To be fair they can only juggle that much to create dramas... it's starting to be going back and forth like a telenovela.
I hope they just ended it nicely in 1 or 2 season max.
Television Cobra Kai
- Thread starter Hoof the ball
- Start date
To be fair they can only juggle that much to create dramas... it's starting to be going back and forth like a telenovela.
I hope they just ended it nicely in 1 or 2 season max.
Thought the writing was repetitive and mundane. The whole original concept was based on Johnny up against the world and his struggles. They have completely changed it now and actually you start to route for the bad guys more. Sam comes across as a whiny spoilt madam and Tori is the one you end up pulling for.
Just finished it. A few disappointing things, mostly the continuous rehashing of the same stuff, it did become very repetitive and soapy. However, my biggest issue by far is that there’s no respect given to longevity, in the sense that this season there’s 3 or 4 characters who literally train for a month or two and are then competing in the tournament against people who’ve been at it for years. I know it’s meant to be fiction, and in some respects the original Karate Kid did the same thing and it’s a trope of all underdog sports stories (e.g. mighty ducks etc.) but doing it over and over means you can’t think “well, Diaz and Robby are the best” because they can just throw a new character in for a few episodes. When there’s no consistency in those kinds of rules it’s very hard to be invested. Also, the age of the competitors grated on me this time. It’s an U18 tournament, Daniel and Jonny are the same age, Daniel won it twice and before win Jonny twice, so Jonny was 14 when he won it the first time?! This season there was a middle schooler (with about 2 months training) competing. I probably shouldn’t care, but it just feels like you have a suspend a little too much disbelief.
Having said all that, it’s still top TV, I loved it. Plug it straight into my veins.
Having said all that, it’s still top TV, I loved it. Plug it straight into my veins.
I thought it was awesome.
Sure, you can pick it apart if you really want to... But, I don't want to. It's entertaining.
Sure, you can pick it apart if you really want to... But, I don't want to. It's entertaining.
Much better than previous 2 seasons. Although, I thought LaRusso would teach his learnings from trip to Japan to his daughter at the very least for her fight.
All in all, they could have ended the show this season itself instead of going into S05
All in all, they could have ended the show this season itself instead of going into S05
Probably the best season.
Best season since the first. I do miss the focus on Johnny rather than LaRusso though.
That last scene though! Bring on season 5!!
That last scene though! Bring on season 5!!
Really enjoyable season. The fights are a few levels above compared to the original trilogy. The music was great as well.
Hopefully the writers will bring back Mike Barnes next season. Big chance as both Silver and LaRusso referred to him.
Hopefully the writers will bring back Mike Barnes next season. Big chance as both Silver and LaRusso referred to him.
I like how Johnny's changing.
Also he still has all the best lines.
Also he still has all the best lines.
Thought it was quite boring & repetitive.
Needs more Johnny.
Got 2 episodes left. Really enjoyed this season. Good stupid craic as per.
Some of the comments here about writing are weird. Surely you know what you're getting with Cobra Kai at this point?
There's been plenty of Johnny in the 8 episodes I've watched so far, so surprised by those comments too.
Some of the comments here about writing are weird. Surely you know what you're getting with Cobra Kai at this point?
There's been plenty of Johnny in the 8 episodes I've watched so far, so surprised by those comments too.
We love Johnny, he needs at least 95% of the screen time, the Johnny gets drunk and googles banging his students mom show.
Agree with this - seems obvious that that is what Silver will do!
Are they the bad guys? I'm not too sure. I think every character has his or her struggles and story, so that's why there are viewers who are pulling for Tori and people like me who are rooting for Sam.
The two kids who were picking on Kenny in the school's bathroom? They are Miyagi-Do, the supposed "good guys".
Heck, I don't think Kreese is a real bad guy of the story. He truly thinks that Cobra Kai is a way of life, like Daniel truly feels that Mr. Miyagi's karate is the right way, well, after his U-turn in the last two episodes. The story tries to make clear of that.
I also think Kreese cares for Lawrence in his own weird, manipulative way, whereas Silver is a twisted psycho who bribed a ref and got Kreese in jail.
So, none of the main characters are real bad guys, except for one: Terry Silver.
Agreed, none of them besides him are particularly bad, just super misguided and allowing certain emotions to dictate how they act.
Miguel's put on a bit of chub in this season.
Sam is annoying
Sam is annoying
Very likely, lots of pictures of him hanging around and he's been very vocal of his support of the show.
It's been a bit underwhelming so far. What's with all the children? It's an adult show.
I really enjoyed it again. It's just easy to watch, fun TV. I'm concerned that it's on the verge of becoming formulaic and repetitive; especially as S5 is already filmed and apparently S6 at least is planned. I'm not sure how they can stretch it out while keeping it fresh. Having said that, I thought S4 would be very predictable but they introduced lots of new things and the pace was quite fast (if not too fast - Kenny's character arc was too sharp IMHO). The characters' journeys continue to be compelling with Tory's my highlight this time. As I said, I thought Kenny's change was too drastic. The problem with every character basically turning heel/face (excuse the wrestling analogy lol) is that eventually it can feel too woolly and the integrity of the character establishing gets lost. Overall, though, it was very enjoyable as always. Sounds like S5 will be released earlier. Rumours are June or July this year.
It sounds like Johnny's trip to Mexico to look after Miguel in his search for his father will take place throughout much of the season. Apparently some leaked pics show Robbie with him. I quite like this. Yes, it keeps key characters away from the others but it's fresh and might be a nice change of scene. It also looks like Daniel will circumvent the Miyagi Do/Eagle Fang ban (following the bet with Kreese that they'd win the All Valley) by Chozen starting his own dojo, and presumably Daniel helping out on the sly. I expect Cobra Kai to branch out with multiple dojos and Mike Barnes to return as one of the Senseis and Stingray trying to be another but being discarded. Anthony will clearly start training and I wouldn't be totally surprised if Tory and Sam swapped sides. I guess we'll still see Kreese occasionally from prison. Speaking of prison, perhaps Shawn will get out and join Cobra Kai with Kenny but take Robbie's place in being concerned at CK's bad influence over him. Aside from all that, hopefully Devon stays in the show and becomes a bigger character and I expect either some major new characters to join or one of the younger ones like Bert or Nate to step up as main figures in the war of the dojos. At the end of the season, I can see Cobra Kai establishing even more dominance so it sets up a huge war in S6 to end the show.
Not hooked on a newest characters. Hawk returning to his glory was great to see. Robby just not caring about being the best was weird, but in the same time he's probably the closest thing to sensei we'll ever get.
LaRusso vs Lawrence thing is still a thing so new season wasn't waste of time.
Now next season is already under huge pressure, so it will be a lot easier for show to slip.
LaRusso vs Lawrence thing is still a thing so new season wasn't waste of time.
Now next season is already under huge pressure, so it will be a lot easier for show to slip.
I dont think this is going into S06. Plus, I dont think they'll have Sam switch sides. I expect Tory to go over and tell her what happened - a bit of misunderstanding at first but then the two become friends. Similarly, I think Shawn and Kenny will become the face of Cobra Kai along with the girl who recently joined them.
Although I think they'll have to reintroduce new characters on Cobra Kai's side.
Although I think they'll have to reintroduce new characters on Cobra Kai's side.
I knew Ralph Macchio was older than he looked, but the guy is fecking 60! He was older when Cobra Kai S1 was made than Pat Morita was when the original KK was made. He’s older than Thomas Griffith (Terry Silver)!
Speaking of Terry Silver it's absolutely mind boggling watching Karate Kid 3 knowing that Ralph is actually 1 year older than Thomas in that movie. He looks like a fecking kid.
100% agree on both. Sam comes across as the character I detest the most. I wonder if this was intentional from the writers
why the feck is Le Saux hanging out with KreeseVery likely, lots of pictures of him hanging around and he's been very vocal of his support of the show.
Your right on all the above. It's turned into a cluster feck.
The writing seems to have done an about turn this season.
Daniel seems to blame everyone else with his kids behaviour and kreese all of a sudden is the dad johnny never knew he had.
Feels a little "we've got a hit here lads, let's drag it on as much as possible".
Almost read your post as if Ralph was older than Pat Morita. But yeah, makes it hard to believe that he was older in the KKIII pictures.
First season was good. Seasons 2-4 are more of a guilty pleasure, but to be honest a bit cringe.
I do like that they haven't skimped on the soundtrack.
I do like that they haven't skimped on the soundtrack.
I think that was rather well established, he had both Daniel and Johnny warn him about Kreese consistently, he even made a point of telling them that he's just in it for himself, so there was always a sense of independence and then they used his mentor relationship with the bullied kid (with the broken nose and subsequent beating of La Russo Jr as the final eye opener) as a foil to show him how taking the Cobra Kai words too literal corrupts people, including himself.
Kreese suddenly turning into sort of a good guy about five minutes before the season ended felt way more forced too me. And to a lesser degree this "oh my god, so I've just had this idea that instead of believing you must focus 100% on defense or 100% on offense, it might actually be beneficial to be trained in both, my mind is blown" revelation at the end.
In general it was pretty decent entertainment, even though all the teenage drama is way too much cringe for me and usually fast forward through it, since you already know what they will say anyway.
I think it's great but how long can people in their mid 20s play under 18s?
I find it hard to tell whether you are meant to be rooting for the “good guys” or not. The whole story vs Sam story made the latter quite obviously unlikeable - I had assumed they were going for a roster shakeup with Tory joining Miyagi-Do and Sam moving to Johnny/Miguel’s side, but they set it up and then never actually did it.
Similarly, nobody seems to call Daniel out on his massive hypocrisy - I can’t decide whether the writing for that sort of thing is clever or terrible.
They also really overdid the whole “different styles” stuff - to the point where it’s just a binary switch whether you attack or defend, and nobody is capable of anything other than following that template (and is suddenly shocked if an opponent deviates from the expected).
despite the criticisms above, I enjoyed it. I thought Terry was excellent after being very unsure about him at first. Just not sure what direction they can go in from here - is it just going to ANOTHER case of someone defecting from Cobra Kai to challenge them? Seems a bit repetitive.
Similarly, nobody seems to call Daniel out on his massive hypocrisy - I can’t decide whether the writing for that sort of thing is clever or terrible.
They also really overdid the whole “different styles” stuff - to the point where it’s just a binary switch whether you attack or defend, and nobody is capable of anything other than following that template (and is suddenly shocked if an opponent deviates from the expected).
despite the criticisms above, I enjoyed it. I thought Terry was excellent after being very unsure about him at first. Just not sure what direction they can go in from here - is it just going to ANOTHER case of someone defecting from Cobra Kai to challenge them? Seems a bit repetitive.
Very decent entertainment indeed.
The whole Robby's character feels surprisingly well established from the beginning, back when he worked for LaRusso's car company, as he was already having his first observations how Lawrence and LaRusso can behave like teenagers. There's a great line in current season, can't remember which episode it was, but Robby said something like - Trust no one, they're all bunch of self agenda driven clowns. The lad truly having a great arc throughout entire show. Cobra Kai's future sensei if the show will decide to drag itself thorugh spin-offs and further seasons.
Kreese and Silver both traumatized soldiers acting chaotically obsessive and paranoid made it quite realistic, perhaps unintentionally. Not sure if they'll evil to the core, even Silver who had a calmer and organized life before Kreese started to haunt him again.
Like you said apart from teenage drama the show possess greater dimension and it's exactly what keeps it relevant and watchable for so many seasons. Hopefully they won't screw it in key areas in season 5.
I enjoyed it - demolished the 10 episodes over a couple of days.
It's a fun watch, and I like the story-lines.
Silver became such a great character in it.
It's a fun watch, and I like the story-lines.
Silver became such a great character in it.
First season was great but 4 seasons is far too much, it’s like power when something goes above one season it becomes predicatable and like power you can kind of guess what happens.
I just generally think one season, 10 episodes is enough otherwise I find my self fast forwarding or skipping episodes (reading synopsis and moving on) like I did with season 2 and 3 and most of 4.
I just generally think one season, 10 episodes is enough otherwise I find my self fast forwarding or skipping episodes (reading synopsis and moving on) like I did with season 2 and 3 and most of 4.
Weird take - not sure why you’d even bother if you’re happy to just read a paragraph synopsis / skip episodes altogether.
Because I get bored and when I skipped most of season 4, at the end I still had a feel of what was going on which sums it up for me.
I agree though, I probably shouldn’t do that but curiosity and boredom get the better of me from time to time.
"We will conquer the World!" Mate it's fecking Karate, calm down 