Death Note is one of, if not the, most popular anime out there. Based on the manga of the same name, it is generally cited as one of the best animes ever created. It follows the story of Light Yagami, an extremely intelligent high school student who finds a Death Note, a notebook that can kill people by writing their name in it. Light then takes it upon himself to cleanse the world of all evil and starts killing criminals.
After gaining widespread popularity, the anime was adapted into a less-than-well-received live-action film by Netflix (and possibly a sequel). There are even rumors of a second season of the anime, but, unless it's confirmed, fans will have to make do rewatching their favorite episodes from season one. So, here are the top 10 episodes of the anime, according to IMDb ratings.
Spoilers for Death Note ahead!
E09 - Encounter | 8.4/10
"Encounter" is one of the most thrilling episodes in the series. Light manages to get the highest marks and gets into the prestigious To-Oh University. At the induction ceremony, he has to give a speech with another student who goes by Hideki Ryuga (the name is the same as that of a pop star). Hideki then goes on to reveal that he is, in fact, L, the lead detective on the Kira case.
The game of cat and mouse had reached an all-time high in this episode. Light berates himself on allowing L to get so close to him, saying he can't kill him now, not after they have just met: it's too suspicious. Besides, Hideki Ryaga was clearly an alias. Light then relaxes, saying L wouldn't have taken such a drastic measure if they had any evidence against him.
E11 - Assault | 8.5/10
After Kira supposedly broadcasts on Sakura TV, the police rush to stop it, leading to Ukita's death. Soichiro, Light's father then crashes into the station and manages to stop the broadcast, coming out more or less unscathed. But it turns out this Kira was not Light, but, in fact, another human who has a Death Note, which L also deduces.
The episode was action-packed from the start. The reveal that this Kira was not Light, but someone else with a Death Note and the Shinigami Eyes was also done very well and kept the audience guessing. It also introduces the fan-favorite character Misa Amane at the end.
E23 - Frenzy | 8.6/10
"Frenzy" is perhaps the most action-packed episode, from start to finish. After Higuchi fails in killing Matsuda by writing his alias in the notebook, he rushes to Yotsuba, then to Sakura TV where the task force members have set a trap for him, all in the hopes of killing him. However, he gets away, before being cornered on a bridge, where he is finally captured.
This episode shows just how far Higuchi would go to kill Matsuda, and viewers also see yet another showcase of L and Light's strategic skills, as they set an elaborate plan to capture Higuchi.
E36 - 1.28 | 8.6/10
The penultimate episode of the show, "1.28" sets the stakes even higher, as Near and Light finally meet and face off against each other. When the day to meet up finally arrives, the Task Force makes their way to the location, where they meet the SPK, Near's team.
Near reveals his plans of exposing Kira, which Light internally laughs at. While Near had switched the Death Note, Light had done so too. Mikami would be writing their names in the real notebook, killing them. After forty seconds pass, Light whispers that he won, and the episode ends in a cliffhanger.
E15 - Wager | 8.6/10
When Misa reveals herself to L as Light's girlfriend, Light realizes this was the perfect opportunity to see his real name. But, when Misa's manager takes her away, he calls her and realizes L stole her phone, then proceeds to tell him that Misa has been arrested on charges of being the Second Kira, as her DNA had been found on the tapes.
Misa is taken to an underground bunker and kept under strict guard. Rem advises her to forfeit ownership of the Death Note, which would erase all her memories of the killings. Later, Light tells Rem that he has a plan to save her, then tells Ryuk, "this is goodbye."
E04 - Pursuit | 8.6/10
Light tells Ryuk that he has a plan to find out the name of the individual who has been following him. He plans a date for Spaceworld with his classmate. On the bus, a drug dealer, who is being controlled by Light, gets on, and, through the powers of the Death Note, Light kills him, in the process, managing to find out the identity of his mysterious stalker—FBI Agent Raye Penber.
The episode shows just how clever, strategic, and ruthless Light is. By using the rules of the Death Note to his advantage, he manages to not only find out the name of an FBI agent trailing him, but also removing any suspicion Raye had on Light.
E07 - Overcast | 8.8/10
One of the best episodes of the show, "Overcast" really shows how smart both the writers of the show and the characters are. When Light discovers that Raye's fiance has been using an alias, he tries to get her to tell him her real name. He uses his communication skills and genius to coax her into joining the Task Force, and she then reveals her true name: Naomi Misora.
The episode again shows just how ruthless and clever Light is. The excellent writing and pacing of the episode make it that much more exciting to watch.
E02 - Confrontation | 8.8/10
The very second episode of the series, this was the episode that actually got the viewers hooked on to the show. The already engaging premise mixed with excellent writing and voice acting make this one of the best episodes in anime as a whole. When "L" seemingly comes on TV, Light kills him, believing he won.
The real L's voice then comes on TV, and he reveals man Kira just killed was a fake L. The real L explains how he has now locked on to Kira's position, and he will soon capture him. Light is flabbergasted, and the viewers of the show get their first taste of this cat and mouse game of wits between L and Kira.
E24 - Revival | 9.0/10
After Higuchi is captured, Light touches the Death Note, and all his memories return. He kills Higuchi with the notebook, becoming the owner once more. Kira is back! It is revealed that all of this had been Light's plan from the beginning, to free Misa. The notebook's existence is now known to the police.
However, Light had Ryuk write two fake rules in it, which completely removes suspicion from him. Misa finds a buried notebook and also regains her memories. L silently realizes at the end of the episode that he is about to die, and he makes his final arrangements.
E25 - Silence | 9.3/10
Known as the best episode of the series, and often said to be "the end of when Death Note used to be good," "Silence" brings the first chapter of Light's story to a close. When L reveals he plans to test the two fake rules for himself, Rem realizes Light had planned this, and she proceeds to kill Watari, even though she, too, would die.
Rem then kills L, who sees Light smiling evilly. Realizing he was right in his deductions, he dies peacefully. Light then hides Rem's notebook, saying he'll continue the Kira case. Later, he calls himself the God of the New World. The series hence closes the first chapter in a satisfying and fitting end.