In the end, death is necessary for progression. A world of immortality does sound like a good idea on paper, but when one stops and really think about it, a world of immortality would have no need to grow and advance. The final Big Bad, Yhwach, is written to be the embodiment of the fear of death, and is a perfect demonstration of how far a person is willing to go to escape death. Death is indeed a scary thing, but it will happen to all of us eventually, so we might as well accept it. This is arguably the overarching theme of the series.In other words, shinigami are portrayed the same way humans are portrayed: as individuals with their own personalities, worries, fears, foibles, strengths and weaknesses. Their role is to guide the dead to Soul Society, cleanse hollows of post-death sin so they too can be guided to Soul Society and also to maintain the balance of souls across different worlds. However, shinigami aren't enemies of humanity even if their focus on the big picture can make them seem aloof at times. Thus, the shinigami are just like humans: they can be friendly, moody, supportive, scary, hostile depending on situation or individual personality type.
The fact that the main character becomes one while still alive is a plot point before the Big Bad shows his face. Any deceased human with enough spiritual energy can become a shinigami.Compare Not Afraid to Die and We All Die Someday, which is about not fearing death itself rather than its personification. Compare also Friendly Ghost and Friendly Zombie. Contrast with Everybody Hates Hades and Enemies with Death, when authors do the opposite with death-related deities. Often applied to Psychopomps, Death and the Maiden, the God of the Dead and The Grim Reaper. The Trope Namer is the eponymous song by Blue Öyster Cult from Agents of Fortune, which is a song about how true love can last even after death, and not, as some seem to think, about anyone committing suicide. The Celestial Bureaucracy is very busy, you know. Sometimes this overlaps with Beleaguered Bureaucrat, when they are friendly but nonetheless have a long list of people to get through today and doesn't have time to deal with every decedent's requests. Friendliness notwithstanding, picking fights with Death is still something the challenger will regret. They won't challenge you to chess, but will instead be your best pal (before you die, even!) if you give them half a chance.
This sort of Death won't glare at you with Glowing Eyelights of Undeath from underneath a Black Cloak while carrying a scythe (well, some might, but purely because it's expected of them) they will dress as a Perky Goth or take on A Form You Are Comfortable With. However, there has also been a very different attitude at times, with various writers and artists creating a personification of Death who is not only not scary, but friendly, compassionate, and otherwise the sort of person you'd want to find waiting for you at a difficult time like that. Therefore, when personifying it, the result was often pretty terrifying.
For millennia, humanity has feared death, and understandably so, all things considered.
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