Breaking Down Cobra Kai, Season 1-With Spoilers!
It is no secret that I really enjoyed the first season of Cobra Kai. I was thrilled to see that they not only brought the original characters back but also made a flat-out fantastic show! You can listen to a spoiler-free discussion I had with Sensei Jeremy Lesniak and Master Brendan Goodall over at whistlekick Martial Arts Radio to hear more.
Since we have until 2019 before we get to see where Cobra Kai will take its characters, I want to take the time to put down my thoughts on the first season as I watched the episodes. This will be a bit more of a stream-of-consciousness approach. While this will just be my thoughts as I watched the episodes, make sure you let me know what your thoughts are down in the comments section. I would love to have a conversation with you about the show and its characters. I will be posting the links to the previous reviews as new episode reviews are posted.
Previous Episode Reviews
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!!!!!
If you have not seen the episode being reviewed here, please do so and then come back to this review to get involved in the discussion.
Training In Secret
-So Miguel has fully bought in with big-hair 80’s music blasting while he does shadow boxing and pushups.
-Yeah, what he’s doing in his room doesn’t sound so good from the other side of the door. I do enjoy the unvarnished humor in this show.
-I liked the introduction to Miguel’s hard-working single mom and salty grandmother!
Dojo-ing Ain’t Easy
-Johnny’s got a lot of bills piling up, but no students.
-The look on Johnny’s face when Miguel asked him if he thought about advertising was priceless. I’m not sure who is teaching who between Miguel and Johnny sometimes!
Oh, The Fatherhood
-My daughter is not a teenager yet, but I can feel Daniel’s pain here seeing her kiss her boyfriend. (Also, let’s not forget Kyler is a tool!)
-I continue to really enjoy every scene that Daniel’s wife Amanda is in. I like how she seems to cut right through Daniel.
-Apparently, Daniel has been considering what Johnny told him about his daughter and Kyler.
Bad/Good-Advice Roundtable
-Louie giving Daniel advice on how to parent a teenage girl is about as useful as a stockbroker telling me how to re-do the plumbing in my bathroom!
-Anoush must be the angel on Daniel’s other shoulder suggesting the better ideas. Short but very funny scene here.
Lunchroom Announcements
-Sadly, the delivery of the cyberbullying PSA and the corresponding lack of caring from the students is painfully accurate.
-I also cringed at the announcer’s attempt at anonymity while mentioning the only kid with a facial deformity, Eli. Good job(NOT) there Admin!
-I noticed that Eli almost seemed receptive to Miguel trying to recruit him and Demitri to Cobra Kai. Demitri’s reaction was sadly typical though, doubting that martial arts training could help you defend yourself.
-I really felt for Aisha, trying to stay connected with Sam. While she did have a good moment with pointing out what salt was to Yasmine, the “one size fits all” comment was painfully cruel.
Spreadin’ The Word
-I literally laughed out loud as Johnny tries to work out a sign spinning deal with the homeless woman.
-“No, nobody wants to see your bits.” Rule #1 of the Cobra Kai advertising handbook.
-Johnny went old school with the flyers! Kind of felt bad for how hard he was getting shut down, but he wasn’t doing himself any favors with his sales approach. “Wanna score those hot babes over there? Try Karate.” Yeah, can’t imagine why that didn’t work.
Double-Oh Daniel-san
-Daniel can’t resist the urge to check the message to Sam from Kyler on her laptop. Ugh, I hope I never read one like that.
-Amanda catching him was really funny and awkward with his “wi-fi” problem excuse.
Advertising Ain’t Easy…..
-Poor Johnny. Even his board spinning idea isn’t going so well (Shocker!). It is, however, doing a great job of reducing the homeless lady’s chances for skin cancer!
-Again, leave it to Miguel to help Johnny acquaint himself with the 21st century!
-While I know that it’s cool to say “Meet me at the high school at midnight”, but what if Miguel can’t sneak out or gets grounded? Just saying…
Dinner……and Dancing?
-You KNOW Daniel reached out to the school so he could be a chaperone. Especially after that text from Kyler! So uncool Dad….ugh……like……I can’t even!
-And cue the pointless, irritating, one line from Anthony. And his value to the show is……….?
AWWWW YEEAAAHHHH! Training Montage Time!
-Not only should Johnny have made sure Miguel could swim before he gave him the “THIS IS SPARTA” treatment, he should have also made sure that waiver was signed!
-What kind of board is Johnny holding that Miguel is kicking? Ironwood? That thing should’ve been toast if Miguel puts even a little snap into his front kick!
-Did anybody else think of Terry Silver’s training apparatus from Karate Kid 3 when Miguel was breaking those boards in that board holding frame?
Meet Me At The Dance
-Miguel showing up at the dance in the skeleton costume is just perfect!
-I told you Daniel reached out to be a chaperone! Sneaky, sneaky Daniel-san!
-And on today’s episode of “Johnny Doesn’t Understand Technology” he explains website addresses!
-The sad but common reality of high school there, seeing Sam trying to be friends with conflicting groups/cliques.
-Great use of flashbacks here with Daniel seeing Miguel in the skeleton costume.
-I continue to really like anytime Daniel and Johnny share a scene. Great emotional tension.
So, What Did You Want To Show Me?
-Every. Dad’s. Nightmare.
-I continue to hate Kyler with a passion, but that was slick having that bracelet. Funny how he didn’t “need help with the belt” when Daniel popped into the room….hmmm…
-I felt for Daniel here. No win situation with his daughter here.
The Humiliation
-I really love this show and how it does a great job of showing just how cruel teenagers can be to each other. I know this because it bothers me every time.
-Yasmine’s video of Aisha eating at the buffet table is so mean, you can’t help but feel sorry for Aisha. The humiliation here is palpable.
The Bathroom
-Bad time for Miguel and his friends to get stuck in the bathroom with Kyler and his friends.
-Not a shocker to find out that Kyler’s “grandma’s bracelet” was a cheap play that he’s used before.
-Sad that Miguel’s friends left him high and dry with Kyler and his boys.
-I understand how Miguel felt here, but that was a bad move.
-It’s actually kind of hard to watch them beat Miguel up because you know that no one is going to save him.
-Johnny’s pain/disappointment/failure is displayed so well here.
Wrap Up
-A huge shout out to William Zabka here as he is doing a fantastic job so far of being simultaneously cocky/confident and vulnerable/hurt at times. The depth of emotion is really well done in my opinion.
-The throwbacks are really great, yet organic. The skeleton costume, Ali’s picture near the end, and the flashbacks.
“QUIET!!!” Counter-0
-(C’mon guys, I need this in my life)
So are you Team Daniel or Team Johnny? Let me know what you thought of this episode. I want to hear from all of you, especially the ones who didn’t like this episode, in the comments section below.
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