Cobra Kai is Everything I Hate About TV Shows. But …
When I learned that The Karate Kid franchise had spawned a spin-off series in Cobra Kai, I immediately thought “interesting”. However, it didn’t take long to form an uneducated opinion about a show I had yet to even sample. That opinion was formulated along the lines of “yeah, I’m straight.”
Even without watching a single episode, I knew enough about Cobra Kai to stand tall on my little hill. I knew that it had a strong teen drama component that I could only describe as Karate Kid Meets Dawson’s Creek. High-level cringefest. And beyond that, I saw that people were absolutely loving it.
I don’t try to be the anti-culture person I’ve become. That said, recent history has proven that if the overwhelming majority loves it, I’ll end up underwhelmed at best. The first four phases of the highly regarded Marvel Cinematic Universe is a prime example. Throw in these Cobra Kai ‘Stans’ who carried on like it was the greatest invention since pants with pockets, and there was plenty of fuel for this one to stay away.
As time went on, my intrigue continued to pique. I mean, I won’t go Stan, but I would say I’m a Karate Kid fan. I loved all three movies, which still hold up very well, IMO. Even an emotionally challenged SOB like me can appreciate the wholesome bond between the ever sage Mr. Miyagi and the hard-headed, white meat babyface Daniel-san. Also cool to look back and see just how smoking hot Elisabeth Shue was (and still is!).
Here Goes Nothing …
Fast forward to my current martial arts movie craze, which was in desperate need of some diversity after gorging dozens upon dozens of 70’s era Hong Kong-made kung fu flicks. Couldn’t convince my wife or bestfriend to take the plunge and tell me whether it was safe, so I had to do it myself … I made the commitment to at least give Cobra Kai a shot.
I had reservations right out of the gate … I’m talking first episode. SUPER cheesy, some of which was surely intentional. Thing is, I don’t mind a little cheese. What I can’t do is overly corny, and yes, there is a difference!
Even more than halfway through season one, I’m wondering whether I can actually do this. Gilmore Girls vibes were potent. What kept me going was the same thing that captivated me from the very first episode … the irresistibly compelling dynamic between Johnny and Daniel, teen rivals who carried their karate-fueled hostilities into adulthood … only now the roles are reversed. LaRusso, the wildly successful car dealership owner who gained local celebrity status from winning the All Valley Championship back in the 80's. Lawrence, the degenerate deadbeat whose life has been one folly after another since losing out on said championship glory.
Apparent animosity aside, this time around was different. While it was clear early on that the feud would be a major theme throughout the course of the series, we also saw the potential for not only civility, but friendship between the two stubborn martial artists. Above all, it was apparent that Johnny and Daniel were more alike than they cared to admit, ultimately sharing the same goals when it came to preserving the culture of karate in the Valley.
COBRA KAI TIL I DIE
By the time season two rolled around, I was fully locked in. And at this point, I can admit that I’m intrigued by much more than the legacy elements that delivered such sweet nostalgia. The creators did a masterful job of continually weaving fascinating stories around plot points that were honestly, pretty God damn silly. And the character development was the anchor.
I honestly didn’t think much of Johnny Lawrence in the original movie. He was pretty much the stereotypical jock who lost his hot girlfriend while receiving well deserved karma for being a douche bag bully. In Cobra Kai, he won me over almost instantly. I found Johnny’s role as the politically incorrect karate caveman trapped in the 80’s simply hilarious. To see that he had a good guy inside of him only made him more likeable. Easily my favorite character.
Although I wasn’t always a fan of prissy Samantha LaRussa and moody Tory, I stayed in-tune with their stories and seemingly endless rivalry. I also found myself attached to side characters like Hawk, who I pegged the most likely to karate kill someone. No matter how big or small, nearly each character played an essential part in moving the story forward.
Casting at least one super hot chick is always a plus, and Cobra Kai delivered on that front as well. The hotness of Daniel’s wife, Amanda LaRusso, was referenced on numerous occasions. Apparently Courtney Henggeler is out here aging like the finest wine. I loved when she’d snarkily acknowledge how ridiculous all this karate beef was, even as the gravity increased with more sinister machinations at play. Sam was also a feast for the eyes. I guess you can say she get it from her TV mama …
The Dragon Ball Effect
Call me a nerd, but I couldn’t help noticing stark parallels between Cobra Kai and Dragon Ball, the greatest story ever told. You’ve got Daniel-san, the pure-hearted father who kicks ass, yet believes in doing karate ‘the right way’. And like Son-Goku, he manages to convert his most fierce rivals into trusted allies. Johnny, the Vegeta to Daniel’s Goku who still wants to best him while coming to acknowledge the value in his defensive-minded approach to karate. Now the heated rivalry has transitioned to a healthy competition between friends.
Chozen Toguchi, who I thought was the coolest villain in the original trilogy, experienced a Piccolo-esque face turn. Once threatening to kill both Daniel and his then love interest, Chozen became an honorable man Daniel felt comfortable inviting into his home while calling upon to deal with the Cobra Kai threat. Now a firm believer in Miyagi-Do, he was essentially part of the family.
Daniel’s spirit and influence permeated through the local karate community, eventually bringing bitter rivals from opposing dojos under the same roof. It was very cool to see the members of Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do hash out their differences and forge their own version of the Z-Fighters … even when the disrespect went well beyond karate fights. I constantly found myself thinking, “this nigga gotta go!” Damn hood mentality. SMMFH.
The Karate Kid Saga Continues
All in all, I found Cobra Kai to be a very enjoyable experience. I even bought the damn video games, which capture the cheesy spirit of the series despite being underwhelming when considering the possibilities. I think being on Netflix helped balance out the cheesiness, allowing the show runners to incorporate a graphic edge your Dawson’s Creeks of the world could never accomplish. Daniel dropping F-bombs is almost as enjoyable as hearing my angelic Mama spew the occasional cuss word … almost.
I finished Cobra Kai faster than any series in the binge era. It used all the tired tropes and cheap tension-building tactics Hollywood has been employing for years. Shenanigans that annoy me to the core … yet it kept me engaged. And now that it’s over, I’m kinda sad, yet exited about the prospects of a Cobra Kai spin-off. I think that’s the mark of a good show.
Peace!
Contel Bradford is a mystical and complex individual. You can attempt to unravel some of the mystery by visiting his author site at countkrewpublications.com.
