Cobra Kai re-examines The Karate Kid films as Johnny's "redemption story,"[2] beginning with his decision to reopen the Cobra Kai karatedojo, and the rekindling of his old rivalry with Daniel.[3] The series attained high viewership on both YouTube and Netflix, and received critical acclaim for its writing, performances, action sequences, humor, character development, and faithfulness to the films. It received numerous awards and nominations, with the third season being nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards.
Premise
Thirty-four years after being defeated by Daniel LaRusso in the 1984 All-Valley Karate Tournament at the end of The Karate Kid (1984), Johnny Lawrence suffers from alcoholism and depression. He works as a part-time handyman and lives in an apartment in Reseda, Los Angeles, having fallen far from his wealthy lifestyle in Encino. He has an estranged son named Robby, from a previous relationship, whom he has abandoned. In contrast, Daniel is now the owner of a successful car dealership and is married to co-owner Amanda with whom he has two children: Sam and Anthony. However, Daniel often struggles to meaningfully connect with his children especially after his friend and mentor Mr. Miyagi passed away prior to the series' beginning.
After using karate to defend his teenage neighbor Miguel Diaz from a group of bullies, Johnny agrees to teach Miguel the way of the fist and re-opens Cobra Kai. The revived dojo attracts a group of bullied social outcasts who find camaraderie and self-confidence under Johnny's tutelage. The reopening of Cobra Kai reignites Johnny's rivalry with Daniel, who responds by opening the Miyagi-do dojo, whose students include Sam and Robby, leading to a rivalry between the respective dojos.
The thematic genesis for Cobra Kai began with a few works of pop culture. First, the 2007 music video for the song "Sweep the Leg" by No More Kings stars William Zabka (who also directed the video) as a caricature of himself as Johnny Lawrence, and features references to The Karate Kid (1984), including cameo appearances by Zabka's former co-stars.[5][6] In a 2010 interview, Zabka jokingly discussed this video in the context of his vision that Johnny was the true hero of the film.[7] Next in June 2010, Ralph Macchio appeared in Funny or Die's online short, "Wax On, F*ck Off", in which his loved ones stage an intervention to turn the former child star from a well-adjusted family man into an addict besieged with tabloid scandal in order to help his career (with frequent references to The Karate Kid).[8] A recurring joke in the sketch is that Macchio is confused for an adolescent. The short was lauded by TV Guide's Bruce Fretts, who referred to the video as "sidesplitting" and "comic gold".[9] Finally, in 2013, Macchio and Zabka made guest appearances as themselves in the How I Met Your Mother episode "The Bro Mitzvah", where Macchio is invited to Barney Stinson's bachelor party, leading to Barney shouting that he hates Macchio and that Johnny was the real hero of The Karate Kid. Towards the end of the episode, a clown in the party wipes off his makeup and reveals himself as Zabka.[10] This influenced the launch of Cobra Kai, which gives a balanced perspective for Johnny, Daniel, and other characters.[11] Zabka continued to be a recurring character throughout the ninth season of the show.
The first and second seasons launched on YouTube Red / YouTube Premium in May 2018 and April 2019. The creators of the series explored moving to another platform ahead of the season two premiere, but the deal did not go through.[15] The third season was produced for YouTube and was initially set for a 2020 release,[16][17] but in May 2020, the series left YouTube and moved to another streaming platform, ahead of its third-season premiere. As YouTube was not interested in renewing the series for a fourth season, the producers wanted to find a streaming venue that would leave that option open.[18] The show moved to Netflix in June 2020, taking the third season with them.[19] The third, fourth, and fifth seasons were released in January 2021, December 2021, and September 2022, respectively. [20] A fourth season was renewed, prior to season three being released,[21] and was released on December 31, 2021.[22][23] The fifth season premiered on September 9, 2022.[24][25]
Production for the sixth and final season stopped during the period of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and resumed after January 1, 2024.[26] Season six was divided into three parts, each consisting of five episodes: part one was released on July 18, 2024, part two was released on November 15, 2024, and part three was released on February 13, 2025.[27][28][29]
Casting
The "Miyagi-verse" that shapes Cobra Kai consists of characters who interacted with Mr. Miyagi.[1] This series offers a deeper exploration of themes and characters from The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), and The Karate Kid Part III (1989), with all of the main (and a few supporting) characters reprising their original roles.[30] It did not include Hilary Swank's character (Julie Pierce) from The Next Karate Kid (1994).[31] Hurwitz has also clarified that he does not consider The Karate Kid animated series (1989) to be part of the Miyagi-verse canon, but an Easter egg from it appears in season three, in response to the question about its status within Cobra Kai.[32][33][34]
In season one, Macchio and Zabka reprised their respective roles of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny. Additional The Karate Kid actors included Randee Heller as Daniel's mother Lucille LaRusso,[35] and Martin Kove as John Kreese.[36] The cast list for season one included Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz, Mary Mouser as Daniel's daughter Samantha "Sam" LaRusso, Tanner Buchanan as Johnny's son Robby Keene, and Courtney Henggeler as Daniel's wife Amanda. Ed Asner was cast in a guest role as Johnny's wealthy, verbally abusive step-father, Sid Weinberg.[37][38]Vanessa Rubio joined the cast as Miguel's mother Carmen.[39]
In season three, Macchio, Zabka, Maridueña, Mouser, Buchanan, Henggeler, Bertrand, DeCenzo, and Kove returned. Reprising their roles from The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid II in guest appearances during this season were Elisabeth Shue (Ali Mills), Ron Thomas (Bobby), Tamlyn Tomita (Kumiko), Traci Toguchi (Yuna), and Yuji Okumoto (Chozen Toguchi).
In season four, Rubio and List were promoted to series regulars,[42] while Dallas Dupree Young and Oona O'Brien were cast in recurring roles.[42] In addition, Thomas Ian Griffith reprised his role as Terry Silver from The Karate Kid Part III,[43] while Okumoto[44] and Heller made guest appearances.
In season five, Okumoto had a recurring role as Chozen.[45] In addition, Sean Kanan and Robyn Lively reprised their respective roles as Mike Barnes and Jessica Andrews from Part III.[46] Alicia Hannah-Kim also joined the cast as Kim Da-eun while Young was upgraded to a series regular.[47]
In season six, Kanan returned as Barnes,[48] Griffith returned as Silver, William Christopher Ford reprised his role as Dennis de Guzman from Part III, [49] and Darryl Vidal reprised his role from The Karate Kid.C.S. Lee was cast to portray Master Kim Sun-Yung, a character first referenced by Terry Silver in that film.[50]Lewis Tan, Patrick Luwis, and Rayna Vallandingham joined the cast in supporting roles.[51]
Filming
Principal photography for the first season began in August 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. Filming took place at various locations throughout that month at places including Union City, Georgia, Marietta, Georgia, and the Briarcliff Campus of Emory University.[52] In November, shooting moved to locales such as the North Atlanta Soccer Association Tophat fields in East Cobb.[53] In December, the production was working out of Marietta and Conyers.[54] Various exterior shots were also filmed in parts of Los Angeles, California, such as Tarzana and Encino.[55] Exterior locations included Golf N' Stuff in Norwalk and the South Seas Apartments in Reseda, both of which were originally featured in The Karate Kid.[56]
Principal photography for the second season began in September 2018 in Atlanta. In October, production continued around Atlanta with shooting also occurring in Marietta.[57] In November, the series was filming in Union City.[58] In December, shooting transpired at the closed Rio Bravo Cantina restaurant in Atlanta.[59]
Principal photography for the fourth season began in February 2021 and ended in April in Atlanta.[60]
Filming for the fifth season began in September 2021 and finished in December. Like previous seasons, parts were filmed in Atlanta, Marietta, Georgia, and Los Angeles. The Mexico scenes were filmed in Puerto Rico on a two-day filming block, just like the two-day filming block of Okinawa, Japan, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for the third season.[61]
Release
Marketing
The series was promoted at the annual Television Critics Association's winter press tour held in January 2018, when YouTube's global head of original content Susanne Daniels described the show: "It is a half an hour format but I would call it a dramedy. I think it leans into the tone of the movie in that there are dramatic moments throughout. I think it's very faithful really in some ways to what the movie set about doing, the lessons imparted in the movie if you will. It's next generation Karate Kid."[62]
Several trailers for the show were released from February[63][64][65] to March, before the premiere date was revealed to be May 2.[66]
YouTube Premium released a six-minute commercial parodying ESPN's 30 for 30 in April 2019, featuring the main cast members and select ESPN personalities analyzing the 1984 match between Daniel and Johnny.[67][68] It was nominated for a Clio Award.[69]
YouTube partnered with Fathom Events for special screenings of the first two episodes of the series at around 700 movie theaters across the United States. The event also included a screening of the original film.[71][72]
All six seasons of Cobra Kai have received positive critical reviews. At the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the entire series received a 94% approval rating.[73] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the series holds an average rating of 71 out of 100.[74]
The first season had a positive response from critics. At Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 100% approval rating, with an average score of 7.5 out of 10 based on 49 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads: "Cobra Kai continues the Karate Kid franchise with a blend of pleasantly corny nostalgia and teen angst, elevated by a cast of well-written characters."[75]Cobra Kai was 2018's best-reviewed TV drama on Rotten Tomatoes.[76] Metacritic assigned the season a score of 72 out of 100 based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[77]
The second season had a positive response from critics. At the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 90% approval rating with an average score of 7.4 out of 10, based on 31 reviews. Its critical consensus reads: "While Cobra Kai's subversive kick no longer carries the same gleeful impact of its inaugural season, its second round is still among the best around – no amount of mid-life crisis and teenage ennui's ever gonna keep it down."[78] Metacritic's weighted average assigned the second season a score of 66 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[79]
The third season of the series had a positive response from critics. At the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 90% approval rating, with an average score of 8 out of 10 based on 51 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads: "By pairing its emotional punches with stronger humor, Cobra Kai's third season finds itself in fine fighting form."[80] On Metacritic with its weighted average, assigned a score of 72 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[81]
The fourth season had a positive response from critics. It received a 95% Rotten Tomatoes approval rating, with an average score of 7.9 out of 10 based on 37 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads: "Cobra Kai still delights in a fourth season that mines great fun from shifting alliances, chiefly the uneasy truce between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso."[82][83] Metacritic's weighted average assigned the fourth season a score of 70 out of 100, based on eight critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[84]
The fifth season had a positive response from critics. It received a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 98%, with an average rating of 8 out of 10 based on 44 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "Deftly managing an expanded roster of punchy personalities, Cobra Kai graduates to a black belt proficiency in heartfelt melodrama and sly humor."[85] On Metacritic, it received a weighted score of 78 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[86]
The full sixth season had an overall positive response from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 91% of 43 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.0/10.The website's consensus reads: "Having achieved mastery over its formula, Cobra Kai's sixth and final season doesn't hit as hard but still maintains excellent form."[87]
Viewership
YouTube
The first episode, which was posted on YouTube for free along with episode two, had been viewed 5.4 million times within the first 24 hours.[88] While it was noted that the response had been, in part, a result of YouTube releasing the episode for free, it was noted by Cinema Blend's Britt Lawrence that YouTube Red's new series debuted to numbers that made rival streaming services take notice.[89] By October 30, 2018, ahead of the second-season premiere, YouTube was promoting the report that the first episode had then been viewed over 50 million times.[90] The first episode was No. 8 on YouTube's list of ten top-trending videos of 2018.[91]
According to market research company Parrot Analytics, the first season of Cobra Kai was the world's most in-demand streaming television show during May 2018.[92] Parrot Analytics later reported that the second season of Cobra Kai was the world's most in-demand digital television show during April[93] and through May 2019.[94]As of September2020[update], the season 1 premiere has over 90million views,[95] and the season 2 premiere has over 86million views.[96]
Netflix
After the series moved to Netflix in August 2020, season 1 and season 2 of Cobra Kai became the most-watched series on the platform.[97] It was the most-watched show on streaming media in the United States between August 29 and September 6, according to Nielsen ratings. During the week, the show's 20 episodes drew nearly 2.2 billion streaming minutes in the United States.[98] The first season was watched on Netflix by 50 million member households in its first four weeks,[99] making Cobra Kai the most-streamed show on Netflix during the month of September 2020.[100][101]
During the show's time on YouTube Red, Cobra Kai was not released on DVD,[124] but once the show made its move to Netflix, Sony Pictures released the first and second seasons in a "Collector's Edition" DVD set on November 24, 2020 in the United States.[125] In 2022, Sony Pictures released the third season in January[126][127] and the fourth in September, both in the United States.[128] Sony Pictures released the fifth season in September 2023 in the United States.[129]
Madison Gate Records released an extended play entitled Cobra Kai: Wax Off – EP on July 23, 2021, featuring extended versions of four previously released tracks from the first two seasons soundtracks.[134]
Track listing
All music is composed by Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson
In 2022, Ralph Macchio published the memoir Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me (Dutton), in which he reflects upon the making of and legacy of the Karate Kid films and Cobra Kai.[137]
↑ "Letter to Shareholders"(PDF). Netflix Third Quarter 2020 Earnings Interview. Netflix. October 20, 2020. Archived(PDF) from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
↑ Credited as Sony Pictures Television Studios for seasons 3–5. Current Netflix prints for seasons 1–2 use the 2020 Sony Pictures Television Studios logo.
↑ Despite being credited as a recurring guest star, List was frequently listed alongside other starring cast members in promotional material for the third season.[4]
↑ Credited as a "Special Guest Star" for the episode "Ex-Degenerate".
↑ Huang also portrayed an unnamed Cobra Kai student in the fourth season
↑ Ortiz also portrayed an unnamed Cobra Kai student in the third season
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
