Although it’s ended, the motto, “Cobra Kai never dies”, is forever in our hearts. With a legacy lasting for decades, Cobra Kai kicks back from Karate Kid, bringing the world six seasons of nostalgia. As a Cobra-Kai enthusiast, I’ve been indulged in a bitter-sweet feeling experiencing the serpent’s final ride through the karate realm.
At the beginning of season six, Cobra Kai students fled to Miyagi-Do, and with the demolition of the Eagle Fang dojo, Johnny and his students were also forced to approach Daniel Larruso for assistance. I was ecstatic when the frenemies finally set their differences aside and merged to form Miyagi-Fang Karate.
Sitting on the couch alongside my sister, we both found the first three episodes of season six to be disappointing. Cobra Kai’s signature cringe aspect added amusement, however, it seemed very anti-climatic.
In the final episodes of part one, things fired up when Miyagi-Fang dojo began preparation for the world tournament of the Sekai Taikai. Determining who would lead as team captains, Robby Keene and Miguel Diaz battled for the spot. Robby was victorious, and I was slightly disappointed as I had the mindset that the show should end how it started: with Miguel Diaz.
Things only escalated from there when Tory Nichol’s mother passed away. It was heartbreaking to watch Tory’s mind swarm with grief, tainting her fighting. She deserved the captain position but was robbed by a major plot inconvenience.
However, Tory’s worthiness was quickly restored, when John Kreese escaped from jail and recruited Nichols as part of his team, taking back the “Cobra Kai” name. This was an insane move as the man positioned himself as a wanted criminal all over karate.
I was increasingly appalled when Terry Silver escaped jail, partnering with Sensei Wolf and the Iron Dragon dojo. He is the definition of a grudge, as he resorted to kidnapping and threatening Larusso’s life in season six, displaying his unwavering hatred for Daniel and Johnny.
However, in the final part, I appreciated Kreese’s character development, even though it was short-lived. The long-lasting trauma he inflicted on a past student, Johnny Lawrence, was finally renounced, as he gave Lawrence long-awaited closure.
At the competition, Robby’s karate skills were disturbed by his jealousy towards Tory and Kwon Jae-sung, Cobra Kai’s captain, alongside Nichols. Their unstable relationship was at Miguel’s expense, striking me with annoyance since he was in his prime and deserved to be captain.
The typical episode 10 brawl occurred, due to deception and unsportsmanlike conduct from rivaling teams. The deranged look on Kwon’s face when he found the unattended knife sent a shiver down my spine. Suddenly, he’s lying dead on the floor, stabbed by his triple kick directed at Axel Kovačević.
When the Sekai Tekai started back up, and Robby was injured in the finals by Axel’s discreet illegal move, a melancholy vibe arose. But this paved the way for Miguel and Sensei Lawrence’s appearance as replacements for the Cobra Kai team alongside Nichol’s, leaving me surprised.
Watching Tory and Miguel get their revenge against the Iron Dragons was interesting to see, as Zara and Axel tormented the two throughout the entire tournament. Their successes lead to an unexpected plot twist: the senseis of the last dojo’s standing must battle for the first-place title.
Considering Wolf is much younger with great agility and fast-paced reactions, Johnny’s probability of winning is slim. However, with his determination and confidence, he decimated Wolf, causing me to erupt in cheers.
I thought the fight between senseis was a silly addition to the plot, however, it paralleled vital moments in the original Karate Kid movies, such as when Johnny Lawrence “swept the leg,” granting him closure from the torment he faced back in the 1980’s at the All-Valley Tournament. I felt content towards the series finale, as every character finally earned their happy ending that they deserved.
