Verdict
Summary
A consistently entertaining series that so far has never had a false note, aside from the outlandish fight scenes, Cobra Kai in its third season has topped itself, and with organic fan service and call backs to the previous films in the series, the show continues to build on itself in a beautiful way.
Plot:
Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence are at another crossroads in life as they each confront their past and present situations, while their join arch nemesis Kreese gains power.
Review:
After an all-out brawl between the kids at Cobra Kai and Miyagi-do at Daniel LaRusso’s home at the end of season 2 results in Miguel (Xolo Mariduena) facing possible paralysis in his legs, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) tries stepping into a mentor role with him, while failing as a father to his son Robby (Tanner Buchanan). Johnny has relinquished control of the Cobra Kai dojo to Kreese (Martin Kove), and licking his wounds, Johnny tries resurrecting the brand as “Eagle Fang Karate,” which, if you know Johnny, is perfect. Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) goes to Japan to save his car dealership business and ends up reconnecting with his past (see Karate Kid 2 for more on that), and encounters old friends … and old enemies. When he returns (victorious), he and Johnny both end up having a sweet reunion with their former flame Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue), and despite how they try to get along, Daniel and Johnny are constantly at odds and can’t let their bygones be bygones. With their backs turned for just a moment, Kreese is always scheming and rising and positioning himself to clobber them both with a new, tougher group of Cobra Kai students who strike harder, faster, and never with any mercy.
A consistently entertaining series that so far has never had a false note, aside from the outlandish fight scenes, Cobra Kai in its third season has topped itself, and with organic fan service and call backs to the previous films in the series, the show continues to build on itself in a beautiful way. I smile or laugh through every episode, and I just love what the show creators Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz have done with this material. It’s delightful, thrilling, surprising, and quite honestly the best thing on television / streaming right now. Season 3 is the best of the first three seasons, bar none.
Season 3 of Cobra Kai will be out on DVD on January 11th, and comes with deleted scenes, and a blooper reel. I’m grateful that this is being released onto hardcopy media. Just curious why there’s no Blu-ray yet, but I’m not complaining.
