At its heart, Cobra Kai has always been about
cycles. Cycles of abuse, revenge, justice, and injustice. The
reason it continues to have so much success is because it has fine-tuned its
understanding, not only of the Karate Kid world it has created, but in
how the viewer doesn't necessarily need endless nostalgic montages in order to
appreciate their youth and their memories associated with the original
product. Cobra Kai is an urban neo-fantasy story in which martial
arts are taught overnight, criminal consequences rarely occur, and where dojos
are not just schools, but rather Hogwarts houses that define the very essence
of their members and season four further evolves it into a modern fable.
The latest season is perhaps the most uneven, and yet, it is undeniably the
most mature and heartwarming. The plot focuses on yet another All Valley
Tournament, this time, in which Cobra Kai is facing not only Daniel LaRusso's
defense first Miyagi-Do, but also Johnny Lawrence's aggressive Eagle
Fangs. Longtime villain Kreese calls upon his old ally, Terry Silver to
help him defeat the heroic duo. The central theme of season four is
progress. The stories have always revolved around the cyclical
nature of Karate Kid's plotlines, where villains become allies and even
moreso, friends. This has continued to transpire over the course of the
previous three seasons, but this time, the students are becoming the
teachers. Where the adult characters rail against change and accepting
different ideas, the students of all three dojos rebel against the fundamental
cores of each ethos, a sly reflection of current American generational
woes. While the older generations refuse to leave the cycle of violent
opposition, the youths are simply rewriting the rules.
While there are new and old cast members, Thomas Ian Griffin is the standout. His chemistry with Kove is sensational, fully realized during a tense philosophical confrontation that is the centerpiece of the entire season. The reason that Griffin is so enticing is in how Silver's arc is yet another denial of programming, taking the Cobra Kai formula and inverting it towards darkness and Griffin's organic way of arriving there would not be possible without his dedication. While some of the older characters are sidelined (it's simply impossible to focus on this many characters at once), Jacob Bertrand's Hawk is the most developed. Hawk's arc from bullied to bully to bullied to would be hero is simply amazing to watch evolve over the course of the stories and it his friendship with Gianni DeCenzo's Demitri that is the entire formation of Cobra Kai's legacy. What Johnny and Daniel took over three decades to figure out, they master before leaving high school, showing the older generations yet again, that change is always possible and holding onto grudges simply kills you faster.
The final ingredient, which is another extension of previous seasons’ themes, is the unique direction of how bullying is addressed. Griffin Santopietro returns as Anthony LaRusso, and his transformation via the neglect of his parents into a bully is terrifying. His cadre's target, Kenny, portrayed in an emotional turn by Dallas Dupree Young, is the catalyst for the entire series. Young's ability to turn from a frightened and defenseless victim into a near homicidal avenger is something to behold and it will most likely serve as the tipping point going forward as characters continue to evolve and switch sides in the ever-growing pantheon of karate gods who walk the streets of the valley.
Now streaming on Netflix, Cobra Kai continues to be the best revived show on television. Avoiding tempting nostalgia choked plotlines and forgettable fan services pitfalls, it has evolved into a universe worthy of praise and adoration, not only for the performances of its talented crew, but in how it has demonstrated that fantasy and fable are very much alive in the modern world and can be woven together to create something masterful that will move even the most apathetic viewer. In a time of division and sickness, Cobra Kai is the perfect remedy.
--Kyle Jonathan