Which Episode Features The L Symbol Death Note Reveal?

That iconic reveal of the stylized 'L' in 'Death Note' always gives me goosebumps — and if you're trying to pin down the episode, the clearest moment you’re probably thinking of is Episode 2, titled 'Confrontation.' That episode is where the world first gets a full sense of who (or what) L is: he makes his presence known publicly, communicates directly with the authorities and the nation, and establishes himself as Kira’s opposite. Visually, the series teases L with shadowy silhouettes and his trademark pose, and the association of that curvy, Gothic 'L' mark with the investigation is cemented very early on.

Episode 2 does a lot of the heavy lifting in setting up the psychological battle between Light and L. The show introduces L’s methods and eccentricities, and you get the first real interaction of cat-and-mouse energy that defines the series. While the actual physical detail of an 'L' symbol stamped on a Death Note page isn’t the central focal point, the way L’s identity (and his signature symbol) is used as a thematic reveal — publicly confronting Kira and essentially planting his presence in the investigation — is what most fans recall. After Episode 2, the 'L' emblem becomes a recurring visual motif: you'll see it on envelopes, as part of his correspondence, and as a logo in different contexts tied to him.

If you’re hunting for scenes where the stylized 'L' itself is graphically shown (as opposed to L being introduced in silhouette or voice), keep an eye through the early run of episodes and some key moments later on where he communicates with the task force or leaves a mark. The anime loves to replay symbolism: the pose, the sugar-eating, the lanky posture, and yes, that curly 'L' that stands in for everything he represents. So Episode 2 is the place where the character and his symbol become central to the plot; later episodes expand on the interplay between Light's pages of death and L's mental fingerprints on the investigation.

I’ll say this as a longtime fan: there’s something delicious about how the series uses small visual cues — like that little stylized 'L' — to create such huge tension. Even if you rewind to specific frames, Episode 2 is where the rivalry truly kicks off, and every time that 'L' mark turns up afterward it feels like a tiny, confident flex at Light’s puppeteering. It’s one of those details that makes rewatching 'Death Note' a treat because you notice how deliberate and theatrical the creators were with each reveal.