'Cobra Kai' Season 4 Review: Netflix show returns with astonishingly stunning season
‘Cobra Kai’ has been one of the most-watched shows in recent years and it deserved all the praise that it has received over the years. The first three seasons of the show have been universally acclaimed by the critics as well as the audiences, but one thing the show has done well is that it has managed to bring back all the nostalgia of the original ‘Karate Kid’ movies. It is all about the struggle to see within yourself and find your true identity.
Season 3 was the first edition that streamed on Netflix. Before that, it was streaming exclusively on YouTube. But when YouTube scrapped its original show programming, Netflix acquired it and made the show a worldwide phenomenon. Season 3 of the show ended with Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) putting aside their differences and forming a team to throw John Kreese (Martin Kove) and Cobra Kai out of the valley. Both teams are going to be in a tournament and the team that loses will stop practicing karate in the valley.
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The latest season picks up right where we left off and Johnny and Daniel are training the kids for the tournament. However, the initial rounds of training are pretty funny actually because they both are trying to establish that their brand of karate is perfect. But things change when the kids realize how their lives are also getting affected by the entire scenario. The friendships they had are changing, the relationships are changing and that’s when they make their teachers know that they need to stop thinking about their past and focus on the tournament.
Meanwhile, Robby (Tanner Buchanan) has joined the Cobra Kai and reveals his dark side. On the other hand, Sam (Mary Mouser) has realized that she is much more comfortable in practicing under the guidance of Johnny rather than her dad.
One of the best things about the season is how carefully makers have tackled different ideologies on the show. Like, Kenny, a character played by Dallas Dupree Young, has moved to Cobra Kai because of the way he was being bullied in school. Not just Kenny’s storyline is effective, but other storylines featuring other characters have amazing and inspiring outcomes.
As far as acting is concerned, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka are the souls of the show and they drive the show once again with their superlative performances. Tanner Buchanan is phenomenal as Robby and Mary Mouser as Sam just knocks it out of the park with her performance as well.
One of the new actors that have done superb work on Season 4 is Dallas Dupree Young. His character’s journey on the show is phenomenal and people are going to love his transition. Xolo Maridueña as Miguel and Vanessa Rubio as Carmen have once again shown why they should be given more and more chances in the industry. They are amazing.
However, the show’s breakout star is quite familiar to those who loved the original ‘Karate Kid’ movies. We are talking about none other than Thomas Ian Griffith. Griffith plays Terry Silver on the show, a villain that was shown in the third movie of ‘The Karate Kid’ franchise. At first, we got to know that his role will just be a cameo, but it’s more than a cameo. His role is so brilliant that you realize that he is actually the MVP of the season. He is more menacing than Kreese and you’ll absolutely love him.
The choreography of fights is top-notch and there are genuine twists that will blow your mind. Apart from all the twists and turns, Season 4 of ‘Cobra Kai’ is an emotional roller coaster. ‘Cobra Kai’ has taken itself to a whole new level with the latest edition and it’s funnier, smarter, and way more engaging than the previous one. This one packs all the punch.
‘Cobra Kai’ Season 4 is currently streaming on Netflix.