One of the best and most discussed theories about Cobra Kai season 5 not also brings an old villain back into the story, but also makes the rivalry between Tory and Sam far more interesting. Ever since Cobra Kai season 2, Tory and Sam have been at the center of a rivalry that involves karate disputes, love disputes, and even family matters. While the fight at school seemed like it would be the culmination of Tory and Sam's feud, the confrontation between Cobra Kai's best student and Daniel LaRusso's daughter continued throughout the show.
After spending much of Cobra Kai season 3 fearing Tory, Sam regained her confidence in season 4. However, that also meant Sam "striking first" on a few occasions, such as when she tried to embarrass Tory during work. The rivalry reached a new height at the end of the All Valley Karate Tournament, in which Tory beat Sam to become the first champion of the female category.
Now, one theory has that Tory and Sam's feud can become even more complex thanks to Mike Barnes. If the Karate Kid Part III villain joins Cobra Kai season 5, it is not at all far-fetched to imagine that he could be revealed as Tory's father. In addition to finally explaining more about Tory's background and connecting her to an important character in the franchise, having Mike Barnes as Tory's father would put her and Sam's rivalry in a whole new perspective: 30 years later, a Barnes would still be haunting a LaRusso.
Why Mike Barnes Appearing In Cobra Kai Is Likely
Between theories and speculation, the most anticipated appearance in Cobra Kai season 5 is that of Mike Barnes. Played by Sean Kanan, Barnes was one of the villains in Karate Kid 3 alongside Kreese and Terry Silver. The "Bad Boy Karate", as he was known, was recruited by Silver to compete in the All Valley Karate Tournament and help make Daniel LaRusso's life hell in the process. Barnes almost broke Daniel's spirit during the final fight of the tournament and came close to becoming champion. Now, more than 30 years after his and Senseis Silver and Kreese's defeat in the tournament, Barnes can reappear as yet another ghost from Daniel's past.
Cobra Kai is fond of revisiting characters from the Karate Kid films, especially the villains. At the end of season 1, Kreese was brought back from the dead and went on to become season 2's main antagonist. In season 3, Karate Kid 2's villain Chozen joined Cobra Kai – now as a friend. Finally, after being mentioned and teased many times, Karate Kid 3's eccentric villain Terry Silver returned in Cobra Kai as season 4's main villain. However, after four seasons, there are not many other characters from the Karate Kid movies left for Cobra Kai to bring in. In fact, in terms of villains in the Daniel LaRusso trilogy, Mike Barnes is the only one yet to show up. This is why a Barnes appearance in Cobra Kai season 5 is very likely.
How Mike Barnes Can Appear In Cobra Kai Season 5
More than the need for another villain from the movies to appear in Cobra Kai, Mike Barnes being part of season 5 would make a lot of sense story-wise. At the end of Cobra Kai season 4, Terry Silver mentioned to Kreese that he knows a friend or two who can help run the Cobra Kai dojo franchise. Considering how Barnes and Silver worked together in Karate Kid 3, it is likely that Bad Boy Karate is one of those friends Silver mentioned. As such, Mike Barnes could appear in Cobra Kai season 5 as one of the new managers of the expanded Cobra Kai. However, one theory has it that Barnes' role in season 5 could be much more personal.
Cobra Kai Season 5 Theory: Mike Barnes Is Tory's Father
The identity of Tory's parents has been one of Cobra Kai's biggest mysteries since the character's introduction. It has already been established that she has to take care of a sick mother and a little brother all by herself, but so far, neither the face nor the name of Tory's mysterious mother have been revealed. Also, nothing has yet been mentioned about who Tory's father is or where he has been all this time.
The answer to all these questions may be related to Mike Barnes. It is possible that Barnes is Tory's father and that he was the reason she entered the martial arts world. It could be argued that there is a similarity in terms of how they look, and the aggressive combat style Tory has displayed since she first appeared in Cobra Kai may have been a consequence of Mike Barnes' training. For some reason, Barnes would have abandoned his family, which would make his return in Cobra Kai season 5 much more dramatic.
How Mike Barnes In Cobra Kai Season 5 Can Make Tory & Sam's Feud Better
Daniel's history with Johnny is complex, Chozen nearly killed Daniel, and Silver tricked LaRusso for quite some time. However, none of those villains came as close to breaking Daniel's spirit as Mike Barnes. If Barnes returns in Cobra Kai, that rivalry between the two great fighters could be reignited. More importantly, if Mike really is Tory's father, that would mean a second feud between a Barnes and a LaRusso had been going on this whole time.
While the hate between Tory and Sam has nothing to do with who their parents are, having Tory as Barnes' daughter would create an interesting parallel with Karate Kid 3. In fact, Daniel even referenced his fight against Barnes to show Sam how she could get over the fear of Tory. With Mike returning and reconnecting with his daughter, there would now be a double confrontation between the Barnes and the LaRussos.
The rivalry between Tory and Sam has been explored a lot, but having Tory as Barnes' daughter would make it much more interesting. It is already difficult for the two fighters to find common ground, and with their parents also being rivals, that would be even more complicated. Whatever surprises Cobra Kai season 5 has in store, the possible arrival of Mike Barnes has a lot of potential to elevate the show.