TV Review: Cobra Kai Season 2 Returns For Another Win
Disclaimer: I had the opportunity to see Season 2, but I cannot get into it. Sorry NO SPOILERS! Instead, I’ll focus more on the gist of episodes 1 & 2, which premiered at SXSW, and highlight how fans were heard by the writers about what they LOVED from Cobra Kai Season 1!
Youtube’s Cobra Kai Season 1 was an amazing revamping of a series that many doubted could or should be brought back. Karate Kid is iconic, and it is strange to know high school enemies are still plotting against each other when they are 50 year old men with “grown” lives. Yet, the charm of William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence and the fascination with Ralph Macchio’s Daniel Larusso summoned fans to watch. The show’s excellent writers and creators made us stay.
Cobra Kai Season 2 picks up right after the All Valley Karate Tournament, of which Cobra Kai is riding high. Many fans were worried Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) would be turned into a villain, but it seemed writers accepted that he and Johnny were too beloved to make evil. Part of Cobra Kai’s charm is that it turned perceived bullies, like Johnny, and underestimated kids, like Miguel, into redeemable heroes. We watched them grow into good human beings that made mistakes, but, at their core, wanted to be better. Who could not relate to that? Everyone gets lost and does harm to others, even if they are hurting, but redemption is a major theme in the Cobra Kai series. It is what made people love Zabka’s second round as Johnny and worry for the return of KREESE!
Season 2 furthers Johnny and Miguel’s “father-son like relationship,” and amplifies their oath to have each other’s back/ not let the other go “dark-side.” Of course, that is an oath tested by Kreese; whom is still a crabby guy that thinks he knows it all. Many fans felt he was the “father Johnny never wanted;” taking Kreese’s heavy-handed discipline and cruelty as fatherly. Well, time did not exactly humble the fella, and Kove makes Kreese feel deliciously duplicitous. Every time he pops on screen and tries to “guide” Johnny, I pretty much look like this:
Naturally, the return of Kreese is NOT pleasing to Daniel Larusso, but what is more shocking to Karate Kid’s fans is that Daniel does not feel like “the good guy” of the series. If Johnny’s Season 1 story came off as redeemable, Daniel’s came off as self-righteous. From Episode 1 of Season 2, their toxic rivalry continues, escalates, and begins to infect the teenage cast. This season looks to heighten the roles and literal fights of the younger ensemble, and these actors are so charismatic you welcome it. How they treat each other is a reflection of their Dojo leaders, which is why their widening threats, BEWARE OF A MENACING HAWK (Jacob Bertrand), makes you want to tell Johnny and Daniel to remember the children. Even Mary Mouser’s Samantha gains a dislike for the rival dojo, and Tanner Buchanan’s Robby Keane is right behind her.
The love triangle between Samantha, Robby, and Miguel continues, but, for some reason, you never stop cheering for Cobra Kai. Still, the writers really do try to amplify Robby’s loneliness and abandonment. While many grew to favor Xolo Maridueña’s noble and sweet take on Miguel, Season 2 tries to elaborate that Robby has NEVER had a proper home with functioning adults. Though Johnny still wants a relationship, this kid has 15 years of being at the whims of his parent’s self-centeredness and struggling addictions. Because Cobra Kai is a “happy show,” it can only hint at how deeply traumatized this kid must be. Buchanan uses those hints to elaborate Robby’s unbreakable loyalty to the Larussos and his growing love for Mouser’s Samantha. He really wants to be happy and have someone show him mercy.
MERCY! If Season 1 questioned whether people can change for the better, i.e. Johnny, then Cobra Kai’s Season 2 asks how the mercy we show others plays into both theirs and our own redemptions. Forgiveness is hard to give because we presume it is about absolving our victimizer from their sin, but really it is about absolving ourselves from the pain they gave us. There is no DOUBT Daniel feels Johnny caused him pain, and Macchio emanates how truly moral Larusso feels in building Miyagi Do as a BLATANT affront to Cobra Kai. Yet, I do wish he could show them some mercy? Maybe, he will………..? You’ll have to watch when Youtube premieres Cobra Kai Season 2 On April 24. Trust me it is amazing; IT IS A BINGE WATCH YOU WILL REPEAT! Stay tuned for my full season, spoiler review after the premiere!
