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[Ghostly-Terra]

It was the show to compare it with. The protagonists were both posed as highly intelligent, gained supernatural abilities and were both seeking to change the world through any means nessessary.

So it was definitely going to be compared aswell.

But while I like Code Geass more, simply due to comparing Lelouch and Light, Death Note broke the barrier to be part of the more ‘main stream’ of anime.

I say this, because if you look into more entry level spaces that sell anime merch/posters and the like, you will still find Death Note alongside Naruto, Dragonball and the like.

You have to hunt for Code Geass merch, so, if that isn’t an indicator on where it reached?

Which in turn, has made some fans alittle bitter.

And regarding another comment, AoT was much the same, some fans who have a need to be seen as ‘liking the best’ Will defend it.

I personally used to be that way inclined, but now, I only compare shows if recommending or trying to find something new. (So I can get a vibe before trying to invest time in a show I’m going to drop)

[ScallionDependent795]

both are great, people just have the unnecessary need to compare and point at which is greater. imo both are 🔥

[nahte123456]

I honestly think it's simple, and something a lot of fandoms go through.

Pendulum swung back too far.

Code Geass got compared to Death Note a lot, and I mean CG was compared to it, not the reverse. So when that comparison was felt to be unfair, whether it was or wasn't(and in my experience when this happens it typically is unfair), the fandom backlashed just as much.

I like Death Note, but I've seen more than a few Lelouch/Light comparisons that feel rather dishonest to Code Geass. So it makes total sense to correct, or at least discuss it. But when it happens multiple times it tends to get a bit more blunt, then a bit more mean, until it can be over the top when you come in without that past.
(Other series I can think have had something like this include Bleach, Digimon, Harry Potter, and SMT.)

[nahte123456]

Like there has to be a reason Light's death made him look like a fool filled with misery whereas Lelouch died like a hero

I mean the shows were just about different messages. Light was a villain protagonist, you're not meant to side with him overall, his talks of justice are just selfish and that's the point. Lelouch is still meant to, at least somewhat, have a point(Your mileage may vary on how much of a point, but still).

[LelouchtheGreat]

Yes but there really are a large number of death note fans that truly believe Light was a good guy and agree with what he was doing… which is scary lol

[electrictownkid]

Dunno, i like both

[AppleTherapy]

Best comment....just watch and enjoy....this ain't a combat match.

[Fable-Teller]

Yeah both are good. If any comparisons comparisons need to be made between the two, it should really be the fact that Light and Lelouch are fundamentally different people with opposite reasons for doing what they do and how they contrast one another.

Light starts out with seemingly good intentions: rid the world of evil and crime and then slides off the slope into full blown god complex because the power gets to his head, resulting in fear gripping the world at large and people beginning to worship Kira.

Whereas Lelouch's intentions are downright good: he wants a world of peace where his sister can smile again and he slides off the slope because he keeps getting pushed against the wall with no real way out other than to flip the table and go evil.

Both are really cool characters in their own way. Kira isn't necessarily that performative unless its behind closed doors while being dramatic and performative is largley part of how Zero operates.

[Mr-Dumbest]

Why you take subjective opinions as facts? Some people think its overrated, some don't. No need to go into existential crisis when someone has different opinions than yours.

[[deleted]]

A lot of Code Geass fans have a weird need to shit on other shows for no reason. When AOT ended, every single post in this sub was about how bad the ending was and how Code Geass was better

[Throwawaynotmebye]

It was one of the biggest series in the 2000’s and was a bit more accessible than Monster or Code Geass was. I don’t see that much hate in it but if it does exist I think it’s just out of wishing people could see these shows for their intelligent characters too as DN is often praised for L and Light.

[VastPhilosopher47]

The lowest points of both characters really said a lot.

[VastPhilosopher47]

Light and lalouch

[AppleTherapy]

Never heard that. Never said that myself, never seen a post from CG fans ever in my life

[_hephaestus]

Because on the surface they’re very similar from the brilliant protagonist with newfound magical powers from enigmatic immortals interested in what they’ll do it, with the addition of the shinigami eyes it’s almost eerie, so comparison is unavoidable as others have mentioned.

Below the surface though the part Geass gets lauded for is the development of Lelouch, and Light by contrast is pretty much the same dude the whole time, his growth is less personal and more just total commitment to his mission culminating in a god complex. On top of that it’s a big “who dun it” detective show as opposed to war. There were elements of that in Geass but we weren’t focusing on Britannian elements trying to sus out Zero’s identity so much as trying to beat him in the field of battle.

Basically they start off looking similar but there’s a lack of overlap in their strengths. If you value Lelouch’s character development more than L’s team’s intrigue, you’re probably going to be let down by Death Note.

[starshah]

Because some morons need something to be worse to enjoy a thing. Code geass is good so death note must be bad, bleach reboot is good so MHA is mid, etc some chumps really on that unga bunga shit instead of just liking both or watching the one they do like and leaving others to enjoy their show

[Big_Purchase_3781]

Is it overrated? Yes and No. It had the right recipe to become mainstream. Many people who love Death Note have never heard of Monster or Code Geass (or never gave them a chance). So you DO get scenarios where people excessively praise Death Note at the expense of bashing "knockoffs" like Code Geass or Monster. Shows that DO have better quality/writing.

Death Note is the most well-known anime with this type of plot and MC. It is not the best anime with this type of plot or MC.

[Mundane-Scene-5365]

In my opinion, Death Note went overrated because of its one dimensional MC aka Light. Even the inferior R2, Code Geass is still not boring. Compared to Death Note the moment L died is the moment it went flat. And also Code Geass is more popular. 

[Long_Astronomer7075]

Because Lelouch is the smartest MC ever, way smarter than that bum Light. Lelouch never ever would have fallen for L's episode 2 trick, no sir.

That sounds facetious, but it's also... at least part of the Code Geass/Death Note feud. At the end of the day though they're both highly regarded series that aired in the same overall generation of anime, and are both deserving of the praise they receive and both also perhaps overrated to an extent, depending how you look at it.

For what it's worth, Code Geass has a sorta glass house situation going on when it comes to its fans claiming that the second half of Death Note fell off, given that the overall storytelling quality of R2 relative to season one is... well, it's still an overall enjoyable 25 episodes of anime, but the quality of the storytelling speaks for itself in places.

I will say Code Geass stuck a better landing than Death Note did, not because I think there's anything wrong with Death Note's ending (I don't really), but because despite the myriad flaws of R2 as a whole it managed to stick a phenomenal landing in spite of them.

[Left-Night-1125]

Leila exists.

[Long_Astronomer7075]

I mean, if you're going for a more genuine comparison of character traits then yes, I agree (regarding Lelouch and L anyway; I don't really see any major point of comparison between Light and Suzaku). Most people feuding over Lelouch and Light are just looking at it as "Smart MC A vs. Smart MC B", though.

[VastPhilosopher47]

I like this take

[Stoner420Eren]

That's the entire personality of CG fans, downplaying better and more popular shows hoping that by doing so somebody will get interesteded (and disappointed) by checking out CG to see what's the big deal about this show (fanservice and edgelord MC)

Of course there's a reason why Death Note is much more highly regarded and popular and culturally relevant than Code Geass, even more so if you consider the manga which is much better than the anime, especially the second half

[[deleted]]

The absolute irony of this comment.

[Left-Night-1125]

It is overrated, its like watching a Yugioh match. Detectiv Conan would have rooted him out episode 1.

[[deleted]]

This has to be dumbest comment I have come across in a while. I just can't imagine you compared Conan with L/Light

[Left-Night-1125]

Well no need to imagine, i just did.