Best of the Best

In Cobra Kai, character arcs are a crucial part of what makes the series compelling. Tory Nichols and Robby Keene, two characters who are initially introduced as antagonists, undergo similar but distinct transformations. Tory's tragedy in Season 6 mirrors Robby's dramatic arc in Season 3, showcasing the show's tendency to explore cycles of pain, betrayal, and the search for belonging. Through these parallels, "Cobra Kai" illustrates how different characters can respond similarly to trauma and the feeling of abandonment, leading them down a darker path.

1. Kreese's Manipulative Visits In Season 3, John Kreese visits Robby in juvenile detention, exploiting his vulnerability and sense of betrayal. Robby feels abandoned by Daniel LaRusso, who called the police on him after the school fight, and by his father, Johnny Lawrence, who failed to be there for him. Kreese seizes on this emotional turmoil, offering Robby a place in Cobra Kai and a sense of belonging that he craves. Similarly, in Season 6, Kreese makes a calculated move when he visits Tory in the parking lot. Like Robby, Tory is at a low point-reeling from her mother's death and feeling alienated from her peers at Miyagi-Do. Kreese understands that Tory, like Robby before her, is looking for someone who will support and guide her, especially after her loss. His approach to both characters is the same: offer them a home when they feel like they have nowhere else to go.

2. Trauma as a Catalyst Both Robby and Tory are driven by deep-seated trauma, which plays a significant role in their decisions to join Cobra Kai. For Robby, the trauma stems from the betrayal he feels from the two father figures in his life-Daniel and Johnny. Daniel's decision to call the police after Robby's involvement in the fight with Miguel leaves Robby feeling utterly betrayed. In his eyes, Daniel was supposed to guide and protect him, not hand him over to the authorities. Similarly, Johnny's inconsistent presence exacerbates Robby's sense of abandonment. This emotional turmoil makes Robby susceptible to Kreese's manipulations, leading him to join Cobra Kai as a way to reclaim control and protect himself.

Tory's trauma in Season 6 is different but equally profound. Her mother's sudden death leaves her grappling with overwhelming grief and responsibility. Already feeling isolated, especially after the fallout from her association with Cobra Kai, Tory's loss further destabilizes her. Her time at Miyagi-Do doesn't provide the support she needs, intensifying her feelings of loneliness and vulnerability. Just as Kreese preys on Robby's emotional wounds, he also recognizes Tory's fragile state and uses it to pull her back into Cobra Kai.

3. Lack of Support from Mentors A key similarity between Robby and Tory's stories is their sense of being let down by those they trusted. For Robby, Daniel's call to the police and Johnny's absence are critical points of betrayal. Robby had come to see Daniel as a father figure, and when Daniel chose the law over him, Robby felt abandoned. Johnny's repeated failures to prioritize his son only deepened Robby's pain, making him feel like he had no one to rely on. This lack of support pushes Robby toward Kreese, who offers him the mentorship and belonging he desperately seeks.

Tory's experience with Miyagi-Do in Season 6 echoes Robby's sense of abandonment. Though she tries to integrate herself into Miyagi-Do, Tory constantly feels out of place. Her aggressive personality and past actions make it difficult for her to connect with her new peers, leaving her feeling isolated. After her mother's death, the lack of emotional support from Miyagi-Do compounds her grief, making her more susceptible to Kreese's influence. Like Robby, Tory turns to Cobra Kai, not just out of loyalty to Kreese, but because it's the only place where she feels she belongs.

4. Joining Cobra Kai as a Means of Survival The culmination of both arcs sees Robby and Tory turning to Cobra Kai as a means of survival. For Robby, Cobra Kai represents a way to channel his anger and regain control of his life. Similarly, Tory sees Cobra Kai as her only refuge, a place where her aggression and pain are not only accepted but valued. In both cases, Kreese becomes a surrogate father figure, providing the guidance and support they crave, albeit for his own manipulative purposes. Robby and Tory's decisions to join Cobra Kai underscore how trauma and a lack of support can drive people to make desperate choices, repeating a cycle of violence and emotional turmoil.

Ultimately, Tory's tragedy in Season 6 mirrors Robby's arc in Season 3, highlighting how the absence of genuine support and the presence of manipulative figures like Kreese can lead even the most resilient individuals down a dark path.

I feel the reviews on here are a bit biased. I've been watching since 2020 and I can say for sure this is not that great at all. It's so boring and predictable. As soon as Kreese met up with Tory it was obvious what was going to transpire. The whole season has been lacklustre and it's just getting dragged out now. I love Cobra Kai but it should have ended last season. Those saying it was a shock ending, it really wasn't at all if you actually have a bit of intelligence. It's turned into a soap opera and at times it's good but mostly boring and predictable. I hope the next 10 episodes are better but I do worry.

My spoiler... Cobra Kai (Kreese Japanese version wins) Silver comes back in the next 5 episodes. In the last 5 Kreese redeems himself by saving Jonny from Silver and Miyagi Do win overall. It's so obvious.

I love Cobra Kai, but it definitely peaked third season. Everything after that was pretty good but this is horrid. I called every plot point an episode before it happened, plot holes are almost unlimited, and it's just repeating storylines. I'm genuinely getting tired of Netflix butchering things this bad. The only redeeming hope will be stranger things 5. Now it did have some okay parts which is why I gave it a six, but this series is starting to over stay its welcome. I hate that it has to go but it's looking bad from here on out. I also have to say that we already know the winner, and that's how bad this is.

Cobra Kai is now starting it's last lap after a marathon run but has annoyingly been split it up into three parts. I was surprised by this final run as I genuinely thought the last season was it all wrapped up, but the producers clearly feel they can squeeze more out of it. So how was this part one of three of this extended final season? Unlike many other self styled online media commentators, I very much loved it and very much looking forward to the forthcoming installments.

This is clearly a show that is tying up all the loose ends, with friendships, relationships, work and post-school thoughts at the forefront. Then there is the hidden menace of Kreese! There's still much to ponder as well as a new mystery, and yes some characters go back to being at each others throats despite old hatchets being buried.

The show retains its humour with the long suffering Amanda Larusso as bewildered as ever on being stuck in this 'Twilight Zone'. This has been a slow burn of a season, and is the better for it. Johnny Lawrence is to be a dad but remains immature whilst Danny Larusso is still not as balanced as he thinks he is. Yet we all still love the emotional ride.

The stunning thing is that this show has retained it's quality in writing and humour. There aren't many series in the past generation or two which have maintained as high a standard as this. Give or take some ropey moments, the show managed to just get back on track and keep us hooked.

Surely there is no nepotism in the USA.

If even in karate schools, instead of choosing the best, they sabotage each other and have petty rivalries, what can you expect from such a society?

The show is really great, clearly, but for this episode, I can only give it 8/10. It seems like they cut a lot from the story and left the plot hanging, especially at the end of the episode.

I don't want to give spoilers, but I can't wait for the next 5 episodes to come out.

And by the way, I bet the sequel will be set in college. :)

Really good acting from this season start and i am expecting to be better and better until the end of the season. ;)