From its start, Cobra Kai has blended a heavy dose of nostalgia, with the familiar melodrama found in most teen-led shows; it’s over the top and ridiculous, but fun. The first part of its final season is more of the same, and that’s perfectly fine. There’s no reason to expect a sudden tonal shift this late in the game. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and the only thing broken in Cobra Kai are boards and an uncomfortable number of teenage bones. Adults and teens alike, can appreciate the way we have unabashedly watched these kids beat the absolute crap out of each other without consequence over the last six years of this show.
Part one of Cobra Kai’s final season begins with a sense of calm, Silver is in prison, Kreese (Martin Kove) has fled the country, and all the dojos are now under one roof. It brings together Daniel (Ralph Macchio), Johnny (William Zabka) and Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) — the cast members who have reprised their roles from The Karate Kid in Cobra Kai throughout the seasons — to train all the kids that were feuding, and then finds a way to tear them apart again. To force some animosity, Miyagi-Do learns that only 6 students can represent their dojo in the Sekai Taikai. Competing for the honor predictably opens some old wounds that will test their newfound friendships.
As Daniel is promising Amanda (Courtney Henggeler, The Big Bang Theory) he will be stepping away from being a full-time sensei after the tournament, Johnny expects it to solve all his problems. He and Carmen (Vanessa Rubio, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) have a baby on the way now, and he must start thinking about things like credit scores, and income. Lawrence remains the most entertaining part of the show with his comical disregard for political correctness and social cues. He’s good for an “f-bomb” or inappropriate joke to give the show its edge, and his ability to always say the wrong thing and never realize it remains the perfect contrast to LaRusso, and everyone else.
When they aren’t training, the students now entering their Senior year of high school are trying to get into college or figure out what their futures hold. The contrast of Diaz (Xolo Maridueña, Blue Beetle) wanting to go to Stanford but not being sure if he’s good enough or how to afford it, Demetri (Gianni DeCenzo, Liv and Maddie) and Hawk (Jacob Bertrand, Rise of the Guardians) being best friends going to MIT, Samantha (Mary Mouser, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day) overwhelmed by the whole process, and Robby (Tanner Buchanan, Designated Survivor) and Nichols (Peyton List, Bunk’d) not really having a lot of options with their troubled pasts, is an interesting and relatable topic to explore.
What’s great to see is how everyone who has been a part of the show at some point gets a satisfying curtain call for their character. With a large ensemble cast like this, not everyone can remain a focal point. Some characters served their purpose and then faded out of the storylines, but so many of them pop up in the first part of this final season to have a last moment. It’s best on display when Diaz, Demetri and Hawk visit a safety school Diaz is considering and run into Kyler (Joe Seo, Spa Night) and Brucks (Bo Mitchell, The Line). The fight that ensues when Diaz doesn’t appreciate how fraternity bros are treating Kyler is one of the best of the season. It showcases how the series has always filmed large fight sequences in a fun way to make them look raw and authentic with their varying skill levels.
The largest departure from the norm is exploring the origins of Cobra Kai with Kreese traveling to Korea to convince Kim Da-Un (Alicia Hannah-Kim, Minx) to bring her students and represent Cobra Kai in the Sekai Taikai. The skill levels of the fighters there are unquestionable. Outside of a comical snake bite induced vision quest that Kreese goes on, the Korea subplot is one of the bright spots of the season. It introduces an impressive new challenger that Miyagi-Do will have to contend with. As soon as Kwon (Brandon H. Lee, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) walks onto the screen you know he’s going to be a problem; he’s got the coolest hair. He also has attitude, anger issues, and he’s clearly the most athletic fighter we have seen in this series. Kreese quickly seizes an opportunity to use his worst qualities to his advantage, and Kwon will certainly be the final male fighter remaining for Cobra Kai when Part Two happens later this year.
While the season to this point has been fun, there are a few more dramatic storylines that come into play. One that works, and one that doesn’t seem to. For fans of the movies, it’s always exciting to see them introduce virtually everyone of significance from them at one point or another. The Mr. Miyagi backstory they dip into though seems a bit forced and unnecessary. They might still have a plan to take it somewhere surprising and have it pay off later in the season but for now, it just seemed out of place. As far as what works, Nichols has always been one of the show’s most intriguing characters. She’s gone through a lot and List does a tremendous job bringing that emotion to the screen. She has an especially poignant arc this season that’s going to set the stage for Part Two.
Cobra Kai was a revelation when it debuted. It’s rare that you bring back a story thirty years later, especially from the perspective of the original’s “villain.” The show understood its tone from the beginning, hitting all the right beats, and walked a perfectly balanced line between fun and absurd. That walk continues with the first of its three-part final season, delivering on fans expectations and setting up what should be an action-packed Part Two, centered entirely around the Sekai Taikai. Part Two begins streaming on Netflix November 28, before the finale comes in 2025, and we say goodbye to this beloved franchise.
