Warning: SPOILERS for Cobra Kai Season 5Terry Silver made the lives of Daniel, Johnny, and Chozen a living hell in Cobra Kai season 5, but there are enough hints to suggest that Silver might be facing a tough battle himself. After being Kreese’s right hand for most of Cobra Kai season 4, Terry Silver returned for Cobra Kai season 5 as the new face of the Cobra Kai dojo and the show’s main villain. With Kreese in jail and no competition, Terry Silver was at the top of his game, but a few details reveal that Silver’s fate in Cobra Kai might be darker than anyone could have imagined.
Initially created for The Karate Kid Part III, Terry Silver was an over-the-top character who summarized all the tropes of an ‘80s villain. There was not really any depth to Terry Silver, as the character’s only distinctive trait was being evil. Unlike Kreese, who in The Karate Kid was just interested in winning the All Valley with Johnny Lawrence at any cost, Terry Silver wanted to break Daniel LaRusso’s spirit before the All Valley even began. Silver pretended to be on Daniel LaRusso’s side, got close to him, and eventually got Daniel to distance himself from Mr. Miyagi.
Similar to what was done with names like Johnny Lawrence and Chozen, Cobra Kai made Terry Silver into an actual character rather than just a villain archetype. Silver is still a “Bond villain” by all means, but the character was now given a lot more nuance, and Thomas Ian Griffith much better material to work with. Part of that nuance comes from the fact Terry Silver has now a more relatable goal – to create an enduring legacy in the form of the Cobra Kai dojo. However, on top of honoring what he and Kreese created during the war, there seems to be another reason why Terry Silver wants Cobra Kai to succeed so much. Cobra Kai season 5 is suggesting that Terry Silver is dying, likely from a terminal illness. That would explain Terry Silver’s entire Cobra Kai season 5 plan, and it would put Silver’s arc in a whole new light.
Cobra Kai Season 4 Teased Terry Silver Was Sick
Cobra Kai season 4 reintroduced Terry Silver as someone who had left the fighting days behind and was now trying to live a peaceful, healthy life. However, there were some hints in Cobra Kai season 4 that Terry Silver’s health was not perfect. Silver was seen with pills in two different episodes, and it seemed like the medicine was of mandatory use as Silver’s butler asked if Terry had already taken them. Not only that, but Terry Silver’s butler also asked if he was supposed to call the doctor when Silver was not looking quite well. Last, after visiting Kreese in the Cobra Kai dojo, Terry Silver was questioned by his best friend if he would prefer to return to fighting or if he would just walk into the sunset awaiting death.
Every Hint In Cobra Kai Season 5 That Terry Silver Is Dying
Cobra Kai season 5 was not so subtle regarding Terry Silver’s health. Carmen and Johnny bumped into Terry Silver at the hospital, and while Johnny assumed it was part of some of Silver’s evil plans, there was really no karate-related reason for the Cobra Kai founder to be at the hospital. Silver did not even know Carmen was pregnant, meaning that he had a personal reason to be there. In addition, Terry Silver made a speech about how Cobra Kai’s next generation of fighters is the future of the dojo and told Johnny Lawrence to enjoy every good thing in life before it ended. Those alone are significant hints that Terry Silver might be dying.
Terry Silver also mentions to sensei Kim in Cobra Kai season 5 that youth is the only thing money cannot buy, once again suggesting that the Cobra Kai founder might be facing a health issue. Terry Silver constantly brought up things like legacy, which would make sense if Silver knows he is about to die. Furthermore, in the Cobra Kai season 5 finale, Silver told Chozen that he was not afraid to die. At the end of the fight against Chozen, Terry Silver asked to be killed – saying that he, Terry, was meant to die on a battlefield. That strongly suggests that Terry Silver has been diagnosed with some sort of terminal illness.
Terry Silver Being Sick Explains His Cobra Kai Season 5 Arc
If Terry Silver is indeed terminally ill, then his Cobra Kai season 5 arc makes much more sense. Terry Silver does not want to expand Cobra Kai globally just because of greed, power hunger, or revenge against Daniel LaRusso – he wants to leave a legacy behind before dying. The Kreese and Silver flashbacks in Cobra Kai seasons 3, 4, and 5 reveal how important the Cobra Kai dojo is to Terry Silver, and it seems like Terry values Cobra Kai more than he does his company or all of his money. Cobra Kai gave Terry Silver’s life a purpose, and if Terry is now about to die, then he will truly do whatever it takes for Cobra Kai to become the number one karate dojo in the world.
Terry Silver had a personal vengeance against Daniel LaRusso, granted, but Cobra Kai season 5’s main storyline was about Silver making sure Cobra Kai was always at the top. Silver did not hesitate at any point during Cobra Kai season 5, let alone gave any hints he could be redeemed, and was ready to die during the final fight against Chosen. All of those story choices make a lot more sense if Terry Silver knows that he is dying.
What Terry Silver Dying Means For Cobra Kai Season 6
Terry Silver being terminally ill would be a smart story choice for Cobra Kai season 6. Silver was arrested in the Cobra Kai season 5 finale, but it is safe to assume he will return somehow in Cobra Kai season 6 – which has yet to be confirmed by Netflix. The Cobra Kai season 5 finale suggests that John Kreese will reclaim his position as Cobra Kai’s main villain, which means Terry Silver’s story has to be wrapped up. As such, Cobra Kai season 6 could reveal that Terry Silver is dying. Silver would likely try one final move to get Cobra Kai into the top, perhaps even secretly teaming up with Kreese again for the Sekai Taikai if he gets out of jail.
With Terry Silver sick, there will be mainly two outcomes for the iconic Karate Kid and Cobra Kai villain – Silver would either die or give up the Cobra Kai mission to focus on his treatment. Considering how much Terry Silver shined in Cobra Kai season 5, simply ending his story with Silver being arrested would be a waste. Fortunately, there were enough hints in Cobra Kai season 5 regarding Terry Silver’s health for Cobra Kai season 6 to pick up and develop a new, unexpected story for the villain.