Cobra Kai (Season 4)

Creators: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg
Starring: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Peyton List, Vanessa Rubio, Thomas Ian Griffith, Martin Kove, Dallas Dupree Young, Griffin Santopietro
Original Airdate: 2021  

★★★ ½ (out of ★★★★)

If forced to choose, this fourth season of Netflix's wildly successful Karate Kid continuation, Cobra Kai, would at a glance probably be ranked lowest by some. But putting that in proper perspective means it's only a little less consistently brilliant and airtight than the three that preceded it. While there are some minor chinks in its armor this time, things get straightened out before an exciting and unexpected conclusion that sets the stage for what's next maybe better than any of its previous finales. Creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have this down to a science at this point, enough even to earn the show an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. But that questionable categorization risks obscuring how much else it does well, with the humor only bolstering the nostalgic drama and narrative twists and turns. 

For most of the season's first half, the writers really seem to lean into that comedy a little more, with some even saying these ten episodes feel a little more "Netflix" than usual. How much of a criticism that is depends on the execution, which is a line this series has always managed to walk better than any. Even if more time is spent covering ground that's been traversed before and a sense of familiarity seeps in, none of its strongest aspects have been compromised. A slight dip was inevitable four seasons in, especially when it already pulled off the impossible in pleasing hardcore fans whose entire Miyagi-Verse centers around '84 Daniel and Johnny and attracting younger viewers with new characters who have grown just as crucial to the show's foundation.

Never hesitant in drawing from the three original films for its mythology, we've already seen the returns of John Kreese, Chozen, Kumiko and even Ali. And last season's finale reminded us just how far they're willing to go, dusting off a memorable villain from the least regarded of the original films, creating suspense as to how he'll fit into the current landscape. Terry Silver's re-entry into the Cobra Kai world is not only big deal for franchise devotees, but a chance for the writers to deepen and further explore the man whose mind games wrecked havoc on Daniel over thirty years ago. 

The mystery of where Silver's been, why he'd come back and his intentions play as a slow burn that's milked for as long as possible and all its worth. It also gives the actor playing him the opportunity to add more layers to what was admittedly a pretty over-the-top, one dimensional character. For about 75 percent of the season, we're not sure what his deal is, until the pieces start fitting together toward the end. That could be said for a lot of this season, which tries to juggle a lot of storylines and sub-plots, with some hitting just a little harder than others.

With Johnny (William Zabka) having lost estranged son, Robby (Tanner Buchanan) to the clutches of former sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) and Cobra Kai, he's found unexpected help in Daniel (Ralph Macchio), who proposed they join forces to eliminate Kreese and his dojo for good. And with that challenge, the battle lines are drawn for the All Valley Karate Championship, as the losing side agrees to leave the Valley for good. But while Kreese attempts to lore his Vietnam comrade and Cobra Kai co-founder Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) back into the fold, the tenuous union of Daniel's Miyagi-Do and Johnny's Eagle Fang doesn't come without a struggle, as the two rival senseis with dueling philosophies and personalities struggle to co-exist. 

With an angry Robby ingratiating himself into Cobra to get back at his dad, he finds an ally in the equally vengeful Tory (Peyton List), whose feud with Samantha (Mary Mouser), has only escalated after her school expulsion. The Valley's defending champion Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) is also in a tough spot, trying to accept his mom Carmen's (Vanessa Rubio) new relationship with Johnny while being mentored in karate and life by Daniel. 

Advice is something Daniel's distracted actual son, middle-schooler Anthony (Griffin Santopietro), has little interest in, having joined his friends in bullying Kenny (Dallas Dupree Young), a quiet new kid at school who soon needs to call on a familiar connection to help him fight back. Of course, all these roads lead to the tournament, where the futures of Cobra Kai, Myagi-Do and Eagle Fang will be decided and alliances are tested.

This might be the first season where the least compelling aspect is the tension between Johnny and Daniel. Not that there's anything particularly wrong with it, just that we've reached a point where their dynamic is pretty well-established and better sub-plots have emerged. While a begrudging respect exists despite their history, it's mutually understood they'll never vacation together, and when it comes to karate, their egos will always get in the way. That's especially true when it comes to their wildly different teaching approaches, which they'll learn may not be so far apart after all. 

Daniel must slowly face the realization over the course of these ten episodes that he's had tunnel vision and that maybe self-defense all the time isn't the best way to earn points in tournaments and life. Whether it's still out of spite for Johnny or loyalty to Miyagi, he's taken it so far in the other direction that even his own daughter starts questioning whether there's only one right way of doing things. Of course, Johnny's equally stubborn when it comes to reaching a middle ground, which is really what the season's about for everyone: finding balance. 

Even as their arguing seems to take on more of a comedic banter this time, seeing Macchio and Zabka go at each other as these characters never gets old because they're so good at it. Johnny's inability to use social media, not knowing what an Uber is, or his complete lack of self-awareness or political correctness consistently land as the series' best jokes, with Zabka ensuring that Johnny we remember is preserved enough in his 80's time capsule that he won't change or grow, at least too much.   

Kreese and Terry Silver's relationship is the more compelling, with the former planting seeds in the Silver's mind that maybe he's gone soft with age. Seemingly a far cry from the coked-up, evil sensei who terrorized Daniel in Part III, this is a mellower, wisened Silver, comfortable living in the lap of luxury, hosting opulent tofu parties with his girlfriend and basking in the wealth of many successful investments. Kreese's offer is an unwelcome one for Silver, mainly because he expects which card his old friend will play to entice him back to Cobra Kai. Even worse, Silver knows he's right and still feels he owes Kreese a lifetime debt for what happened in Vietnam. 

What Thomas Ian Griffith does so well is create this entirely different character that still has those shadings and weaknesses of the madman he was before, keeping us on edge as to whether he'll remain as laid back and serene as he actually appears. Silver's put karate behind him, but when guilt and pride draw him back, Kreese is almost immediately threatened by his presence. They're friends and rivals, but there's this underlying tension primed to explode at any moment, making their interactions in and out of the dojo substantially different than that of Daniel and Johnny. There's also the question of where Silver's philosophies stand now and how those views will influence or even change Cobra Kai. And maybe even more importantly, what this will mean for Kreese, as Kove's performance skillfully supplies the subtlest hints of where it's all going.      

It turns out the the writers had an ace up their sleeves in Daniel's son Anthony as their decision to hold off on involving him until now pays off handsomely. There's been so much focus on Samantha, viewers would be forgiven for even remembering he even exists, but Griffin Santopietro steps up in a big way as Anthony, along with new addition Dallas Dupree Young, whose bullied Kenny probably comes the closest in a while to evoking Daniel's predicament in the original film. 

Pressured by his friends, you can literally feel the guilt emanating from Anthony, who feels as if he has no choice but to torture this kid or suffer those same consequences himself. And you can see where a terrified Kenny would think he has no place to turn but Cobra Kai, reflecting the larger conundrum of this season. That the lines separating bullies from the bullied can often be thin, especially as Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang flirt with adapting Cobra Kai's "Strike First" philosophy to exact their own revenge, much to Daniel's displeasure.

If we know anything about Cobra Kai it's that they don't hold back, especially now with both Kreese and Silver at the helm. And of them all, resident badass Tory Nichols has emerged as the ultimate bully, even as she more often feels like the series' anti-hero. 

One of the toughest things the writers had to sell us on was rooting for the somewhat irritating, goody two shoes Samantha in her feud with Tory. That this vicious bully is the far cooler, more complex character is a testament to how well Peyton List plays her, and now that they've doubled down on Tory's commitment to overcoming a troubled family life, it's enabled the actress to add even more nuance to the performance.

Injecting Amanda LaRusso (the criminally underrated Courtney Henggeler) into the middle of the Sam-Tory feud only further bolsters this storyline, as she fiercely protects her daughter while having surprising sympathy for Tory's situation. Sam is given a much needed rebellious streak as we relate to the frustration that accompanies watching her mom help the girl who brutally attacked her, while understanding Amanda's personal yet still unselfish reasons for doing so. All of this only adds fuel to the fire that will be the inevitable tournament showdown between Sam and Tory, which takes center stage in a way it hasn't before, but now fully deserves to.

This is the first time it seems as if Miguel and Robby aren't the show's key focus since the bench has grown so deep with other, equally intriguing supporting characters. Both are utilized exactly how they should going into this new batch of episodes, as Miguel's entrenched in Eagle Fang, but sliding over into Daniel's Miyagi-Do teachings, predictably setting off Johnny. For him though, it's more of a concern that his former nemesis could potentially take over his role as father figure to Miguel, leading to a heartbreaking scene that calls back to Miyagi's drunken breakdown in The Karate Kid. But it's Johnny's own guilt at failing as a father to his real son, Robby, that's painfully exposed, while also conjuring up memories of his own fatherless upbringing, which Cobra Kai and Kreese provided a sanctuary from. 

We know Robby can't forgive his dad so he's channeled all that negative energy into Cobra Kai, convincing himself he's in control and won't suffer the same trauma and disappointment Johnny did over thirty years ago. But with Kreese and Silver running the show, he's only deluding himself, chasing a chance at self-acceptance and respectability by mentoring Kenny, who may be more like him than he thought. Ironically enough, Robbie's only stabilizing force turns out to be Tory, the only Cobra as angry and personally troubled as he is. But it's ex-Cobra Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz (Jacob Bertrand) who's learning the hard way that trust and forgiveness isn't so easily earned back without some work. 

After seeing the light and turning on Cobra Kai at the end of last season, Hawk discovers Miyagi-Do isn't so quick to welcome him with open arms, especially after a checkered history that includes breaking the arm of former best friend Demetri (Gianni DeCenzo). Ostracized by his new teammates, another huge event completely shatters Hawk's confidence, resulting in one of the season's most affecting storylines. 

Having to come to terms with his past actions and where he finds himself now, Betrand's performance continues to impress as one of the more overlooked successes in an immensely stacked and talented cast. With Hawk stuck between where his supposed persona ends and the real person begins, the scenes between him and Demetri recall their first season glory days, but with the roles sort of reversed. Whether Hawk can get himself together before the tourney, and during it, makes for a satisfying arc, reemphasizing what the show's always done best.     

The creative decision to donate more time to the All Valley Tournament than usual is understandable given the stakes, even as it's accompanied by pluses and minuses, like a comedy segment involving the goofy tournament organizers. While the writers probably felt the changes made to the tourney required an expository scene, that just tonally hit the wrong note, compounded later by a needless and distracting celebrity cameo that does more of the same. But if the addition of a "skills competition" doesn't add much other than fear as to how the season will end, they get over the hump quickly with a near-perfect closer that accentuates the real benefits of giving more minutes to the finale: character development and the actual matches. 

One of the two championship finals is arguably the series' best showdown in terms of action, recalling the drama of Daniel vs. Johnny while bringing an MMA feel and even a Bloodsport shout-out to the proceedings.Yet somehow even that still takes a backseat to all the turns, returns, shifts in allegiances, and shocking developments that occur. Basically the opposite of what you think will happen does, but not just for the sake of it. 

Placing the characters in a far different position than before they entered this tournament, its fallout promises a lot to still be dealt with. And if the finale's any indication, everything seems on track for Cobra Kai to go at least a couple of seasons more, assuming that's the plan. But you have to think the writers are already eyeing that finish line, just as Netflix is likely considering the possible potential for the franchise beyond that. As for now, it's best to just sit back and enjoy that there are no signs of a steep decline for a series that keeps coming up with new ways to surprise us.