The arc of Eli Moskowitz has been one of the most compelling things to witness on Cobra Kai. He began the series as a nerdy outcast who was often made fun of because of his cleft lip. However, joining the Cobra Kai dojo gave him confidence and ultimately turned him into a totally different person.
After getting a mohawk and flipping the script, he became known simply as Hawk. Over the course of the show, Hawk has shown flashes of being a good person but has also been pretty terrible at other moments as he desperately tried to avoid reverting back to the loser he was beforehand.
Hero: Accepts Moon's New Romance
This one may not seem like a big deal at first glance but it is something that painted Hawk in a good light. Near the end of season one, he struck up a relationship with Moon, who is one of the most likable characters on the show. Hawk's poor attitude and bully nature in season two led her to leave him though.
At a party Moon threw at the end of summer, Hawk saw her talking to a guy. So, he walked up to another girl to hit on her, only for Moon to come over and kiss her, revealing that it's her new girlfriend. Given Hawk's nature, he could've had an attitude but instead he was very accepting of the situation.
Villain: Chases Down Demetri
At the start of the show, Hawk was inseparable from Demetri. They were seemingly the only friend the other had until Miguel came into their lives. However, once Hawk joined Cobra Kai and changed, he took issue with Demetri's overall attitude and nature.
Demetri attempted to rejoin Cobra Kai in season two but he annoyed John Kreese to the point where he got assaulted. As revenge, he left an angry Yelp review on the dojo. Hawk chased him through the mall to beat him up for it and did the same during the West Valley High fight.
Hero: Doesn't Hold Grudge For Coyote Creek
Coyote Creek was the location of one of the most interesting Cobra Kai training exercises. The dojo was split into two teams in the woods and the winner would be the last person remaining with a headband. During this, Miguel found out that Hawk had stolen Mr. Miyagi's Medal of Honor.
Miguel bested Hawk in heated combat and got both his headband and the Medal of Honor back. The next day, Miguel expected issues but Hawk said they were enemies for a day and Cobra Kai for life, showing no hard feelings for their intense battle.
Villain: Turns On Johnny
Pretty much everything good that happened to Hawk during the series has come from what Johnny Lawrence has helped him with. It's Johnny who makes him into a tougher person and is the sensei who helps him break out of his shell.
So, it was extra heartbreaking to see what happened in the season two finale. John Kreese stole the Cobra Kai dojo from under Johnny. Hawk blamed Johnny for Miguel's injury and sided with Kreese despite everything Johnny did for him. Hawk wasn't alone in this but he was the only original Cobra Kai member to turn on his sensei.
Hero: Flips The Script
When Hawk first joined Cobra Kai, it was in the early days of Johnny being a sensei. He was extra insensitive back then, spending time giving his new students offensive nicknames. Hawk, still going by Eli at the time, got roasted for his cleft lip and was clearly hurt.
Most of the students didn't return to the dojo the next day. It seemed like Eli wouldn't either but then he walked in with a new mohawk, tattoos, and attitude. He flipped the script, as he put it. This was big for Hawk as he proved that he wouldn't back down from harsh words.
Villain: Attacks Robby At All-Valley
The All-Valley Under 18 Karate Tournament was the site for the season one finale. The whole thing came down to a final four of the defending champion, Hawk, Miguel, and Robby. Hawk got matched up against Robby in the semi-finals and they seemed somewhat evenly matched.
However, Hawk took things too far and got himself disqualified for viciously attacking Robby's shoulder after a point. He was even proud of this act when season two began until Johnny scolded him for doing something dishonorable and cowardly.
Hero: Helps Demetri During Fight At Daniel's Home
A lot of the show has seemingly been building towards Hawk portraying one of the bigger villains. Even though he had flashes of wanting to go back to his old ways, like talking Doctor Who with Demetri at a party, he resisted and had some pretty awful moments all throughout.
That all changed as season three wrapped up. During the big fight at the home of the LaRussos, Hawk made the decision to attack his fellow Cobra Kai students and help Demetri. The two embraced and officially became friends again, fighting alongside each other.
Villain: Steals The Medal Of Honor
The scene where Cobra Kai members vandalized Mr. Miyagi's old home was difficult enough to stomach. It was an upsetting act that was messed up and served no purpose other than to be mean-spirited. It was especially awful that Hawk seemed to be the ring leader.
To make matters way worse, Hawk was the one who stole Mr. Miyagi's Medal of Honor. Hawk didn't even seem upset about it and actually flaunted it at the Coyote Creek challenge. It was dishonorable, thievery, and one of the worst things Hawk ever did.
Hero: Joins New Dojo
It was one thing for Hawk to simply step up and help Demetri during the fight in the season three finale. That could've just been chalked up to someone doing the right thing for a person he considers a friend. It was a whole different case for him to stay on Demetri's side.
Although things calmed down at the LaRusso home, they amped up at Cobra Kai dojo where Johnny and Daniel fought Kreese. When that was all said and done, Johnny and Daniel teamed up to train students loyal to both of them. Hawk was among them, officially reuniting with Demetri.
Villain: Breaks Demetri's Arm
Of course, the most villainous thing that Hawk has ever done also involved Demetri. Embarrassed that he was kicked through glass by his old friend at the West Valley brawl, you could tell that Hawk was seeking revenge. His opportunity came when the dojos fought at the amusement park.
With Samantha cowering due to her fear of what Tory had previously done to her, Demetri was mostly left alone. Hawk took him down and at the urging of his Cobra Kai buddies, viciously broke the arm of his former best friend. It was one step too far for Hawk.