Some things from the past go hand in hand with the present, like shadows that never go away. And Cobra Kai has taught us, in its first season, that these ghosts of old are so heavy that they can drastically affect everyone around them. And the third season of the popular YouTube platform web series, acquired by Netflix, explores the domino effect of this old bullshit between two men behaving like children again. Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) still don’t recognize each other, but everything is about to change in this one which is already consolidating itself with one of the show’s most vibrant seasons.
The chaos that ensued in the 2nd season of Cobra Kai opened the gap for a new wave of episodes that would have great unknowns. How to reconnect all around a contaminated and forbidden martial art? Between the end of karate glamor and a near-fatal accident, the series co-created by John Hurwitz, Josh Heald and Hayden Schlossberg is concerned with showing the reflections of the last moments of the previous cycle, again basing part of its narrative on what has already happened. in the Karate Kid franchise. Leading audiences on to The Moment of Truth Continues, the series reminds us of a different era from the original saga and finds its balance impressively in the past.
Repeating connections with the past in order to block the present, Cobra Kai continues as this rare series that not only honors original and source material, but also possesses a timeless form, which makes it fundamental to the unfolding of the current narrative. Connecting younger and older audiences through the same point of contact, the production keeps its vigor even fresher, conversing with newbies – who haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Johnny and Daniel’s youth on the big screen as they go. and as it unfolds. nostalgic form with precise and concise 18th century references. Absolutely contextualized, the new season doesn’t take advantage of the Hollywood trend of throwing random POP references into audiences. Clever and insightful, the new season is a benchmark for its narrative construction, soundtrack, and for the true golden goose: Johnny Lawrence himself.
And Zabka is making this new cycle her moment. Always irreverent and unfiltered, he is the expression of the masculinity of the 80s in redemption. Creating a wonderful contrast alongside Xolo Maridueña (Miguel), he’s the owner of the best jokes and bittersweet moments of the entire season. Always on the borderline between humor and drama, Johnny Lawrence is the character that – in the 18th century – one would never have thought to love so much. Like the pendulum that takes the plot wherever it sees fit, it sort of orbits all the other characters and that balcony is one of Hurwitz, Heald, and Schlossberg’s great assets. His dynamic with Macchio is still the outbreak of more than 34 years of a saga that has won – and with mastery, moreover – the test of time. Cobra Kai has never been as good as it is today.
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Season 3 surprises us again by exploring with clinical precision the journey of sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove). With his story built in a solid and concrete way, the true Karate Kid villain receives his moment of glory, on a foundation that not only promotes him as a fixed character, but makes him even more relevant and essential to the plot. You may even hate him vehemently, but you’ve never respected him as much as you do now. And the expansion of his arc is just a testament to the versatility of Cobra Kai, who knows how to explore his supporting characters in a mature and concise manner, respecting screen time to keep the plot running smoothly. .
And knowing how to balance the series’ natural lightness with the almost melodramatic factor of its characters – young and old, the production remains steadfast in its original proposition, which is not to take yourself seriously. Proving that it is possible to get audiences to identify with their characters amidst so many mushy aspects, the Netflix series combines the cheesy and over-the-top 80s element with a very contemporary plot, and delivers an exquisite, fun-filled TV experience. and vibrant. With well-choreographed fight scenes that fail in just a few takes, the third season of the series remains tough and powerful. Well done and with the end that we hope to see for more than 34 years, Cobra Kai goes into the arms of the public as the comfort series which already seems to announce an infinitely better 2021. And so be it.