Counterbalance

Just like memoriam. Mr. Miyagi is far away but I feel his motto on behavior and words of Mr. LaRusso:) Good to see him even it's old screen shots. It is special show. I remember the first releasing time.

That is how I felt after watching this episode! I was satisfied to see the great development and how things were panning out!

I really love how our two main characters are handled! Johnny really has a lot of depth qnd we see so much more of him than what Daniel sees! Daniels scheeming almost turns him into something that he is not! He lost balance in life, and i loved the way he decides to get that balance back!

The fights against Kyler was so satisfying! Very well shot and choerographed! They really nail the action in this show! This show, like the movie, manages to create characters that we love to hate, so that we can feel satisfied when they loose!

Great montage in the beginning! Some potential great development wirh Johnny's son!

The end had me just a little emotional!

Does this review include spoilers? Maybe, of a kind...

Every time I expect the kids to do something "typically inane" they surprise me by stepping back and coming out with something above and beyond rather than ridiculous.

Every time I see one of the pro(an)agonists do something silly, I expect it to escalate beyond reasonable, as it seems to en every single other series I've watched recently... It doesn't... it stays firmly grounded in that person's honest desire to do what they feel is right and doesn't spiral out of control as I've seen it happen so often of late.

This series is right on par with Breaking Bad in terms of character relationship development!

Outstandingly heartwarming without unnecessary saccharine.

Final you see William Zabka as he should have been seen since the first movie. As a good guy. And you see Ralph Macchio as the bad guy he was always!

Ep 5 of Cobra Kai is where the series truly kicks into high gear, combining adrenaline-pumping action with heartfelt emotional arcs.

Miguel's training reaches a thrilling peak, giving us our first real taste of what Cobra Kai karate looks like in the modern age. The fight choreography is sharp, clean, and surprisingly powerful for a streaming series... every punch feels earned because the show has built Miguel's journey with care.

At the same time, the drama between Johnny and Daniel deepens, echoing their decades-old rivalry while showing how the past still shapes their present. Johnny, played with raw sincerity by William Zabka, is increasingly complex- flawed but sympathetic. Xolo Maridueña proves he's more than capable of carrying the emotional and physical demands of his role, while Ralph Macchio grounds the narrative with family-driven stakes.

What elevates this episode is balance: we get emotional payoffs, kinetic action, and a renewed sense of momentum. It's the first time the show feels truly unmissable - nostalgia and new storytelling colliding in perfect rhythm.

Rating: 9/10. Emotionally charged, action-packed, and gripping - a standout episode that cements Cobra Kai as more than just a nostalgic revival.