Review: Cobra Kai - Season 1-3 (2018-2021)
Official Synopsis:
Thirty four years after events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, a down-and-out Johnny Lawrence seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now successful Daniel LaRusso.
For anyone that watched Karate Kid while growing up, Cobra Kai is nonstop nostalgia galore. From various flashbacks to the films to sobering memorials of Mr. Miyagi, Cobra Kai has it all! They even film parts of it at the Miyagi dojo filled with plenty of Wax On Wax Off teaching points for good measure. Unlike its predecessor films, Cobra Kai's story focuses more on Johnny Lawrence's journey though. Despite his past as bully, you slowly find yourself empathizing and rooting for Johnny. As the series progresses you slowly start to realize that he was just product of his own difficult childhood. Predictably though rivalry between Johnny and Daniel starts anew as old feuds and grudges are stoked again as they slowly navigate their new responsibilities as grown ups. As Johnny and Daniel attempt to re-open Cobra Kai and Miyagi dojo, respectively; they find themselves also influencing a younger generation of high school students. As their own children and other students at their high school are pulled to opposite sides of their ongoing feud, Johnny's old mentor, John Kreese, enters. In fact, almost everyone from Karate Kid's Ralph Macchio era makes an appearance at one point or another.
From its first two seasons on YouTube Red to its third season on Netflix, Cobra Kai has been non-stop quality entertainment. Its characters are very well-written and the world they've created is superb. They've not only managed to expand the Karate Kid franchise but enrich it with a bevy of new characters and re-imagined backstories. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Please listen to our podcast (Episode 6; available on iTunes, Spotify, and PodOmatic) and YouTube channel to listen to our short review and list of other binge-worthy shows!
Our Rating:
Swin: 8.5/10 - Wax on! Daniel-san! Each season delivers the punches and more!
Created by: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
Starring: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo MaridueƱa, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Martin Kove
Number of Seasons: 3
Number of Episodes: 30
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