User Reviews

Cobra Kai is a martial arts drama television series that premiered on YouTube Red (now known as YouTube Premium) in 2018. The show, created by Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald, is a sequel to the 1984 film The Karate Kid, and takes place 34 years after the events of the movie. The show follows the story of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), the main antagonist of the original film, as he reopens the Cobra Kai dojo and begins teaching karate to a new generation of students.

The series begins with Johnny, now in his 50s and struggling with alcoholism, poverty, and a series of failed relationships. He is approached by Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña), a high school student who is being bullied at school. Johnny takes pity on Miguel and begins teaching him karate, eventually reopening the Cobra Kai dojo and taking on more students.

One of Johnny's main rivals is Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), the protagonist of The Karate Kid. Daniel, now a successful car salesman and family man, is initially hesitant to get involved with the reopening of Cobra Kai, but ultimately agrees to train with his old mentor, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita in the original film, played by a different actor in the series due to Morita's death).

As the series progresses, Johnny and Daniel's rivalry is reignited, and the two men's respective dojos, Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do Karate, become embroiled in a series of conflicts and competitions. The show also explores the relationship between the two men and their students, as well as their own personal struggles and relationships.

One of the standout aspects of Cobra Kai is its ability to balance drama, humor, and action. The show has received praise for its well-developed characters and engaging storylines, as well as its faithful representation of the themes and messages of the original Karate Kid film. The show also features appearances by several original cast members, including Elisabeth Shue as Ali Mills, Martin Kove as John Kreese, and Randee Heller as Lucille LaRusso.

In addition to its main cast, Cobra Kai features a strong supporting cast of characters, including Amanda LaRusso (Courtney Henggeler), Daniel's wife and business partner; Samantha LaRusso (Mary Mouser), Daniel and Amanda's daughter; Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan), Johnny's estranged son; and Aisha Robinson (Nichole Brown), one of Johnny's students. Each of these characters has their own unique arc and contributes to the overall narrative of the series.

The show has been a critical and commercial success, with a dedicated fan base and high viewership on YouTube. It has won several awards, including a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for William Zabka in 2019. The show has also been renewed for a fourth season, which is set to premiere in 2022.

Overall, Cobra Kai is a highly entertaining and well-crafted series that manages to pay homage to the original Karate Kid film while also standing on its own as a compelling and emotionally resonant story. Its engaging characters, action-packed martial arts sequences, and compelling drama make it a must-watch for fans of the original film and newcomers alike.

This episode of Cobra Kai is one that quickly grew to become one of my favourite episodes. It's great from start to the last, roughly, 6-7 minutes. Those remaining 6-7 minutes are phenomenal. They're beautiful, even. I'll write why in a bit, before this I wanna mention the new sensai, Kim, her minion sensai, and the prison sequence with Kreese. Kreese is great; thickened his way from letting some pugnacious wannabe steal his jello to beating like five guys and making him his bit@&! It's a good scene, showing he's still boss even when behind bars. Tough and in control. Sensai Kim is a bit much at times, but this isn't a bad thing. The sort of emphasis and overacting is just fun as it stands as a way of showing she means business. And she is all about the Way of the Fist. I expect we will see more of her come the sixth season. Finally its closing scene is just heartfelt and terrific. Miguel, Robby, Eli, Sam, Anthony.. the rest of the students of Miyagi-Do & Eagle Fang coming together,an awesome amalgamation of these coexisting Dojos. And the 3 sensai. Johnny, Chozen, Daniel. Daniel is back in the fight. It's just a great bonding, endearing, huge coming together moment for all aforementioned. That's why I love this episode. Reestablish Kreese is boss. Reestablish Daniel as sensai Daniel. And we are seeing the students come together to take down Cobra Kai, and from here on out we have the better part of the season (Imo episodes 5-6 and onwards are the best!). This is a great episode.

Episode 6 - Ouroboros.

Oompa what? Is that Spanish? Oh, it's 'Conan The Barbarian's' enemy symbol. I see. It's a good thing Google helped out. I was there trying to convert ouroboros from Spanish to English and it kept coming up as an English word. Never heard of it! Never mind that.

Episode 6 starts off with a bit of slow-motion action, which was so prevalent in most John Woo movies. Is he directing this episode?

Silver's at an airport picking up a VIP arrival, who all exit from a private jet. Who the hell are all they? Is that Jade from 'Mortal Kombat 2?' Isn't it a little late in the game to be introducing new characters to the series?

I clearly heard Daniel-San's arm, or shoulder, snap in that fight with Silver last time yet here he is suiting up and going to work whilst sporting a yellow & purple shiner? Johnny informs Daniel that they're all there for him to get revenge on Silver.

"It's not our job to fight the monsters of the world," Says Daniel-San. Nice sage adage there, sir. Yeah, just leave it up to the courts and judges to hand out lenient sentences and slaps on the wrists then. (Who has faith in the court system, or can even afford it for that matter?) Daniel-San calls it quits on karate right there and then in front of Amanda, Johnny, Sam and Chozen. (I want that in writing though.)

Tory visits Kreese in prison and, oh my, don't we look dapper dressed like Punky Brewster, or a Cabbage Patch Kid, or a Strawberry Shortcake Doll? This little Kewpie Doll look is cutesy. All that's missing is some suspender braces to make it complete. No, hang on. Chucky! She's dressed like Chucky, minus the suspender braces.

Tory has secretly sold Cobra Kai out and turns informer for Kreese, who's most likely playing her for a puppet no doubt. No one can be trusted in Team Cobra Kai. They're all snakes and backstabbers. There's only one person batting for Kreese - Tory.

The chemistry between Chozen and Johnny is fluent and flows well. It's unusual seeing them aligned though. Their banter is conducive to the rhythm and blends spot on. Love it. I'm still assessing all the different combinations and wonder how they'll gel. Like, Devon and Tory forming a friendship later on.

I'm not a fan of the show breaking in Jade from 'Mortal Kombat 2' this late in the series. She wasn't mentioned in any other prior 'Karate Kid' projects. Who will be next - the son of Silver he never knew he had? It's not the time for new introductions. (Won't 'Cobra Kai' call it a day after season 6?)

Kreese attends these long, slow, counselling sessions with Angela Bassett whilst in prison but for some reason she keeps shapeshifting into ghosts from the past and the process clicks into gear making Kreese see the light. This is like the deleted scene from 'Exorcist 3: Legion' where Father Karras turns into different people. Well, not quite.

Hang on, back it up for one second there! Woah, it's Johnny Lawrence from 'The Karate Kid.' The 1983 Johnny Lawrence in the flesh! Well filmed.

Bassett can't be played easily and beats Kreese at his own mind games, meaning her wall's built out of twenty-inch-thick cobra proof titanium. You underestimated your opponent, Mr. John Kreese. Who's dropping their guard now? Ya slipping, old timer. (Don't worry, it happens to the best of us with old age.) Good scene though.

Chozen and Johnny enter a foreign dojo, which sees them take on K-pop's version of M&M. He's only about 150 pounds. Working as a Double Dragon team, both Chozen and Johnny, school him in the art of an old school beatdown and they eventually best M&M but he's saved when Silver's private jet entourage of goons show up, led by Jade, forcing Chozen and Johnny to backdown as they're outnumbered.

Has anyone else noticed in a few episodes so far that the actors will be facing the camera when talking, then turn with their backs to the camera at a side angle, do voiceovers, but you can clearly see that their mouths aren't moving when doing so? A lot of the actors are looking directly into the camera, too. My annoyance meter is rising.

Cornered in his cell, Kreese gets smoked by Godzilla, but turns back the hands of time and pops a Super Mario Brothers mushroom and beats up inmates in the process with super strength. He doesn't turn into The Hulk, or anything, but looks more like Chris Isaak going mental on the convicts.

And this prison brawl is all over Strawberry jello. Can you believe that? Next thing you know they'll be distributing jello crystals to the outside world on the black market.

In an attempt to reinvigorate Daniel-San, Amanda takes him back to Miyagi's old residence. Nothing a little therapeutical hammer and nail bashing can't fix, right?

Oh my, Daniel's old room from part 3.

(Man, this scene is a mind boggle. It's triggering old memories of 1990/91 for me where I had just finished year 10 and used to own a pirated VHS copy of 'Karate Kid 3' and watched it religiously on hot Summer evenings.)

Looking around his old room, an emotional Daniel says, "It's a time capsule in here." I'm actually shedding tears here. What the hell's wrong with me? What am I - De Niro from that 'Analyze' movie?

All heart, 'Karate Kid,' all heart.

I bet John G. Avildsen would be proud of this part.

This scene is beautiful. Automatic 10/10 rating right there!

Oh my, look at everybody all gathered outside together - Hawk, Robby, Sam, Miguel, Johnny, Chozen, Amanda and Daniel-San.

This was a baited intervention to lure Daniel-San back into the fold. It was all staged. They snared him.

Who's missing though? Where's Bebop and Rocksteady? I don't see Demetri either.

Jesus Christ, I'm actually bawling like a baby here. (But keep that between me and you only or things may get personal and out of hand. Besides... there must be something in my eye anyway?)

I get filled with euphoria whenever the right episode of 'Cobra Kai' "strikes" a chord within me. It's funny how some of us don't have much in life, and are miserable, yet it's the small trivial things that bring so much elation sometimes.

Thank you to everyone involved in the production of this show. It's all heart.