Fans were so excited when Netflix released the third season of Cobra Kai a week early, many binged the entire 10 episodes in one sitting. It was the perfect way to spend a quiet New Year's Day in and find out the status of characters like Miguel, Johnny, Robby, Daniel, who were all in a state of major crisis by the end of season two.
The season delivered, once again with episodes that all ranked above an 8.0 on IMDb, and three that even ranked above a 9.0. Many viewers considered season three to be the best thus far, considering it saw not only the return of several more characters from the original Karate Kid movies but also developments in the rivalry between Daniel and Johnny. Might they actually become friends?
Every episode hooked viewers in, getting them anxious to find out what would happen in the next. But which episodes ranked highest?
Now You're Gonna Pay (Episode 3) – 8.1
The least climactic of the episodes, Johnny desperately tries to sell his belongings and even visits his stepfather in hopes of securing money to pay for Miguel's surgery.
Meanwhile, Daniel decides he should go to Okinawa after receiving an insulting takeover offer from a rival car dealership. Tom Cole approached Daniel, trying to take advantage of LaRusso Auto's floundering sales. It was an episode to set the stage for the events, and the big trip, to come. And it still impressively received an over 8.0 rating.
Aftermath (Episode 1) – 8.3
As usual, the first episodes often rank the lowest of the season since the tension and story need to build before things get really good. Such was the case with season three, where the inaugural episode ranked second to last.
There wasn't much excitement but for the reveal that Miguel wasn't dead (not surprising since trailers and teasers before the season debuted confirmed that). Johnny was back to his old drunken, bar fighting ways. But it was the perfect set up for yet another redemption for the character.
Nature Vs. Nurture (Episode 2) – 8.5
This was the odd couple buddy cop team episode, where Amanda sarcastically asked if Daniel and Johnny were trying to be Turner & Hooch. After discovering that Robby stole a van from LaRusso Auto that had a tracker, Daniel and Johnny team up to try and find the runaway teen. They ended up on a hilarious high-speed pursuit.
Meanwhile, fans learned more about Tory's complicated home life and why she might be carrying so much aggression. Kreese, not surprisingly, feels a connection to the young woman, knowing he can manipulate and potentially weaponize her and pays a visit to her home to convince her to come back to Cobra Kai.
Obstaculos (Episode 7) – 8.5
There's not much happening in this episode but Daniel trying to reconnect with his clearly troubled and traumatized daughter Sam, and making the decision, with Amanda's support, to re-open Miyagi-do.
Johnny is also gravitating toward karate again, finally having the motivation to start up his own dojo now that Miguel is doing much better, finally back on his feet and going back to school. Too bad the dojo's name – Eagle Fang - doesn't make much sense. Fans loved that Demetri's stock also began to rise as he shared a sweet moment with the former mean girl Yasmine.
King Cobra (Episode 6) – 8.7
All this episode needed was '80s montage music as Johnny set out on a day trip with Miguel wearing his '80s-friendly black jean jacket to pose for fun photos of him doing supposedly typical things. The purpose? To create a social media profile that might impress Ali. It was a sweet and funny episode.
But the big draw in this episode was the flashback scenes that finally revealed John Kreese's backstory and his past in Vietnam that shaped who he had become. In the present day, meanwhile, Kreese went to the high school to recruit athletes, including the bully Kyler, to join Cobra Kai, realizing that the team could benefit from their athletic abilities.
The Right Path (Episode 4) – 8.8
The return of Kumiko, Chozen, and Daniel's return to Okinawa likely catapulted this episode to the top five, despite it being early on in the season. There's an emotional scene as Kumiko reads a letter to Daniel written by Mr. Miyagi just before he died where he sings Daniel's praises.
Meanwhile, Kreese is up to his usual ways and visits Robby in prison, trying to recruit the young man to john Cobra Kai once he gets out. It's also an episode where the tension between dojos runs high and a gym class soccer game turns unusually hands-on.
The Good, The Bad, And The Badass (Episode 8) – 8.8
Just when things seem to be coming together again nicely, a wrench is thrown into the plans: the All Valley Karate Tournament has been canceled by the council. Daniel, Johnny, and Kreese all show up at a hearing to try and convince them otherwise.
While Kreese lathers on the fake charm, it's a surprise speech by Miguel and Sam that convinces the council to let the tournament go ahead as planned. And it's revealed that Robby, now released from prison, has decided to join Cobra Kai.
Feel The Night (Episode 9) – 9.0
Fans had been waiting for the moment when Ali would arrive on the series, and her appearance was the only new Karate Kid character that was kept under wraps. She and Johnny have a sweet and awkward lunch together while she's in town visiting her mother, then an impromptu date at a fair that was the date they should have had when they were teenagers.
There's a lot of discussion of the past, thus making this a great episode for nostalgia, especially when they head to a party that Daniel was also attending. Another pivotal moment in the episode is Miguel and Daniel bonding, and Miguel finally learning the other side of the story about what happened with Daniel and Johnny in high school.
Miyagi-Do (Episode 5) – 9.3
Fans were awaiting the return of Chozen, Daniel's mortal enemy from the second Karate Kid movie, to see what would happen. In the end, Chozen, a changed man, helped Daniel find that balance he was seeking. Plus, Daniel found a way to save his business, albeit at the last minute and by another surprise return character.
With plenty of throwbacks to the second Karate Kid movie along with a change of scenery as Daniel visits Okinawa, it's no surprise this episode was a favorite. Plus, it's also the episode with the first big fight scene between dojos as well as the one where Johnny takes a wheelchair-bound Miguel to a Dee Snider concert.
December 19 (Episode 10) – 9.6
Not surprisingly, the season finale ranks highest of all episodes. It's when the rivalry finally comes to a head between Tory and Sam, and they have an intense fight at Sam's house after the Cobra Kai kids crash a party meant to bring the Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang kids together.
A massive fight breaks out among all of the kids, tearing apart the LaRusso home. The biggest moment, however, is the switch that goes off in Hawk as he comes to his senses and decides to shift allegiances, and Daniel and Johnny finally team up to fight against a common enemy: Kreese.