By Melissa Antoinette Garza
I am such a mark! I knew when I saw the first two episodes of COBRA KAI were on YOUTUBE for free, I was jumping headfirst into a new monthly subscription. Damn you, YOUTUBE RED. I’ve now binge-watched all 10 episodes and I’m sad there’s not more. I want more.
I was only 5 years old when KARATE KID came out in 1984. I remember watching it on cable TV over and over and over again. I loved it. It’s the quintessential 80s film. It had everything. The style, the music, the fighting and the no holds barred attitude still brings me in when I watch it now.
A few months back, I began seeing trailers for the new COBRA KAI tv show. When I saw that the original cast from the 80s movie was back, I was sold. That isn’t to say I didn’t have reservations. So many films and shows use and abuse the 80s. They’ll grab the music and trash the style or remix it to some modern-day garbage that is recognizable enough to piss any fans of the tune right off.
With that in mind, I went in expecting to be disappointed. I wasn’t sure if the true spirit of the 80s could be recaptured or if the rivalry between Johnny and Daniel could be properly captured 30 years after the film. I was so happy to be wrong.
The show begins by showing that Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) now in his 50s, still stuck in the 1980s. He drives around in a red firebird, blasting hard rock and using 80s slang effortlessly. Poor Johnny is a lost soul and in the first episode he gets fired from a job he hates, drinks all the time and eats gas station pizza for dinner. He also has a bad attitude, is still driven by jealousy and has seemingly all but given up on life. Of course, the success his high school enemy Danny LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) doesn’t help. A huge billboard advertising LaRusso’s car dealerships, annoy the hell out of Johnny so much so when he gets drunk one night he defaces it.
One night at a gas station, Johnny’s young neighbor Miguel (Xolo Mariduena) is jumped by 4 bullies from school. When they throw Miguel into the firebird’s hood, Johnny jumps up and beats the hell out of the kids. Miguel begs Johnny to teach him karate and at first he says no, but while watching IRON EAGLE (1986) he gets inspired and changes his mind.
Meanwhile, the rivalry is rekindled as both blame each other for past issues and present conflicts. When Johnny officially reopens Cobra Kai and the business begins booming, Daniel finds himself remembering Mr. Miyagi’s (Pat Morita) words and begins practicing again too. Daniel finds a new karate student in Robby (Tanner Buchanan) a young new employee who unbeknownst to him is Johnny’s estranged son. Making things even more awkwardly connected, Miguel and Daniel’s daughter Samantha (Mary Mouser) start a sweet relationship only to be strained when Miguel sees her talking to Robby.
Daniel doesn’t want Samantha dating any student at the Cobra Kai which now has every nerd in town as a student.
This show has just so much going for it. The comeback cast from the original film including a shocker in the final episode bring something so new and yet so comfortable to the screen. William Zabka and Ralph Macchio have the same level of chemistry they did nearly 35 years ago. Both actors play their characters with so much heart and sincerity. Daniel is a nice family man who doesn’t trust Johnny’s intentions or motives. Johnny is a broken soul with a good heart and a sad childhood story of abuse. He is such a flawed protagonist. He says and does things he shouldn’t, but he means well.
COBRA KAI pays tribute and homage to the original story and it reflects how significant the match between Johnny and Daniel was to both of their lives. It shows how the event held them both in place in different ways.
I know so many people like Johnny. I come from a very nostalgic generation and I have very good friends who still dress, act and talk like it’s the 80s. There is something very endearing about that and Zabka pulls it off perfectly. It’s impossible to root against him. There’s one scene where Johnny is telling Miguel about his history with Daniel and it’s hilarious! I believe it had to be inspired at least in part by a video I saw a few years back that claimed Johnny was the hero of THE KARATE KID. You just have to watch Johnny explain how Danny was a jerk.
I would have been elated if that was the end of the show, but the young cast is actually fantastic too. The character of Miguel has so many parallels with Daniel and likewise Robby has many characteristics of Johnny. It’s obvious early on that Miguel and Robby will eventually fight against one another. Mariduena and Buchanan make the build-up to this amazing because both characters are so likable and relatable. They both have genuine arguments and real grievances. They are fighting for different reasons and different things but neither is a villain and because of it the stakes of the match are so much higher. The outcome means so much more.
The rest of the cast is equally brilliant. Two of the supporting roles that stood out the most were Nichole Brown and Jacob Bertrand. Brown portrays an overweight bullied student Aisha who joins Cobra Kai. She immediately takes to karate and finds self-esteem in the dojo.
Bertrand is my personal favorite. His character Eli was born with a cleft lip and teased about the scar so much so that he became a near mute even among his friends. His evolution into a badass is one of the coolest I’ve ever seen. Bertrand brings so much to Eli. I felt so much sympathy when he was being pushed around by scumbags and was so happy when he came into his own; even if he went a tad bit overboard, now and again.
I can’t suggest this enough. I didn’t want another subscription service, but this is the best tv show I’ve seen in 15 years. Any child of the 80s will be cheering when Johnny calls today’s generation ‘pussies’. He’s an average guy who was an underdog living in the past until he found the calling he left behind long ago. This is an inspirational fun action-packed series and it better have a season 2! The hopes of a season 2 is the only reason I’m keeping YouTube Red (well that, and to watch season 1 again).
Scared Stiff Rating: 10/10 It doesn’t get better than this
