Cobra Kai (Season 6)

Creators: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg
Starring: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Peyton List, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Dallas Dupree Young, Vanessa Rubio, Martin Kove, Thomas Ian Griffith, Yuji Okumoto, Oona O'Brien, Griffin Santopietro, Alicia Hannah-Kim, Brandon H. Lee, Carsten Nørgaard, Lewis Tan, Patrick Luwis, Rayna Vallandingham
Original Airdate: 2025

**The Following Review Contains Major Plot Spoilers**

★★★★ (out of ★★★★)

After eight years, six seasons and two streaming services, the most creatively successful legacy sequel yet takes its final bow and the timing feels just right. It's a far cry from when the mere suggestion of a Karate Kid follow-up set decades after the original's events prompted skepticism and ridicule. But creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg had a clever hook. And while it's one thing to come up with a great pitch, it's another to make that a reality by following through as skillfully as they have with Cobra Kai. 

In speculating what became of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) following his devastating loss to Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) in the 1984 All-Valley Karate Tournament, the showrunners devised a plan that not only answered that question in endlessly satisfying ways, but bridged an elusive audience age gap by giving equal attention to the original characters and the generation following them.

As it turns out, neither Johnny, Daniel or ruthless Sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) ever really moved past what happened, as Johnny's resurrection of the Cobra Kai dojo (along with its "Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy" karate philosophy) had far reaching implications over these past six seasons, spawning even more conflicts and alliances. 

At the series' heart was always Johnny's struggle to escape his troubled past, resulting in a redemptive arc that's now reached its climax. With the show's mission largely accomplished, only a few more puzzle pieces remain, along with one of Miyagi-Do's biggest challenges in preparing for the world's toughest, most respected karate tournament. And just when you thought Cobra Kai was dead, it's back as a new, more dangerous incarnation led by a pair of familiar faces. This combined with Johnny's personal trials and Daniel's attempts at reckoning with a recent discovery help make for a jam packed send-off.

Fresh off the heels of Cobra Kai's demise and Terry Silver's (Thomas Ian Griffith) arrest, Miyagi-Do begins training for the prestigious Sekai Taikai karate tournament under the tutelage of Daniel, Johnny and Chozen (Yuji Okumoto). But with the senseis clashing over their conflicting philosophies, Kreese arrives South Korea following his prison escape to revive a lethal new version of Cobra Kai alongside Kim Dae-Un (Alicia Hannah-Kim). 

As Miyagi-Do teammates vie to compete in the tourney, Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), Robby (Tanner Buchanan) and Hawk (Jacob Bertrand) contemplate their post-karate futures, while Sam (Mary Mouser) and Tory's (Peyton List) burgeoning friendship gets interrupted by tragedy. Upon their arrival in Barcelona, Myagi-Do must not only contend with Cobra Kai's bloodthirsty new captain Kwon (Brandon H. Lee), but Sensei Wolf's (Lewis Tan) even more sadistic Iron Dragons dojo, With Daniel distracted by a shocking revelation about Mr. Miyagi's past and Johnny nervously preparing for Carmen (Vanessa Rubio) to give birth, their biggest threat waits in the wings, plotting to enact revenge at any cost.

From the moment this kicks off, the clock starts ticking down to when and how Silver will reemerge. And considering we last saw him being  dragged off to jail after framing Kreese, it was always a safe bet he wouldn't stay down for long. The reveal itself is worth the wait, but before that comes Miyagi-Do's tournament preparation, which revolves heavily around Daniel and Johnny's shaky alliance. 

Since the show's always excelled at taking the uncontrollable Johnny out of his comfort zone and  letting hilarity ensue with Zabka's performance, having him work for Daniel at LaRusso Auto Group is one of those great ideas you can't believe they were able to hold off on until now. And it's no surprise Johnny excels at it since he's always been a used car salesman of sorts, playing up the confident bravado despite considering himself a failure as a father, sensei and competitor. But lately, he's come closer to overcoming that, with Zabka and the writers gradually adding layers to a character who before this series was better known as an iconic but one-dimensional 80's bully.

If Kreese's salvation was teased throughout Season 5, he spends a good portion of this one reminding us of his true colors. And if there's endless entertainment found in Johnny selling cars, there may be even more in his former mentor getting bitten by and attempting to behead an actual cobra. 

Utilizing Kwon as Cobra Kai's secret weapon, Kreese is more determined than ever to bring down Miyagi-Do, temporarily blinding him from the real enemy. Only this time his actions have horrific consequences, the least of which involve swaying an extremely vulnerable Tory back to the dark side following her mother's death. Understandably, her heart isn't in it anymore, lashing out the only way she knows how.  

As the series' unheralded MVP for a few seasons running, Peyton List again believably demonstrates how Tory, like Johnny, can be her own worst enemy, often unable to stop self sabotaging any shot she has at potential happiness. But despite pushing away Robby, Sam and the rest of Miyagi-Do, you get the impression she's grown tired of being angry, as if she needs to get it all out of her system before somehow finding the strength to continue on. 

The Sekai Taikai stands out from other competitions we've seen on the show not just due to venue, setting or how its shot, but by giving viewers an opportunity to see Miyagi-Do pulverized by superior opponents. That's especially true for the distracted Robby, whose concern for girlfriend Tory causes him to falter, leading Miguel to emerge as the team's true captain as he attempts to motivate his friend and former rival. 

Known for its thrillingly choreographed fight sequences, the show still manage to raise the bar in a season that features multiple antagonists on and off the mat. But their biggest physical challenge comes from The Iron Dragons, captained by the intimidating, Dolph Lungren-like Axel (Patrick Luwis) and social media superstar Zara (13-time Taekwondo world champion Rayna Vallandingham), both of whom are dynamic enough to top any wish list of candidates for a potential spin-off. Led by the abusive Sensei Wolf (Lewis Tan), it'll come as no surprise who he takes his marching orders from. 

Keeping with tradition, there's a chaotic, drag out brawl that earns comparisons to some previous cliffhangers like the second season school fight. But what sets Sekai's smackdown apart are the horrific consequences caused by Kreese, who crosses a line in his obsession with Silver that's officially too far to walk back, nearly destroying everything and everyone around him. It's only after this that it becomes painfully clear what he needs to do.

One of the season's more prominent sub-plots involves Daniel's investigation into Miyagi's past, especially considering he even leaves the team high and dry to follow a false lead. As Daniel considers his idol may not have been as morally flawless as he thought, we're reminded how the series has always fared best when incorporating Miyagi's legacy through his teachings. So while nothing he allegedly did decades ago could really diminish Daniel or anyone else's opinion of him, we know there's a logical explanation coming. 

What we do get out of this are a couple of memorable dream sequences, and even if a digitized deep-fake Miyagi distracts more than impresses, Brian Takahashi's performance as his younger counterpart hits the mark, as does the concept behind a scene involving Daniel being attacked by a gang of costumed skeletons from his past. 

Whether it's a rejected, despondent Chozen's surprising bond with adversary Kim, the culmination of Kenny (Dallas Dupree Young) and Anthony's (Griffin Santopietro) long running feud or Devon's (Oona O'Brien) secret prank, the writers get much of the supporting characters' business out of the way early. They also wisely tackle the birth of Carmen and Johnny's baby and his inevitable proposal well before the finale, clearing a path for those last two episodes.

The explanation for how the Sekai Taikai could possibly continue after what happened to Kwon is actually a pretty good one. And as much as Silver wants it resumed for purely selfish reasons, it's equally hard for everyone else to deny they need it to continue also. The argument that this tournament can't end in disgrace is about as good a defense as it gets, if just suitable enough for Sekai's hard nosed director/emcee Gunther (Carsten Nørgaard in an underappreciated turn) to accept. 

While the tournament finds a new home in the Valley, there's still the issue of a decimated Cobra Kai that can't possibly return with a culpable Kreese at the helm. So it's only fitting that after Miyagi-Do's loss, Miguel and Tory again don the black and yellow to take down The Iron Dragons under Johnny's guidance. It also feels right that Robby and Sam have reached the point where they no longer need this, internalizing Miyagi's biggest lesson about karate's true purpose. Despite lying on a stretcher with a broken leg, Robby realizes he couldn't be more grateful for what this entire experience has done for him. As for Sam, she's gotten all she can out of this and just seems excited to move on.

Even if the plot machinations behind getting Johnny on that mat for a final shot at redemption against the formidable Wolf seems crazy on the surface, it needs to happen for his story to come full circle. And while seeing Daniel in his corner wearing Cobra Kai black is a trip in itself, Johnny still has unfinished business left with a somber, remorseful Kreese.

Since the first film's aftermath remains a debated topic even among diehard fans, it's surreal watching Kreese tearfully admit that Johnny's display of sportsmanship after that loss proved how much more of a man the student was than his teacher. It wasn't the losing that destroyed Johnny, but when Kreese berated and assaulted him in that parking lot, failing a kid who saw his sensei not just as a mentor, but the father he never had. Now as Kreese finally takes responsibility for his role in Johnny's downward spiral, Zabka and Kove deliver the best scene of the entire series, giving their characters a catharsis that feels forty years in the making.

When a winded, bloodied Johnny miraculously defeats Wolf to earn the self respect that's long eluded him, it's Daniel offering the same congratulations Johnny did in their '84 fight, bringing it all back around. But Kreese is busy finishing his own war after recognizing that vengeful look in his ex-Vietnam buddy's eyes. With Silver determined to use what little time he has left for the most vile act possible, Kreese sacrifices himself to save Johnny. It's not about redemption or forgiveness, but a chance to set things right, finally using his violent methods for a noble cause.  

Curiously, we're led to believe Johnny and Daniel haven't a clue their arch enemies perished in that boat explosion, or at least there's no indication they do. Besides a passing nod to Silver's mysterious absence during the big fight, it remains a small, dangling thread. Whether that's due to time constraints or a conscious creative decision not to distract from Johnny's otherwise uplifting ending, details like this aren't usually accidents.

Johnny's visit to his mother's grave could have easily been a trip to Kreese's, but wasn't, making us wonder if they're leaving some wiggle room for the possibility he survived, which isn't a stretch seeing how Johnny already began this series believing his former sensei had died. But assuming the bodies and wreckage were recovered, it still wouldn't have hurt to get Johnny and Daniel's reactions, if only to see how they'd process it. Either way, the last minutes are well spent, giving these characters the closure they deserve and offering reassurance their world will continue long after those credits roll. 

From "Ace Degenerate" to Ex-Degenerate," this was always Johnny's story, and now it's complete, with Sensei Lawrence back in his Cobra Kai dojo, still insulting and motivating students with his tough love approach. Armed with the knowledge that a multi-faceted method works best, he's realized there's no Cobra Kai without Miyagi-Do or vice versa. And just as those two disciplines can now peacefully co-exist, so too can Daniel and Johnny.

While certain questions remain, Heald and Hurwitz stick the landing, with a major caveat being that this may not be over. With a Karate Kid spin-off feature on the horizon, it's entirely possible for more chapters to be written in the "Miyagiverse." And after seeing what they did here, that hypothetical pitch for a Back to the Future series suddenly doesn't sound like such a crazy idea after all.                                                                                                

Cobra Kai (Season 5)

Creators: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg
Starring: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Peyton List, Dallas Dupree Young, Vanessa Rubio, Thomas Ian Griffith, Martin Kove, Yuji Okumoto, Alicia Hannah-Kim, Oona O'Brien, Joe Seo, Griffin Santopietro, Paul Walter Hauser, Sean Kanan, Robyn Lively, Luis Roberto Guzmán
Original Airdate: 2022 

**The Following Review Contains Plot Spoilers For The Fifth Season Of Cobra Kai **

★★★ ½ (out of ★★★★)

Having now wrapped its fifth season, Netflix's Cobra Kai still shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. While it's already common knowledge just how good this Karate Kid continuation is, showrunners Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg are constantly readjusting and evolving the story to keep it fresh. So even if the series already has an established creative voice and tone we're accustomed to, they're still finding new ways to continually top themselves. This latest batch of episodes are no exception, as the writers turn obstacles into opportunity, navigating their way around potential issues many assumed could become major pitfalls the longer this went. Inevitably facing some criticism from diehards insisting it's veered too far into comedy or devolved into a typical "teen show," they've wisely stayed the course, delivering the same high quality entertainment.  

Whereas last season seemed to take the characters in different directions that came together in a really clever cliffhanger, these episodes have a more singular focus that serves the storytelling and performances equally well. Nearly everything revolves around the sinister, looming presence of the show's main antagonist and he doesn't disappoint, taking center stage like a scheming Bond villain with his evil expansion plan. It isn't an easy line to walk, but a big part of the show's success has been taking itself just seriously enough, while still retaining a playful tongue-in-cheek tone. And now they've done it again, delivering a new batch of episodes capped with a bold exclamation point that leaves us wondering what's next.

Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) is flying high after Cobra Kai's tainted tournament victory at the end of last season vanquished Daniel LaRusso's (Ralph Macchio) Miyagi-Do from the Valley, And after framing John Kreese (Martin Kove) for his own drunken beatdown of Stingray (Paul Walter Hauser), Silver's grabbed full control of Cobra Kai, aggressively attempting to expand the franchise while his old Vietnam buddy rots in jail. But Daniel's not quite out of the picture yet, enlisting former Okinawa rival Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto) to help take Silver down for good. Meanwhile Johnny's (William Zabka) traveling with son Robby (Tanner Buchanan) to retrieve Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), who fled the tournament for Mexico in search of his biological father. 

With Robby contemplating the negative influence Cobra Kai's having on his former protege, Kenny (Dallas Dupree Young), reigning women's champion Tory (Peyton List) is still wracked with guilt over witnessing Silver pay off the tournament ref following her finals win over Sam LaRusso (Mary Mouser). As Silver's strategy to eat up the competition and take the dojo national picks up steam, he recruits a skilled group of South Korean senseis led by the ruthless Kim Da-Eun (Alicia Hannah-Kim), whose grandfather's teachings espoused a cutthroat "no honor, no mercy" philosophy. Now with a cutting edge, state of the art training facility and enough capital to take Cobra Kai's vicious methodology global, a rattled Daniel will need to call on some connections of his own to cut off the head of the snake.

Silver's sole control over Cobra Kai ups the stakes for the entire season, especially given who he eliminated from the equation to attain it. While last season's power struggle with Kreese ended in Silver having him wrongly incarcerated, it was rash to assume the betrayed sensei could ever be "softened" by jail or even want to help Daniel and Johnny if he's released.

Kreese is still the devil we know, and as these episodes dive deeper into exploring the reasons why, Silver is still far worse, driven exclusively by his insatiable appetite for money, power and greed. The season's heavily anchored by Thomas Ian Griffith's performance, with the actor again given an opportunity to shift gears and play the maniacal Silver more cerebrally than he did in The Karate Kid Part III. 

While Griffith was by far the best thing in the franchise's underwhelming second sequel, he's now bolstered by a better character arc and story, allowing him to further build on the added dimensions he brought to the role last season. A master of mind games, the wealthy business mogul completely throws Daniel off his game, slithering into every facet of his life, jeopardizing the LaRussos standing in the community and even causing cracks in he and Amanda's (Courtney Henggeler) marriage. It even gets so bad between them that she has to retreat back home to Ohio to seek advice from her cousin, and another familiar returning face, Jessica Andrews (Robyn Lively). Most of this rift is due to Daniel being unable to just sit back and watch this twisted sensei psychologically torment a whole new generation of karate students. 

To thwart Silver, Daniel not only enlists the help of Chozen, but tracks down former nemesis and Silver pupil, Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan), the latest legacy character to be creatively resuscitated by the series. Fans will be surprised to see what he's been up to, his reaction to Daniel and how he really feels about both now in middle age. The part isn't huge, but Kanan's effective in it, and par the course for most of these returns, his presence fits into the story's larger context. 

Chozen emerges as a major player after his memorable min-arc in the third season, now living with Daniel and Amanda while attempting gain Silver's trust and infiltrate the dojo. Some purists may complain the character's being reduced to a foil or sidekick, but with his timing, facial expressions and deadpan delivery, Okumoto's such a natural in the role that it's hard to see this as anything but a positive. It's also easy to forget these are Chozen's first interactions with both Silver and Johnny, opening up all sorts of possibilities that the writers take full advantage of, especially when it comes the combustible dynamic between Chozen and Silver. 

It's become a series-long joke that whenever Johnny googles something, hilarity ensues from his inability to move past the 1980's and socially adapt to modern day norms. Since Zabka is such a riot doing this, it never seems to get old, but the ongoing struggle from the series' inception has always revolved around Johnny's potential growth, or more specifically, how much and at what pace. It's a balancing act since you don't want to strip away what's made him who he is, especially considering how that's driven so much of the show's success. 

Making Johnny less of a jerk is one thing, but you don't want a sappy, overnight change that takes away all his bite. It's a credit to the writing and Zabka's performance that it took five seasons for us to revisit this conversation, indicating just how careful they've been about this. Now the trigger's been pulled, with him not only reconciling with Robby, but even taking Daniel's advice to get him and Miguel to bury the hatchet. And after Miguel's encounter with his slimy, criminally connected birth father, Hector (Luis Roberto Guzmán) in Mexico ends in disaster, you could argue that it just reinforces for all three what a real family actually is.

Johnny's relationship with Miguel's mom, Carmen (Vanessa Rubio) is still probably the flimsiest, most overly convenient subplot of the series, but the best news is that they've somehow managed to make him an expectant father without heavily sacrificing the character's rougher edges. His attempts to find new employment and personally recalibrate in the wake of this shocking news comically shifts Johnny's focus in a direction it hasn't gone since the series started. 

Maybe for the first time since the original films, Johnny takes a backseat to Daniel, if only because his beef with Silver doesn't run as deeply personal. It's undeniably Daniel's battle, but that doesn't mean he won't still need help fighting it. This is an improvement over last season when Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang attempted to co-exist in the midst of Daniel and Johnny's predictable bickering. Having them go in different directions for most of these episodes before eventually joining forces again was probably a smart move.                     

Tory's allegiances are torn being forced to carry a secret that could destroy Silver's plan to have Cobra Kai take over the karate world through their potential participation in the famed international Sekai Taikai tournament. She could really be considered the show's true protagonist, as the guilt of knowing how he bought the win eats her alive, eliminating whatever satisfaction she could have gotten from defeating Sam to win that trophy. 

As Cobra's Kai's fastest rising star, Tory faces a choice. Much like karate came between Sam and Miguel, staying on this dark path would further decimate Tory's already shaky relationship with Robby, who already saw the light. The long troubled Tory is wrestling her own conscience and Peyton List knocks this out of park, subtly conveying the self-loathing and indignation Tory faces each time she steps inside that dojo. 

One of the most affecting aspects of Tory's arc is how she takes ex-Eagle Fang up-and-comer, Devon Lee (Oona O'Brien) under her wing like a sister, seemingly not wanting to see this girl go down a similar road. After briefly impressing as a new addition last season, O'Brien shines in a much larger role, with Devon contemplating if she still wants to be a Cobra in spite of the morally duplicitous qualities senseis Silver and Kim are promoting.

Miyagi-Do doesn't yet know how badly they need Tory on their side, but Daniel definitely needs Stingray, who's also battling his guilt over the Silver's payout to frame Kreese. Now driving Johnny's Dodge Challenger as a full fledged, card-carrying member of Cobra Kai, he's gotten everything he wants, provided he keeps his mouth shut. 

With Silver delivering on his word and welcoming Stingray back with open arms, there's little incentive for him to squeal, especially considering the potentially dangerous consequences if he does. But as badly as Daniel, Johnny and Chozen want him to flip, their biggest asset in destroying Silver is currently behind bars. 

Early signs point to a potentially rehabilitated Kreese being in a reflective, contemplative state of mind, attempting to stay out of trouble in hopes of an earning parole. And this prison stint gives the writers another chance to delve even further into the character's turbulent past and possible motivations. Kove plays it cool much of the way through, as we eagerly anticipate the moment Kreese decides to have his way with the fellow inmates. 

Kreese also has a great scene with the prison counselor where he emotionally cracks coming face-to-face with the ghosts of his past (including a digitally de-aged Johnny). But like everything involving him, you never stop wondering whether he's playing an angle. In the season's final minutes we discover he most definitely is. Part Halloween, part The Silence of the Lambs, his latest con job will probably earn a few laughs for its audacity, but that's Kreese in a nutshell, so it's perfect. Of course, if he held off a little longer he'd have been released instead of a fugitive, but timing wasn't always his strong suit.

The explosive, twist-laden finale ranks amongst the series' strongest, with Silver struggling to maintain a stranglehold over Cobra Kai as all his criminal deeds and dirty laundry float to the surface. Another action-packed, season-ending showdown takes place between Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do that seriously tests allegiances and loyalty, but it's Silver and Chozen's one-on-one encounter that leaves the more lasting impression after slowly simmering throughout the ten episodes. Johnny also takes the worst beating he's ever gotten on way toward Daniel finally settling his score with Silver in a very public forum, with Cobra Kai's future on the line.

If there's a criticism you could level against this season (albeit an extremely minor one) it's that the bench of characters is so deep it starts becoming impossible for all of them to get a focus, forcing the writers to pick their spots. They've done it well, but it's hard not to notice the somewhat reduced role of All-Valley champ, Hawk (Jacob Bertrand), which may be less a reflection of his importance than the necessary drawback of being part of such a huge ensemble. And aside from a couple of brief scenes of him enduring Kenny's bullying, you may forget Anthony LaRusso's (Griffin Santopietro) even there, while wondering if he's interested in karate at all. 

The show's always excelled at depicting the characters' constantly evolving interpersonal relationships, so it's likely all of these aforementioned moves are purposeful and temporary, with the writers prioritizing which stories to put the heat on at any given moment. If the challenge comes in integrating the stories of the original legacy characters with compelling newer ones, that's where Cobra Kai finds the key to attracting viewers of all ages to a franchise over three decades old.

There's definitely a formula at play here, but it works, proving the series to be far more than just a nostalgic one-trick pony. The returns, reversals and surprises just keep coming, with the show constantly managing to reset itself on an episode-to-episode basis. And it all always comes back to the two middle-aged men who still can't let go of the 1984 All-Valley Karate Tournament final, passing their complicated high school legacies on to the kids, both for better and worse. Daniel and Johnny may be fighting on the same side now, but it hasn't dulled the series one bit.                 

Cobra Kai (Season 4)

Creators: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg
Starring: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Peyton List, Vanessa Rubio, Thomas Ian Griffith, Martin Kove, Dallas Dupree Young, Griffin Santopietro
Original Airdate: 2021  

★★★ ½ (out of ★★★★)

If forced to choose, this fourth season of Netflix's wildly successful Karate Kid continuation, Cobra Kai, would at a glance probably be ranked lowest by some. But putting that in proper perspective means it's only a little less consistently brilliant and airtight than the three that preceded it. While there are some minor chinks in its armor this time, things get straightened out before an exciting and unexpected conclusion that sets the stage for what's next maybe better than any of its previous finales. Creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have this down to a science at this point, enough even to earn the show an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. But that questionable categorization risks obscuring how much else it does well, with the humor only bolstering the nostalgic drama and narrative twists and turns. 

For most of the season's first half, the writers really seem to lean into that comedy a little more, with some even saying these ten episodes feel a little more "Netflix" than usual. How much of a criticism that is depends on the execution, which is a line this series has always managed to walk better than any. Even if more time is spent covering ground that's been traversed before and a sense of familiarity seeps in, none of its strongest aspects have been compromised. A slight dip was inevitable four seasons in, especially when it already pulled off the impossible in pleasing hardcore fans whose entire Miyagi-Verse centers around '84 Daniel and Johnny and attracting younger viewers with new characters who have grown just as crucial to the show's foundation.

Never hesitant in drawing from the three original films for its mythology, we've already seen the returns of John Kreese, Chozen, Kumiko and even Ali. And last season's finale reminded us just how far they're willing to go, dusting off a memorable villain from the least regarded of the original films, creating suspense as to how he'll fit into the current landscape. Terry Silver's re-entry into the Cobra Kai world is not only big deal for franchise devotees, but a chance for the writers to deepen and further explore the man whose mind games wrecked havoc on Daniel over thirty years ago. 

The mystery of where Silver's been, why he'd come back and his intentions play as a slow burn that's milked for as long as possible and all its worth. It also gives the actor playing him the opportunity to add more layers to what was admittedly a pretty over-the-top, one dimensional character. For about 75 percent of the season, we're not sure what his deal is, until the pieces start fitting together toward the end. That could be said for a lot of this season, which tries to juggle a lot of storylines and sub-plots, with some hitting just a little harder than others.

With Johnny (William Zabka) having lost estranged son, Robby (Tanner Buchanan) to the clutches of former sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) and Cobra Kai, he's found unexpected help in Daniel (Ralph Macchio), who proposed they join forces to eliminate Kreese and his dojo for good. And with that challenge, the battle lines are drawn for the All Valley Karate Championship, as the losing side agrees to leave the Valley for good. But while Kreese attempts to lore his Vietnam comrade and Cobra Kai co-founder Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) back into the fold, the tenuous union of Daniel's Miyagi-Do and Johnny's Eagle Fang doesn't come without a struggle, as the two rival senseis with dueling philosophies and personalities struggle to co-exist. 

With an angry Robby ingratiating himself into Cobra to get back at his dad, he finds an ally in the equally vengeful Tory (Peyton List), whose feud with Samantha (Mary Mouser), has only escalated after her school expulsion. The Valley's defending champion Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) is also in a tough spot, trying to accept his mom Carmen's (Vanessa Rubio) new relationship with Johnny while being mentored in karate and life by Daniel. 

Advice is something Daniel's distracted actual son, middle-schooler Anthony (Griffin Santopietro), has little interest in, having joined his friends in bullying Kenny (Dallas Dupree Young), a quiet new kid at school who soon needs to call on a familiar connection to help him fight back. Of course, all these roads lead to the tournament, where the futures of Cobra Kai, Myagi-Do and Eagle Fang will be decided and alliances are tested.

This might be the first season where the least compelling aspect is the tension between Johnny and Daniel. Not that there's anything particularly wrong with it, just that we've reached a point where their dynamic is pretty well-established and better sub-plots have emerged. While a begrudging respect exists despite their history, it's mutually understood they'll never vacation together, and when it comes to karate, their egos will always get in the way. That's especially true when it comes to their wildly different teaching approaches, which they'll learn may not be so far apart after all. 

Daniel must slowly face the realization over the course of these ten episodes that he's had tunnel vision and that maybe self-defense all the time isn't the best way to earn points in tournaments and life. Whether it's still out of spite for Johnny or loyalty to Miyagi, he's taken it so far in the other direction that even his own daughter starts questioning whether there's only one right way of doing things. Of course, Johnny's equally stubborn when it comes to reaching a middle ground, which is really what the season's about for everyone: finding balance. 

Even as their arguing seems to take on more of a comedic banter this time, seeing Macchio and Zabka go at each other as these characters never gets old because they're so good at it. Johnny's inability to use social media, not knowing what an Uber is, or his complete lack of self-awareness or political correctness consistently land as the series' best jokes, with Zabka ensuring that Johnny we remember is preserved enough in his 80's time capsule that he won't change or grow, at least too much.   

Kreese and Terry Silver's relationship is the more compelling, with the former planting seeds in the Silver's mind that maybe he's gone soft with age. Seemingly a far cry from the coked-up, evil sensei who terrorized Daniel in Part III, this is a mellower, wisened Silver, comfortable living in the lap of luxury, hosting opulent tofu parties with his girlfriend and basking in the wealth of many successful investments. Kreese's offer is an unwelcome one for Silver, mainly because he expects which card his old friend will play to entice him back to Cobra Kai. Even worse, Silver knows he's right and still feels he owes Kreese a lifetime debt for what happened in Vietnam. 

What Thomas Ian Griffith does so well is create this entirely different character that still has those shadings and weaknesses of the madman he was before, keeping us on edge as to whether he'll remain as laid back and serene as he actually appears. Silver's put karate behind him, but when guilt and pride draw him back, Kreese is almost immediately threatened by his presence. They're friends and rivals, but there's this underlying tension primed to explode at any moment, making their interactions in and out of the dojo substantially different than that of Daniel and Johnny. There's also the question of where Silver's philosophies stand now and how those views will influence or even change Cobra Kai. And maybe even more importantly, what this will mean for Kreese, as Kove's performance skillfully supplies the subtlest hints of where it's all going.      

It turns out the the writers had an ace up their sleeves in Daniel's son Anthony as their decision to hold off on involving him until now pays off handsomely. There's been so much focus on Samantha, viewers would be forgiven for even remembering he even exists, but Griffin Santopietro steps up in a big way as Anthony, along with new addition Dallas Dupree Young, whose bullied Kenny probably comes the closest in a while to evoking Daniel's predicament in the original film. 

Pressured by his friends, you can literally feel the guilt emanating from Anthony, who feels as if he has no choice but to torture this kid or suffer those same consequences himself. And you can see where a terrified Kenny would think he has no place to turn but Cobra Kai, reflecting the larger conundrum of this season. That the lines separating bullies from the bullied can often be thin, especially as Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang flirt with adapting Cobra Kai's "Strike First" philosophy to exact their own revenge, much to Daniel's displeasure.

If we know anything about Cobra Kai it's that they don't hold back, especially now with both Kreese and Silver at the helm. And of them all, resident badass Tory Nichols has emerged as the ultimate bully, even as she more often feels like the series' anti-hero. 

One of the toughest things the writers had to sell us on was rooting for the somewhat irritating, goody two shoes Samantha in her feud with Tory. That this vicious bully is the far cooler, more complex character is a testament to how well Peyton List plays her, and now that they've doubled down on Tory's commitment to overcoming a troubled family life, it's enabled the actress to add even more nuance to the performance.

Injecting Amanda LaRusso (the criminally underrated Courtney Henggeler) into the middle of the Sam-Tory feud only further bolsters this storyline, as she fiercely protects her daughter while having surprising sympathy for Tory's situation. Sam is given a much needed rebellious streak as we relate to the frustration that accompanies watching her mom help the girl who brutally attacked her, while understanding Amanda's personal yet still unselfish reasons for doing so. All of this only adds fuel to the fire that will be the inevitable tournament showdown between Sam and Tory, which takes center stage in a way it hasn't before, but now fully deserves to.

This is the first time it seems as if Miguel and Robby aren't the show's key focus since the bench has grown so deep with other, equally intriguing supporting characters. Both are utilized exactly how they should going into this new batch of episodes, as Miguel's entrenched in Eagle Fang, but sliding over into Daniel's Miyagi-Do teachings, predictably setting off Johnny. For him though, it's more of a concern that his former nemesis could potentially take over his role as father figure to Miguel, leading to a heartbreaking scene that calls back to Miyagi's drunken breakdown in The Karate Kid. But it's Johnny's own guilt at failing as a father to his real son, Robby, that's painfully exposed, while also conjuring up memories of his own fatherless upbringing, which Cobra Kai and Kreese provided a sanctuary from. 

We know Robby can't forgive his dad so he's channeled all that negative energy into Cobra Kai, convincing himself he's in control and won't suffer the same trauma and disappointment Johnny did over thirty years ago. But with Kreese and Silver running the show, he's only deluding himself, chasing a chance at self-acceptance and respectability by mentoring Kenny, who may be more like him than he thought. Ironically enough, Robbie's only stabilizing force turns out to be Tory, the only Cobra as angry and personally troubled as he is. But it's ex-Cobra Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz (Jacob Bertrand) who's learning the hard way that trust and forgiveness isn't so easily earned back without some work. 

After seeing the light and turning on Cobra Kai at the end of last season, Hawk discovers Miyagi-Do isn't so quick to welcome him with open arms, especially after a checkered history that includes breaking the arm of former best friend Demetri (Gianni DeCenzo). Ostracized by his new teammates, another huge event completely shatters Hawk's confidence, resulting in one of the season's most affecting storylines. 

Having to come to terms with his past actions and where he finds himself now, Betrand's performance continues to impress as one of the more overlooked successes in an immensely stacked and talented cast. With Hawk stuck between where his supposed persona ends and the real person begins, the scenes between him and Demetri recall their first season glory days, but with the roles sort of reversed. Whether Hawk can get himself together before the tourney, and during it, makes for a satisfying arc, reemphasizing what the show's always done best.     

The creative decision to donate more time to the All Valley Tournament than usual is understandable given the stakes, even as it's accompanied by pluses and minuses, like a comedy segment involving the goofy tournament organizers. While the writers probably felt the changes made to the tourney required an expository scene, that just tonally hit the wrong note, compounded later by a needless and distracting celebrity cameo that does more of the same. But if the addition of a "skills competition" doesn't add much other than fear as to how the season will end, they get over the hump quickly with a near-perfect closer that accentuates the real benefits of giving more minutes to the finale: character development and the actual matches. 

One of the two championship finals is arguably the series' best showdown in terms of action, recalling the drama of Daniel vs. Johnny while bringing an MMA feel and even a Bloodsport shout-out to the proceedings.Yet somehow even that still takes a backseat to all the turns, returns, shifts in allegiances, and shocking developments that occur. Basically the opposite of what you think will happen does, but not just for the sake of it. 

Placing the characters in a far different position than before they entered this tournament, its fallout promises a lot to still be dealt with. And if the finale's any indication, everything seems on track for Cobra Kai to go at least a couple of seasons more, assuming that's the plan. But you have to think the writers are already eyeing that finish line, just as Netflix is likely considering the possible potential for the franchise beyond that. As for now, it's best to just sit back and enjoy that there are no signs of a steep decline for a series that keeps coming up with new ways to surprise us. 

Cobra Kai (Season 3)

Creators: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg
Starring: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Peyton List, Gianni DeCenzo, Martin Kove, Vanessa Rubio, Diora Baird, Ed Asner, Dan Ahdoot, Bret Ernst, Ken Davitian, Yugi Okumoto, Tamlyn Tomita, Traci Toguchi, Barrett Carnahan, Terry Serpico, Jesse Kove
Original Airdate: 2021  

**The Following Review Contains Major Spoilers For The Third Season Of Cobra Kai **

★★★★ (out of ★★★★)

Of the many elements The Karate Kid sequel series, Cobra Kai, has executed with creative perfection over its two seasons, the most glaring is that it's taken two iconic characters from a wildly successful movie made over thirty years ago and enhanced them. By deepening an iconic rivalry into something even more relatable, the show's freed from having to entirely rely on nostalgia as a storytelling crutch like so many failed reboots before it. Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) are two fundamentally flawed characters whose lives have been framed and steered by what happened in high school, triggering both anytime they even share the same air space. 

While they've had fleeting moments of peaceful co-existence since Johnny's resurrection of the Cobra Kai dojo prompted Daniel to open his competing Miyagi-Do, their feud's fully spilled over into the All Valley community, with disastrous consequences. And in starting essentially from scratch with a new generation of teen characters, the show's other gigantic achievement is in getting us to care as much, if not more, about them as we do this legendary pair of dueling middle-aged senseis. 

If Johnny's purpose has been to correct the mistakes he's made as a person and father since high school, Daniel's focus has revolved around honoring the teachings of his late mentor Mr. Miyagi into his personal and professional life. Of course, the more he gets sucked into this rivalry the harder that becomes, reminding us that if there's one thing every fan thought was impossible, it was doing this series without the late Pat Morita's presence as Mr. Miyagi. And they don't, since hardly a minute goes by where he doesn't still feel like an integral part of the proceedings. These ten episodes do the best job thus far incorporating him in, not only with some really meaningful call-backs and flashbacks, but actual plot points that adapt his philosophies into action.

Any concerns the series would be lose steam with its jump from YouTube to Netflix or the creative well would start to run dry are unfounded as we're treated to the return of a major character that couldn't be handled any better, exceeding all expectations of how she would slide back into this story, no matter how briefly. And if the two previous season finale karate battles helped define its characters, we get a final episode here that simultaneously juggles three such sequences, including one that literally feels thirty years in the making.

As the fallout from the high school fight continues to reverberate through the Valley, Miguel (Xolo Maridueña,) lies in the ICU facing the prospect he may never walk again, much less compete. Johnny's estranged son Robby (Tanner Buchanan) is on the run, facing the prospect he could face charges for the attack, as both Johnny and Daniel reluctantly team up to find him, strongly disagreeing on the methods they'll use to do it. 

With a returning John Kreese (Martin Kove) having betrayed Johnny and taken ownership of the Cobra Kai dojo and Miguel's mother Carmen (Vanessa Rubio) blaming him for the accident, Johnny's spiraling again. Only a possible reconciliation with his and Daniel's ex-girlfriend Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue) provides him with some semblance of a second chance as he helps Miguel recuperate.

Daniel's also struggling since Miyagi-Do's role in the fight has shattered his upstanding reputation, sinking sales at the car dealership. As he and wife Amanda (Courtney Henggeler) formulate a plan to save the business, daughter Sam (Mary Mouser) struggles with panic attacks in the wake of Miguel's fall and attack at the hands of badass Cobra Kai queen Tory (Peyton List), whose school expulsion and family problems have temporarily sidelined her. 

Assembling a more ruthless group than ever before, led by an angry Hawk (Jacob Bertrand), Sensei Kreese wants to extract revenge on Miyagi-Do, even as we learn about the traumatic life event that turned the hardened karate instructor into this monster. Now, Johnny and Daniel may have to put their differences aside long enough to deal with him while Miguel inches closer to recovery, only to return to a Cobra Kai that's channeling its bloodthirsty roots of decades past. The battle for the very soul of the Valley is on, and everyone's going to have to pick a side. 

There's a reshuffling of the deck, with Miguel's injury essentially ostracizing Johnny from everything and everyone, leaving him to contemplate the role he may have unintentionally played in encouraging the fight that saw his own son nearly killing the student he coached to the championship trophy. But his biggest mistake was letting let Sensei Kreese back into the Cobra Kai fold, somehow thinking things would be different, resulting in him again getting cruelly manipulated by the only father he's really ever known.

The relationship between Johnny and Miguel that's always been at the series' core is now strained, but undergoing repairs, with the rebellious sensei employing a grab bag of unconventional techniques to literally get him back on his feet. It calls back to some of their best training scenes from the first season, while providing some hilarious moments that effectively play off Johnny being stuck in the past. 

When the show was first announced, initial worries the material would be treated as merely a comedic spoof of the films proved completely unfounded as it ended up finding just the right dramedic mix. But by far the the most effective ongoing gag is Johnny being frozen in the '80s because it's not only good comedy, but completely true to the character. 

If the writers are ever in danger of veering into Encino Man territory with this, Zabka's smooth timing conquers all, whether Johnny's dishing out some "tough love" by setting Miguel's shoelace ablaze to get him walking again or making painfully dated Vanna White references. And while his inability to understand the concept of public parks or any social norms might raise eyebrows, nothing tops his attempts this season to use social media.

Despite Johnny steadily growing in this reluctant mentoring role, the writers and Zabka have excelled at making sure he's still very much the Johnny we knew, resisting the urge to have him go "soft," with those aforentioned scenes and occasionally boreish behavior reinforcing that. Mistakenly putting his trust in Kreese again may have put him on the outs with Robby, Miguel, the Larusso's and basically the entire community, but as the season progresses it becomes clear he's not ready to throw in the towel just yet. 

The past also catches up with Daniel when an unexpected business trip to Japan to save the dealership reunites him with former girlfriend Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita) and arch nemesis Chozen (Yugi Okumoto) in a far different and more commercialized Okinawa than he remembers having visited with Miyagi as a teen (Ep. 3.4, "The Right Path"). While creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg haven't shied away from diving into the film mythology, this is their biggest swing yet, if only because The Karate Kid Part II was always viewed as paling in comparison to its more respected predecessor. But hindsight has revealed it to be an undervalued chapter that actually did a lot right, delivering some memorable franchise moments. And since this isn't nostalgia for the mere sake of it, Daniel's scenes with Kumiko dovetail into his current situation, while continuing to emphasize Miyagi's lifelong impact on him. 

For those who do hold the sequel in high regard, his interaction with Chozen is even more satisfying, with Okumoto returning to the role a far better actor, and with a more complicated, intriguing character to play. Conveying a mix of menace and calm, he gives us more than what we came for, before the script is flipped and we also end up getting something else entirely. It's one of the season's many reunions that challenges Daniel, as many of his actions and decisions upon returning home can be traced to what occurs in the episode. 

If ever a character seemed immune to change or growth, it's the sadistic John Kreese, whose origin story is explored in considerable detail. There's always a level of creative risk when incorporating flashbacks that could potentially alter our perceptions of already established figures or overexplain actions better left to viewers' imaginations. The writers successfully walked this line in the first season in showing glimpses of Johnny's troubled childhood in pre-Karate Kid scenes and again last season with flashes of Kreese's life before he returned. 

Now with a full 1960's Vietnam subplot, they're able to go all in, showing how he came to be and what exactly led to his founding of Cobra Kai. But anyone understandably ready to reject any attempt at "humanizing" him or creating empathy that could suck the venom out of his villainy can breathe a sigh of relief since that's not at all what's done here. Seeing the show tackle a supporting story like this in its own action-adventure style is kind of thrilling, with end result being a presentation of Kreese completely in line with our previous perceptions, yet surprising at the same time. 

Focusing on the volatile relationship between a young Kreese (Barrett Carnahan) and his commanding officer, Captain Turner (a menacing Terry Serpico), it encapsulates why the series is so successful by adding layers to stories and characters without detracting from what we already knew. The desire to understand "why" with Kreese was already there from the beginning, but now we can appreciate Martin Kove's work even more knowing that the writing has caught up to his performance, investing him with substantially more depth than the movies did. 

If Kreese's return to prominence stoked the flames of a dojo feud that was already boiling over after last season's incident, Cobra Kai's now emerged as something more closely resembling a cult for disaffected youths. If there's any criticism to be made of the season it would be that the crimes and assaults committed would result not only serious jail time for all involved, but some kind of charges against the damaged vet. Of course, doing that would damper the escapism of a story that actually does an entertaining job showing how he pulls the wool over the community's eyes, convincing them he's a pillar of society while Johnny and Daniel fume. 

The one character who does serve jail time, Robby, has a really rough go of it, having to not only fight for his survival, but reckon that what he did to Miguel may qualify him as even more like his father than he feared. And we all know Johnny's diabolical former sensei won't waste any time exploiting that rift. It might be Hawk who emerges as the true second coming of Johnny, a dangerous bully whose betrayal of former best friend Demetri (Gianni DeCenzo) has been one of the more underappreciated long-term arcs in the series. It's taken to a whole new level here, even as Hawk shows his first subtle signs of doubt about the direction Cobra Kai's taking. 

Showing less hesitation is Tory, whose troubled home life and anger over Miguel results in the most intriguing Sam LaRusso storyline yet, as she struggles to mentally rebound from last season's attack. And since Peyton List is so ferocious as Tory, it's even easier to understand Sam's paralyzing fear at the mere thought or sight of this girl. Theres' no question it's leading to a big showdown between the two, with Sam having to dig down deep to overcome her crippling anxiety. 

After a clever early episode fake-out, the moment everyone's been waiting for since Ali acceptied Johnny's friend request in last season's cliffhanger finally comes to fruition with Academy Award-nominated actress and 80's movie icon Elisabeth Shue's highly anticipated return to the franchise (Ep. 3.9, "Feel The Night"). While we suspected the possibility, it was far from a lock considering how well they kept her appearance a secret. But does it ever deliver, undoubtedly causing diehards like to jump out of their seats when she reenters the picture some thirty plus years later to discover the more things change, the more they don't. Our first instinct is to want to see her and Johnny back together, and while I'm not sure that wish changes after the two-episode arc, the writers manage to again subvert expectations by giving her a more important purpose. 

The Johnny and recently separated Dr. Ali reunion we've been clamoring for ends up being much more than a mere tease, with them basically picking up where they left off, until Daniel squeezes his way back in (Ep. 3.10,"December 19"). The country club Christmas party scenes that bring the three together for the first time in over three decades just might stand as the best work the series has done thus far, with both guys instantly reverting back to their high school selves in her presence, as if they weren't already halfway there anyway. 

Shue's terrific as a wiser, more experienced Ali, effortlessly sensible and likable in these scenes as the only adult in the room. Well, besides Amanda. who also attempts to bring Johnny and Daniel back to reality (between this and that great Kreese confrontation, this is Henggeler's best season as Amanda).  Lesser writing would have Daniel's wife consumed with jealousy or attempted to manufacture another triangle of some sort that will threaten their marriage, but the show's too smart for that. They both tease and torture both guys about it instead, forcing them to come to realization that they'll always be more alike than different, even if both are too stubborn to admit it. 

Recognizing that Johnny needs to "move on" and the writers are painted into a corner with Shue's limited availability, I'm still not quite sold on his relationship with Carmen. There's a lot work left to do there and if it seems impossible for diehards to endorse him ending up with anyone other than Ali, that's because it is. Still, they made the right decision under the circumstances so if this does ends up being a one-off and we never see her again (please, no!) credit the show for still overdelivering. Waiting the two seasons to bring her in paid off big, maximizing the impact of a return that couldn't have possibly gone any better.

Thanks to Ali, Johnny and Daniel now know exactly what they need to do, if only their egos can allow it. An alliance of some sort is what we've been building toward since this started, but Kreese's stranglehold has forced it, with Cobra Kai's actions putting the community on high alert and even threatening the continuation of the All Valley Karate tournament. A wild Christmas brawl to settle the score between Miyagi-Do, Cobra Kai and Johnny's fledgling Eagle Fan faction rivals last season's school fight, forcing Sam to face her fears, Miguel to test his health and Hawk to make a choice. But its Kreese's attempted poisoning of Robby's mind that ends up being a bridge too far for Johnny.

The sight of Daniel saving Johnny is comparable to what Star Wars fans experienced in the gasp-inducing final minutes of The Mandalorian's second season in that it's this franchise's finest hour in many years, bringing everything back around while still pushing the characters forward. Having the two rivals finally on the same side does feel right for the story at this point, but also well-earned since all the pieces were so carefully placed to get them there. Brilliantly juxtaposing this with the culmination of the Vietnam story puts viewers in the awkwardly thrilling position of seeing Kreese through two different lenses, which are ultimately one in the same. 

With his reckoning in Vietnam, a young Kreese lights a life-altering fuse that rots his soul, causing him to continuously replay that defining event under far different circumstances. In a way it explains everything, while laying the groundwork for the return of another familar character that indicates his war with Johnny and Daniel is far from over. The Karate Kid fans will need to pinch themselves that they're getting all this, but still may need a flowchart handy to track all the turns, betrayals, and shifts in allegiances that take place, all of which feel completely organic to the "Myagi-verse" that's emerged from within this series. While it's becoming repetitive to heap piles praise on each season before the next tops it, Cobra Kai's momentum not only shows no signs of slowing, it may just be getting started.

Cobra Kai (Season 2)

Creators: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald
Starring: William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni Decenzo, Martin Kove
Release Date: 2019

★★★★ (out of ★★★★)

**Spoiler Warning: The Following Review Reveals Some Key Plot Details From The First Two Seasons of 'Cobra Kai' **

When YouTube Premium's Karate Kid sequel series, Cobra Kai, premiered last year, the big shock wasn't it being far better than anyone expected, but in how it made you re-examine the original film with fresh eyes, now working with the knowledge of what would become of All Valley Karate rivals Daniel Larusso and Johnny Lawrence thirty years later. Jumping off a very good idea that the latter viewed himself as the bullied victim in his high school war with Daniel, creators Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald's introduced us to a present-day Johnny frozen in '84, unable to fully move past his biggest defeat. And despite the fact Daniel's married with two kids and running a successful car dealership, something's missing, as he still struggles to find his way without the guidance of Mr. Miyagi.

As good a starting point as this was, there were many ways it could have gone terribly wrong. If their characters seemed to be a betrayal of who they originally were or the creators failed to recognize how much more the actors were capable of, it all could have been a disaster, joining the pitiful ranks of other reboot and sequel hatchet jobs. This represents the polar opposite, as the team behind this series use every minute of  second chance to deepen our appreciation of the franchise, while successfully pushing it forward. 

Cobra Kai's Hawk, Johnny and Miguel

Reluctantly taking a young pupil under his wing and resurrecting the Cobra Kai dojo as an unlikely sensei training a group of misfits, we got the Johnny we never knew we needed. And watching him again go face-to-face with Daniel under different, but not entirely dissimilar circumstances, we're reminded just how they bring out both the best and worst in each other. their feud trickling down to the new generation of characters we've grown to care about just as much.

Coming off a suspenseful first season finale, Cobra Kai has proven thus far to be the template for resurrecting an already existing property, delivering a second season that's just as strong, if not stronger. It's accomplished this by expanding the show's universe, further developing the characters and capitalizing off last season's tournament showdown that not only ended with a shocking twist, but the return of an infamous figure from Johnny's past who could again prove to be his, and Daniel's, biggest threat. But the series' more lasting accomplishment is what it's done with the newer characters, whose arcs take yet another turn in this year's finale, topping any previous episode in terms of adrenaline and suspense. Forget about measuring up to the original's legacy. You could easily make a case that this show is already well on its way to surpassing it. 

When last season concluded Johnny (William Zabka) had accomplished his liftetime goal of bringing the first place All-Valley Under-18 Karate Championship Trophy "home" to Cobra Kai after training bullied teen Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña) to victory over his own estranged son, Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan) in the final. But at what cost? With an injured Robby's new sensei, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) looking on, Miguel wins by employing the same mean streak and cheap tactics the Cobras were known for over thirty years ago, in the process driving away his girlfriend (and Daniel's daughter), Samantha (Mary Mouser).

Johnny gets a visit from an old friend

Now with a tainted trophy and a relationship with his son seemingly broken beyond repair, the first glimpses of true regret come over Johnny's face as he realizes the Cobra Kai mantra of "No Mercy" may have corrupted Miguel just as it had him years ago. But before that feeling can fully settle in, a shadowy figure appears at the door: Presumed dead sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove), the founding father of Cobra Kai who led Johnny to his greatest heights as a teen, before turning on him. Declaring himself a changed man, the Vietnam vet memorably humiliated by Mr. Myagi in the parking lot all those years ago, is just looking for a second chance, and hoping his former pupil will give it to him.

Much to wife Amanda's (Courtney Henggeler) chagrin, Daniel leaves most of the responsibilities at LaRusso Motors to her as he doubles down on his efforts to open Miyagi-do Karate, making his inaugural students Samantha and Robby, who's now moved in with the LaRussos as the teens grow closer. Miguel meanwhile forms a bond with new bad girl Cobra Kai recruit, Tory (Peyton List), who's also taken Sam's best friend Aisha (Nichole Brown) under her wing. The violent, agressive direction of the group has also caused a further rift between bullied nerd turned badass, Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz (Jacob Bertrand) and his neurotic pal Demetri (Gianni Decenzo). With all these conflicts building toward an explosion as summer comes to a close, Cobra Kai and Miyagi need to somehow co-exist, before Daniel and Johnny's continuous feud threatens to hurt those closest to them.

One of the biggest highlights of last season was seeing a middle-aged Johnny trying to function in the 21st century and discovering it's exactly as we thought. The drinking, music, sexism and xenophobia confirmed Daniel's former bully wouldn't have a softer edge, at least at first. But he was trying, and if his scenes teaching a new class saw him initially coming off as politically incorrect as possible, the thought of a returning and bitter Kreese being dropped into this environment is sort of terrifying, not to mention ripe with creative possibilities, many of which are still not even entirely exhausted by the season's end.

The manipulative Kreese (Martin Kove) returns

Zabka and Kove play off each other so well that we do actually want to believe Kreese is a changed man and the backstory given to explain his absence sheds further light on the unrepentant figure who made Daniel and Johnny's lives a living hell in different ways. But the writers trust its audience enough to know that he hasn't returned to play nice and peacefully co-exist with Johnny.

Something's up, and this season will at least partially be about this disgraced mentor slithering back into his life when he least needs him. And we get this, because for all the misery the original Cobra Kai brought Johnny as a kid, it still holds for him a soft spot in that it provided an escape from his miserable home life. Kreese knows that all too well, pushing the right nostalgia buttons in him to get his foot back in the door. Johnny may resent him, but still can't help but seek his ex-mentor's approval.

Just as compelling is Johnny's students' reactions to Kreese, whose return becomes the driving force behind much of this season's drama, allowing well-traveled character actor Kove to give a different, more nuanced take of his classic, but previously somewhat one-dimensional role. It isn't long before his and Johnnny's dueling philosophies about where Cobra Kai's been and where it should go start to clash, with their students caught in the middle. And no one seems more conflicted than Miguel, whose emerging mean streak at the end of last season caught everyone, especially Robby and Daniel, off guard. But it also took Johnny by surprise, reminding him what Cobra Kai, at its most brutal, really means, and whether that's a road he ever wants to travel down again.

Some of Zabka's very best scenes again revolve around Johnny simultaneously trying to both relive and escape his past, coming to terms with his mistakes and attempting to be "the bigger man" by not getting sucked back into his feud with Daniel. Whether that's reuniting with his original Cobra teammates Bobby, Tommy and Jimmy (actors Ron Thomas, Rob Garrison and Tony O'Dell reprising their roles) for an emotional joyride, figuring out how to use a laptop or a dating app, or having a really awkward dinner with Daniel and Amanda, Johnny's impossible to dislike because we hold out hope he'll eventually get his act together. For the show's sake, it's probably the last thing we should want, but can't help ourselves because Zabka's so good at making us root for his redemption.      

Miyagi-do's Robby, Sam and Daniel

While not on as tumultuous a journey as Johnny, Daniel's determination to get Miyagi-do off the ground is as much planted in his fear of failing his late mentor as it is sticking it to his longtime rival. It's ironic that in trying so hard to live up to the Miyagi legacy, Daniel's training scenes with daughter Sam and temporary houseguest Robby end up being the most repetitive of the season until an influx of new recruits come in and join them,and Cobra Kai takes the feud to a whole new level of personal.

That there's more at stake with Sam and Robby's personal relationship than in Daniel's quest to carry on Miyagi's teachings is kind of the point since it's through his connection to the Larussos that Robby's able to momentarily shed his badboy reputation as Johnny's son. His Cobra Kai nemesis, Miguel, appears to also be on the edge of redemption until Tory enters the picture, tempting him in the worst of ways with a mean streak of her own.That we care as much about this high school rivalry as much as the one still raging between the two adult characters speaks to the writing and performances from Maridueña, Buchanan, Mouser and series newcomer, Peyton List. Really, the feuds become one in the same.

Tory and Sam's climactic face off in Ep. 2.10, ("No Mercy"')

Although Johnny resists Kreese's desire to bring merciless vengeance back to the dojo he founded, his reappearance gives Daniel another reason for justifying his contempt for all things Johnny Lawrence. And after undergoing one of the more drastic transformations last season, Jacob Bertrand's Hawk plays an even bigger role this time around, soon embodying Kreese's ruthless philosophies by becoming the very thing that forced him to adopt this persona, going so far as to turn on his closest friend (despite Demetri's crippling neurosis being the season's only grating element).

Daniel vs. Johnny. Miguel vs. Robby. Sam vs. Tory. Hawk vs. Demetri. Johnny vs. Kreese. Cobra Kai vs. Miyagi-do. All these feuds simmer throughout the season, before finally exploding in a school-set brawl that can best be described as the show's finest 20 minutes, both in terms of storytelling and martial arts choreography, ending with a shocking event that brings these characters the closest they've come to full-on tragedy. Shaking the show's foundation, it's a culminating moment that can be traced to the previous nineteen episodes, while also working as a logical fallout to last season's closer, setting the table perfectly for Season 3.

Johnny at a crossroads

The defining event finds Johnny back at perhaps an even darker, sadder place than when he was initially reintroduced, opening up a whole new set of possibilities for where his feud with Daniel could go, or even whether it should continue. While hints have been dropped since the beginning, the writers also lean even further into teasing a potential return many probably didn't think was possible when this story began, or rather began again, for these characters. It's basically the final piece of the puzzle fans have been clamoring for. And now that the timing feels completely right for this exciting development, there's good reason to believe it will be handled as expertly as everything else. It's a deserved show of faith for a series that's proven how little interest it has in merely delivering a glorified reunion.