Cobra Kai

[mikedanger]

I love that Amanda is pretty much there just to constantly remind the audience that "yes, we know this is silly but here we are knee deep in it anyways". I fully expect a full on 4th wall breaking turn and look at the camera in season 5 when Mike Barnes, Julie Pierce, and Dre Parker ring her doorbell.

 

[a-dev]

Just finished it - I thought certain things that happened in episode 8 were iffy/confusing but I have to say I like how that same stuff paid off in the finale so all in all I count that as a win for Cobra Kai.

 

[Ramman81]

I am well aware of that, my point is that I don't like people in real life like that so I don't find any of the characters in this show endearing. They're a bunch of losers, and I collect dollies.

I'm watching the show as if it's satire, and so I'm enjoying it in my own way.

It's not supposed to be REAL...it's TV....no different than any other form of "entertainment"

 

[chrisstbh]

It's not supposed to be REAL...it's TV....no different than any other form of "entertainment"

Woah, really?!

 

[a-dev]

Yeah, again, I very much enjoyed it. Quicker to talk about the stuff where I was ''hmmm...''

Spoiler

My quibbles

- Johnny's roofjump test - ehhhh, no remotely responsible adult teacher would ask a pupil to do something like that. The consequences of it going wrong would just be too big. However I do like what came out of this test in that Samantha earns Johnny's respect and she values his lessons and approval.

- the switcheroo that seemed to take place between Kreese and Silver. I'm not sure this was developed enough. There maybe could have been another episode or 2 between Ep 7 and 8 to explain more why Silver's behaviour degenerates as it does and why Kreese all of a sudden is the moderate one when it very much seemed like it was going to be the opposite based on the early episodes of the season with Silver apologizing to Daniel and talking about not wanting to repeat the past during conversations with Kreese. Meanwhile Kreese still seemed to be all about revenge and no mercy.

It's possible Silver was always planning to screw Kreese over out of resentment that Kreese abandoned him after the events of KKIII and thus everything he says to (or in the presence of) Kreese can be seen as manipulation. If this is not the case then was it really just the one dressing-down Kreese gives him in Episode 7 (I think) that tips him over the edge?

- it's nice that maybe they want to add a bit more complexity to the Kreese/Johnny dynamic and parallel the father figure stuff across a number of characters. I liked how it played into a redemptive moment for Kreese in the finale with the advice he gives to Tori during the fight. But can this be reconciled with the Kreese who Daniel had to rescue Johnny from at the end of season 3? I'd have to watch it again but Daniel makes reference to Kreese trying to kill Johnny back then.

- So Silver beats Stingray into unconsciousness - hospitalizing him - after getting him to agree to name Kreese as the guy that did it? That really could have backfired on him - either a beating like that could have actually killed Stingray or Stingray could wake up and decide ''well **** that, I'm not gonna name Kreese, I'll tell them who it really was''. Was Silver banking on mere intimidation to get his way? I'm not aware of any other leverage he had. Was it an agreement for Stingray to be allowed join Cobra Kai if he named Kreese? Why the hell would Stingray still want to join Cobra Kai after that? What evidence will there be against Kreese anyway? So yeah, this was a bit questionable - but I must admit I am relishing what the whole thing has set up for season 5 (definite hint that Silver is going to put in a call to Mike Barnes)

- Not sure why Chozen would show up again. Did Daniel call him? With the relationship seemingly repaired with Johnny - in a way that ought to be more sustainable now - I wouldn't have thought Daniel would have Chozen in mind at this particular point but hey, I'm intrigued nevertheless.

 

[Asta]

I took a break after finishing the third season of Justified, and binged the first six episodes of the latest season of Cobra Kai yesterday.

It is a cheesy series, as it has been since season one, but it's good cheese.

It's a fun '80s revival, with the same fantasy wish fulfilment element of the under dog schoolboy (or schoolgirl's) dream of taking on bullies through the 'magic' of 'karate', which has the ability to turn them into minor superheroes.

 

[a-dev]

 

[MaulFan]

I’m excited, I’m enjoying this show and Chosen looks like a fun addition.

 

[a-dev]

Headsup. Season 5 is out now.

 

[MaulFan]

Just finished tonight, seems like this is the last season, haven't heard about a 6 and at this point, don't know where it could go, feels pretty wrapped up.

 

[a-dev]

Only on Episode 3.

Spoiler

Mike ****ing Barnes

Have they always had F bombs and I'd just forgotten?

 

[MaulFan]

No, they amped up the cursing this season. The best was the time it was used talking to Kreese.

 

[a-dev]

Just finished it....at bang on 6am. Thankfully I'm not in work tomorrow....errr, today. Anyway once again this show manages to be utterly ridiculous yet utterly addictive and brilliant at the same time. I love the way they bring all their various lessons and character arcs together by the end.

Just finished tonight, seems like this is the last season, haven't heard about a 6 and at this point, don't know where it could go, feels pretty wrapped up.

According to various vids I've seen on youtube there will be a season 6 but I know what you mean.

Spoiler

Other than the Kreese escape there's not much in the way of loose ends. There is the matter of that bigger competition they'd all qualified for I guess but that finale seemed to spell the end of Cobra Kai and without Cobra Kai how do you have a show called Cobra Kai? Presumably Silver will take Kreese's place in jail for the Stingray assault. So what would they do - have Kreese resume control with a bunch of newb students and be the big bad again? That would seem a bit 'been there, done that'. I'd like to see Chozen get his girl, I'd like to see Mike Barnes get more to do - maybe there's potential there for a great buddy trip with all the former nemeses turned friends. But yeah I don't know what they'll do for an overarching plot and no idea what I need to see with the young characters after the amount of resolution we had there.

 

[MaulFan]

Spoiler

Indeed, all of the character arcs but Chozen seem wrapped up by the end. I supposed a sixth season could be about the big tournament and winning it to be the final validation of Miyagi-Do. I'm not sure how you can have Kreese be a factor without seeming forced, he's an escaped con, not like he can just start a business without going back to jail.

 

[a-dev]

Spoiler

Indeed, all of the character arcs but Chozen seem wrapped up by the end. I supposed a sixth season could be about the big tournament and winning it to be the final validation of Miyagi-Do. I'm not sure how you can have Kreese be a factor without seeming forced, he's an escaped con, not like he can just start a business without going back to jail.

True

Spoiler

And I'm not sure I could be satisfied with Kreese as the main villain again anyway. We've already seen that and he made way for the even bigger bad in Terry Silver. If Silver is now dealt with you can't just go back to Kreese again especially when they keep hinting that Kreese isn't all bad. You can't keep doing that without payoff - as in real payoff. We thought he'd had an epiphany leading to a tragic end in jail but it seems like that was all a ruse. But the fact remains they keep referencing his regret about his failure to be a true Father figure to Johnny and about his lost love. So arguably he shouldn't serve as villain in season 6. Terry Silver will probably still appear but he will have a reduced capacity to continue as primary villain. Who else can there be? I never saw the film with Hillary Swank - who was the badguy in that? Michael Ironside? I know nothing about that character.

I'm trying to think of anything else left open after this season.....

- They were told they would have to settle on a single name for Miyagi-do/Eagle Fang. Will that cause more strife....I hope they don't split Daniel and Johnny again. That'd be repetitive too at this point.

- Could Miguel's real dad come back into the picture?? Perhaps the next threat will be unrelated to the movies. He seemed to be involved in MMA

 

[mikedanger]

Spoiler

I think they just need to end it. Cobra Kai is dead, Kreese will have to go back to jail since breaking out is illegal even if you are innocent, Daniel is on good terms with all 3 former rivals. It just feels like a good spot to bow out. I certainly can't do even 1 more episode of Johnny and Daniel not being on the same team. Plus it's getting a little cringey working in some of these cameos.

 

[a-dev]

This video probably nails what they'll do in Season 6.

Spoiler

There was small little things I missed because I was occasionally looking at my laptop - such as the child version of Sensei Kim watching the younger Silver and Kreese training in that flashback and the fact that Kreese winks at her. So there's a team-up right there now that Kreese is out of prison. Incidentally if only Kreese had known how the tide was imminently going to turn against Silver and that he probably would've been released soon anyway. I wonder why the writers decided that he had to specifically 'escape' and thus create this problem of him, one assumes, still being wanted by the law.

 

[a-dev]

Just remembered something else

Spoiler

Why was Silver at the hospital? If memory serves it was actually asked in the show but I can't remember if there was an answer.

Is he ill? Is that an added reason why he's so obsessed with legacy? Were we to read more into that line where he says ''youth is the one thing money can't buy''?

 

[chrisstbh]

Really just pumping out seasons for this show eh? It's way too campy for me now.

 

[a-dev]

You've been of that view more or less since the beginning. This season will definitely not endear itself to you.

I've been surprised by my own reaction. I feel about this show as Heavy Metal Spike feels about She-Hulk - whereas that show has not appealed to me at all.