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Ralph Macchio

Cobra Kai S4: Mixed Martial Arts Still has Magic

Cobra Kai. (L to R) Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix ? 2021

Nostalgia can only last for so long? unless you can make it into something different.

Originally airing on YouTube Red and eventually making the jump to Netflix, Cobra Kai caught everyone by surprise. The re-imagined and reinvented sequel series to the classic Karate Kid movies offered a refreshing new direction for characters long forgotten by pop culture while unabashedly leaning into the nostalgia that the brand promised. As the series took off, Cobra Kai became its own successful ?comeback kid? narrative and has only grown in popularity.

Even so, after three solid seasons, one wonders how long Cobra Kai can keep up the Miyagi-magic. After all, one has to assume that the series? trademark shifting alliances, teen drama and karate tournaments can only remain interesting for so long. However, while Season 4 continues to offer all of these staples of the franchise, Cobra Kai is still very much alive and kicking. 

In fact, the fourth season may actually be one of the series? best.

Cobra Kai. William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix ? 2021

The new season of Cobra Kai picks up immediately following the merger between Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang as they join forces to bring down Cobra Kai at the All-Valley Under-18 Karate Tournament. With the doors to their respective dojos on the line, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) are determined to see John Kreese?s (Martin Kove) violent teachings disappear from the community. However, as their alliance proves to be more precarious than they?d expected, the two must decide whether or not they can bury the decades-long hatchet that lies between them.

As I said earlier, nostalgia is key to the appeal of Cobra Kai and Season 4 is no different. By recruiting former Karate Kid III baddie Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith), the series further fans the rivalry flames of old by reuniting him with the villainous Kreese. However, what makes Kai work is that the series is not limited by the memories. Young characters like Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan), Samantha LaRusso (Mary Mouser) and of course, Miguel Diaz (Xolo Mariduena) continue to be given meaningful character arcs that keeps the show young and energetic. What’s more, new stories for Daniel’s son, Anthony and Cobra Kai’s newest student Kenny (Dallas Dupree Young) also provide fresh ground for character development.

Cobra Kai. Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver in Cobra Kai. Cr. Courtesy Of Netflix ? 2021

Nevertheless, even though the youth remain central, the true magic of Cobra Kai remains the relationship between Zabka and Macchio. While Macchio continues to develop as an actor, Zabka may be one of the more underrated actors on television right now. Blending brokenness and honesty, Zabka continues to offer remarkable performances as the would-be sensei. In every scene, he remains absolutely captivating to watch, whether he?s attempting to navigate the modern world or manage his own flaws. For a character that began as a one-off teen bully, Zabka has infused his performance with nuance and grace that continues to surprise. Although both men may be well into their middle-age, their boyish banter provides the necessary emotional core that the series needs. 

These are two men who have become adults yet neither has fully grown up.

However, that?s not to say that they remain immature. Although Johnny keeps his old school edge, he has clearly matured since we first met him. Originally somewhat brash and self-absorbed, Daniel LaRusso is displaying an openness and humility that represents responsibility. Through solid performances by both men, these are characters who continue to learn what it means to be men in the modern world togehter.

Cobra Kai. (L to R) Khalil Everage as Chris, Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri, Jacob Bertrand as Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz, Aedin Mincks as Mitch, Xolo Maridue?a as Miguel Diaz, Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso, Nathaniel Oh as Nate, Owen Morgan as Bert in Cobra Kai. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix ? 2021

Held up against the heavy darkness of the previous two season finales, the next chapter of the series is surprisingly light-hearted (at least in the beginning). By attempting to merge together Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang, the writers have ample opportunities for comedy between the two conflicting styles. (One episode where Johnny and Daniel attempt to teach each other is particularly noteworthy.) Of course, as Eagle Fang and Miyagi-Do begin to work together, their conflicting styles makes it difficult to find a common ground. However, when they do begin to listen to one another, the blend of styles creates something unique, with group each gaining strength from the other. 

In this way, the focus of the new series offers something different than previous seasons. Whereas Cobra Kaimost often drew its battle lines over the very different teachings of the two dojos, this new season serves as a reminder that we can learn from one another. As students from Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang attempt to understand the wildly different ideologies and adapt their styles, the results are stark contrast to the focused (but violent) teachings of Kreese. In Kreese?s ?strike first? mentality, his way becomes the only way. Any show of mercy or attempt to question his methods is met with rejection and disgust. However, as Johnny and Daniel (try to) work together, their conflicting styles manage to bring out the best in one another. In the Eagle Fang/Miyagi-Do merger, the mutual willingness to humble themselves is what allows them to grow beyond the limits of one particular teaching. Whereas Kreese demands compliance, Johnny and Daniel want their students to learn from one another.

Cobra Kai. (L to R) Xolo Maridue?a as Miguel Diaz, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in Cobra Kai. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix ? 2021

Perhaps this season of Cobra Kai suggests that the true villain is rigidity.

With its unique blend of fun and ferocity, Cobra Kai still packs a punch. Beginning with a simple tale of one young man?s search for courage, Zabka and Macchio have genuinely turned this into something special. Well-written and executed, this is now a series that?s about so much more than karate tournaments. Amazingly, Cobra Kai is about redemption, character and humbly bringing people together. 

So, bring it on, Netflix. I know that I?m certainly ready for the next round.

Cobra Kai: Season 4 streams on Netflix on Friday, December 31st, 2021.

Cobra Kai: Still Alive and Kicking

It?s not always easy to bring the past back to life.

For years now, we?ve seen films and series attempt to reboot or extend once-successful franchises with varying degrees of success. In a trend that never seems to go away, the hope continues to be that by latching onto what worked in the past, a refresh of the material will be welcomed back by old audiences while capturing new viewers. More often than not, with the passage of time, the magic is usually gone. Still, once in a while, a series manages to breathe new life into a dead franchise and create something new (or even better) than the original. 

This year, that series is Cobra Kai.

For those who haven?t yet heard, Cobra Kai is a sequel series to 80s classic The Karate Kid. Set thirty-four years after events of the infamous 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, Cobra Kai shows that the lives of the two former karate finalists have taken very different paths. Whereas tournament champ Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) has become a successful car salesman, his defeated opponent Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) struggles to make it through the day. Estranged from his son and working dead-end jobs, Johnny decides to find redemption by re-opening the Cobra Kai dojo of his youth and training a new generation of students. However, the rebirth of the controversial dojo reignites Johnny?s rivalry with LaRusso as their competing ideologies and methods unwittingly wreak havoc on the neighbourhood.

Once the property of YouTube Red, Season 3 sees the show moved permanently over to Netflix and, thankfully, the series feels as fresh and fun as its initial run. Although some side plots seem to distract from the overall storyline, the series manages to tie everything together in the end. Less about karate than it is about the brokenness of everyday people, Cobra Kai continues to be a generally slow burn of character development that climaxes with an epic finale. (Word to the wise, even though the last episode delivers what it promises, it definitely feels like a mid-season finale with a story arc built to reach its epic conclusion next year.) Well-written and energetic, Cobra Kai continues to care about its characters in ways that augment the action, as opposed to the other way around.

With the release of Season Three on Friday, the series picks up soon after the brutal high school brawl that hospitalized Miguel (Xolo Mariduena). With school starting up again, the Board has implemented a zero-tolerance policy towards violence of any kind (yet they don?t have any new security guards?). However, despite the school?s emphasis on peaceful reconciliation, tensions between Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do continue to boil under the surface. As Johnny grapples with his role in Miguel?s tragedy, Daniel takes a trip to Japan in an effort to strike a deal that may save the sagging profits of the dealership.

While the series unapologetically leans heavily into nostalgia, it doesn?t necessarily feel slavish to it. In many ways, Cobra Kai simply feels like checking in on old friends from long ago while admitting that their lives had continued on since we last saw them. Whereas some reboots get lost trying to recreate the past, this is a series about people that can?t seem to move on from it. Once the king of Cobra Kai in his youth, Johnny Lawrence continues to try and rebuild (and pass on) the legacy of the one seemingly stable influence he had in his youth. Despite its toxic teachings of the time, Johnny still believes there?s something to be learned from the mantra of Cobra Kai.

Admittedly, it?s still somewhat funny how much this particular city relies on karate to settle their differences but the series continues to acknowledge this with a wink. (?I don?t understand why karate is so important to this city,? one city counsellor remarks.) Even so, for Daniel and Johnny, karate symbolizes much more than punches and kicks. To these men, karate represents discipline, self-confidence and a way to find family and acceptance. Both men once viewed their sensei?s as father figures (with varying successes) and, in turn, they want to pass on that opportunity to the next generation.

The heart of Cobra Kai keeps the series meaningful, especially through the character of Johnny, who continues to be the show?s soul. With his outdated views of the world and desire to remain ?badass?, Johnny wants to recreate the toxic atmosphere of Cobra Kai not out of a sense of nostalgia but more likely because it?s the only thing that he knows. Despite his wealthy upbringing, Lawrence?s growth remains stunted by the endless parade of noxious voices that fed him throughout his youth. From his cruel stepfather to his psychotic and violent sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove), his young life was marred by toxic male voices that have warped his worldviews. Even so, while Johnny may be broken, there?s a desire to be a better man within him. With every step towards redemption, Johnny finds that his greatest battle remains within himself as he struggles to overcome the pain of his past that have led to his own flawed ideas about life (and himself). Though arguably the series? greatest villain, Johnny Lawrence yearns for a fresh start.

In fact, in the world of Cobra Kai, everyone is redeemable. (Well, mostly.)

Whereas the original films leaned heavily on tropes of ?hero vs. villain?, the series fleshes out (most of) its characters with complexity. From the impetuous Miguel to the battle-hardened Hawk (or is it Eli?), Cobra Kai paints each of its characters with a brushstroke of grace that shows their humanity yet gives the even darkest of villains a glimmer of hope. (In fact, Season 3 even lets the villainous Kreese have his journey fleshed out in order to bring some nuance and empathy towards the character.) In other words, this is a series that recognizes that everyone?s story features a mixture of wins and losses while acknowledging the positive and negative voices of those that helped form who we are today.

Even after all this time, Cobra Kai is a franchise that?s still alive and kicking. By bringing the ?Miyagi-verse? back to life, Zabka and Macchio have created a truly refreshing sequel series that reveals what happens when our present struggles to reconcile with our past. Furthermore, as long as they continue to develop characters and stories that feel honest, there?s no question that Cobra Kai still has a lot of fight left in it.

Cobra Kai is available on Netflix with Season 3 released on January 1st, 2021.