Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 3 delivers in every way imaginable, like a well-timed crane kick to the face. Everyone who had a hand in closing this series out should teach a masterclass in how to give something beloved a proper send off. The writers room especially deserves to take a bow, because satisfying old and young audiences (while paying off storylines 40 years in the making as effectively as those curated over these last 6 years) is no easy task.
This is a show that’s always walked the line between fun and absurd in the best way, and while it has had emotional moments throughout its run, it always leaned more towards a melodramatic delivery. Nothing wrong with that, since it’s a Netflix show about teenagers using karate, taught to them by middle-aged former high school rivals, to navigate the complexity of growing up. The conclusion though just feels different. It drops its more ludicrous elements to focus on its deeper character driven themes and earns every prideful cheer, lump in the back of your throat, and even the tears that it brings you.
Admittedly, the first two episodes to begin Part 3 are mostly filler, primarily there to bridge the gap from how things ended in Barcelona and how to get them back on the mat. The shocking death of Kwon (Brandon H. Lee, The Elementals) is given the “Yes, very sad. Anyway…” treatment, and like most horrific events throughout the series, there are no real consequences to speak of. After Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith, The Karate Kid Part 3) persuades Gunther (Carsten Norgaard, The Man in the High Castle) into allowing the tournament to continue, the boys’ and girls’ captains of the remaining dojos are set to square off in the Valley where it all began.
As the show evolved over its long run, the cast swelled to point where choices had to be made regarding who would remain a part of the final narrative while the rest became literal faces in the crowd. Ideally, you wanted to watch how the relationship between Daniel, Ralph Macchio) and Johnny (William Zabka), could continue to grow, and still see Robby (Tanner Buchanan, He’s All That), Miguel (Xolo Maridueña, Blue Beetle), Samantha (Mary Mouser, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day) and Tory (Peyton List, School Spirits) all fighting for something meaningful when the Sekai Taikai resumes, but it wasn’t clear going into these last few episodes how that could be accomplished.
Robby has come a long way in his journey, reconnecting with his dad and turning his life around, but he still wants to feel what it’s like to win, earn that validation, and do it with Tory by his side on the podium. Tory traveled to Barcelona because she didn’t know what else to do with the emotion she felt after her mom’s death, but it’s unclear where her motivation lies now. She’s arguably had the toughest road of anyone, and List has been phenomenal portraying her throughout.
Sam’s friendship with Tory has been a welcome evolution from where they started. Sam becomes more like her father, both in her wisdom and karate style, so is there a more logical way to continue that journey other than by winning the tournament for Miyagi-Do? Miguel already felt he missed his opportunity to get into Stanford by not representing the dojo as the boy’s champion in the Sekai Taikai, but with Robby earning that spot, he’s pouring his heart into supporting him. Regardless, with the introduction of the Iron Dragons dojo led by Sensei Wolf (Lewis Tan, Mortal Kombat), both Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai seem to be facing unbeatable opponents in Zara (Rayna Vallandingham, Underdog Kids) and Axel (Patrick Luwis, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver) … but underdogs always have a chance in this franchise.
At the series onset, the premise centered around Johnny Lawrence fighting to become something more. Fueled by disdain and jealousy towards how differently Daniel’s life turned out, he fell back on the only thing he ever felt secure in – karate. From where we saw him in the first episode, we understood that he had a rough life since things didn’t go his way in The Karate Kid, but we never really explored the depths of how heartbreaking that must have been for this character. In taking on Miguel as a student, he had a chance to correct a lot of the mistakes he had made, but also to unconditionally be there for someone, offering a support system he never had.
Most of Johnny’s antics and misfortune have been played for laughs, but there was a real weight he’s carried around most of his life, and one that we get to witness him set down during a final cathartic conversation with his former sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove, The Karate Kid). Their scene together is the whole reason this show exists, and Zabka and Kove bring the requirements to portray it honestly. It’s probably the most important few minutes of the entire series, but far from the only outstanding ones we find in its final episodes.
The last three episodes of Cobra Kai each contend for best of the series, giving both the story and each of its principal characters a satisfying conclusion. Packed with emotional payoffs, eloquent motivational speeches and full circle moments, we see characters redeemed, and some receive happy endings, while others get what they need or deserve. The highs and lows of every characters’ arc leads them to their place here and your investment in them, and while not everyone can win the big fight, you won’t feel let down by the results.
This is a show that has always strived to give audiences exactly what they want, bringing on countless legacy characters and interweaving plot points from the original films, while still reserving important space to evolve with the younger cast. The masterful blend of intercut scenes from the original film, a perfectly timed score to accompany moments you see coming but still audibly cheer for, continues to offer viewers the same respect and reward until the very last frame. Anything you could possibly hope to get from Cobra Kai’s finale is there, and more.
It struck fast. It struck hard. It showed no mercy.
