When the last season of Cobra Kai arrived on Netflix, it was not only the conclusion of a popular show—it was the emotional conclusion of a journey that had started more than 40 years prior with a crane kick and a bullied kid from Reseda. Viewers who’ve seen Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso grow from teen nemeses to grudging friends were treated to a finale filled with nostalgia, emotional payoffs, and plot twists guaranteed to generate conversation for decades to come.
The heart of Cobra Kai has been Johnny Lawrence’s path towards redemption. A symbol of ’80s high school villainy, Johnny’s journey over six seasons has been nothing short of spectacular. We’ve seen him rise from a down-and-out handyman to a caring mentor and father figure—not just to Miguel Diaz, but eventually to his estranged son Robby Keene as well. The final season emphasizes this growth: his heartfelt proposal to Carmen, his moments of vulnerability, and even a scene at his mother’s grave, revealing her full name—Laura Lawrence Weinberg. This quiet allusion to Johnny’s possible Jewish roots, as Unpacked Media points out, provides unexpected depth to a character who’s previously been defined by his tough exterior and inner anguish.
Johnny isn’t the only one receiving a do-over, however. In perhaps the season’s most surprising emotional payoff, John Kreese—the Karate Kid franchise’s longtime villainous mastermind—provides Johnny with something viewers never thought they’d see: an honest apology. Actor Martin Kove, who has portrayed Kreese since day one, declared it the “end of a 40-year relationship on screen.” It’s not a complete forgiveness—Kreese’s history remains badly flawed—but the move provides their narrative with a long overdue measure of closure.
Not all characters are afforded their deserved goodbye, however. Tory Nichols, the hot-headed fighter character introduced in season two, suffered some of the show’s strongest blows. Her mother’s death should have been that special emotional moment, but in the final episodes, she was put on the sidelines. She won the climactic tournament and a contract to be an internet karate sensation—but as Screen Rant pointed out, she only showed up in two quick scenes in the season finale. For a character who kindled some of the show’s most heated rivalries and battles, it was a more subdued conclusion than most anticipated.
What has always kept Cobra Kai more than a mere martial arts drama is its examination of generational trauma, loyalty, and the ever-present push-and-pull between past and present. It’s a show that transcends age, bringing together people who grew up with The Karate Kid and young viewers finding these tales for the first time. The reinforcement, rebirth, and redemption themes throughout the shows are interspersed, and the series even nicely nods to its cultural undertones, including references to Jewish tradition both within the characters and in the background.
One of the most buzzed-about moments in the last season arrived in the guise of a digital comeback: Mr. Miyagi, digitally recreated through CGI and AI for a fleeting cameo. Controversial as it was, the creative team asserted it wasn’t done to come across as exploitative so much as a tribute filtered through the mind of Daniel. Ralph Macchio put it this way: “I wanted Daniel to be side-by-side with Mr. Miyagi… it’s all in Daniel’s mind.”. So I believe it’s all in the message, if not flawless.” Whether viewers were touched or split over the scene, it was a bittersweet goodbye between sensei and student.
And while Cobra Kai might be over, the franchise itself is hardly through. On its way to theaters soon is Karate Kid: Legends, with Macchio again playing Daniel and Jackie Chan again playing Mr. Han from the 2010 reboot—officially blending two generations of Karate Kid history. Set to open in May, the movie will attempt to bring together the classic saga and the newer mythology, and give longtime fans more of the characters they’ve grown up watching.
Ultimately, Cobra Kai fulfilled its promise: a love letter to the past that wasn’t afraid to forge something new. The battle may be done—at least for now—but the Miyagi-Do spirit continues in every underdog who is willing to stand up, fight back, and become more than they were.