'Cobra Kai' Season VI Needs Redemption Stories

 

Miyagi-Fang senseis and students. Courtesy of Netflix.

Hello, people.

Almost two weeks ago, I went back to Cobra Kai's first, third, and fifth seasons. I felt more nostalgic since I watched the first part of their sixth season. Now, I know there's more for the story and acting to show come November, then some time in 2025, but I was polarized with season 6, part 1. Spoiler alert: Anthony LaRusso and Kenny Payne started off as allies until a misunderstanding caused by Devon Lee began further tearing them apart, Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso were still rocky on how to balance their philosophies in and out of the dojo, John Kreese still refused to completely humble himself and realize there's more to life than Cobra Kai and his vendettas, and if that's not the worst, Tory Nichols went back to Cobra Kai after more misunderstandings, including how to cope with her mother's passing.

Maybe the idea of dividing the 15 episodes into three parts was to build suspense or make their final season go out on a higher note than just bingeing the whole thing in one night, but what I saw was really polarizing because many of the characters made one step towards evolving, and two steps back into regression. For example, I was rooting for Johnny and Daniel finally being friends; but misunderstandings about a secret box of Mr. Miyagi’s has probably broken them for good. While I don’t condone Daniel repeating the sucker punch on Johnny, Lawrence had it coming for insulting Miyagi even when he didn’t know the whole truth. I hope Daniel can reconcile that friendship along with finding the truth about Miyagi and reconciling that. But I can't stand how they and everybody else were still fighting each other instead of remembering karate's about balance with and without the gis.

As for Kreese, though I will never root for the guy, his actor Martin Kove wants to be a tenacious hero in a time where kids don't have many, and he predicts massive redemption for Kreese and the show overall in parts 2 and 3. Though I haven't seen all his work, I like where Kove is heading in wanting to inspire hope and tenacity for people. I hope to see his prediction and more.

Speaking of predictions, maybe Terry Silver will bust out of jail and try to bring the rain on Kreese, Lawrence, and LaRusso and their students with his own offensive tactics. And who knows? Maybe (excluding Rob Garrison as Tommy, God rest the actor and his characters' souls) Johnny's original gang could come back and help save the day, Julie Pierce could show up in part 3 to help Daniel continue the Miyagi legacy, Daniel could quit car selling and reopen the bonsai shop, the kids and older students could go to school and college on a happy note, get jobs in STEM or other fields, and Freddy Fernandez and Mike Barnes might join LaRusso's bonsai business. The possibilities are endless. 

Whatever the case will be, here's to hoping that Miyagi-do, Eagle Fang, and Cobra Kai end on good terms for everyone in the remainder of season VI of Cobra Kai. And feel free to subscribe to my channel, youtube.com/@williambeavers5661.