Fair warning here, there will be spoilers for the latest season of Cobra Kai that was just released on January 1st. I couldn’t watch this fast enough, and just like with the first season, I binged this over the course of two days. That’s a big deal! My viewing habits don’t usually involve binging the same show for more than two episodes, so that means Cobra Kai is the real deal!
Also similar to past seasons, this one picks up basically right where we left off, which was with Miguel in a coma, Robby on the run, and Kreese taking over Cobra Kai from Johnny. In fact, Johnny is sort of in a similar, if not worse, state than he was at the start of the whole series. While he’s mad at Kreese for swooping in and taking the dojo out from under him, he is even more distraught over Miguel. Similarly, Daniel can’t believe that Robby was the one who kicked Miguel over the railing. More than anything though, he just wants to make sure Robby is okay.
That is the first thing this season that both Daniel and Johnny agree on. They even go searching for him before their differences in opinion get in the way again. Fortunately and unfortunately for Robby, he meets up with Daniel and then gets hauled off to juvie (with a reduced sentence). Robby is done with Johnny trying to get back into his life, and he’s obviously furious with Daniel for getting him arrested. Alternatively, Miguel, when he finally wakes up, is pissed at Johnny because when he showed mercy it paralyzed him from the waist down! Even Sam is scarred from the events in the school brawl. She’s terrified for Tori and gets panic attacks whenever she thinks of karate.
Eventually, Johnny gets back into Miguel’s good graces, and over the course of a few episodes (and a rock concert) learns to walk again! Fighting is a little slow-going, but he’s not giving up. Speaking of fighting, Kreese is making some seriously moral-less students at Cobra Kai, and even goes so far as to recruit Hawks previous bully, Kyler, to join the dojo. They cause mayhem throughout the season, and their antics honestly make me nervous. I couldn’t imagine people like this at my high school! Once Miguel is literally back on his feet, Johnny decides to open another dojo (at a park), and names it Hawk Fang Karate. After a trip to Okinawa and Cobra Kai’s endless bullying, Daniel and Amanda think it’s appropriate to re-open Miyagi-Do so students can learn to defend themselves. It takes some serious convincing, but eventually Sam gets back on the karate horse.
There is one moment when all three sensei agree on something, and that is the reinstating of the All Valley competition that was cancelled. But that’s about the extent of their agreements. This event does however reconnect Miguel and Sam – yay! The two also know that their dojos need to team up in order to defeat Cobra Kai. Similar to last season, everything that’s been going on culminates in one final Christmas fight at the LaRusso’s (hope you’ve got good insurance). It seems like Cobra Kai is going to win again, but Sam regains her confidence, Miguel is able to give Kyler another beat-down, and most importantly, Hawk realizes that he’s become a bit of a monster and switches alliances! Yay for that Demetri and Hawk friendship reunion!
Aside from some high school foes coming together, Daniel and Johnny finally decide they need to team up in order to defeat Kreese at the upcoming reinstated All Valley tournament. I squealed with joy when this happened. It was inevitable, but that didn’t make the moment any less enjoyable. What wasn’t enjoyable? Seeing Robby ultimately choose to train under Kreese. I can’t wait to see what unfolds next season and if Robby’s personality morphs into Kreese’s. Also, it will be so fun to see Johnny and Daniel try and meld their karate methods together. I feel like that will be a students teaching the teachers moment. This season also really cashed in on the nostalgia factor and got lots of Karate Kid cameos! Most exciting for fans, I imagine, was Ali Mills returning in the penultimate episode. While her and Johnny’s chemistry was undeniable, it’s clear that Carmen is going to be his love interest for the long haul. Anyways, all in all, a very exciting season of Cobra Kai, and now I have to torture myself by waiting for the next installment!