Our daughter kept telling us we should watch
Cobra Kai. She and her hubby loved it!
Of course, she was a young kid in the 1980s and is fond of anything from the 80s such as Stranger Things. She remembers the first Karate Kid movie fondly.
I've been busy with other things so I didn't even check it out on Netflix.
This past weekend, Darling Hubby and I were taking a break so we decided to watch the first episode.
Binge Watching Ensured
Yep. We were hooked. It was like visiting relatives we hadn't seen in decades.
In case you haven't watched it yet—and you really should—Cobra Kai is a comedy-drama streaming television series that shows how Daniel LeRusso (played by Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence, his mortal enemy (played by William Zabka) are living their lives in present day.
The Karate Kid series was created by Robert Mark Kamen, and Cobra Kai drops in moments from the original movie as backstory for the characters. The series, created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg stars both Macchio and Zabka who not only reprise their roles from the movie but also serve as co-executive producers of the series.
Past World
Daniel LaRusso won the big karate tournament despite being injured.
Johnny Lawrence lost the tournament but gained respect for Daniel and presented the trophy to Daniel.
Unfortunately, his altruism was punished by his sensei who took out his anger on Johnny thus affecting Johnny's entire life (because of what Johnny told himself about the incident).
Present Day
It's 34 years later, and Daniel is a wealthy luxury auto dealer who thinks he has it all with a beautiful wife, a pretty daughter, and a growing son.
Unfortunately, Daniel has problems brewing, but he's blind to them. His daughter is hanging out with the wrong crowd. His son is addicted to video games and food. His business is under attack from a rival, and his old nemesis Johnny Lawrence brings back all the unresolved issues of his high school years.
Poor Johnny Lawrence is a loser. No friends. No job. No money. No self-esteem. He's divorced and estranged from his son. His life is crap, and he gets through it with one beer after another.
Circumstances prompt him into opening a dojo, bringing back the Cobra Kai name. Unfortunately, he hasn't learned the lessons he needs to know in order to live happily and successfully. He teaches his students the way he was taught which just doesn't work. The trouble is, he doesn't know that. Yet.
Cobra Kai is all about character growth, and that's true for both Daniel and Johnny.
How Series Came to Life
The series first launched on YouTube Red, the YouTube subscription service now called YouTube Premium. The first two seasons were released in 2018 to 2019. In June of this year, Netflix acquired the series, and it was immediately a huge hit.
The 3rd season is scheduled to be released on January 8, 2021, and it's already been renewed for a 4th season. That shows how the viewing public received it.
Takeaway Truth
I won't give up any more plot elements, but, trust me, you'll like the series.
