Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) poses with his karate apprentice, Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), in a promotional poster for the YouTube Red series “Cobra Kai.” The show is a continuation of the “Karate Kid” franchise, with Zabka and Ralph Macchio reprising their roles as lead rivals. Photo Fair Use of Ringer
“Cobra Kai” strikes hard with “Karate Kid” fans looking for a nostalgic, yet fresh take on the classic franchise.
On May 2, YouTube Red released the 10-episode first season of “Cobra Kai.” The show is set 34 years after the original “Karate Kid” and follows the adult life of rivals Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio).
In the present day, Larusso is a successful business man, using his past in karate as a clever marketing strategy, with slogans like “Larusso kicks the competition.” Meanwhile, Lawrence is a struggling alcoholic and absentee dad, who recently got fired from his job as a handyman.
After witnessing his neighbor being beaten by a group of school bullies, Lawrence reopens the Cobra Kai dojo, teaching the mantra “strike hard, strike fast, no mercy” to students who have been harassed.
The series follows both leads’ growth and family lives, while introducing new characters like Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), Lawrence’s apprentice, Sam (Mary Mouser), Larusso’s daughter, and Robby (Tanner Buchanan), Lawrence’s estranged son.
Though there are nods to the original movies throughout the series, they are not overused and the show is substantial in its own right. The dialogue is cheesy at times, but not to the point where it is cringey to watch.
The acting performances are solid, especially from Zabka, who makes Lawrence a sympathetic and complex character. The plotline is also well-developed and intriguing, and leaves relatively few plot holes.
Each episode is around half-an-hour and the first two episodes are free to stream. After that, viewers need to subscribe to YouTube Red, which costs $12.99 per month. However, a free one-month trial is available to new subscribers. Regardless, it is worth the cost of a one-month subscription.
“Cobra Kai” is a surprisingly good addition to the “Karate Kid” movies after the disappointing 2010 “Karate Kid” remake. With the original actors’ reprising roles, the continuation feels genuine and authentic without relying on nostalgia to make it decent. For those looking for a short watch or a new series to binge, “Cobra Kai” is the answer.
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