'Cobra Kai' Season 2 on Netflix: Mary Mouser says cast knew they were onto something special in Season 1 itself
That 'Cobra Kai' was a runaway hit didn't come as a surprise to many given the way the series garnered attention when it released in 2018.
However, the series had big shoes to fill given how stupendous its movie predecessors were.
'The Karate Kid' movies that were created back in 1984-89 were big hits at the time, as was the 2010 'Karate Kid' starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan.
So the producers of 'Cobra Kai' — Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg — had quite a challenge on their hands.
It's fair to say that 'Cobra Kai's success was definitely not one-off as it was soon renewed for a second season.
The series worked well with the audience primarily due to the perfect blend of nostalgia, a solid foundation when it came to casting, directing and writing, and making characters more relatable.
Instead of a typical good vs bad tale, 'Cobra Kai' maneuvered between the two elements. The show skillfully explained life's complexities in ten episodes.
The first season had a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and the second followed it up with a remarkable 87% approval. YouTube Premium renewed the show for a third season and it will hit the small screen in September 2020.
Talking to MEA WorldWide, Mary Mouser, who plays Samantha LaRusso in the series, says that the cast — while shooting the first season — thought they were coming up with something special. "I knew it was going to be something special," she said.
"I knew there was going to be a built-in fan base from 'The Karate Kid' movie series because there were a bunch of people who did a background and were excited. But I surely didn't expect that it would blow up beyond that. And people of my age, who had earlier never seen the Karate Kid, are now clearly falling in love with the show — which I feel is so cool and special."
The first season of 'Cobra Kai' introduced us to Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), who played the secondary antagonist in the 1984 movie 'The Karate Kid.'
It traces his journey as a washout 35 years after the movie and how he goes on to rebuild his life one day at a time with the help of a young boy named Miguel (Xolo Maridueña).
The show also sees Ralph Macchio and Martin Kove, who played Daniel LaRusso, the main protagonist and John Kreese, the baddie in the movies, reprise the same roles in the series.
Over the course of the series, the show also introduces new teenage characters and gives them separate story arcs.
'Cobra Kai' Seasons 1 and 2 are available for streaming on YouTube Premium. The third season will premiere on YouTube Premium in September 2020.
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