On September 9, 2022, the YouTube Original turned Netflix show, ‘Cobra Kai,’ starring William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Jacob Bertrand, Peyton List, and Mary Mouser, released its 5th season in the United States. ‘Cobra Kai’s’ 5th season has been (surprisingly) a short time coming, with the release of this season coming less than 10 months after the release of season 4 on Netflix. ‘Cobra Kai’s’ season 5 has been highly anticipated by audiences, especially considering the cliffhanger ending of ‘Cobra Kai’s’ fourth installment. As ‘Cobra Kai’ roundhouse kicks into a new story and season, how does the 5th season hold up? And is there more ‘Cobra Kai’ to come?
In the last season of ‘Cobra Kai,’ we saw Daniel LaRusso (played by Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (played by William Zabka) combine their dojos, Miyagi-do Karate and Eagle Fang Karate, into one in order to take down a common enemy: Cobra Kai Karate, now operated by its original creator and Johnny Lawrence’s old sensei, John Kreese (played by Martin Kove). John Kreese enlists an old friend, ‘Karate Kid 3’’s antagonist, Terry Silver (played by Thomas Ian Griffith).
With the incoming All Valley Karate Tournament, both dojos work to produce fighters who can win. In the aftermath, Miyagi-do/Eagle Fang’s own Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz (played by Jacob Bertrand) wins the men’s championship while Cobra Kai’s Tori Nichols (played by Peyton List) wins the women’s championship against Samantha LaRusso (played by Mary Mouser). The season finale saw John Kreese framed for the assault of Cobra Kai’s Raymond “Stingray” Porter (played by Paul Walter Hauser) by Terry Silver. With John Kreese in jail, Terry Silver is the sole sensei of Cobra Kai and the main antagonist of the 5th season.
Cobra Kai’s 5th season immediately explores the cliffhangers and plot turns of the past season while exploring new conflicts for our cast of characters. For starters, the season sees Miguel Diaz (played by Xolo Maridueña) venture to Mexico to find his birth father. ‘Cobra Kai’ has always told a story about parents and children with an emphasis on fathers and sons. This is explored through Johnny Lawrence’s rebellion against John Kreese (his father figure), Johnny’s difficult relationship with his biological son, Robby (played by Tanner Buchanan), and his role as Miguel’s father figure. Cobra Kai Season 5 approaches the difficult topic of Miguel’s dangerous father and Miguel’s rivalry with Robby with sensitivity and insight. By the end of the season, seeing Miguel and Robby finally reach an understanding about each other and their father (or father figure) was powerful, to say the least. Johnny Lawrence has always struggled not just to be a good person but especially a good father. This season sees Johnny own up more to the mistakes he has made with Miguel and Robby, including the shocking twist of him having another child with Miguel’s mom, Carmen Diaz (played by Vanessa Rubio). Johnny steps up to the challenge in a way that feels like a big change for the character.
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