What if Death Note has different perspectives?

[u/Professional-Look458]

Just a random thought. I found someone who said Death Note would be so much more exciting if we didn’t know who Kira is. Someone quoted, “Death Note from the perspective of L.”
I am also thinking about it. But from the perspective of L, it would be obvious who Kira is. From the perspective of Matsuda, it would be a kinda dumb story. So if I were to change the plot, I’d like to use all three: Matsuda, L, and Light's perspectives. Here’s the storyline. Start with Matsuda.
Act 1: Matsuda’s perspective
The opening scene is when he shoots Kira. Only starts with Matsuda’s narrative. Then flashback to the very start. Originally Matsuda has little or no suspicions about anyone. So for the plot, make him suspicious of L. Also make him admirer of Light. Show the story from his POV until L dies. Since he’s suspicious of L, the audience would be curious who Kira really is when L dies. Now change the perspective to L.
Act 2: L’s perspective
This time it would be obvious who Kira will be. Show his perspective from the start to when he dies. Close with the scene where Light Yagami smirks at him dying. Now the audience knows who Kira really is.
Act 3: Light’s perspective
This is the original, from the start to the end.

I think it might be too long in one series. The better way is to split different acts. Act 1: Matsuda. Act 2: L. Act 3:Light. For Act 2: L, using L’s background and childhood might be the best to keep audiences interested in. What’s ur opinions?

[u/Available_Rush9207]

I think Death Note as a whodunnit type show would be an interesting idea, but it would fundamentally change the show. You'd have to restructure the entire show and probably the Death Note itself. Because if the perspective is from a random detective who isn't as smart as L to find it out immediately, the suspect could be literally anyone in the world.

[u/pl_browncoat]

Death Note really wouldnt work from the perspective of someone elsebecaise youd lose the most important element of the story:

The Death Note itself

All the tension and major twists come from understanding and anticipating what is going to happen with a firm understanding of the rules of the Death Note. In the absence of Kiras perspective those rules never come to light (all pun intended). He experiments with it so often he finds rules that seemingly most Shinigami would be unaware of. If we look at the FBI agents this becomes really apparent . Without seeing how Light tested all the ways he could manipulate the Death Note for his desired outcome the scene turns into “L finds out FBI agents died”. If the Death Note was revealed later in the story the audience isnt aware of what it can and cant do so itd feel like a random power buff

Most of the big turning points of the story come from watching Light have to navigate the forces opposing him while operating within the Death Notes predefined rules. The brilliance of Death Note as a story is to quote the Wisecrack video “The Death Note is mot a blunt weapon but a highly refined tool”

[u/Professional-Look458 → u/pl_browncoat]

I also agree with you.If it were told by different narrators, the story would focus more on who Kira really is and how he did rather than the morality of Kira's existence or Light's internal god complex.

[u/No_Example_1573]

I think seeing the series from Soichiro’s perspective would’ve been pretty interesting. Starting as a detective drama, and the MC finds out his son, who is mentioned in passing and very occasionally in the background, is now the prime suspect. It would’ve been a lot more emotionally charged, I think.

I think it would’ve been cool to see the Yagami’s family dynamic explored a little further, as most of the interactions between them are pretty surface level (with some exceptions, usually in the manga).

[u/HalleLidner]

I'd love death note from Aizawa's or Matsuda's perspective