Netflix’s Cobra Kai Season Three Review

With the success of the two previous seasons of Cobra Kai, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone that the series would see another season, especially after season two’s thrilling cliffhanger. Following a move from YouTube Premium to Netflix, the minds behind Cobra Kai have handled the transition and promise to unleash another season on its growing legion of fans.

As the original release date was moved up by a week, fans ate it up as William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence) and Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso) were out in force on their social media accounts promoting the season’s release. Popular fan-made rumours did the rounds online regarding whether or not Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) would live or walk again. And what would befall Johnny after walking away from his Cobra Kai dojo. The season two finale set up more than one primary storyline, and left fans with a multitude of questions. With so much up in the air, it would have to be one hell of a follow-up season to match or even succeed season two.

Thankfully, the writing and production team behind Cobra Kai have delivered the goods yet again. That special combination of nostalgia mixed in meticulously with the series’ new and young talent is a winning combination. Action sequences make up the bread and butter of Cobra Kai and this season ceratinly did not disappoint. The dramatic overtones of the series will definitely “hit viewers in the feels” and there were just enough of them to progress the storyline for each character. Meanwhile, there were even some interesting turn of events that might have you scratching your head or smiling from ear-to-ear.

The season saw progress for every major character in the series including Kreese (Martin Kove) who came back like a hammer waiting to fall on the now-abandoned Cobra Kai dojo. Zabka was particularly noteworthy in his portrayal of Johnny Lawrence who is yet again on his own and hitting rock bottom. But he’s not the only one suffering through the repercussions of the fight at West Valley High. Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso finds himself facing almost insurmountable odds when his business comes under threat. His daughter Sam, played by Mary Mouser, struggles to come to grips with bouts of anxiety over her involvement in the school fight. And season two had Miguel in a coma in a hospital bed.

In the end, it’s Kreese’s backstory that truly brings this season all the way home and was undoubtedly one of the season’s highlights. Getting to know the kind of person that Kreese was before he became “Sensei Kreese” gave the audience a rare insight into a man most people love to hate. But is that hate warranted? And as far as Johnny and Robbie (Tanner Buchanan) are concerned, where will Robbie end up now he’s on the run?

Looking back at the previous seasons of Cobra Kai, season three has everything that fans would want to see in spades. While some of the storylines may not have progressed in the direction that some may expect, this direction was exactly what keeps this drama from becoming cliched and dull.

Those wondering whether or not the series has been green-lit for a fourth season can rejoice and start making plans for next year as a season four has been confirmed. According to Production Weekly, production is confirmed to begin on January 21 this year.

*still courtesy of Netflix*

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