Light missed what could have been an obvios way he could succeed.

[Kanokonfan]

Spoilers

As well as telling Mikimi to put the real notebook in the safe deposit box and send Takada the five pages there was one thing Light should have added that would have allowed him to win. If he had told Mikimi to also take out a sixth page and keep it away from the real notebook, maybe at home in a place only he would think to look in. Then given him orders to no matter what happens not to touch that page before the day.
That way Near would have thought he had modifed the real notebook and everything was safe when however Mikimi would have a real page to use on the day.

In saying this I do still believe that Light was a villain, just sayig that there was away he could have won that I thought would have been easy for him to think of.

[Hellraiser01]

Well, Light was so used to winning, he got cocky. I'm sure he never thought about the fact that the notebook was switched. He got to the point where he figured he had won so much, he had nothing to worry about. 3 years without L kinda made him dull. The Light that took L down wouldnt have been so careless lol

[Kanokonfan]

I suppose that would make sense. Claiming his victory was a bit stupid as well seeing as it didn't do anything for him and proved he was Kira. Had he not shouted he may have been able to convince the task force that he didn't know Mikimi and Near must have paid him to frame Light.
Or if he really wanted to taunt Near he could have asked Mikimi to write his name last then wait until people start dying before claiming his victory over Near.

[*Tsuki*]

*thinks* Okay . . . but see, there's a problem with that. Light didn't know about Mikami going into the bank safe deposit box to kill off Takada. Mikami didn't have contact with him at the time, and thought Light wouldn't be able to do anything. So, the true mistake was because of Mikami. If Mikami hadn't gone to the bank on the odd day, and had instead left things how they were supposed to be, Light would have won. Even if he did ask Mikami to tear out a sixth sheet, he was so arrogant that he thought his plan was perfect. He probably wouldn't ask Mikami to bring the sixth sheet because he's was absolutely positive that the Death Note Mikami had was real.

If he did ask Mikami to bring the extra sheet of paper, he'd have to be able to tell Mikami when to use the second sheet. But, Mikami came out when Light called to him, thinking that the Death Note was real. Only when Mikami came out from behind the door, would Light be able to tell him to write the people's names on the other sheet. By then, the task force and Near's group would be on both of them. Also, if Light tried telling him from behind the door, he wouldn't have enough time before the task force or Near's group got to him to write each person's name down. Even if he wrote down one of the people's names, he wouldn't have enough time to write down all of their names. So, one person might die, but Mikami and Light would both be caught.

Light could have also told him to use the notebook paper after writing down each person's name. But, there's still a problem. Light had no contact with Mikami after Takada was dead. He wouldn't have been able to call him or send a message through anyone, because they were either dead or he was being watched too much. If he had any direct contact with Mikami, it could be traced easily. It would be too much of a risk to even try, and if Light believed that the Death Note Mikami had was real, he wouldn't think he'd have to contact Mikami to bring the extra notebook paper.

Oh, and Light didn't shout to begin with. Near asked why Mikami replied when Light asked if he had written down the names. That's what set it off.

Almost forgot. If Light told Mikami not to touch the sixth sheet until the day, he'd have to have known about the day in far advance. If he did know that there would be some magical day, and Mikami guessed on that magical day, he'd have the whole problem of telling him to use the piece of paper on that day.

It's too complicated, and would mess up the story. >.<

[DeadlyArr0w]

Heres what I think. Didnt light have a third notebook on his person? if anything he should have taken it out and threatend to write everyones names down. or while he was running away wrote everyone's name down. instead he was stupid and atempted to write names down on that tiny peace of paper in his watch. is it just me or did everyone look past the third notebook?

[Kanokonfan]

He didn't have a third one. He gave Siddoh's notebook back to him. Rem's and Gelus's were the only ones left.

[DeadlyArr0w]

but then how did he have all his memories with no notebook in his possesion?

[Kanokonfan]

He was the official owner of the notebook the task force had. Although it was under high security he had been the person holding it when his father died as it;'s owner so the ownership transferred to him. That was why Mikimi couldn't see his lifespan.
The same way as when he buried it and only lost his memories when he said, "Get rid of it." he was still the owner even though he was locked up and had no access to it until he chose to give it up.

[~J~]

Or he could have just ripped out and burned the pages he had used and have there be no evidence whatsoever. I thought of this at the beginning of the series, if the death note could be destroyed and if pages could be removed, seems like the obvious choice really. Although I have to say I'm happy he didn't realize this because I thought Light got what was coming to him in the end.

[Primarch Lorgar]

Originally Posted by Hellraiser01

Well, Light was so used to winning, he got cocky. I'm sure he never thought about the fact that the notebook was switched. He got to the point where he figured he had won so much, he had nothing to worry about. 3 years without L kinda made him dull. The Light that took L down wouldnt have been so careless lol

I completely concur with this statement, he became careless after L, still a brilliant mastermind but he reached his highest point well L lay dead.

[zeromega]

light was to full of himself to think of something like that.
plus, i don't think that would fit in the story.

[Hellraiser01]

Hahaha, why thank you, kind stranger XD

[Wio]

Originally Posted by Hellraiser01

Well, Light was so used to winning, he got cocky. I'm sure he never thought about the fact that the notebook was switched. He got to the point where he figured he had won so much, he had nothing to worry about. 3 years without L kinda made him dull. The Light that took L down wouldnt have been so careless lol

Light was smart, but he really wasn't all the smart. The reason he was able to last so long is because the burden of proof was on L/Near/Mellow and he had a Death Note to kill any witnesses.
L/Near/Mellow were always a step ahead of Light, but to win they had to PROVE something. All Light had to do was get get the names of Near/Mellow/L.

You talk about light getting cocky? If Light really wanted to win, he should have just got the Shinigami eyes right off the bat. He was always cocky.

[pandakoala]

You know, if he didn't pick up the kira complex so quickly, it would work out so much better.
To use the death note ANONYMOUSLY, it would be genius.
Guess he Isn't that smart.

[*Tsuki*]

Originally Posted by pandakoala

You know, if he didn't pick up the kira complex so quickly, it would work out so much better.
To use the death note ANONYMOUSLY, it would be genius.
Guess he Isn't that smart.

I think he's "smart", but all the "smart" people I've met are "stupid" in some sort of way. It can be a lack of common sense, or their random "stupid" comments. But what never ceases to amaze me is that every "smart" person I've met has this thing about them that just screams, "dictator." Seriously, some of the "smartest" people I've met are completely and utterly evil. And they come up with the best forms of torture. *shudders at memory* Yea, a common answer to how to solve world problems would be, "'nuke 'em!" . . . our world is doomed.

[OtakuInu!!!]

You have a point there. But it was also wrong for him to say "I won Near."

Though I think he didn't see that coming since he was overconfident that he would win.

[Hellraiser01]

Thats the cocky part XD

[Hellraiser01]

Haha, yeah, they had a harder role to play. Its aaaaall because of the american Justice system XD jk jk But really, he was a genious, as were they, but he got simple-mided after so long without any defiance against Kira. But you think he could have done it more....conspicuosly? Is that the right word? I mean, if he had killed criminals in more randoms ways, L would have still peiced together criminals dyig, but the heart-attack thing kinda sped that up XD

And he was always cocky, to an extent, but bringing down L, then Mellow, Had o have super-sized his Ego XD