Ever since Cobra Kai premiered on YouTube Red in 2018, its creators have pushed the idea that those seen as villains often have their own stories to tell, that there’s rarely such a thing as pure evil. That premise made Johnny Lawrence an unlikely hero for the past few years and though Cobra Kai’s formula could be starting to wane, round 4 still delivers the same new year’s entertainment on Netflix.
After season three paid homage to Karate Kid 2, showrunners Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg decided it was time to do the same for Karate Kid 3, however, that decision alone is possibly what hinders an otherwise faithful continuation of Cobra Kai’s story that's still worth watching. It’s because of that that the new villain for this season is none other than Terry Silver, played by Thomas Ian Griffith, who somehow manages to steal the show at times if one gets past what throws him into the mix in the first place.
See, contrary to season three’s cliffhanger, Silver’s first instinct is actually to ignore his Vietnam brother John Kreese because from the very intro we learn the very successful Silver lives a comfy and seemingly fulfilling life that sees him swap Cobra Kai’s usually hard-rocking beats for Paganini’s La Campanella. That doesn’t last too long, and once Silver ties up his hair, he becomes a new kind of antagonist that makes Kreese come out as an innocent and misunderstood veteran.
This sudden change perhaps also helps illustrate season four’s biggest flaw and that's its pacing. Johnny and Daniel’s back and forth as well as their struggles to join forces go on for far too long, especially considering this was something the two had tried before, and although it's still funny and the balance between each karate style is a crucial part of the lessons this season leaves for both senseis and their students, that payoff isn’t properly aligned with all that setup.
Action is as great as usual, with the prom episode and the All Valley tournament providing some great fight choreography with plenty of shades of humor and drama; and the same goes for Cobra Kai’s spectacular music, now adorned by sense Silver’s classical themes. In all fairness, most of the things that have made Cobra Kai such a hit up to this point are there, but it’s precisely that repetition that could make it feel stale for some.
Nevertheless, the fact that most of Cobra Kai’s most over-the-top situations are focused on Terry Silver really allows for the rest of the cast to grow quite a lot and, in most cases, everyone gets either an upgrade, transformation, or some decent amount of character growth. Take Daniel Laursso’s daughter Sam, who throughout the whole show has been played up as the “good girl” and now suddenly becomes a bit of a bully after a tumultuous school year because everyone has a tiny villain inside them.
Opposite to Sam is Tory, whose family background had been hinted at but now comes through to make her an incredibly relatable character, one that’s more than just pure anger now and instead makes those around her be better people. The same goes for her Cobra Kai teammate Robby, whose leadership in the dojo turns him into a real grown-up to contrast with some of the childish behavior displayed by the adults, possibly showing the biggest leap among the cast.
After four seasons, the Cobra Kai kids are no longer kids, Miguel’s already thinking about college and Hawk realizes he can no longer hide behind an edgy haircut, almost everyone is realizing their full potential. Maybe that’s the reason Cobra Kai introduces a couple of fresh new faces, or at least one newcomer and an old favorite.
As it turns out, Sam’s snarky little brother Anthony Larusso and the new kid in school, Kenny, star in Cobra Kai’s new rivalry, one that starts off and develops like most in the show, although still serving as a major wake up call for Daniel and Amanda as parents. Actor Griffin Santopietro definitely makes the best out of his puberty growth spurt, while Kenny helps his own mentor do some major soul-searching throughout the season as well.
Cobra Kai does a great job developing all of its individual story arcs, the relationships between Johnny and Carmen, plus his role in Miguel’s life in this new chapter; and the same could really be said on the Larusso front. Regardless of that, the story comes to a sudden halt when it’s finally time for the All Valley tournament, and one can't help but think there are a few details missing in between that, for example, make it difficult to figure out where Miguel and Sam’s relationship stands during the event.
The martial arts tournament gets a nice upgrade too, now almost qualifying as a two-episode finale that ends up crowning two very fitting champions for the way the entire season progresses, even though it’s hard to figure out where the show will head next. As always, there are a couple of shocking moments left right up until the very end, and despite rumors that Hilary Swank might show up for a future cameo, there’s not a single sign that The Next Karate Kid will be the theme for season five.
This show continues living by its dojo’s motto, Cobra Kai never dies, although if the formula isn’t switched up at least a bit, thanks to its new characters, or the new paths being explored by its young protagonists, season five will not get away with the same defensive openings shown in round 4.
Cobra Kai
Set decades after the events of the Karate Kid franchise, Cobra Kai shifts gears and puts viewers into the perspective of a former rival/antagonist, Johnny Lawrence. In his 50s and down on his luck, a chance encounter with a bullied young man leads Johnny back to Karate. Agreeing to help him, Johnny takes the opportunity to revive his former home, the Cobra Kai dojo - becoming a refuge for outcast teens.