8 Big Changes The Death Note Remake Made
3. Light's Backstory
In the manga, Light doesn’t have a distinct backstory. There isn’t one specific event which motivates him to become Kira. Light is simply a bored student who is tired of injustice. In the remake, his motivation for becoming Kira is very distinct. His mother was murdered by a criminal who escaped unscathed. Justice failed Light, so he decides to take it into his own hands.
The remake made a number of problematic changes, but this one is okay because it gives Light a clear reason for becoming Kira, so his first intentional murder has a lot of significance. However, this murder also causes James Turner to figure out that Light is Kira. This is a bonus change, since he never finds out in the manga.
Light Turner isn’t exactly the brightest person to grace our screens.