Hi-ya! Cobra Kai the tv show is back. The kids of Miyagi-Do (Team LaRusso) and Eagle Fang (Team Lawrence) are once again doing high kicks and ankle sweeps from the Miyagi-Do backyard, and they are doing it as one dojo with one goal in mind, take down Cobra Kai.
At the center, we find Miguel Diaz, played by Xolo Maridueña. Fully recovered from his injury in season 3, Miguel and girlfriend Samantha LaRusso (Mary Mouser) struggle with their alliance to their respective dojos. Meanwhile, the sensei compete, not only physically with each other, but for Miguel and his allegiance.
At issue is Sensei LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and his defensive only fighting against Sensei Lawrence’s (William Zabka) 24/7 offensive fight style. Both are up against Cobra Kai’s “strike first, strike hard, no mercy” mantra, and this latest season has even more drama. Much of that is courtesy of Cobra Kai’s Sensei Kreese (Martin Kove). Sensei Kreese has brought in Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) to take up the drama a notch or five. Silver was the nemesis and overall bad guy from Karate Kid III. Cue the dramatic suspense music here.
For Xolo fans, be prepared, there isn’t a ton of Miguel at the beginning of the season. But, he comes back in full force. In fact, season four ends on a storyline with Miguel and his family roots front and center (gasp).
The newest season of Cobra Kai isn’t revolutionary in terms of storyline. On the contrary, they have found a formula for success and they are sticking to it. For those of us that remember the original Karate Kid from over 30 years ago, Daniel and Johnny are still at it like two bickering brothers. Not gonna lie though, Johnny has the funniest moments in the season. Take one scene where he recruits a young girl who identifies as asexual and Sensei Lawrence swears he is “awake,” (when he means woke).
For the younger generation, there is tension and teenage angst for sure. And, because this is a show about karate, I can assure you there are well-choreographed fight scenes and more that remind us why we love this show.
Cobra Kai is campy and it’s predictable. But man oh man, we aren’t mad about that. There is a comfort in knowing what you are going to get and in being invested in characters so much that you can’t help but cheer them on. And it’s a great way to close out the year.
Cobra Kai drops on Netflix on December 31, 2021.