Netflix has released a new teaser trailer for Cobra Kai season 3, which reveals that the (karate) fighting isn't over for rivals Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence. The trailer hints at what stories fans can expect, showing a bloodied John Kreese, a heartbroken Samantha LaRusso, Miguel Diaz in a hospital bed, and even one character in jail.
Cobra Kai ended with an epic showdown between the two feuding dojos, Cobra Kai, which Johnny revived in season 1, and the newly-established Miyagi-do Karate, overseen by Daniel. Daniel began his dojo with the intent on challenging Johnny's teaching, believing Cobra Kai to be a force of evil. Ironically, it was Daniel's involvement that changed the dynamic, introducing a fiercely antagonist attitude between the students — many who were, at one time, all friends.
The Cobra Kai season 3 teaser trailer indicates that more drama is ahead for the next installment, now airing on Netflix. Daniel's daughter and student Samantha was Miguel's love interest over the last two season, and the season 2 finale saw her current boyfriend — and fellow Miyagi-do pupil — Robby put her ex-beau in a coma. Samantha is in a difficult position going into season 3, as the trailer indicates. Daniel seems to be having personal troubles as well. Johnny looks to be back on the downwards spiral he was on when audiences first encountered him back in the series premiere. The following are the biggest reveals from the October 2, 2020 teaser trailer.
Daniel LaRusso & Johnny Lawrence Are Still At Odds
Daniel confronts Johnny outside of his apartment, telling him "what did you think would happen." Daniel is in the background while Johnny, whose looking much more beaten-up than the last time audiences saw him in the season 2 finale, is in the foreground looking pensive. Johnny also has an unshaven face — indicating both the passage of time and the decline of his mental state. This Johnny is much more like the sad, hollow man from the series premiere.
It's unclear what Daniel is referring to. The trailer intercuts the new content with the climactic fight between Miguel and Robby, leading up to the former's tragic fall. The juxtaposition suggests Daniel is referring to Johnny restarting Cobra Kai — perhaps even blaming Jonny for the violent rivalry between the two groups of students. It's also possible that Daniel is referring to John Kreese taking over the Cobra Kai dojo — Johnny's injuries could even be the result of him facing off against his former sensei and losing.
Johnny Lawrence Is In Jail
An unshaven, yet less beat-up, Johnny is briefly shown behind bars. It would appear that the former-sensei is not coping with his losses well. The Cobra Kai season 2 finale saw him loose his girlfriend and his dojo, all while knowing that his estranged son put his best student in a coma. Judging from the clothes Johnny is wearing in the shot, he's likely just in the drunk tank rather than actual prison, since he's not wearing a jumpsuit — unlike his son in the next shot.
Robby Is In A Juvenile Detention Center
The Cobra Kai season 3 trailer hints at what happened to Robby after he fled the high school in the season 2 finale. A sad-looking Robby is shown in what appears to be a prison jumpsuit next to a guard. The letters on a fellow inmate's jumpsuit in the background read "SJDC" — likely an acronym for the juvenile detention center where Robby is serving his sentence.
Daniel LaRusso Is Heartbroken
Daniel LaRusso is shown crying over something in the Cobra Kai season 3 trailer. He's alone in the shot, which doesn't bode well considering the conversation he had with his wife, Amanda, in the season 2 finale. Season 2 saw Daniel's marriage hit a rough patch as a result of his obsession with Cobra Kai clouding his judgement. Daniel wasn't supporting his wife with running their business, and their relationship suffered because of it. It's possible Daniel is crying because Amanda leaves him in season 3. Another theory is that Daniel is crying over a death, possibly his mother. There have been rumors that as many as three characters will die in this season — perhaps this is the reason for the sensei's tears.
Tory Is Still The Villain
The trailer suggests that in season 3 of Cobra Kai, Tory is still a villain. Somehow, Tory Nichols — the troubled teen who became Sam's rival in season 2 — is still a free woman, despite being guilty of aggravated assault. Robby may have inflicted grievous bodily harm when he kicked Miguel over a railing, but that was an accident — Tory attacked Samantha with a weapon, striking at her with the intent to maim. The trailer shows her walking into what appears to be a bar or club. This could possibly even be some sort of underground fighting ring. What she's doing at such an inappropriate place for a minor like herself is a mystery.
Hawk Has A New Tattoo
Hawk is shown in the season 3 trailer with bloody knuckles and a fresh tattoo. The framing of the shot suggests that Hawk was just beating someone beneath him — explaining the blood on his hands. The ceiling tiles, as well as his white pants, suggest the scene occurs at the Cobra Kai dojo. Hawk doesn't look angry as much as he looks worked up; was he following Kreese's orders to attack an individual, such as a fellow student? The new tattoo on his chest is covering up his "moon" tattoo, and looks like it might be something sinister, like a grim reaper.
John Kreese Has A Bloody Nose
John Kreese is shown in the Cobra Kai dojo, wearing his black Cobra Kai gi. His nose and mouth are bloody, suggesting he just got into a fight; however, given the way he's looking down, it would seem this is not a fight he lost. While some might jump to the conclusion that this and the Hawk scene are related, this is unlikely. The shot of Hawk appears to be during daylight, while the cooler and darker tone of the Kreese shot suggests its from a separate scene that takes place at night. It's possible that Johnny gets into another fight with Kreese and loses — explaining why Johnny is seen earlier with the stitched-up face.
Miguel Wakes Up
What happens to Miguel in Cobra Kai season 3 is easily the biggest question on fans' minds ahead of next season's January release. The scene at the end of the teaser trailer confirms what many already suspected: Miguel does wake up from is coma. This doesn't mean that Miguel will be able to make a full recovery, however, and his injuries almost certainly will require some intense physiotherapy. The sequence hints that Johnny is in the room when Miguel wakes up, but given the trailer's quick editing, it's also possible that the shot was just Johnny visiting Miguel while he was still in his coma.
Some have theorized that Johnny and Daniel's ex-girlfriend from Karate Kid, Ali Mills, played by Elisabeth Shue, would feature into season 3 as Miguel's doctor. In season 1, Daniel told Johnny that she is now a pediatric surgeon, and season 2 ended with the shot her Facebook friend request appearing on the screen of Johnny's cell phone — just after he (literally) threw it away. Ali doesn't appear in the teaser trailer, but there have been persistent rumors of the character's return in Cobra Kai season 3.