...blue

So the opinion that Near is basically a cheap rip off of L has made me headtilt for years. As someone who adored both L and Near for different reasons, seeing people dismiss Near for apparently being “the same” just never sat well with me. While I do personally consider the criticism that Near’s story arc was weaker than L’s valid, I don’t think the criticism that Near is a “bad character” because he’s basically L is. As an anon asked me on my old blog what my opinions were on this, I decided to re-post my observations here for consideration. 

Outward Expressivity

Near is much more open about his sarcasm and taunting

L tends to be offensive in backhanded ways.

Near is also more visually expressive. Near often  looks disdainful, irritated, exasperated or smug.

L, while also expressive, tends to be more consistently deadpan and he talks more with his body language (clenched fists/grit teeth) than he does with his facial expressions

Near’s body language is distinctive and he tends to carry himself in defensive postures. This appears to be entirely genuine as we see his body language has not changed from when we see him at the Wammy’s house flashback

L’s characteristic slouched posture is entirely feigned as evidenced by his early appearances in the manga and his mannerisms tend to appear calibrated to prompt very specific responses.

Near often uses toys to help communicate his ideas

L does not use any props to communicate

Attitude towards Teamwork

L makes it quite clear as the most intelligent person in the room, what he says goes. He is authoritarian in his approach to teamwork. He issues orders and expects his team members to obey.

Near is team player. While he clearly wields ultimate authority, Near makes a point to seek out the opinions of his team before proceeding with his decisions.

L will belittle team members who are trying to help him. His response upon finding out Matsuda has chosen to infiltrate the Yotsuba Group on his own is to immediately belittle him in front of the entire team by calling him stupid.

Near, while blunt, does not belittle those who are on his team. Notably, he finds out Lidner undermines his plan to keep everything as normal as possible before Jan28th 2010 by allowing Mello to kidnap Kiyomi. He does not immediately belittle her for ineptitude.

Morality

L states in Chapter 109 that he does not care about morality and that the only thing that matters to him is winning by any means.

Near places greater value on a moral compass and stresses that he opposes Kira because he had determined for himself that it was the right thing to do.

L will take drastic actions that violate human rights in order to secure evidence. L will keep people in detention for as long as necessary to force them to confess if he believes they are guilty.

Near does not take drastic action until he has more evidence to back up his own theories.

(That said I will concede this could be due to the confounding effect of Near not having the same political power as L does by the time he rises to prominence in 2009).

L wishes to turn Kira over to the authorities and personally see to it that he is executed.

Near determines that he would rather have Kira imprisoned in a secret facility for life.

(Though the confounder here may be that the political climate of the world of DN in 2009 is more hostile to the idea of giving Kira a criminal trial than it was in 2004).

L wanted every Kira caught and convicted.

Near, despite having confirmation that Misa is the second Kira, does not press for her arrest at the conclusion of the series.

Self Reflection / Thought Processes

L will literally sulk for months over being wrong about his pet theories

Near is able to accept when he is wrong and will adjust accordingly without turning it into a personal tragedy.

L views the playing field like a dynamic chess board with an opponent who will react and respond to his actions.