Episode 25 marks a seismic shift in the plot. Without giving too much away for new viewers, the original rivalry that defined the first two-thirds of the show reaches a definitive conclusion. The antagonist dynamic changes completely, introducing new characters (Near and Mello) to replace the original cast.
However, because of the way the story is structured, many streaming services and fans divide that single season into two distinct "parts." If you look at Death Note on platforms like Netflix or Hulu, you will often see it labeled as "Season 1" (Episodes 1–25) and "Season 2" (Episodes 26–37). Here is why that confusion exists: 1. The "Change" at Episode 25 (Major Spoiler Warning) If you haven't finished the series, turn back now.
| | Episodes | What happens? | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Part 1: The L Arc | 1 – 25 | Light finds the notebook. L enters the chat. The greatest chess match in anime history. | | Part 2: The Near/Mello Arc | 26 – 37 | New successors rise. The pace quickens. The finale. | death note how many seasons
Let’s settle the debate once and for all. There is only 1 season of the core Death Note anime.
The anime adaptation ends exactly where the original manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata ends. There is no canonical source material for a Season 2. While there were one-shot special chapters released years later (featuring a new character named Minoru Tanaka), these have never been adapted into anime. Episode 25 marks a seismic shift in the plot
That’s it. One season containing .
Instead, appreciate the show for what it is: a perfect, self-contained . In an era of endless sequels and spin-offs, Death Note remains legendary precisely because it knew when to end. However, because of the way the story is
The story of Light Yagami and L is finished. Since there is technically one season, here is how to watch the 37 episodes: