What makes this anime so addicting?

Started watching it only 11 days ago and due to mass confusion I'm on the 3rd time I've watched it. I ignored everything around me the first time I watched it and I was longing to watch the show again so I had to give in and I STILL ignore everything around me while watching it. But I almost didn't finish episode 1 the first time. I saw Ryuk and I remembered how badly he terrified me when I saw a picture of him in the library in the manga section. He's funny but he still frightens me a bit 10 years later. But somehow I'm able to kind of put my fear aside because I'm in love with this show. It's just fascinating.