Cobra Kai Is A Tough-Talking Love Letter to the Underdogs

For those who loved the Karate Kid film series, Cobra Kai is the spinoff we didn’t know we needed.
 
The first Karate Kid film was a simple coming-of-age story of teenager from the wrong side of the tracks Daniel La Russo (Ralph Macchio) who is bullied at his new high school courtesy of popular ringleader Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), and develops a mentorship with an elderly neighbor who teaches him the way of karate and of life. Timelessly inspirational, Karate Kid became a massive hit, spawning a film series and the boom of karate dojos across the world.

Nearly four decades after the first Karate Kid film premiered, a spinoff was released, following our same characters in real-time. And interestingly, their roles are reversed. Daniel is now a successful business owner in a fancy home with a wife and two kids, and Johnny is unemployed, living alone in his apartment, and has an estranged, troubled son who wants nothing to do with him.

Throughout the series, the two are at odds due to their colorful past. It takes a lot of confrontations for them to work through their trust issues and stark differences in personalities. It makes for a realistic story arc, though.

There are no one-dimensional characters in this ensemble – everyone has a distinctive characterization and layered reasons for acting the way they do, making the choices they do, and these all impact the storyline. There are multiple instances of switching sides so much so that these “plot twists” seem repetitive, but after about a second of thought, you’d realize it was what made sense for the character and it moves the story forward.

For a show centered on martial arts and has numerous, often violent fight scenes, the aesthetic is bright and fun which is what you can expect from Southern California. The dialogue is natural, humorous, and thanks to Johnny Lawrence, so shockingly Gen X-y: tough and real, just like that generation.

While never predictable, there's a lot of fan service.  Which us original fans ate up without apologies.
 
Memorable characters from the old film series reprised their roles such as Daniel’s former flame Kumiko; nemesis Chozen; and who could forget Ali— Johnny’s ex-girlfriend and one of the main reasons Johnny bullied Daniel all those years ago. Villains Sensei John Kreese and Sensei Terry Silver maintain their formidable, imposing auras. So many others such as Johnny’s friends and rivals from other dojos joined in on the fun. 

The middle of the series felt like it dragged a little but it’s probably because two years separated the final season from the season before it. But the final season does not disappoint: intricate fight scenes, interesting new characters, plot twists as rapid as their karate moves, and in the end, tying up the series with a neat little bow.  Or headband.

There already is an entire genre of coming-of-age films dedicated to young adulthood, Cobra Kai’s predecessor was one of them.

But given Cobra Kai’s main protagonists, it is actually a coming of middle age film, which proved to be a lot more fun. Growing older means: you’re armed with life’s lessons, you’re taking yourself less seriously, and you’re learning to finally embrace the skin you’re in – bad back and all. 

Speaking of maturing, Johnny undergoes major character development when he falls for Carmen, the single mom of his first student Miguel, and learns he is about to be a father for the second time. But now, he’s ready for the long haul.
 
Johnny figures things out much later in life, but it still counts.

It reminds us we can’t judge our lives by a standard timeline simply because we are all too unique to have a one-size-fits-all plan.

The bottom line is, finally, the underdog gets the win and gets the girl.

Its action, heartfelt inspiration, quotable quotes, and cathartic value make it well worth the time.
 
Here’s a quotable quote courtesy of Sensei Johnny, during his protégé Miguel’s championship match.
Miguel: I’m so sorry, Sensei. I… I thought I had him.

Johnny: You did have him.

Miguel: Yeah.

Johnny: And then he had you. That’s how fights go. That’s how life goes. We all get our asses handed to us sometimes. There’s gonna be more where that came from, I guarantee it. On and off the mat. But I’ve never seen anyone who could take a s***-kicking and fight back harder like you.

Cobra Kai, and the entire Karate Kid franchise, is a sincere and heartfelt love letter to the underdogs.
 
Many of us have felt like we were “losing at life” at some point.
 
Whether you’re a teenager being bullied in high school, or a middle-aged person who has been through the wringer and feel like you have nothing to show for it, it will speak to that part of you that makes you feel insecure or fearful of the future.

Is that something you can relate to? I know I can. Let us know in the comments!