As Cobra Kai begins season 4, one of the unsung heroes of Netflix's hit series is Carmen Diaz (Vanessa Rubio). The mother of Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña), Carmen has been an integral part of Cobra Kai since season 1. Rubio is also upped from a recurring role to series regular in Cobra Kai season 4, reflecting her growing importance, especially as Carmen begins a romance with Miguel's sensei, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka).

Related: Cobra Kai: Why Miguel's Grandma Rosa Likes Johnny

Screen Rant interviewed Vanessa Rubio about Carmen and Johnny's relationship in Cobra Kai season 4, the evolution of the Diaz family dynamic, and whether Carmen will ever don a gi and learn karate from Johnny.

Screen Rant: Coming into season 4, we have to start with Carmen and Johnny becoming a couple. I’m worried about Carmen. I love Johnny but he’s a caveman. How can that possibly work?

Vanessa Rubio: (laughs) Yeah, that seems be the general consensus. I really love the character of Carmen because she knows who she is. She has her boundaries and she kind of waits for Johnny to come to her when he's good and ready. Her character is informed with a lot of faith and she knows her values. She's not gonna go out of her way to change herself [for Johnny]. She's like, "No, you have to change yourself to come to me."

I think it's kind of beautifully written. We're on this ride for the journey of these characters and especially the journey of Johnny. I think we're all rooting for him as viewers to shape up his act and to heal the old wounds of the past. The fact that her character is drawn in this way as a really big pull for him to better himself allows us as viewers to see his evolution. And I think we're all rooting for him.

One of the great things about Johnny’s relationship with Carmen and, really, the whole Diaz family is it brings out his gentler side. Is it hard to keep a straight face in scenes when Johnny is trying to be culturally respectful?

Vanessa Rubio: (laughs) Yes, it is! It absolutely is. I think [Johnny's] evolution is absolutely happening and Carmen is the straight man in these situations. That creates the humor there too. It arises naturally in a really light way. But it is hard to keep a straight face. Fortunately working with Billy [Zabka] is very nice. We've come to a really good way of working with each other where we're just completely in the moment. We're able to trust that the magic will happen there.

There's always a funny table scene with the Diaz family. The humor is so subtle. They're definitely a family unit and then Johnny just bulldozes in. Either he's awkward or really trying but [the Diaz family] is always very gracious towards him.

Carmen talks to Johnny in Cobra Kai

When season 4 begins, Miguel doesn’t know his mother and his sensei have decided to become romantically involved. That’s bound to be awkward no matter how they handle it, and knowing Johnny, he’ll make it weird.

Vanessa Rubio: Yes. He definitely does.

Miguel and Carmen have the strongest and most positive mother/son relationship on the show.

Vanessa Rubio: Yeah, I agree.

Is it important to you to portray that kind of relationship, especially with how dysfunctional a lot of the parent/child relationships are on the show?

Vanessa Rubio: Yeah, very much. [Carmen and Miguel] have been through a lot in season 3 together. And then in season 4, you get to see such a great evolution since season 1 between Carmen and her son. She's more trusting now and she has Johnny, who stepped in as a father figure. That enabled her to loosen up more and to trust more and to allow Miguel to do his thing. I agree with you, they do have a solid relationship.

But they do have that big elephant in the room with Miguel's father. But I think as these characters evolve and grow to resolve the big questions of their lives, I can only hope that it brings them together instead of driving them further apart. But from what we've seen so far in their relationship, we can't imagine that Carmen and Miguel would ever have a huge rift. She's a single mother and he knows that he's basically all that she has.

Miguel Diaz Family Cobra Kai 4

Some of my favorite scenes in each season are when Johnny and the Diaz family get together with the LaRussos, and Carmen and Amanda make fun of Johnny and Daniel. What’s it like working with Ralph Macchio and Courtney Henggeler in those scenes?

Vanessa Rubio: Those are my favorite scenes, especially in season 4, when the families come together. It's nice to come together as the characters and it's also nice to come together as the actors. We don't usually get those big scenes too often so when we do, we have a lot of fun. Me and Courtney, it feels like we're sisters from another past life. We get along really well and I'm really grateful for her presence in the show. Ralph leads the show with such grace, groundedness, and professionalism that you just can't go wrong.

And I love Rosa (Rose Bianco), Miguel's grandmother. Every scene Rosa has with Carmen and Miguel lands. It's so funny. She's such a good comedy character.

Vanessa Rubio: She is, she is. Sometimes I'm like, "Rosa, you get the best lines." And the best way to really not give - I can't curse here but you know what I'm talking about. (laughs)

So Carmen is one of the few characters on Cobra Kai who doesn’t know karate. Are you envious of the rest of the cast? Do you want Carmen to put on gi and Johnny to train her?

Vanessa Rubio: Absolutely! Totally! I think that would be amazing and also very good for their relationship. (laughs) AKA hot! I absolutely think he should teach her something. At least some defense, a simple move, or something like that. I don't think Courtney knows any moves but she got to slap Kreese [Martin Kove], so that's cool. But yeah, I would love for some karate scenes. I absolutely would.

Next: Cobra Kai Teases A Big Change To The All Valley Tournament

Cobra Kai Season 4 premieres December 31, 2o21, on Netflix.