Cobra Kai Season 4 Summary and Season 5 Theories

Cobra Kai Season 4 premiered on Netflix on Friday, and this year’s story arc and results make us very optimistic for a strong Season 5. Showrunners Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz managed to get everyone cleanly out of the messy soap opera that took place at the All Valley Karate Championship, which leaves some clear rivalries between good and bad that will continue over the next 10 episodes funny and furious martial arts action.

It may have taken an extra season to get there, but fans could rightly see the first four years as a fully resolved arc that includes Johnny’s and Daniel’s cautious friendship that intrudes into their son and daughter’s own conflict and matures. Season 4 – notwithstanding a great cliffhanger – ended on notes that felt like the conclusion to a good popcorn movie trilogy, though it leaves plenty of room for another big sequel.

Not even there a week Cobra Kai Season 4 premiered, fans are already guessing where the next 10 episodes might go. This is how we see the order of battle for Cobra Kai Season 5, which has been given the green light by Netflix, even if we don’t know when it will premiere or other details.

[Ed. note: Spoilers for the entirety of the Cobra Kai franchise to date will follow.]

The faces of nine teenagers peer out of the traditional Japanese door of a karate dojo — Ruh-roh rensei, the cobras are coming …

Who are the bad guys next year?

Thanks to a brilliant performance by Thomas Ian Griffith, Terry Silver is officially the big villain of the future. But you wonder who exactly is going to ride with him, be it voluntarily or manipulated. Season 4 ended with practically all of the enemies of Miyagi-do Karate, either in personable places or in reconciliation with their families and friends.

John Kreese (Martin Kove) is in the slammer, framed by his former buddy Silver for the wild (but oh so satisfying) brawl of Stingray. (Paul Walter Hauser; again, really?) At the tournament we also saw Kreese reckon with his past and the corruption that his martial arts philosophy has brought to young minds. It’s not quite a twist, but Kreese will more likely need reluctant help from Johnny (William Zabka) and Daniel (Ralph Macchio) than fight them.

Tory Nichols (Peyton List) quickly finished episode 10 realizing that she may have won a solid battle for her All Valley Championship against Samantha (Mary Mouser). While this offers plenty of opportunities for classic character conflicts, that conflict rests with Silver, who made the fix. Tory will be a reluctant soldier against Miyagi-do at best.

Kenny Payne (Dallas Young) seems drunk on his own strength and prowess without realizing it, much like Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña) after his All-Valley triumph in season 1. He becomes an important figure as Cobra K ai

The writers are working to establish a new high school class of rivals, but he’s too new and a little small to be one of Terry Silver’s leading stormtroopers. Kyler (Joe Seo) is firm on Cobra Kai’s first line of D-Bags, but he’s a staunch Meathead believer, not an evil conspirator.

Then there is Daniel-san’s Daniel son, Anthony LaRusso (Griffin Santopietro), whom Kenny beat up in the All-Valley locker room. Although Anthony turned out to be a bully who horrified his parents, Kenny’s hostility seemed to deter him from turning to Cobra Kai or being tempted by Silver. However, that particular phrase seems to have been used, if not abused, against Robbie Keene (Tanner Buchanan). Regardless, there should be action between Kenny and Anthony in Season 5, but right now that doesn’t seem to have any legs beyond a heavy subplot.

A teenage boy in a white bow tie tuxedo is getting ready for prom with his mother and grandmother on the left and in the middle — Is Miguel’s (Xolo Maridueña) stay really to find his estranged father, or is something else going on behind the scenes?

What’s the matter with Miguel?

Miguel’s departure from Southern California – on a bus to find his (seemingly dangerous) father in Mexico – was so abrupt that one has to wonder if Maridueña’s continued participation in the show is in any way in doubt. It sure seems like a safeguard to explain a character’s absence when your actor and producers can’t agree (think: Bo and Luke Duke are supposed to be doing “NASCAR racing” while Coy and Vance have taken over in The dukes of Hazzardfifth season).

Anyway, Miguel seems to have completely checked out. (Again props to the writers to undermine audience expectations with the countdown scene to get back to the mat.) Though Cobra Kai went to Okinawa for season 3 to send another lead character on a solo tour is still a lot to deal with for an ensemble drama. But when Miguel / Maridueña really go one Work and not a shoot, there should be adventure galore as Miguel defends himself on the streets.

a karate student in white is getting ready, his sensei is wearing a black gi and has his back turned to the viewer — As Robbie Keene, Tanner Buchanan directed some of the best action and drama scenes from season four of Cobra Kai.

Will Sam and Robbie meet?

Too bad about poor Tory; Her romance with Robbie was really hot, and the two of them literally performed some dance moves at the after party. But with the fast-paced finale that dissolves Robbie’s reconciliation with his father (“I’m sick of blaming you, Dad!. If Miguel isn’t in the picture, it creates a natural tension with Samantha LaRusso, and it becomes Tory sure to drive crazy. Due to the pre-fabricated conflict we would put the chances at almost the same that Sam takes action against Robbie or vice versa.

Elsewhere, as delightful as it was to see Hawk – now just Eli (Jacob Bertrand) – win a championship, it looks like his Samson-like mohawk is no longer needed. He and Moon are an item again, and somehow Yasmine (Annalisa Cochrane) Demetri (Gianni Decenzo) still seems serious. Kenny and Anthony will likely fight over newcomer Lia, but this triangle is still a little young to be the romantic anchor for next year. All of this means our teenage soap opera could be a lot more subdued with the smooches next year.

Is Hilary Swank the next guest star?

Cobra Kai was generous with cameos from the theatrical releases of The Karate Kid, and its appeal as a pop culture and social media phenomenon should be much stronger after a stellar season 4. We already know that Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto) had an unexpectedly lovable run in season 3, will return in season 5 to help Daniel deal with silver. But are there any other characters from The Karate Kid’s movie universe who haven’t performed yet?

“Every movie that features Miyagi-san is part of our ’80s canon,” Heald told Polygon. That means that Hilary Swank – star of the lesser-known The next karate kid – is, at least in theory, on the table. Swank portrayed Julie Pierce in the 1994 film, which also starred Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi.

“Julie Pierce is a character who exists in this world in this universe,” added Heald. “You have to wait and see. And we’ll have to wait and see when and if Julie penetrates our Cobra Kai story. But we’re big fans of Hillary Swank. “

The 2010 film, however, is not canonical The karate kid, with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith. This is a fresh start overall, so Chan’s Mr. Han and Smith’s Dre Parker exist outside of this San Fernando Valley. A year ago, Jon Hurwitz noted (to slash film) that Jackie Chan was mentioned by name in season 1. “I think Jackie Chan is an actor and a performer in our world,” he said. “If the characters on our show are called a movie. have seen The karate kid, you saw that. “

Fans long ago tried to connect the dots, considering that Will Smith’s production company Overbrook Entertainment was credits for seasons 1-3 before it was turned over to distributor Sony Pictures Television Studios last year. Maybe that was behind Jackie Chan’s hat tip in Season 1, but that’s all.

All four seasons of Cobra Kai are available on Netflix.