Kreese’s story in Cobra Kai season 5 is a sign that he finally rid himself of his only weakness – and that’s a change that could signal disaster for season 6. At the end of the finale, Kreese engineering a daring escape attempt and is now on the loose in Cobra Kai. From the looks of things, Kreese will be a fugitive on the hunt for revenge when the character returns to the Valley.
Kreese is no stranger to being enemies with Johnny and Daniel, but their conflict in season 6 promises to be wildly different. When told about Daniel’s injury, Kreese vowed to “take care of the other one” later, seemingly in reference to Johnny. What’s surprising about this line is that it reflects a new attitude toward his former student, who was described by Terry Silver as Kreese’s “weakness.” Kreese’s repeated attempts to bring him back into the fold and reaction to seeing Silver viciously beat Johnny reinforced this idea that Kreese truly does have a soft spot toward him. But if it’s no longer there to hold Kreese back, Johnny could be faced with a dangerous adversary in Cobra Kai season 6.
How Kreese Beat His Weakness In Cobra Kai Season 5
One key moment in Cobra Kai season 5 shed light on what may have enabled Kreese to overcome his weakness. The first was Johnny and Daniel’s talk with Kreese when the two were trying to convince him to give them dirt on Silver. In addition to betraying Kreese by breaking their deal to set him up with a lawyer in exchange for information, Johnny delivered a brutal rebuke of Kreese and his influence. Johnny said that he wants to erase “every mark” Kreese left on him. In spite of Kreese’s fake tears over how much this supposedly hurt during his therapy session in the finale, it’s likely that given their bond, Johnny’s words had a genuine impact on him.
Can Kreese Be Redeemed Without His Weakness?
At the end of season 4, there was a glimmer of hope that Kreese might be headed in a better direction. His decision to support Peyton List's Tory Nichols even at the risk of possibly losing the tournament showed that he had finally learned from his previous mistakes. But now, his chances of finding redemption appear to be much slimmer than what they once were. His relationship with Johnny and interest in his future stopped him from crossing certain lines in the past, but if he feels he's been "erased" from his student's life, he may decide to do the same and take a more aggressive approach toward Johnny going forward.
As a fugitive without anything to lose and any reason to believe that he can restore his bond with Johnny, Kreese could be an even greater threat than ever in Cobra Kai season 6. If he intends to get revenge on Daniel and Johnny, both will have to be the lookout for him in the days and months ahead. Exactly how far he'll go remains to be seen, but the current trajectory of his story makes a possible redemption arc seem further and further away.