Cobra Kai Season Six Part One Review

Entering its sixth, and final, season, the karate saga that is Cobra Kai is coming to an end but it won’t be without theatrics. Based on the Karate Kid franchise of course, it wears its 1980s roots like a badge of honor. Despite being set today, that inspiration could be felt in the series’ tone, writing, soundtrack, and nods to the original film franchise as that wave of nostalgia has carried it across the finish line. One of the most successful Netflix series, it is the latest to be given the multi-part treatment with the first now upon us, with the second releasing November 18th and the final part releasing some time in 2025. As the characters moved on with their lives, much of them moving on from high school to college, they had some big decisions to make. Growing closer together through their shared adversity, longtime enemies became friends as everyone appeared to be in a good place, with Cobra Kai out of the picture and out of everyone’s lives. That being said, it wouldn’t be like Cobra Kai if that were to remain the case, especially with the Sekai Taikai, the world championships of karate, on the horizon.

With the Sekai Taikai at the forefront of everyone’s minds, the relationships between Miguel, Robby, Sam, Tory, and the others, as well between Daniel and Johnny, were put to the test. Their futures were at stake, therefore their competitive juices began to flow once again. That contrast of their lives on and off the mat was an interesting one to watch through the lens of that new relationship between the younger characters. While they were friends, at least for now, the potential for drama was very much there as there will come a time when they may have to choose between their futures, and the opportunities that a potential tournament win may create, and their friendships with one another (Miguel and Robby even more so considering the blossoming relationship between their parents). However, throwing another wrench into that plan was the reveal that not all of Miyagi-Do would qualify as six entrants must be chosen, including a boy and girl captain of the team. Adding pressure to the fighters, most of that pressure was on the lower tier, since the majority of those spots were inevitably going to the big names, leaving the others to fight it out. Ultimately, the only issues that remained were the final sports on the team and final positioning.

Going back to Daniel and Johnny, combining their efforts in the hopes of creating one united dojo but that process proved to be an adjustment for both. The countless ideological differences between both characters has been leaned on heavily for six seasons, and this one was no different. What made this one different, however, are the added stakes of the Sekai Taikai for which they were not immune to. Understandably burnt out from the karate world and all the drama that came with it, Daniel saw it as his final hurrah before he finally left in his rearview mirror for good. Johnny had stakes of his own as he looked to take his relationship with Carmen Diaz to the next level, with an eye on his family’s future. Like it or not, the two would need to find a way to work together, both professionally and personally. The sensei of their own dojos, the goal of unity and working together was definitely a challenge as they had to find a way to get on the same page. Their students got the message but Daniel and Johnny’s need to outdo the other still lingered. That lack of unity at the top was reflected in how they were trained as their combined dojo lacked a clear direction as they prepared for the Sekai Taikai. Being only the first part of the season, the outcome of that remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Cobra Kai could never seem to die as it has consistently kept coming back time and time again just to get in everyone else’s way and there’s no reason why that wouldn’t change here. Now there wouldn’t be a Cobra Kai without John Kreese. Escaping from prison near the end of last season, to plot his next move, he went back to his roots by finding Master Kim (C.S. Lee), his old sensei during his time in Korea. Detailing their relationship through a series of flashbacks, he discovered that Kim was still operating in the present day, with the help of his daughter Da-Eun (Alicia Hannah-Kim). Beholding their latest group of students, Kreese saw an opportunity to mold them into the latest incarnation of Cobra Kai and enter them into the Sekai Taikai. The standout amongst that group was easily Kwon (Brandon H. Lee), a student as talented as he was arrogant, he believed he was simply better than everyone else therefore did not need to follow the same set of rules as everyone else. Suffice it to say that he didn’t quite get along with the other students in his class. A wildcard seemingly immune to consequences for their actions, Kreese found a way to get him in line.

On top of the friction between Daniel and Johnny, Daniel stumbled upon a box hidden in the floorboards of Mr. Miyagi’s dojo that contained evidence of a much different backstory than he thought he knew. A discovery that left him a little rattled and questioning what he thought he knew about his friend and mentor (and introduced doubt when it came to his professional life with his students), he went on his own investigation and retraced Miyagi’s steps to try and understand where he came from and how he got to the person he knew. Going back into his past, Daniel uncovered some interesting twists and turns that may not sit well with Karate Kid purists but they could pay off in a big way come the remaining two parts of this final season and the untitled Karate Kid film set for release sometime next year.

Focusing on the relationships between the characters, the first part worked to established the stakes as they attempted to move forward with their lives so that meant that there was perhaps less karate than some might expect. Emphasizing drama over karate, there were still strong moments of the latter as the students of Miyagi-Do fought to prove themselves worthy of the Sekai Taikai and Kwon asserted himself as a serious threat as well. In maintaining that same 80s tone, everything is coated in a fine layer of cheese but in spite of that, it gets by thanks to the performances of the cast and the chemistry they’ve developed over time. After 5+ seasons, viewers have built such a strong connection to these characters that it doesn’t matter. This season so far has been compelling to watch solely off of the student storyline as their relationships were put to the test by the Sekai Taikai as they prepared to move on from high school and to their future endeavours, college or otherwise. However, within the five episodes that make up this first part, there is far too much going on. Merely moving the characters from one point to another over a season-long journey, it only scratches the surface of those subplots as their outcomes remain to be seen but it’s a lot to take on early.

In the end, Cobra Kai Season 6: Part One delivers a solid start to the final season, leaning on character drama to set the stage for what is to come.

still courtesy of Netflix

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.