The Final Episodes Are Some Of The Best

That is it. After six years and 6 seasons (the last one split into three parts), “Cobra Kai” has lastly arrived at its last episodes. Although individually, the three components of season 6 felt sluggish and incomplete, collectively they make for among the finest seasons of the present, notably as a result of half 3 has among the greatest episodes in all the present. (In different phrases, Netflix most likely should not have cut up all of them up like this.) 

“Cobra Kai” has come a good distance. It survived skepticism and the lack of its unique launch platform to turn into among the finest reveals of the previous few years, and among the finest legacy sequels, interval. It’s actually beautiful that this present — which began out as a extra grounded and dramatic model of a joke from “How I Met Your Mom” — would find yourself not simply doing a really efficient reboot of “The Karate Child” starring a brand new era of karate fans, but additionally serving because the dream sequel to the primary three “Karate Child” motion pictures. Previously six years, we have seen Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) argue and bicker like an outdated married couple earlier than finally turning into good buddies. They’ve even teamed up with different antagonists, Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) and Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan), to battle each John Kreese (Martin Kove) and Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith).

“Cobra Kai” is a present that has all the time understood how and when to do fan service, leaning into nostalgia with the intention to say one thing new about beloved characters, and echoing the previous with the intention to discover new tales. In its last episodes, “Cobra Kai” turns every part to 11 and delivers 5 hours filled with the wildest moments not just in the show, however the franchise at massive. 

Half 2 of season 6 left off after the Sekai Taikai was interrupted by a violent brawl that resulted in an unexpected and tragic death. The brand new episodes choose up shortly thereafter, with the match formally canceled and everybody nonetheless reeling from the violent occasions and from having their likelihood at glory taken from them. That’s till Terry Silver (after all, who else?) schemes his manner into arranging the remainder of the match to play out anyway — this time at the familiar location that once hosted the 1984 All-Valley Tournament.

Not everyone seems to be on board. For one, John Kreese just isn’t inquisitive about having one other considered one of his college students killed. Herein lies arguably the most important shock and one of the best storyline of the season, as we see a radically totally different Kreese, one that’s totally shocked by the loss of life of Kwon. What follows is the end result of the themes of all the franchise, that of the connection between lecturers and college students, and the way the faults of the trainer impression their college students. Martin Kove does a spectacular job portraying Kreese’s disaster of religion, reflecting on his previous actions and whether or not there’s a house for him on this world of karate.

This theme additionally extends to Daniel and Johnny. The previous lastly will get a decision to the season-long thriller of Miyagi’s previous, which has been and stays underwhelming. Certain, it’s fascinating for the present to argue that Miyagi was no saint, and to see Daniel come to phrases with the truth that his mentor was a flawed man, however to make it a thriller field factor all through all the season made the decision come throughout as underwhelming.

If half 3 of “Cobra Kai” season 6 makes one thing clear, it is that this present has all the time been the journey of William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence. Zabka will get the massive highlight these final 5 episodes, doing a little career-best work as Johnny confronts his demons, the harm Kreese has carried out to him, and his insecurities, whereas additionally recognizing his achievements and the way far he is come.

“Cobra Kai” has all the time been good at understanding how you can weaponize nostalgia in the proper methods, and the ultimate episodes are all about wanting again so you may look ahead. There are many references, homages, direct callbacks, and outright recreations of moments from the very first “Karate Child” in these episodes, they usually by no means really feel just like the writers nodding on the viewers. 

As a substitute, the references are there to say one thing about each the previous and the current, to indicate the development the characters have been to. With out spoiling any surprises, let’s simply say that the ultimate episodes of “Cobra Kai” are a fan’s desires come true, and the end result of six years’ price of incomes the proper callbacks on the proper time. When the second of reality got here for this present, it proved that it was one of the best round.

/Movie score 8 out of 10

“Cobra Kai” season 6 half 3 is streaming on Netflix beginning February 13, 2025.

That is it. After six years and 6 seasons (the last one split into three parts), “Cobra Kai” has lastly arrived at its last episodes. Although individually, the three components of season 6 felt sluggish and incomplete, collectively they make for among the finest seasons of the present, notably as a result of half 3 has among the greatest episodes in all the present. (In different phrases, Netflix most likely should not have cut up all of them up like this.) 

“Cobra Kai” has come a good distance. It survived skepticism and the lack of its unique launch platform to turn into among the finest reveals of the previous few years, and among the finest legacy sequels, interval. It’s actually beautiful that this present — which began out as a extra grounded and dramatic model of a joke from “How I Met Your Mom” — would find yourself not simply doing a really efficient reboot of “The Karate Child” starring a brand new era of karate fans, but additionally serving because the dream sequel to the primary three “Karate Child” motion pictures. Previously six years, we have seen Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) argue and bicker like an outdated married couple earlier than finally turning into good buddies. They’ve even teamed up with different antagonists, Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) and Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan), to battle each John Kreese (Martin Kove) and Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith).

“Cobra Kai” is a present that has all the time understood how and when to do fan service, leaning into nostalgia with the intention to say one thing new about beloved characters, and echoing the previous with the intention to discover new tales. In its last episodes, “Cobra Kai” turns every part to 11 and delivers 5 hours filled with the wildest moments not just in the show, however the franchise at massive. 

Half 2 of season 6 left off after the Sekai Taikai was interrupted by a violent brawl that resulted in an unexpected and tragic death. The brand new episodes choose up shortly thereafter, with the match formally canceled and everybody nonetheless reeling from the violent occasions and from having their likelihood at glory taken from them. That’s till Terry Silver (after all, who else?) schemes his manner into arranging the remainder of the match to play out anyway — this time at the familiar location that once hosted the 1984 All-Valley Tournament.

Not everyone seems to be on board. For one, John Kreese just isn’t inquisitive about having one other considered one of his college students killed. Herein lies arguably the most important shock and one of the best storyline of the season, as we see a radically totally different Kreese, one that’s totally shocked by the loss of life of Kwon. What follows is the end result of the themes of all the franchise, that of the connection between lecturers and college students, and the way the faults of the trainer impression their college students. Martin Kove does a spectacular job portraying Kreese’s disaster of religion, reflecting on his previous actions and whether or not there’s a house for him on this world of karate.

This theme additionally extends to Daniel and Johnny. The previous lastly will get a decision to the season-long thriller of Miyagi’s previous, which has been and stays underwhelming. Certain, it’s fascinating for the present to argue that Miyagi was no saint, and to see Daniel come to phrases with the truth that his mentor was a flawed man, however to make it a thriller field factor all through all the season made the decision come throughout as underwhelming.

If half 3 of “Cobra Kai” season 6 makes one thing clear, it is that this present has all the time been the journey of William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence. Zabka will get the massive highlight these final 5 episodes, doing a little career-best work as Johnny confronts his demons, the harm Kreese has carried out to him, and his insecurities, whereas additionally recognizing his achievements and the way far he is come.

“Cobra Kai” has all the time been good at understanding how you can weaponize nostalgia in the proper methods, and the ultimate episodes are all about wanting again so you may look ahead. There are many references, homages, direct callbacks, and outright recreations of moments from the very first “Karate Child” in these episodes, they usually by no means really feel just like the writers nodding on the viewers. 

As a substitute, the references are there to say one thing about each the previous and the current, to indicate the development the characters have been to. With out spoiling any surprises, let’s simply say that the ultimate episodes of “Cobra Kai” are a fan’s desires come true, and the end result of six years’ price of incomes the proper callbacks on the proper time. When the second of reality got here for this present, it proved that it was one of the best round.

/Movie score 8 out of 10

“Cobra Kai” season 6 half 3 is streaming on Netflix beginning February 13, 2025.