Code Geass Vs Death Note

Death Note and Code Geass follow the tales of two men looking to change the world to suit their own vision. For Light, he wants to rid the world of crime. With his Death Note, he can easily wipe that slate clean. But what happens when Light himself begins to believe in his own legend as “Kira: God of the New World”? Will there be any bit of the idealistic law student left when he finally goes off the deep end? Code Geass’s Lelouch seeks to start a rebellion in a conquered Japan, in order to avenge the death of his mother and the trauma it caused his sister, Nunally. Like Death Note, the story of Lelouch tends to keep things on a teetering slope as to how far Lelouch will go to win. There’s also the addition of super powers and mecha, which bring much more to the plate. Code Geass is grand in the scope of its tale. However, Death Note’s plot feels a bit more grounded in their approach. The twists actually make sense and are feasible whereas Code Geass often turns to the absurd. Death Note takes the first round. Code Geass: 0 / Death Note: 1

Stories as large as Death Note and Code Geass require a cast capable to supporting its weight. For its global scale, Death Note’s cast is pretty small. Naturally, there’s L, the genius detective who's intellect matches Light's almost blow for blow. Misa Amane, Light's girlfriend with a Death Note of her own and Shinigami Eyes. And, of course, the scene stealing Shinigami Ryuk. Each character keeps Light on his toes, acting as either deterrent or enforcer of his plans. Code Geass’ cast is pretty huge by comparison. And yet, against those numbers, the writers do a pretty good job of fleshing everyone out. Each character has a way of testing Lelouch’s resolve and the state of his moral compass. From Lelouch’s main rival, and former best friend, Suzaku, to his harem of beautiful love interests, to some damn likeable villains, every corner of Lelouch’s life is covered and explored by this cast, adding to the story’s lore and world building. Not bad at all for such a sizable group. Code Geass: 1 / Death Note: 1

Both Code Geass and Death Note dish out cliffhanger endings, mid episode plot twists and dramatic deaths in spades. With Death Note, it’s all about how much Light can get away with and still not give away his Kira identity. With so many wrenches thrown into his plans, will Light remove them violently or put them to use? And then, just when you think it’s over for Mr. Yagami, the unthinkable can happen. The show teaches you that the worst can and will happen. Code Geass has a habit of ending episodes with fingers barely holding onto the edge. Characters change sides at the drop of a dime. The suspense reached the ultimate fever pitch during the epic Season One finale. Seeing Lelouch and Suzaku staring each other down, guns pointed, followed by a cut to black and a gunshot left us wanting more. Death Note, however, has moments like this built into every single episode. The show’s suspense had our hearts racing so much, you’d think Light himself wrote our names in his book. Code Geass: 1 / Death Note: 2

Is it wrong to want to root for both of these guys? Light and Lelouch are two of the strongest and most beloved characters in all of Anime. You’ve gotta admire just how cool Light is under pressure. Even when his plans get derailed, he’s always looking two or three steps ahead to counter the authorities hot on his trail. He’s also a decent guy, when he’s not, you know, plotting to kill. Deceit is the name of the game and Light plays it oh so well. Lelouch is a handsome, popular and freedom fighter with a cause. While Light can instill terror as Kira, Lelouch can do the same as well as inspire, under the guise of Zero. It’s no accident that Lelouch’s Black Knights started with a few dozen and rose in ranks steadily to include an entire nation. He’s got a flair for the theatrical and knows the right words to say. A bit more likable than the fear inducing “God of the New World”, Lelouch scores a point for Code Geass. Code Geass: 2 / Death Note: 2

We’re at the final round and these two have matched each other almost blow for blow. But what about the special set of skills seen in both shows? Besides Code Geass’s army of badass mecha and their naturally gifted pilots, you have the power of Geass itself. The power varies from person to person: Lelouch can command anyone to do what he wishes; Rolo can alter peoples perception of time for a short period; Mao can hear anyones thoughts. It’s a lottery, but its damned interesting. Death Note has…well the Death Note. The power to kill someone by writing their name down on a piece of paper? That’s not just scary, it is downright terrifying. No one is safe and anyone’s time could be up, depending on the whim of whoever has it in their possession. There are other abilities that pop up like the Shinigami Eyes, which enable users to see anyone name and lifespan. What makes these powers so compelling is the rules surrounding them and how the characters must work within these guidelines to pull of their goals. As entertaining as Geass abilities can be, the terror factor of a Death Note trumps all. Code Geass: 2 / Death Note: 3 So, in the end, the powers of Death Note’s storytelling and unexpected surprises managed to top Code Geass’ mecha and super powered rebellion. Was this the outcome you expected? Did you see this duel ending another way? For more nail biting, suspense filled videos published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com