Spoiler Warning
...just in case. For both the special and the original anime.
Anyway, just finished watching this, myself. For the most part, it's just a summary of the events up until L's death. The scenes are mostly the same, albeit some slight changes (like different background music), however, there are a few additional mid-series scenes not seen in the original anime. The first one I noticed was when Light was invited to the HQ to help to investigate the Second Kira. Rather than the scene of him sitting down to watch the recordings on the TV, with everyone else around him, L invited him into some hidden theater of sorts, where he showed Light the tapes. Also, the investigation team had already broadcast a response to Misa's original message, which was different from the anime, if memory serves me well. Anyway, that particular scene wasn't a big deal, but it was something different.
The big scene was at the end, after L and Watari had been killed. In the special, we actually get to see the funeral of L (and Watari, I assume). The investigation team does not release the news of L's death to the public, so as not to cause any problems with the public. Thus, they are the only ones to attend.
I'll provide the dialogue (from K-H's release), if anyone's interested in just reading it.
QUOTE (L's Funeral)
Chief Yagami: "Ryuzaki. We didn't inform anyone about the funeral. Just us. We'll let the others think that you're still alive. Mobilizing the police of the world like you used to. We'll arrest Kira one day. I promise. You can sleep in peace now."
Light: "Yes. I'll avenge Ryuzaki's death. Solving the case is the only way to bid him farewell. For Watari and the other victims too. For everyone. I'll bring Kira to his own execution."
Everyone but Light begins to leave. Matsuda stops, looking back to Light.
Matsuda: "Light."
Light, still standing at L's gravestone, remains silent.
Chief Yagami: "Matsuda."
Matsuda turns back tot he others, and they leave.
Light: "Yes. I'll avenge Ryuzaki's death. Solving the case is the only way to bid him farewell. For Watari and the other victims too. For everyone. I'll bring Kira to his own execution."
Everyone but Light begins to leave. Matsuda stops, looking back to Light.
Matsuda: "Light."
Light, still standing at L's gravestone, remains silent.
Chief Yagami: "Matsuda."
Matsuda turns back tot he others, and they leave.
Now here's an interesting part... I'll include some screens, as well.
QUOTE (Light's Victory)
Light stands at L's gravestone, with Ryuk at his side.
Ryuk: "So L's finally fallen... Nothing really exciting's gonna happen now."
Light begins to chuckle, then bursting into laughter.
Light: "Now everyone who stood in my way is gone. And everyone else believes in me. Controlling the police is only a matter of time!"
"What do you think, L? I have won. I have won!"
With his grin fading, presenting a more serious expression, Light silently stares at L's grave.
"You said nothing exciting will happen now, Ryuk? That's not true. From now on..."
Light stands.
"I'm going to show you how I'll rebuild a new world."
As Light begins to leave the premises, scenes of people falling from buildings, being hit by trains, and being mauled in car accidents are shown. Light is shown walking through various areas, as clips of Ryuk writing in his Death Note are shown in between.
"I am... the God... of the new world."
Ryuk: "So L's finally fallen... Nothing really exciting's gonna happen now."
Light begins to chuckle, then bursting into laughter.
Light: "Now everyone who stood in my way is gone. And everyone else believes in me. Controlling the police is only a matter of time!"
"What do you think, L? I have won. I have won!"
With his grin fading, presenting a more serious expression, Light silently stares at L's grave.
"You said nothing exciting will happen now, Ryuk? That's not true. From now on..."
Light stands.
"I'm going to show you how I'll rebuild a new world."
As Light begins to leave the premises, scenes of people falling from buildings, being hit by trains, and being mauled in car accidents are shown. Light is shown walking through various areas, as clips of Ryuk writing in his Death Note are shown in between.
"I am... the God... of the new world."
I'll leave it up to you to see the remainder of the ending yourself. =P
I rather enjoyed the death scenes at the end, on a side note. ^^; They somehow seemed more gruesome than the scenes shown in the anime. Specifically, more blood, I think.
Anyway, that aside, despite there only being a few new scenes, I found it pretty nifty. It was more of a retrospective being told by Ryuk than what I originally thought it would be (a whole retelling, with Ryuk actually narrating the story), but you do get to see Ryuk a bit in the beginning and end, speaking to some other Death God in the Death Gods' realm. Ryuk's appearance is a bit different, part of which I find a bit interesting. He's shown wrapped in a sort of cloak, and his eyes don't seem to have irises or pupils... Not sure if this particularly signifies anything, though. (I'm not too great at finding hidden meanings, I'm afraid.) The Death God that Ryuk is talking to seems to be an entirely new character. I don't recall seeing him in the anime at all. I get the feeling I've horribly misinterpreted the end of the special, but for some reason, it just seemed to me like Light may have, in some way or other, been "reborn" as a Death God... It's a nifty idea, but I'm probably wrong.
Well, enough of my opinions. I'm curious to see what others think of it. Did anything in particular stand out to you?