Ace Degenerate

I was very skeptical when a Karate Kid TV show was announced. The first movie has become an all-time classic and while its two sequels or reboot have not been well-received and have not aged well, there was always that healthy dose of corny nostalgia, powerful character moments and Pat Morita's Mr. Miyagi to bring any moviegoer back to the franchise. So I was pleasantly surprised when "Ace Degenerate", the launch of Cobra Kai was such a home-run. William Zabka really soled me on Johnny Lawrence and the fact that we are getting a reverse-plot is even better. The show really aims to portray Johnny as an anti-hero of sort, and succeeds in doing so. Seeing Ralph Macchio also co-star is just as fun as it was seeing him in the movies and the rest of the teenage cast help modernise the otherwise those occasional wacky 80's vibes. That's one gripe I have with the series so far. It seems a little to stuck in its time-period to move forward and thus the entire premise feels a little forced. However, when you take into account the fun story, well-written characters and the surprising amount of respect for the source "material", Cobra Kai is shaping up to be something special.

Do you need bad taste to get through the show? - Clearly!

Is it trashy, and completely unpretentious? - For sure!

Is it a cheap production ? - By every standard; - comes close to some Carpenter movies ( "They live", et al)

But, tell me, is it better than the original? - By miles!

• The simple twist, to make the angry and unlikeable prototypical anti-hero the hero, in company with the dry, yet not all-too subtle, humour, really saves it.

To be honest: For me, the simple good- vs. evil plot, influenced strongly by George Lucas, of the original, connected with its terrible 80s presentation, was always completely unbearable. So. the Ace Degenerate certainly deserves his revenge!

While i did not grow up watching the 1984 Karate Kid movie, i have watched it a couple of times and enjoyed it quite a bit for its underdog story and 80's vibe!

Therefore i was both surprised by this episode and I actually oiked it quite a lot! Shifting focus over to Johnny was a brilliant idea! Him living in the shadow of his former self, miserable, really shows how much has happened and it helps us understanding him a lot more than the original movie!

Him struggling with life, while Daniel achieved succes, makes perfect sense, and offers some great dynamic between the two and helps keep things fresh and interesting!

The episode also manages to keep the 80's vibe that made the movie so good!

Overall a great pilot with some interesting themes and a great way to continue off from the movie!

I like the bit where Daniel gives away free banzai trees. What a great gimmick

I have watched Karate Kid every few years fir the last 30. So I thought I would love this spin -off, or hate it!

The pilot episode of Cobra Kai immediately strikes a clever balance between nostalgia and a fresh perspective. We're reintroduced to Johnny Lawrence, decades after The Karate Kid, now a washed-up handyman living in the shadow of past glory.

The show wastes no time in showing how life has treated him (poorly) while Daniel LaRusso is thriving as a successful car dealer. This role reversal sets the tone for the series, as the so-called villain of the 80s film becomes the underdog we root for.

The episode captures attention through sharp writing, smartly placed callbacks, and a mix of humour and pathos. The decision to focus on Johnny's point of view is a bold one, and it works surprisingly well. His dynamic with Miguel, the bullied teen who finds an unlikely mentor in him, adds emotional weight and hints at a fresh underdog story in the making.

While the tone sometimes flirts with caricature, the episode sets up intriguing conflicts and makes the viewer want more.

A strong start, both for nostalgic fans (like me) and newcomers.