noted the pagan origins and whatnot. Keep up the great reactions 😁

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

@@skiwlz My friend did send me an article regarding the red and blue trop being related to the myth of the Red and Blue Oni so I need to defo read into that!!

[@skiwlz]

@@DrSophieDarlingReacts Hold onto that theory but also remember that L described the similarities between himself and Light. 😯

[@conrad_os]

he got lucky that time, but for him it is a confirmation that his path is righteous

[@legonenen]

2:35 I've... Unironically... sat just like L does at times XD

[@i_think_i_am_lost]

All the people who died from the weird "rituals/actions" still died from heart attacks after they did the things that Light made them do.

[@The5armdamput33]

I think you misunderstood a few things..... Light didn't actually know about Ray Penber's fiance.... he wasn't investigating him; he was just lying.... He threatened Penber's family... and when Penber said "how did you know about her?!" out of fear, Light seized the opportunity....

[@probablysomeguy4806]

I’d like to think that L sits like Batman perched on top of a gargoyle.

[@kuroiyuri186]

I sit like L xD Since I was a child. My knees are on my chest all the time. It is comfy when you always sit like that. But if you are not used to it, or you are not flexible enough, probably it is not very convenient. :"D

[@riddle8999]

I definitely sit like L does and have sat like him since I was a kid lol. It is actually the most comfortable way for me to sit. I don't do it in public or around others like he does (unless I'm at a music festival and have been standing for hours on end and wanna take a little break without sitting on the dirty floor). But I do it at home, and I eat in that position when I am alone LOL.

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

Like I squat down but usually on the ground not on a chair! That's what threw me haha!

[@riddle8999]

@@DrSophieDarlingReacts oh i def do it on chairs and sofas when im home alone 😭 dont think that is normal people behavior though. my cousins showed me and my brother death note when i was really young cuz they told me a character reminded them of me LOL. when they pulled it up for us to see, i was already sitting like that on the computer swivel chair 💀 right on cue

[@e4jasperi]

I sit like that. Is comfy if you are accustomed to it and are flexible.

[@SO5640-o4n]

Apparently it's normal and comfortable for asian people to sit like L does due to their genetics and body strucure.

[@Driahva]

Whoooaaaaa! We're so close to 5k!

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

SO WILD TO ME!!

[@thekamotodragon]

Good analysis!

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

Thank you!!

[@Wollfanges]

i do sit cross legs on my computer chair or 1 leg cross and the other knee up against my chest i hate to sit "normally"

[@emperornguyen]

Hes the ultimate "asian squatter"

[@masikohhhaaa]

crisscross sitters unite

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

Let's goo!!!

[@NicolasJimenez-o6t]

The next episode will blow your mind a little haha

[@Lo0serx3]

don't worry, you'll find out why he sits like that :p

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

GOOD haha!!

[@jimmyabort8763]

Important question: what's your favorite short, dark and handsome? Levi or L? 😂

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

Levi for sure! I'm too old for L 😂

[@jimmyabort8763]

​@@DrSophieDarlingReacts no you are not! 😂Btw L is 25. But I get it, Levi is a heartthrob 😂

[@TheFireMonkey]

I do sometimes [sit like that] but then I have a tendency to sit on the floor, most often squatting, and that goes back 55 years when I started Kung Fu. I find sitting on a chair is a bit uncomfortable.

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

I definitely squat on the ground but not like that in a chair!

[@TheFireMonkey]

@@DrSophieDarlingReacts Well, I do, or sit sort of cross-legged or with one foot under my butt and the other foot on the chair with that knee tucked under an arm ... so I relate to L, though I was doing it long before he was around 🐒

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

@@TheFireMonkey Oh I do that with the cross legged but also sitting fully cross legged on my chair. Usually how I'm sitting when I film these reacts hence why I shift around a lot because I need to move my leg as it's going numb haha!

[@TheFireMonkey]

@@DrSophieDarlingReacts I'd say more than half the time, I sit more like L is if I am not typing and such. When I am typing, then it is more likely I'll be cross-legged or maybe have 1 leg down with me sitting on the other leg.

[@VladdViever]

I very much love the Dub for Death Note, but since your commentary is happening while the characters are speaking it can make it hard to understand you at times. Maybe adjust the mix or include the English subtitles so that we can follow along a bit better ? Love the reacts so far, good luck!

[@gregsmith4225]

2:13 triggers every asian race ever!!!

[@SuperFreeEducation]

ITs a squat but on a chair

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

Yeah it's the squatting on the chair that threw me

[@Oathkeeperclash]

sorry to bring up the sub/dub nonsense again but i'm just now realizing how quiet the OST in the english version is.

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

Oh it's quiet because of copyright - has nothing to do with the SUB/DUB haha! I have to play with the music

[@Oathkeeperclash]

@@DrSophieDarlingReacts ohhh interesting thanks for the clarification and also the content

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

@@Oathkeeperclash Of course! Just wanted to let you know that it's definitely not the show haha! Copyright is so strict with Japan so I've had to filter out the background music and lower it down!

[@フフ-h9h]

im japanese

[@mabithebard]

I'm sure you get tons of anime recommendations, but rather than recommending a specific show I have a more broad suggestion: A lot of the times when I see people begin their anime journey, they only watch shounen (targeted towards adolescent boys) or seinen (targeted towards adult men) anime, because the anime industry and community in general sadly prioritize male-targeted works over female-targeted ones. Hence, I'd like to recommend you check out some shoujo (targeted towards adolescent girls) or josei (targeted towards adult women) anime. There's a whole world of shows out there that a lot of newcomers miss out on.

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

I do have some on my list that I want to watch like Sailor Moon and Card Capture Sakura and Fruit Basket but if there's any recommendations I'd love to hear them!!

[@mabithebard]

@@DrSophieDarlingReactsI haven't seen the other two (I keep meaning to get around to them) but the 2019 remake of Fruits Basket is one I definitely recommend, it's a masterpiece!!! Specifically the 2019 remake, the original anime doesn't accurately adapt the manga and is nowhere near as good. Other favorites of mine are Yona of the Dawn (this one doesn't finish adapting the full manga and never got renewed for a second season so it ends on a cliffhanger but is still worth the watch), Twelve Kingdoms (another incomplete adaptation but a masterpiece), Revolutionary Girl Utena (major trigger warnings for this one), and Rose of Versailles (this one is not only an extremely influential classic but it was also the first ever female-targeted manga to achieve mass critical success). With the exception of Yona of the Dawn and Fruits Basket, though, most of my favorites are not very popular so might not garner many views on your channel😅 Rose of Versailles is also from the 70s and some people don't like the old animation. I also must admit I myself need to watch more shoujo/josei anime

[@Koga24]

sorry but I must say this 🙂‍↕️ I like your reactions and analysis but I find it rather stressful that you talk over the video 🙂‍↔️ I'd like it more if you either put again subtitles (even if the audio remains in English), or just pausing the video when you have something to add I hope I explained it well as English is not my first language, I'm trying my best to no come out rude 🥲

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

I did try to turn on subtitles but it's not an option on the site I'm watching on. I also tried another site and also not an option for the dub which is annoying. I have been pausing more though in future episodes. The reason I wasn't pausing was because I had a lot of backlash when I started my Reacts for pausing too much and that kinda made me nervous to pause so I do apologise that it's been stressful because I've also been stressed about pausing 😅❤️

[@Witheringdawn2]

Loving the reactions so far but please pause when you talk or you might miss things because you talk over dialogue.

[@DrSophieDarlingReacts]

Trust me - I haven't missed anything. I'm still listening even as I talk. The sound is louder than my voice in my ears.