Death Note’s primary characters are not particularly good people — and if that sounds like a massive understatement, that’s because it is. From superdetectives who employ human rights violations to solve their cases to career criminals to outright mass murderers, all of our leads are willing to go to immoral lengths to achieve their goals, even (and especially) those who claim to be acting in the name of justice. That’s a given; if anything, that’s part of the appeal. What sort of person, then, could claim the title of Most Hated Death Note Character?
Chances are, you already know the answer: It’s Higuchi Kyosuke, Head of Technological Development for the Yotsuba Group and, more importantly, the Third Kira. (If you’re wondering, I do have the results of my own completely unscientific survey to back this up — and if you seek out your average Death Note fan, chances are they’ll be in agreement.)
Higuchi is hateable by design. Externally, he has extremely sharp features and an unnerving grin, appearing unconventional at his best and downright monstrous at his worst. Internally, he is an unpleasant man who delights in using mass murder to achieve his goals. He is very thoroughly a villain, and it’s difficult to say anything good about him.
Death Note fans often paint Higuchi as a man who is obsessed with money above all else and cares little for morals. In some ways, that’s the natural thing to think — he isn’t exactly the type of character who invites close inspection — but it isn’t actually true. Money is only a secondary desire of Higuchi’s.
What Higuchi Kyosuke really desires is status, stemming from a deep insecurity and an obsession with how others perceive him.