Warning: SPOILERS for Cobra Kai Season 4.
The introduction of Kenny Payne (Dallas Dupree Young) in Cobra Kai season 4 reboots The Karate Kid's original story in compelling new ways. Cobra Kai season 4 builds to the 51st Annual All Valley Under 18 Karate Tournament and it centers on the ongoing rivalry between the students and senseis of the Cobra Kai, Miyagi-Do, and Eagle Fang karate dojos. Although Cobra Kai has a massive cast, Netflix's hit series continues to have an eye on the future. Kenny is a major new young character who is poised to carry Cobra Kai's story forward by both honoring and adding a new spin on Daniel LaRusso's (Ralph Macchio) journey in The Karate Kid.
The core themes of The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai are bullying and underdogs. In 1984, Daniel was bullied by Cobra Kai immediately after his move to the San Fernando Valley, where karate is as dominant as football is in West Texas. Although Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and many fans of The Karate Kid see things differently, LaRusso was the victim of Cobra Kai's gang mentality until he was rescued by Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita). Daniel ultimately beat Johnny at 1984's All Valley, which crystalized The Karate Kid's underdog formula that would repeat throughout all of the movie sequels and in Cobra Kai. In fact, Cobra Kai season 1's introduction of Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña), who became Johnny's protege, was also a reboot of Daniel becoming Mr. Miyagi's student and best friend in The Karate Kid.
Kenny debuts in Cobra Kai season 4, episode 2, "First Learn Stand," and he ideally fits Daniel LaRusso's underdog mold. Kenny is a middle schooler with an absentee father and whose older brother is serving time in juvie. The new kid at school, Kenny is immediately and cruelly targeted by the school's bully, which surprisingly includes Anthony LaRusso (Griffin Santopietro), Daniel's own son. Kenny is ganged up on, abused, and even catfished online, which drives the deseperate boy to join Cobra Kai. Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan) even becomes Kenny's version of Mr. Miyagi. As Kenny grows stronger and more confident, he fights back and turns the tables on his tormentors. In Cobra Kai season 4's finale, "The Rise," Kenny humiliates and physically destroys Anthony, threatening more of the same when they both enter West Valley High in the fall.
Cobra Kai is ingenious at revamping The Karate Kid formula, and Kenny's season 4 journey is both triumphant and disturbing. On one hand, after the way Kenny is bullied, which includes Anthony and his gang somehow filling Payne's locker with gallons of milk that doused the poor kid, Kenny is justified in exacting his revenge. And yet, Kenny is heading down a dark path that even alarmed Robby, who is himself no stranger to carrying hate in his heart and wanting his own retribution. Whereas Daniel remained heroic in The Karate Kid movies, Kenny's story is filled with shades of grey because, after all, he joined the "bad" dojo of Cobra Kai, which honed his aggression.
Still, Kenny gained strength and confidence as part of Cobra Kai in season 4. In just a few weeks of training, Payne even fought his way to the semi-finals of the All Valley tournament, and he found no shame in losing to Robby. One of Cobra Kai's other strengths is creating well-rounded characters that audiences can relate to and root for, even when they do some awful things. Kenny is no exception and he walks the razor-thin line as an underdog who wins in the end by embracing the dark side. Meanwhile, the way Kenny is bullied shows how well Cobra Kai understands the perils of growing up as a Gen Z kid who can be victimized both physically and online.
The fact that Kenny enters the Cobra Kai universe by feuding with one of the LaRusso children while remaining sympathetic is also significant. Becoming Anthony's enemy, target, and, ultimately, LaRusso's bully positions Kenny as a major character going forward, just as Tory (Peyton List) only grew more important as she feuded with Samantha LaRusso (Mary Mouser). Kenny is a huge success in Cobra Kai season 4 as the latest iteration of The Karate Kid's underdog formula rebooted to suit Cobra Kai's shades of grey.
Cobra Kai season 4 is streaming on Netflix.