Cobra Kai
Series, 2018, Cobra Kai, Set in 34 years later
Cobra Kai is #6 of 7 in release order and #6 of 7 in chronological order in the The Karate Kid.
The story
This Karate Kid sequel series picks up 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament and finds Johnny Lawrence on the hunt for redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. This reignites his old rivalry with the successful Daniel LaRusso, who has been working to maintain the balance in his life without mentor Mr. Miyagi.
Cobra Kai recap
In season 1, thirty-four years after the 1984 tournament, Johnny Lawrence is broke and drinking when he defends his teenage neighbour Miguel Diaz from bullies and reopens Cobra Kai. Daniel LaRusso runs a car dealership, and his daughter Sam befriends Miguel, while Johnny's estranged son Robby starts working for Daniel and learning Miyagi-Do. Miguel wins the All Valley tournament with a dirty move, and Kreese returns. In season 2, Daniel reopens Miyagi-Do, Kreese takes Cobra Kai back to its brutal ways, and a school fight ends with Robby kicking Miguel off a balcony. In season 3, Miguel recovers with Johnny's help, Robby leaves juvenile detention for Cobra Kai, and Daniel goes to Okinawa and reconciles with Chozen. Johnny and Daniel team up against Kreese, who calls in Terry Silver. In season 4, Silver returns and Cobra Kai wins the tournament after Silver bribes a referee, and Silver frames Kreese for assault. In season 5, Silver expands Cobra Kai across the Valley, Johnny and Robby go to Mexico to bring back Miguel, and Daniel, Chozen and Johnny take down Silver, who is arrested, while Kreese escapes prison. In season 6, the dojos merge as Miyagi-Do to compete in the world championship, the Sekai Taikai, in Barcelona. Kreese takes over Kim Da-Eun's dojo, Daniel uncovers Miyagi's violent past, and Tory switches to Cobra Kai. A brawl at the tournament leaves the Cobra Kai fighter Kwon dead.
Cobra Kai ending explained
Silver persuades Daniel to finish the tournament in the Valley. Johnny takes back Cobra Kai, and Tory and Miguel win their finals. Silver plots to kidnap Johnny's family; Kreese fights him on his yacht, and both die in the explosion. Johnny then beats Sensei Wolf to make Cobra Kai the champions, moves into a new home with Carmen and their baby, and he and Daniel train students in both dojos together.
Where to watch Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai is streaming on Netflix in the US. You can rent or buy it on Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 94%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Karate Kid, before Karate Kid: Legends.
- Chronological order: after The Karate Kid, before Karate Kid: Legends.
What to watch before Cobra Kai
In release order, the essentials before Cobra Kai (2018) are The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), and The Karate Kid (2010).
Cast
- William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
- Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
- Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso
- Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz
- Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene
- Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso
- Jacob Bertrand as Eli 'Hawk' Moskowitz
- Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri Alexopoulos
- Martin Kove as John Kreese
- Vanessa Rubio as Carmen Diaz
- Peyton List as Tory Nichols
- Owen Morgan as Bert
Created by Josh Heald, Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz.