The WORST episodes of Death Note

Every episode of Death Note ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Death Note!

When a Japanese high schooler comes into possession of a mystical notebook, he finds he has the power to kill anybody whose name he enters in it.

Last Updated: 9/1/2024Network: Nippon TVStatus: Ended
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Vigilance
star
7.43
1097 votes

#1 - Vigilance

Season 1 - Episode 34 - Aired 6/6/2007

It is confirmed within the task force that Light is up to something in his meetings with Kiyomi. After exhaustive research, Near decides he can move into the final stages of his plan to expose and humiliate Kira.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ally
star
7.48
1337 votes

#2 - Ally

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/14/2007

Tensions rise among the Task Force as the Kira investigation continues with the close surveillance of the Yotsuba corporation. But when the Force finds that the police are no longer supporting the case, the members are forced to choose between keeping their jobs or resigning to continue searching for Kira.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Abduction
star
7.51
1290 votes

#3 - Abduction

Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 4/18/2007

Five years later, two new enemies prepare themselves to challenge Kira. While one tries to find Kira with the help of the newly established group, the SPK, the other takes a more drastic measure by kidnapping someone very close to Soichiro and Light.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Renewal
star
7.52
1215 votes

#4 - Renewal

Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 4/11/2007

A transmission intended for L's successor shows all of L's findings on the Kira case. Afterwards, Light furthers his plans for a utopia, dividing the world into those who support and those who fear Kira.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Scorn
star
7.56
1126 votes

#5 - Scorn

Season 1 - Episode 33 - Aired 5/30/2007

Near comes closer and closer to the truth about who is who. He lays traps for Kira as Kira does the same for Near, setting the stage for the mounting final battle.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Makeshift
star
7.57
1323 votes

#6 - Makeshift

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/28/2007

L has bugged the secret meeting in the Yotsuba corporation and the task force is divided between those who want to stop the killing by arresting the 7 members of the Yotsuba corporation and those who want to wait to know who is actually Kira.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Justice
star
7.73
1205 votes

#7 - Justice

Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 5/9/2007

Tensions heat up between Light and Near as Near collects more details on the Death Note. Information insults fly back and forth, and Light is forced to act, in fear that his identity as Kira and L will be exposed.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Impatience
star
7.75
1179 votes

#8 - Impatience

Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 4/25/2007

Near collaborates with Light in order to rescue Sayu, who is being held hostage in exchange for the Death Note.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Matsuda
star
7.78
1281 votes

#9 - Matsuda

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/21/2007

Matsuda makes the Kira investigation more difficult for the Task Force when he gets himself captured by the Yotsuba corporation.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Execution
star
7.83
1368 votes

#10 - Execution

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/7/2007

Getting nowhere fast, L thinks of a new plan to get Misa, Light, and Mr Yagami out of confinement. Meanwhile, Rem finds a new person to play as Kira.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Father
star
7.84
1146 votes

#11 - Father

Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 5/2/2007

Mortified over allowing the Death Note to fall into Mello's hands in order to save his daughter, Soichiro puts himself into harm's way in order to get it back.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Selection
star
7.85
1064 votes

#12 - Selection

Season 1 - Episode 32 - Aired 5/23/2007

Teru Mikami has always had a sense of justice and brought it upon himself to distinguish between good and evil. Now a grown adult, Teru serves under Kira and uses his newly acquired powers to choose a Kira spokesperson to replace Demegawa.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Transfer
star
7.91
1106 votes

#13 - Transfer

Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 5/16/2007

Kira's plan to kill Near backfires and suspicions arise in the Japan Headquarters concerning Kira’s true identity in Light. Kira realizes he must hand off the Death Note once again and finds a new follower.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Love
star
7.94
1376 votes

#14 - Love

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/27/2006

After seeing the message "Kira" sent, the task force decide to make a reply and adds Light to the force. Yet while the task force and L try to find the fake "Kira" Light has to find her first or else the existence of the Death Note will be revealed!

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Confession
star
7.97
1456 votes

#15 - Confession

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/10/2007

The Task Force and Light continue to try and find the second Kira based on the evidence they keep receiving from him. Little do the other officers know that Light wants to find him for the sake of bettering his position as Kira.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Malice
star
7.97
1089 votes

#16 - Malice

Season 1 - Episode 35 - Aired 6/13/2007

Light and Near agree upon a meeting place for the final confrontation. A key player is kidnapped and the end results are shocking.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Unraveling
star
7.97
1551 votes

#17 - Unraveling

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/2006

Furthering the Kira investigation, the remaining police force finally meets L.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Performance
star
7.98
1199 votes

#18 - Performance

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/7/2007

The Task Force uses Misa as a way to get closer to the Yotsuba corporation. But things get complicated when Rem tries to communicate with her.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Assault
star
7.99
1468 votes

#19 - Assault

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/13/2006

The Sakura TV station plans to air Kira's homemade videos. Little do they know that the videos will bring more than ratings.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Friend
star
8.00
1367 votes

#20 - Friend

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/17/2007

Light furthers his plans as Kira after meeting with the very annoying second Kira.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
New World
star
8.02
1320 votes

#21 - New World

Season 1 - Episode 37 - Aired 6/27/2007

The climactic battle between Light Yagami and L's successors finally comes to a close.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Guidance
star
8.04
1159 votes

#22 - Guidance

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/14/2007

Thanks to Misa, the Task Force now knows the identity of the new Kira and L plans an elaborate scheme to smoke him out of hiding.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dealings
star
8.04
1785 votes

#23 - Dealings

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/18/2006

Ryuk informs Light that he's being followed and asks Light if he wants to make a trade for his own Shinigami eyes. But at what cost?

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Doubt
star
8.05
1417 votes

#24 - Doubt

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/2006

L begins to profile Light through a game of tennis and brings up some questions regarding the Kira case hoping to figure out the truth about him.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Glare
star
8.11
1452 votes

#25 - Glare

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/22/2006

Discovering that L has gone so far as to tap his room with cameras, Light comes up with a plan to throw off his suspicions.

Directors: Tetsuro Araki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV