Light Yagami/Drama

"You can invest your life in something, and it might make you money, but it won't necessarily make you happy. As long as I can feed myself and spend my days in peace and stability, that's all I need. Or so I thought."

- Light Yagami (Episode 1)

Light Yagami (夜神月, Yagami Raito) is a main character in the 2015 television drama Death Note. After finding a Death Note, he begins using its power to kill criminals.

Appearance
Light is a young Japanese man with dark brown hair and brown eyes. As the series progresses, he wears increasingly dark and less colorful clothing.

History
Light grew up wanting to be a police officer like his father. But when his mother was dying in the hospital and his father couldn't be with the family because of his work, Light no longer wanted to be like his father and their relationship became strained.

By the start of the series, Light is an average college student who works part-time at a pub. He wishes to become a civil servant and shuns the idea of becoming a police officer.

Masaru Kamoda
Kamoda is a close friend of Light's and one of his classmates at Suginami University. Comprising much of his on-screen social life, Light regularly attends Ichigo Berry concerts with Kamoda and humors his fanatic interest in Misa Amane. Kamoda would visit Light at work, and encourage him not to miss class. When Kamoda learns Light and Misa are dating, however, he lunges at Light and is last seen sulking on the classroom floor.

Misa Amane
Light learns about Misa from his friend Kamoda, and the two regularly attend her concerts. When Kamoda tells Light that Misa's family was murdered, Light looks up the case and uses the Death Note to kill the man responsible, Nishida Kyu. Misa reaches out to Light after she sees him with the Shinigami Eyes at one of her concerts, and they begin working together and dating, although Light is concerned that this will raise suspicions against him. Light's views toward Misa notably shift from "just wanting her to be happy" and panicking when he learns that she's fated to die soon, to using her to further his own ambitions. Misa is last seen going out with her friends after losing her memories of the Death Notes, unaware that Light has died.

L. Lawliet
Light's first speaks to L through a phone call where he is accused of being Kira. They meet in person when L visits Suginami University and challenges Light to a tennis match. Throughout the encounter, L teasingly suggests Light is Kira, while the latter silently wishes to erase his enemy. As L leaves, he tells Light that, had he lost, he would have asked Light to be his friend.

When Light joins the task force, L is impressed by his abilities and claims Light is the first friend he has ever had. L states his influence has helped Light’s talent – for both deduction and manipulation – to bloom. Though occasionally claiming otherwise, L appears constantly suspicious that Light is Kira and tests him whenever possible, even during regular conversation.

Light is often frustrated by L’s smugness and duplicity. While being interrogated, he asks if L enjoys pushing him around and quips that L should take the lie detector test himself.

During their final confrontation, Light and L regret they could not have been genuine friends. When L unexpectedly dies afterwards, Light pretends to scream in horror and mourn his death.

In L’s final video message, recorded before the confrontation, he apologizes to Light for doubting him.

Quotes
''"I killed... two people. I killed them... I'm sorry, Dad." ''(Episode 1)

Lind L. Tailor: "Justice always wins."

Light: "No it doesn't. No it doesn't, that's why Kira was born!"

Tailor: "Kira, I will destroy your childish plans."

Light: "You think the police can do something like this? You can't! You haven't made a dent in the criminal population!"

Tailor: "Do you really think you're needed?"

Light: "It's making people happy. It's saving a lot of people. That's what Kira does! The things you can't do... Kira can do!" (Episode 1)

''"Our feelings are the same. I will do it. I will change the world! Ryuk. Let's make a trade. I'll trade you for the shinigami eyes! I'll do whatever it takes! The things no one else can do... So please... please... please! Ryuk!" ''(Episode 11)

Character changes
Light receives major character changes in the Japanese drama. At the beginning of the series, Light is an average college student who works part-time at a pub. Light wishes to become a civil servant and shuns the idea of becoming a police officer. He is also a fan of Misa Amane, and he regularly attends her concerts. He is far more prone to emotional outbursts compared to his manga counterpart, often crying when he feels cornered by L.

Due to his decreased intelligence level, Light proves to be much less competent as Kira than his other counterparts. For instance, instead of mining data about the Kira Investigation from his father's computer, Light simply asks Matsuda or his father about details pertaining to L and the investigation. His plan to kill Raye Penber and the FBI agents is also botched when the latter sees through the plan.

Over time, however, this incarnation of Light adopts more traits from his manga counterpart, becoming more ruthless and demonstrating a cerebral side to his character. By episode 6, Light's plans demonstrate intricacy that is close to his level of intellect in the manga. Nevertheless, Light continues to periodically act carelessly on his emotions and this leads to his eventual capture by police. He is eventually killed in a fire set by Teru Mikami in a failed attempt to escape arrest.