Seasons 1 and 2 of Cobra Kai did a lot to help establish a solid foundation with new and longtime Karate Kid fans alike. It approached everything the right way, first by paying proper homage to the characters that started it all, while introducing an entirely new cast of characters that didn't elbow their elders out of the picture. Mr. Miyagi would have undoubtedly approved of this balance.
Season 3 was a game-changer for many reasons. It came hot on the heels of a shocking cliffhanger that left audiences on the edge of their seats and permanently changed the dynamic between characters. Here are the biggest curve-balls that season 3 threw at Cobra Kai audiences, and how they will change the show moving forward.
A New Network
The move from YouTube Red to Netflix could have been the proverbial crane kick for Cobra Kai, but thankfully, the show has remained intact with little to no discernible difference between seasons 2 and 3. This is a good thing, especially considering how such a shift might have threatened the narrative of the show and all of its quirks.
Still, it's a big move and one that demands attention. It means that Cobra Kai migrated from a platform still in its relative infancy to one with over 70 million U.S. subscribers and a ton of original content to its name. That means a wider audience base who can catch up on what has happened so far. The numbers don't lie, either. Cobra Kai became the #1 show on Netflix after the company acquired the rights in August of 2020.
Aisha Is AWOL
Aisha wasn't just one of the best fighters in the show, but also one of the most interesting and beloved characters, which is why her absence in season 3 is such a sting. Apparently, the writers could not find a spot in the script for her character, and that might be accurate given Samantha's traumatized mental state following the school fight in season 2.
With nobody to latch onto, Samantha hides away and nearly succumbs to her fears. Aisha would have been a stable support, which makes her absence all the more important. Still, it's weird not to see her kicking butt alongside her peers. Perhaps she will make a return in season 4 to finally bury the hatchet with Samantha once and for all.
Robby Took A Backseat
Perhaps the strangest development in season 3 was Robby Keene taking a backseat into second-tier character status. He was AWOL for the first few episodes before Daniel eventually caught up with him and had him taken into custody for his own good. From there, he popped up only a handful of times to dish out some in-jail punishment before joining up with Cobra Kai.
Much of the focus of season 3 was thrust on the students and their rivalry, which meant that Robby needed to fade into the background. Still, it's a bit jarring to see such a key character sidelined at such a pivotal moment in his life. Thankfully, season 4 will provide some opportunity for him to emerge as a central figure.
Kreese's Flashbacks
John Kreese has forever been a rather pathetic bully in the Karate Kid story. His singular and close-minded approach to karate led both him and his students down an unbelievably destructive path. His actions are partly what contributed to Johnny Lawrence progressing into rotten adulthood.
A series of flashbacks gave some interesting exposition as to what Kreese was all about, and who he was before he became a Vietnam vet. Turns out Kreese was a rather meek and mild good guy until a series of tragic events turned him into a cold, unfeeling brute. This will have ramifications for his character now that audiences see him in a different light.
Miguel's Rehabilitation
Miguel was always the audience's window into the Cobra Kai universe and a way for younger audiences to experience the overall Karate Kid story in a way that their parents only understood. When he took a fall in season 2 and ended up in the hospital, it shook everyone to their core. There was a very good chance Miguel would either not walk again, or never regain his full mobility.
His rehabilitation changes the dynamic of the entire show for multiple reasons. First, his injury introduced audiences to a very serious plot twist, while his recovery helped show a way back. This has already reverberated through the character roster, most notably with Hawk abandoning Cobra Kai and joining Miyagi-Do in the final episode.
Geeks Rule
Cobra Kai began the same way that a lot of high school teenage stories go - jocks rule and geeks are left to the loser's table. Since the explosion of Cobra Kai karate in the valley, however, the tables have turned. Season 3 introduced audiences to a very different high school where jocks were second-class compared to the geeks.
Of course, all the geeks know bone-crushing karate moves, as demonstrated at the end of season 2 when the high school became a virtual battleground that left Miguel in the hospital. It's an interesting switch-up from the classic teen drama formula.
More Character Exposition
The first two seasons of Cobra Kai focused largely on establishing and catching up with existing characters while introducing new characters to the show who would flesh out later episodes. Season 3 was the first to really take the time to try and give exposition on many characters, either directly or indirectly.
The most obvious example was John Kreese, but other characters, like Tory, were also revealed to the audience in order to create context. In her case, Tory went from big-trouble bad girl to regular girl with a troubled home life. This flips the audience's perceptions of the character, just in time for season 4.
Daniel Embraced Offense
Mr. Miyagi taught Daniel that karate should only be used for self-defense. In fact, it was the number one rule of Miyagi's ancestors, and rule number two was to learn rule number one. Enough said. However, that doesn't mean that defensive techniques alone are required to win a fight.
Chozen's reappearance on the show demonstrated that Miyagi had purposely left Daniel in the dark regarding some of the more offensive strikes and techniques. This makes sense given both Miyagi and Sato's stopping power, even against multiple opponents. Daniel has been relying on defense for too long, and this new revelation changes the game considerably.
Ali's Big Return
Truth be told, Ali needed to return to Cobra Kai. Her presence was vital in moving the story forward in a way that would not have been possible if Daniel and Johnny were left to their own devices. Ali represents Johnny's past and all the regrets that came with it when he wasted his later years.
Her return might have been interpreted as a window for Johnny to reignite a relationship with the love of his life, and the series did hint at that during one key scene, but it didn't end up there. Instead, Ali helped Johnny realize that he needed to let go of the 80s and all the baggage that came with that decade. She encouraged him to go full steam ahead with Miguel's mom Carmen, which was probably for the best.
Johnny & Daniel Teamed Up
Yes, this was the big reveal that fans had been anticipating and predicting since the very first Cobra Kai episode. It's official - Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence have joined forces to teach at Miyagi-Do. Doubtlessly this won't happen without conflict and mutually shared irritation between the two, but it's a step in the right direction.
This is perhaps the biggest change to the show thus far, as it draws clear lines in the sand between Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai leading up to the new All-Valley Karate Tournament. What happens in between episodes will be explosive, but it's coming back full circle to that final scene in the original Karate Kid movie.