Wow, I haven't posted here in six months. I should have talked about this show earlier but I don't think I have enough space or time to go over how great this show is. I am not all about violence or action shows but I do sometimes like action movies. I did grow up with the Karate Kid movies. I love how Cobra Kai balances comedy and drama, and not everyone is a clear-cut hero or villain. But one thing we can agree with is almost everyone has been a bully (except for maybe Miguel and Demetri--if not on purpose). For those who have not seen the show, it was on YouTube Red but now on Netflix. It is set years after the original Karate Kid movies. Karate Kid was about Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) being trained by Mr. Miyagi, a Japanese martial artist that was like his father figure. His rival was Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), who started it as the protagonist in Cobra Kai. Daniel has been pretty successful in running a car dealership with his wife and they have two children Samantha (Mary Mouser) and Anthony (Griffin Santopietro). While Johnny, unfortunately, has not been so lucky, having an estranged son Robby (Tanner Buchanan), living single in a rotting apartment, and being a caveman stuck in the 80's. There will be spoilers ahead if you haven't seen the season.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Season 4's premise is that Ying and Yang have joined forces... I mean Daniel and Johnny, who are basically day and night, or The Odd Couple. One is neat and the other not so neat. One practices defense and meditation while the other doesn't---he basically has his students beat each other up and jump between building roofs. It goes stupendously bad as imagined. Johnny and Daniel quit almost every episode and the kids actually get along and want to work under both sensei. Some critics have said this season has been holding back a bit. It does seem at times they are holding back to expand the universe and keep stuff for season 5. Even Xolo Mariduena (Miguel) has expressed he thought season 4 would be last but Netflix has renewed for Season 5 and they are currently shooting it, even shooting in Puerto Rico. Cobra Kai has exclusively shot in Georgia, except for some parts in California for movie legacy locations and Japan for Season 3. That being said, I did like this season I don't see the writing waning at all, it is still crisp.
The secret is keeping things fresh and this season definitely has. The first three seasons deal with the circle of violence, the cycle of non-bullies becoming bullies and bullies becoming non-bullies and it going around and around again. This is more evident with newcomer Kenny (Dallas Dupree) and Anthony. Kenny is a sweet new kid but he is quickly bullied and tormented by Anthony (who Johnny finally comments on Anthony's weight loss). Kenny goes for help---ending up at Cobra Kai with Robbie, who takes him under his wing. Robbie, at first didn't want to join Cobra Kai but ends up doing so, wanting to get revenge on his father Johnny, Sam, and Daniel. Spoilers of course and Robbie ends up creating a monster. But going back to Anthony, Daniel finally trains his son and learns he created a monster as well. Daniel realizes he can't deal with him like he does with his other students and probably unintentionally learned something from Johnny. It is a harrowing scene where Daniel has to be threatening to his son, later his wife gives credit to Mr. Miyagi but Daniel doesn't correct her.
Another thing I like is the attention has been given to the women this season. Sam needs help with dealing with Tory (Peyton List) so she goes to Aisha (Nicole Brown)--who gives a special guest appearance, since last appearing in season 2. Aisha gives her solid advice, to make friends and be peaceful, reusing the advice Johnny gave her (Strike First). The subversion is that Sam misinterprets this. Sam ends up striking first and attacking Tory instead of making amends. Tory is made more three-dimensional by actually trying to change. Amanda (Courtney Henggler) actually gets through to her and tries helping her but Sam is not so forgiving. Amanda has Tory agree not to harm Sam in the final battle. A lot of focus is given to the women's final in the tournament at the season finale. I like that we spend more time in the tournament, in 2 episodes. Speaking about women---Unfortunately, Moon (Hannah Kepple) and Yasmine (Annalisa Cochrane) only appear for glorified cameos. More girls are even added to the schools--Devon (Oona O'Brien) and Piper (Selah Austria) respecively. I am almost done and I haven't mentioned Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith). I never saw Karate Kid 3 but from what get from the flashbacks, he was a crazy dude. Here is a charismatic shark, not exactly the subordinate Kreese wants.
