User Reviews

This episode is everything I've ever wanted from Karate Kid and Cobra Kai. We got to see Chozen again and his scenes with Daniel were both funny and immensely touching. Speaking of touching, Johnny and Miguel's parts together got me really tearing up and smiling ear to ear. The fight scenes in the arcade and the prison are visceral and 80s as hell and I love it. And finally we get the proper reveal after last season's tease that Ali is back and boy what and ending. There's so much more I could talk about but I'd go on forever; there's not a weak scene in this whole episode, a joy from credits to credits

Genius of the makers of Cobra Kai to open this episode with a straight flashback to the climactic battle of the 2nd movie, then cut to older Chozen bowing to a fearful uncertain Daniel. Honestly, I've never experienced a TV episode opener that made my pulse go and my emotions take off like this did.

I loved the fact they made the little girl Daniel saved in 2nd movie a part here too, so touching.

I'll admit, given how bad the writing as been in the last two seasons, I was very skeptical about how they were going to bring back Kumiko and Chozen. I thought, "Oh God! Don't tell me they got married or something!" Luckily, they found a very plausible way of reuniting Daniel with these two characters.

Kumiko has always been my favorite Karate Kid girl. I was bummed when I first saw Karate Kid II and Ali wasn't in it, but I quickly forgot all about Ali as soon as Kumiko stepped onto the screen. Tamlyn Tomita has always played her with such grace and sweetness. She is able to tap into those aspects of Kumiko's personality with ease (even if her accent wasn't quite on par with performance from the film).

I love how Kumiko is able to help Daniel through his current crisies (personal and professional). A simple walk down memory lane and reading some of Mr. Miyagi's old love letters to Yukie is all Daniel needs to realize that everyone gets lost and off-track sometimes. It's finding your way back that's imporant.

Chozen was a breath of fresh air! Especially when you realize what he's really up to. At first, you wonder if he's trying to get back at Daniel, but laugh when Chozen does at the look on Daniel's face when he realizes he's been played. Chosen is also able to impart more karate lessons to Daneil, and Daniel has the maturity and temerity (this time) to forgive his old enemy. I often wish that Daniel had Mr. Miyagi's wisdom, as I couldn't help remembering how Mr. Miyagi had dealt with Sato by being the "better man."

Karate Kid II has always been my favorite of the three films. I loved the look into Okinawan culture, and I was happy to revisit it with Daniel in this episode. It was a true delight, and easily my favorite episode of the series!

Wow.

Not really much else to start with, easily the best episode in the show for so many reasons.

To start, this episode clearly is able to balance the different "groups" that we see in the show, which in previous episodes this season has been pretty clunky. Miguel gets his time, same as Robby, Sam, as well as Daniel and Johnny. Balancing that many groups out is hard to do, and this episode is able to fulfil all of that perfectly.

BUT SECOND, and by far most importantly, this episode goes to the heart of this show, and the franchise. Bringing back past characters in anything is fun and all, but they have to be brought back with meaning. And they did just that.

Kumiko has helped daniel reconnect with his past in Okinawa, where meeting Chozen again heals his mind, while meeting the girl he saved years ago heals his business. All in Miyagis home village. The shear nostalgia combined with a fresh and compelling narrative creates such a perfect set of scenes.

Also, with Mr Miyagi playing such a pivotal role in the franchise, it's great to see his legacy bolstered in this episode. With Pat gone it's understandable that it's not easy to build more to his story, but this episode is able to perfectly add on.

Well done to the cast and crew, simply great.

& not to mention SO FUNNY! Particularly the Chozen & Daniel re-match in Okinawa, & the rehabilitation of Miguel by Johnny. Being an 80s girl I'm also loving all the appearances of past characters so far (hope they keep coming!) & the development of Kreese's backstory. The writers really do deserve applause for how beautifully they incorporate the past with the present, & how they are able to further develop existing characters with the addition of new (or old) characters.

This was such a great episode that shows people can change it they want to.

Chozen is a changed man and his message to Daniel was wonderful.

I've only gotten through half of season 3 but having a hard time watching as it sends a message that the bullies win. Every episode so far just beats down Myagi-Do's kids. The Cobra Kai's kids keep getting away with fighting dirty and lying and make the Myagi kids look bad in front of everyone. It sends the wrong message that bullies come out on top and continue to fight dirty. I don't like my kids watching this season because of the bullies always winning message.

After they hit their low points in episode 3, Daniel and Johnny are coming up in the world. Daniel learns a secret or two about Miyagi-Do, and finds a way to save his dealership. Meanwhile, Johnny helps Miguel gain feeling in his legs, as a prelude to Miguel walking again.

As "down and then up" story arcs, neither are too bad. Yuji Okumuto is the MVP as Chozen, who comes across as inscrutable, intimidating, humorous (when he "honks" Daniel's nose) and then friendly. It's a pretty good range to portray in a 39-minute episode, and I wouldn't mind seeing Chozen, and Okumuto, come back down the road. Chozen is a cross between Daniel and Kreese.

Of course, we get a bit with Daniel talking about "old grudges". While gloriously unaware that he's harboring an old grudge of his own against Johnny. Maybe this will color his relationship with his old rival going forward. At least Johnny is trying to be a better person. While Kreese... not so much. Martin Kove does slimy/paternal pretty well. And as well as 80s/slimy/chauvinistic, going by his confrontation with Amanda at the end.

"Miyagi-Do" is the first episode of the season where it seemed like William Zabka got a chance to cut loose. As a metal-head fan and a lack of technological expertise. I like his reaction to Miguel's Facebook offer, and for the first time this season his technological inexperience is played for laughs rather than another effort to "kick the dog", like with the pawnshop owner a couple of episodes back.

This is also the first this season where Zabka, and Johnny, seemed to be having a good time. Johnny, since he's not the bad guy, works better as comic relief than as a down-in-the-dumps semi-villain. Yeah, his redemption shouldn't come easy.

The subplot with Sam and her PTSD, and the two groups of students fighting it out in the laser-tag arena (they still have those?) is nicely staged. I'm still not seeing where Sam's inner rage is coming from. Again, Jacob Bertrand as Hawk gets a chance to act, both breaking Demetri's arm and looking bad about it afterwards even while playing to his fellow CK students.

Overall, "Miyagi-Do" is a decent episode. It pretty well juggles the three storylines, dives deep into the nostalgia well, gives Okumoto a chance to do more than just play the bad guy (like he did in KK2, ironically enough since they keep flashing back to it), and gives Johnny a win.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

This episode really had everything.

Action, comedy, nostalgia... everything you could hope for.

This show can be incredibly frustrating at times (not necessarily in a negative way), and this was the first episode this season where I didn't feel that. And while it's part of the show to be incredibly frustrating with the Cobra Kai/Reese arc, I did enjoy this little break from that.

Also Reese getting slapped was very satisfying. I don't know how this dude isn't in jail yet anyway, but here's to him getting there asap.

Great episode.

The trip to Okinawa worked out to be pretty cool. I was a little worried it might be forcing things a bit, but it was great. And Daniel learning new lessons from Chozen was awesome.

This episode was the first 8-star of the season for me, on account of Johnny finally being his awesome self that he was in Season 1. His physical therapy lessons for Miguel were nothing short of awesome.

Daniel's wife confronting Kreese was great on two levels. One, her cutting him off with a substantial strike across the jowls. Dope.

And two, it was probably the most responsible adult thing anyone has done in the show so far. Now mind you I'm glad they don't deal with things as proper adults all the time....that would be boring. But it's nice to have a little dose of reality at times to keep things grounded.

How long were Chozen and Daniel together in this episode? An afternoon or a week? It felt like a week, but that does not make sense based on the other activities in the show. The episode was very interesting but the continuity issues made it hard to follow and impossible to believe. And this was probably the best episode of the season, which highlights the overall weakness of the season, half-baked writing.