Warning: Spoilers for Cobra Kai season 4 below.

In Netflix's long-anticipated Cobra Kai season 4, antagonist John Kreese (Martin Kove) continues to build his expanding student base and surprisingly allows the timid Kenny into his dojo. When Kenny Payne (Dallas Dupree Young), a meek and seemingly cowardly boy, arrives at Kreese's dojo to express his interest in signing up, it's quickly apparent that he is not Cobra Kai material. Even so, Kreese still allows him to join, and there's a reason behind the sensei's decision.

Cobra Kai season 4 introduces Kenny as a new student at All-Valley High who becomes a victim of bullying at the hands of Daniel LaRusso's son, Anthony (Griffin Santopietro). After a touching visit with his older brother Shawn (Okea Eme-Akwari) in reformatory, Kenny is encouraged to seek help from Shawn's former cellmate and friend, Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan), who also happens to be Cobra Kai's #1 fighter. Kenny stops by the dojo to find Robby, and Kreese gives him a chance to prove himself worthy of a spot in Cobra Kai. Although Kenny's initial attempt is disastrous, resulting in Kreese branding him a coward, his second attempt is much more successful. Intrigued, Kreese offers Kenny a place in the Cobra Kai lineup.

Related: Cobra Kai: Could Kreese Team Up With Daniel & Johnny In Season 5?

Kenny is portrayed as a kind-hearted, easily spooked teenager of small stature and self-esteem to match. It's hard to fathom what would compel the sensei who touts no mercy for the weak to allow Kenny to join his team of brutal fighters. The answer lies in the details surrounding Kenny's second trial. Unresolved anger and violent "strike first" impulses have always been compelling factors for Cobra Kai sensei Kreese, and Kenny exhibits both in his second attempt. Intrigued by Kenny's doggedness and encouraged by Robby Keene's support for him, Kreese has Kenny hit the mat a second time against one of his more antagonistic students, Kyler Park (Joe Seo). Seeing his last shot slipping away, and angered by the students' relentless taunting, Kenny makes his move and lands the first punch of the fight. In taking this action, Kenny unwittingly fulfills the first mandate of Cobra Kai's motto: "Strike first." Kreese recognizes the potential to be molded in the teenager.

Kenny ready to fight at the All Valley tournament in Cobra Kai

Kenny's surprise attack on Kyler reveals another compelling facet of his character: unresolved anger. Kreese's methodology is based on bullying and intimidation, uncloaking the rage and resentment of his students and commanding them to use that against their opponents. When Kenny first walks into Kreese's dojo, he explains to Robby Keene that he's there because he's being hassled by other students. This establishes that Kenny is motivated by bullying. In his swift attack against Kyler Park, it's clear that Kenny has unresolved anger. These traits render him a good fit for Cobra Kai in the eyes of the manipulative Kreese, who sees an opportunity to exploit and take advantage of young Kenny's pain.

Cobra Kai season 4 gives a taste of who Kenny may become in season 5 when, in the final episode of season 4, a crazed Kenny confronts Daniel LaRusso's son, Anthony, whose bullying led him to Cobra Kai. Kenny promises that in their next year of high school, Anthony will be in a "world of pain." For a boy being mentored by John Kreese (and whose last name, Payne, is not subtle with the symbolism), this threat should not be taken lightly. It appears Cobra Kai audiences will be seeing a lot more fight from Kenny in the upcoming season. It remains to be seen if Robby and others can save him from the dark path he's going down.

Next: Cobra Kai: Why [SPOILER] Can Finally Be Miyagi's Replacement In Season 5