Hunter's Media Blog (2)

I started watching my favorite TV show of all time, Cobra Kai, on YouTube Red back in 2018 when it first came out. I would watch it in the evenings after school and in the early morning when I woke up. I was super excited when Netflix picked up the show during its third season and since then I have watched it on the platform. In terms of genre, the show would be an action/ drama with some comedy. The best episode that I could summarize is the episode that kicked off the entire series, the first episode. Titled “Ace Degenerate”, a once All-Valley karate champion and complete badass, the famous Johny Lawrence (starring William Zabka) who was known as Daniel Larusso’s (starring Ralph Macchio) epic rival has become a low-life, working crummy odd jobs, eating slim jims for breakfast, and spending his evenings getting drunk off his signature favorite, Coors Banquet. 

This all changes when he defends a scrawny kid named Miguel Diaz (starring Xolo Mariduena) and has a run-in with his former rival, sparking a fire he didn't realize was still in him, to bring back the name of absolute badassery, Cobra Kai. He opens up his own dojo with the name, and so the legacy continues. Fun fact about the whole show, originally it was intended to be a movie revolving around Johny as an adult but later changed into what it is now. It was directed by Hayden Schlossberg and Jon Hurwitz as the main directors. Screen Rant gives the show a 5/10 rating, saying in their review that “The Flaws Of Netflix's Season-Splitting Model Are Starting To Show.” Everybody’s a critic. 

Another fun fact, the characters Hawk/ Eli Mosquawitz (starring Jacob Bertrand) and Robby Keene (starring Tanner Buchanan) are actual real-life martial artists, both with experience in Taekwondo. One of the latest informative articles breaks down the final trailer for part 3 of the last season. Written by Kristen Baldwin, she talks about all of the main highlights concerning what will happen in the final part, from Sam’s (starring Mary Mouser) skepticism about fighting in the Sekai Tekai tournament, Tory's (starring Peyton List) rivalry with Zara (starring Rayna Vallandingham), the unknown conclusion of John Kreese (starring Martin Kove) and Terry Silver (starring Thomas Ian Griffith), and who stands in the way of Miyagi Do’s victory, Axel (starring Patrick Luwis). "What am I even fighting for?" asks Sam, while Robby fears that Axel will just kick his butt yet again. "I gave it everything I had last time," he laments. "It didn't make a difference."

'Cobra Kai' finale trailer brings the fight back to the Valley

Cobra Kai Season 6: Part 1 Review - The Flaws Of Netflix's Season-Splitting Model Are Starting To Show

The cultural layout of the show is intended for younger teenage audiences as well as returning fans of the original Karate Kid Trilogy looking for nostalgic memories. It appeals to a new generation of karate fans while still applying old-school references. It allows for the bringing of new mysteries while keeping the 80s vibe. The show is filmed in the same setting as the original movies with a new set of characters. Johny Lawrence is the only character who retains his old-day attitude and humor. The show itself brings similarities to old 80’s karate/ kung-fu, and other martial arts/ sports movies like Rocky, Bloodsport, and just about any Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan cinema. What is unique about Cobra Kai is its ability to be new in context to when it was made but match the energy of movies and shows made back 30+ years ago. It has a great plot, great characters, and great dialogue with the perfect amount of kicking, jabbing, punching, dodging, and weaving.

Cobra Kai did away with old karate stereotypes like featuring Asians as the karate masters and instead bringing a diverse American feel without its own stereotype of a typical American lead and instead a Hispanic champion, Miguel Diaz. Another amazing stereotype that Cobra Kai destroyed was the black and white, good guy bad guy stereotype, bringing highlights and backstories to all the previous villains so that their characters come full circle and open up for redemption throughout the show. Examples include John Kreese, Johny Lawrence, Chozen Toguchi, and Mike Barnes. 

The targeted audience is displayed through the chosen characters. Miguel Diaz is a Hispanic, struggling financially but doesn’t let it affect his motivation, and through hard work and training becomes the All-Valley Champion. The characters consist of multiple races instead of just white Americans. A big highlight of the show which was not included in the first trilogy is the introduction of badass female fighters like Samantha Larusso and Tory Nichols. If I were from another country I would see the show itself as a stereotypical American karate show but not the characters themselves since they all come from different ethnic and financial backgrounds which makes their character growth even stronger.

What’s Better: Cobra Kai or Karate Kid? - Karate Mojo

The show has many ups and downs throughout each season. Some of its best strengths include callbacks to the original 3 Karate Kid movies implemented throughout the series through dialogue, scenery, and music. Its ability to feel nostalgic to the original fans while being new and improved to a younger unfamiliar audience is what makes Cobra Kai shine as an original series. A weakness it has is the same as many other remakes or continuations after a long period of time, and that is the ability to bring back all characters from the original movies. The beloved Mr. Miyagi (starring Pat Morita) unfortunately passed away long before the show came up from the depths. 

Other characters like Dutch (starring Chad McQueen) and Julie Pierce (starring Hilary Swank) were not able to return for reasons unknown. But the show overall is great at being realistic, having humor and sarcasm while tackling real issues like personal conflict and taking on the world. I like how the show is something that nobody asked for and nobody saw coming but has grown to be the best show I’ve ever watched. Everything from the trailers to the cliffhangers is nothing short of what entertainment should be. What makes it so memorable is the sense of ownership that I have since I have been there since the beginning. I feel like it is the show of my young adulthood. Ever since I found it on YouTube Red, I never stopped. 

One critic gave an opinion that completely lines up with how I described the uniqueness, appealing to a new generation while making the original fans known. Entertainment Weekly said: “Cobra Kai manages to give Karate Kid fans exactly what they want while using the template of the original to launch new characters aimed at younger viewers. ... But it’s hard to imagine anyone enjoying this show as much as those of us who grew up on the original.” Another critic who gave it a low score bashed Johny Lawrence's personality which I do not agree with. The Daily Beast said: “Cobra Kai’s overt nostalgia is of a simplistic dudebro variety, marked by Johnny’s neanderthal attitude and routine references to the likes of Rocky III, Bloodsport, and Top Gun. Yet more objectionable is its regressive sitcom form, which reduces its comedy and romantic/familial/peer dilemmas to a fourth-grade level. For a season or two, that might have lent the show a quaint charm. At this point, however, it’s just a sign of everlasting immaturity.” Like I said before, everybody is a critic but what truly matters is how the audience feels.

Cobra Kai critic reviews - Metacritic

I watch Cobra Kai every week, rewatching episodes when I am bored, constantly rewatching trailers since they are made so well, and looking for any teasers or leaks because I am so impatient I don't mind spoiling things for myself. I managed to get my family hooked on it and since their memory isn't as good as mine, we have to rewatch old episodes so they know what's happening for the new ones. Then we binge-watch the whole season in a day. I don't follow anything Cobra Kai-related on social media except YouTube which Cobra Kai content takes up around 70% of everything I watch. 

Looking at the Cobra Kai Series channel on Instagram posts almost every day to keep the audience engaged and entertained until the next episodes arrive. They post a lot of the same content that can be found on YouTube. I even got distracted a bit and watched some while looking to see how fans react to the reels and posts. Everyone seems to love the show and talks about rewatching the seasons. By the end, aside from all the facts I didn’t know and ended up finding, I learned how much I love the show and am not ready for it to end. I hope that more spin-offs will be made so I can continue and am still surprised at what Cobra Kai has become and the doors it will unlock for the Karate Kid universe.

https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/shows/cobra-kai-season-6-part-3-everything-know-far