‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6, Part 1 Review: The Good, The Bad And The Karate

Attack quickly. Attack fiercely. Show no mercy.

Cobra Kai has returned with the first half of its last season. Netflix released the first five episodes of season six of the Karate Kid follow-up series this week, and I've already seen all of them.

Up to this point, similar to the previous seasons of Cobra Kai, this one has had both positive and negative aspects. Spoilers are included in the following discussion.

Forbes When will the next episodes of 'Cobra Kai' Season 6, Part 2 be available on Netflix? By Erik Kain

History Of Cobra Kai

Cobra Kai started in 2018 as a show on YouTube Premium and quickly gained a small but dedicated group of fans. When it moved to Netflix after the second season, it became hugely popular. Its success was partly due to its connection to the Karate Kid franchise and its funny moments. The show really shined when it focused on the character Johnny Lawrence.

William Zabka revisited his character from The Karate Kid, but this time around, Johnny was no longer the top high school karate student. As a middle-aged man, he was struggling and dealing with his own issues. Despite his somewhat reckless behavior, he still had a certain charm. Johnny was stuck in the past, preferring old-fashioned things like beer and classic rock over modern technology. After losing his job, he decided to return to his roots and revive the Cobra Kai dojo, much to the surprise of his old rival, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). Johnny embarked on a new journey as a sensei, teaching karate to a new generation.

After that, there were many mischievous acts and exaggerated emotional scenes. LaRusso started his own karate school called Miyagi-Do, which led to a lot of competition and tension not only between these two childish men but also among their students. Johnny's son, Robby Keene, who he was not close to, began to look up to LaRusso as a mentor, while Johnny mentored his teenage neighbor, Miguel Diaz.

Over the course of several seasons, these intense conflicts brewed, as new enemies like Johnny's former teacher John Kreese (played by Martin Kove) and LaRusso's old foe Terry Silver (portrayed by Thomas Ian Griffith) joined the fray. Tensions ran high, leading to intense fights both in schools and outside of them. The fifth season even saw some particularly brutal confrontations. As Season 6 kicks off, we find ourselves...

Peaceful Valley

I have to say, lately there are some things that have been bothering me. Cobra Kai has always been most enjoyable when Johnny Lawrence is authentically himself: Silly, outdated, foolish, but ultimately a lovable guy. While the cast has many fantastic characters and actors, Johnny has always been the heart of the show.

The ongoing feud between Johnny and LaRusso has always been entertaining and humorous, but eventually it started to feel like we were going in circles. That's why new antagonists were brought into the mix. However, I can't help but feel that these new villains haven't lived up to expectations. Kreese's character has become overly dramatic and unrealistic. Initially, there was some potential for character development and redemption, but by Season 6, he has reverted back to his one-dimensional, stereotypical villain role from earlier seasons.

Silver was an extreme version of Kreese, showing violent and psychotic tendencies that went beyond what even Kreese was capable of. This new dynamic brought an unexpected twist to the show, which for the most part was successful (although I’m relieved that storyline has come to an end). Despite the introduction of new villains, the heart of the story continues to center around the deep-seated grudge and ongoing rivalry, as well as the occasional reluctant alliance, between LaRusso and Johnny. As Season 6 kicks off, we see the two men attempting to make their karate studio partnership succeed.

It appears to be a questionable decision because it is a misguided decision. It is impossible to navigate a collaboration between these two individuals without encountering conflicts. Their personal characteristics, methods of instruction, and beliefs are so contrasting that they should ideally be independently running their own training centers. Instead of attempting to collaborate, it would be more logical for Eagle Fang and Miyagi-Do to each participate in the Sekai Taikai, the karate tournament featured in the current season, rather than trying to unite forces.

Collaborating with others can be quite challenging. This is true not only for Lawrence and LaRusso, but also for Miguel and Robby, who are now friends and almost stepbrothers. The difficulty is compounded for Samantha LaRusso and Tory Nichols, who had a very intense rivalry that seesaws between reconciliation and conflict in Season 6, Part 1.

What these initial five episodes are doing, is basically creating peace and understanding only to ruin it later on, which I find a bit annoying and artificial. I enjoyed the end of the conflicts. I liked that the rivalry between LaRusso and Johnny was mainly about their different styles – arguing about the name of the studio, LaRusso being shocked at Johnny's distorted version of Miyagi-Do karate, and so on, instead of being overly dramatic. When things escalate and Johnny becomes really angry at LaRusso and declares that they are done for good after the tournament, it felt wrong, despite Zabka's excellent acting.

Hasty Fifth Episode

This happened after Tory's mother passed away and she and Sam competed to see who would be the team captain in Barcelona, where the Sekai Taikai was taking place. Tory was too upset and angry to continue fighting, and when Sam's parents learned the reason why, they intervened to stop the fight. This was a wise choice because Tory was acting out of control and with her history with Samantha, there was a real worry that she could go too far. Johnny's insistence on letting her fight seemed unlike him. He may be stubborn, but it was clear to see how out of hand things were getting, and even he could see that the situation was about to become a disaster.

In regards to Tory, I find it hard to believe that her sudden change in behavior is solely due to the loss of her mother. Despite having supportive people around her, she decides to quit and join Kreese's new predominantly Korean Cobra Kai dojo. It's puzzling how Kreese, a wanted man, is able to travel the world freely. Isn't he at risk of being arrested by Spanish police in Barcelona and extradited back to the US for his violent past? It's disappointing that no one goes after Tory to check on her or persuade her to return. The lack of follow-up and concern from her friends is concerning. It's unbelievable that in the months that pass, no one tries to help Tory or reconcile with her. Did Robby really ignore his girlfriend for all that time?

I'd like to say that Peyton List did an amazing job in the fifth episode, but the story feels forced and unrealistic just to keep viewers hooked. The conflicts don't feel genuine or authentic to the characters and their circumstances. I believe many fans share my sentiment that the drama between Johnny and LaRusso has reached its peak and has become stale.

I loved the action scenes in Part 1, especially the fights between Johnny and Barnes, and between Robby and Miguel. The battle between Sam and Tory was good too, but it had a darker tone with Tory's emotions involved. The fight choreography this season is top-notch, possibly the best we've seen so far in the show. I'm really looking forward to Part 2 and the upcoming tournament after seeing these amazing fights.

I can't wait to watch Robby go up against Kwon, the top fighter for Cobra Kai. Kwon is Kreese's new star fighter, with a lot of talent and a bad attitude. Tory will likely be representing Cobra Kai on the female side. It seems like it's finally Robby's time to show what he can do, especially after losing to Miguel and Hawk before.

In general, Season 6 is off to a good start, but it's disappointing that it's being split into three parts with long breaks between them. A weekly release schedule would have been more enjoyable for the show's last season.

If I come up with more random thoughts, I'll include them in this section. How did you feel about Part 1? Do you have any guesses, wishes, or worries for the next ten episodes? Share your thoughts with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Take a look at the complete Season 6 release calendar here.