TV Recap & Review: ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 3

January 1, 2021

Spoilers ahead for Cobra Kai Season 2 and 3.

The much anticipated third season of Cobra Kai hit Netflix today, a week earlier than previously announced. Season 3 picks up soon after the shocking events in the season 2 finale. Along with some much-needed resolution and transition, this chapter brings us plenty of nostalgia on a silver platter.

Following the epic school brawl, Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) remains in a coma for two weeks. But he’s a fighter and after encouragement from his sensei Johnny (William Zabka), who literally bashed his own head open to see Miguel in ICU, he finally wakes up. They discover he’s paralyzed from the waist down, but with a successful surgery, some demented Johnny Lawrence rehab, and TV magic, our champ is back. A bit weakened perhaps, but his Cobra Kai brainwashing is fully gone. He and Sam (Mary Mouser) are back together, which sends Robby (Tanner Buchanan) to the arms of Kreese (Martin Kove) once he’s out of juvie. This isn’t all that surprising since we saw the “no mercy” trait within Robby, and he feels like his dad and Daniel (Ralph Macchio) both failed him.

Sam and Tory (Peyton List) are both dealing with the aftermath of their fight in different ways. Sam is more fearful of Tory, even suffering from panic attacks and nightmares, while a suspended Tory works to pay rent and takes care of her sick mom and younger brother. Seeing Tory’s difficult home life still doesn’t make her sympathetic because her psycho rage is so over-the-top and scary. In fact, most of the Cobra Kai students are more exaggerated this season. Eli/Hawk (Jacob Bertrand) is now a typical ’80s movie-type bully who terrorizes anyone and everyone with his posse. A pivotal moment for the teen and show is when he breaks his former best friend’s (Demetri: Gianni Decenzo) arm. This event helps Sam’s mom (Courtney Henggeler) see what’s really going on, while also cementing Miguel’s transition from his Cobra Kai friends and starting Hawk’s transformation from a bully. Too far, kid. Too far.

Due to issues with his car dealership, Daniel flies to Japan to try and save it. After a corporate meeting that didn’t go so well, he travels to Okinawa to reconnect with the late Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). Although much has changed, he has encounters with three people from his past- former love interest Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita), rival Chozen (Yuji Okumoto), and a woman he once saved as a young girl Yuna (Traci Toguchi). As with the Cobra Kai gang in season 2, this is a truly epic Karate Kid Part II reunion. If you’re a fan of the film, there is no way you won’t be left smiling. The trip helps Daniel’s business, and teaches him a few new moves to be used later with Kreese.

Speaking of Kreese, it is no surprise that season 3 is centered hardcore around him as the main baddie. What is a surprise is seeing his backstory in Vietnam. Thankfully, this doesn’t make him more likeable in the least bit. Making him soft at this point would feel like a betrayal to the character. The reoccurring flashbacks are dark and grim compared to the rest of the show, but don’t feel entirely out of place. We also witness how frighteningly good he is at gaslighting and manipulating everyone around him, to the point where he comes off as the stable adult. Yikes.

Aside from helping Miguel and starting a new dojo (the hilariously-named “Eagle Fang Karate”), Johnny makes serious progress with Miguel’s mom Carmen (Vanessa Rubio) and gets a visit from Ali herself (Elisabeth Shue). The visit is a walk down memory lane (which is the theme this season), but also helps put things in perspective for Johnny and Daniel. Not only have they been acting foolish, but they need to see each other’s sides and move forward. THANK YOU, ALI. I’m sure we all agree.

As with season 2, we end with another well-choreographed fight between Cobra Kai and what is now the newly-formed Eagle Fang Karate + Miyagi-Do. This time the violence takes place in Sam’s own house after Cobra Kai crashes their holiday party. Sam finally faces her demon (Tory) while Hawk comes to Demetri’s rescue and takes down his now former dojo mates. Johnny and Daniel face off with Kreese, only to have Robby stay on his side. The three men agree to take it to the mat in the upcoming All Valley Championships Tournament, with the winner staying and loser(s) leaving. Kreese makes a phone call to his old pal Terry Silver (The Karate Kid Part III’s Thomas Ian Griffith), who is featured in the Vietnam flashbacks. That should definitely get interesting. We end with Daniel and Johnny at Miyagi-Do with their new group of students, which include Miguel, Sam, Hawk, and Demetri all on the same team.

The pacing this season was a bit uneven at times when compared to the first two seasons, and it was too heavy with Karate Kid flashbacks. Sure, the show revolves around the films and they should be referenced, but some of the lessons and stories are played out. This especially rings true for Daniel and Johnny’s rivalry over Ali. Hopefully her visit puts that part of their history to rest at last.

Overall, Cobra Kai season 3 succeeded in continuing to move the characters and storylines in the right direction. The key takeaways of the series are transformation and redemption; we see plenty of both this season. The writers again do a solid job weaving feel-good nostalgia, humor, drama, and action together, creating a universe that is so hard to leave after episode 10. Cobra Kai continues to be one of the strongest and most bingeable shows currently getting produced; season 4 can’t come fast enough.