Cobra Kai star Tanner Buchanan has teased Robby’s turn to the dark side in season 4. Based on The Karate Kid franchise, Cobra Kai is a continuation series that takes place 34 years after the events of the original Karate Kid. It features the return of main characters like Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). The Netflix series also includes a new generation of dojo fighters, many of whom possess similar traits to their predecessors.
Robby Keene (Buchanan) is one of the new faces introduced in Cobra Kai. Though he begins the show as something of a protagonist, Robby’s complicated relationship with his father, Johnny, casts a shadow over his actions. In the most recent installment of the Netflix hit series, Robby finds himself in alignment with one of Cobra Kai’s central villains. In new comments, Buchanan makes clear that his character has a long way to go before he figures out the person he wants to be.
During an interview on the Just for Variety podcast, in which Buchanan also discussed his upcoming lead role in the Netflix rom-com He’s All That, the actor touched on what fans should expect when Cobra Kai season 4 airs in December. Buchanan said that the show’s world would continue to grow. Speaking about Robby specifically, he noted that the character would continue his turn to the dark side before deciding which path he ultimately wants to take. Read Buchanan's full comments below:
“The thing I can say about my character is, you know, he is turning to the dark side, because so many people have screwed him over in the past. And he’s kind of tired of that. However, through this season, he has a lot of growing to do. But… I feel like this season is the moment, specifically in his life, where this is where he’s gonna decide what road he’s gonna take. You know, what road is he gonna take. And it’s kind of gonna influence the rest of his life. And he does make that decision.”
Robby’s turn to "the dark side," as Buchanan calls it, was teased in the season 3 finale of Cobra Kai. In the episode, titled “December 19,” Robby comes to blows with Johnny. He blames his father for all the bad things that have occurred. As the scene escalates, with Johnny refusing to fight his son, Robby nonetheless hits his head and is left briefly unconscious. When he comes to, Robby chooses to side with the antagonistic John Kreese (Martin Kove). The moment was intended to shock the characters of Cobra Kai, not to mention viewers. But looking at Robby’s history and considering his perspective, his decision was somewhat understandable to the show's audience. The once-solid relationship between Robby and Daniel became strained after Robby spends some time in jail. Having lost his father figure, Robby’s connection with his girlfriend Samantha (Mary Mouser) also suffers a major setback in season 3 and the couple break up.
While it’s true that much of these strains are the fault of Robby, largely stemming from his lack of maturity, it’s also true that the character feels that he has never had anyone to rely on, given his dysfunctional home life. Robby is turning to Kreese for the moment, but Buchanan allows for the possibility that his protagonist might eventually make up for his mistakes in upcoming episodes. In any case, it will no doubt lead to some interesting developments for Cobra Kai season 4.
Source: Just for Variety podcast