Netflix has introduced that the sixth season of hit sequence ‘Cobra Kai’ shall be its final.
Much like Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) himself, ‘Cobra Kai’ has battled towards appreciable odds. An unlikely continuation of the ‘Karate Kid’ franchise, it was initially commissioned as a part of YouTube’s try and launch a set of scripted sequence, one which didn’t final lengthy, although ‘Cobra Kai’s first two seasons ran there.
When Netflix picked up the present’s third season and agreed to make extra, the sequence actually kicked off into the pop cultural consciousness.
Set greater than 30 years after the occasions of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, the present is a continuation of the inescapable battle between Daniel and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). Their fortunes have been significantly completely different within the years since then––Daniel is a profitable automotive dealership proprietor, whereas Johnny has fallen on more durable instances, scraping by as a handyman at an condominium constructing.
Through the years of ‘Cobra Kai’, they’ve each acquired teams of scholars, been at odds with one another as soon as once more and united to tackle the likes of villains John Kreese (Martin Kove) and Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith).
(L to R) Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in ‘Cobra Kai.’ Photo: Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix.
In Season 5, Silver’s plans to broaden his Cobra Kai empire got here to fruition, because the sensei’s “No Mercy” model of karate started being taught all throughout the valley. With Johnny having set karate (briefly) apart to deal with repairing the harm he’s induced, Daniel known as on an outdated good friend for assist—former adversary Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto). They had been triumphant, however the story just isn’t over but.
Fortunately, present builders Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg at all times had an endpoint in thoughts and in contrast to another, more moderen Netflix sequence, ‘Cobra Kai’ just isn’t being cancelled prematurely.
“Reacquainting the world with the ‘Karate Kid universe’ has been our humble honor,” the creators mentioned in a letter penned to followers. “It has enabled us to play sensei, expanding the original storylines and birthing a new generation of underdogs. We’ve never once taken this opportunity for granted. Our Day 1 goal with ‘Cobra Kai’ has always been to end it on our terms, leaving the Valley in the time and place we’ve always imagined. While this may be a bittersweet day for the fandom, the Miyagiverse has never been stronger… We hope to be telling more ‘Karate Kid’ stories with you down the line because as we all know: Cobra Kai never dies.”
And sure, lest you are feeling bereft on the news that Daniel, Johnny and co. shall be punching their method to the sundown, there may be at all times hope of a spin-off. “Every permutation of spinoff or deep-dive crosses our minds,” Schlossberg advised TVLine in 2021. “It all has to be the right thing, and it has to be the same level of quality that ‘Cobra Kai is’. Our minds are always thinking ‘Karate Kid,’ so that possibility is definitely out there.”
The closing struggle shall be upon us this 12 months, although Netflix has but to announce when the present will return.
(L to R) Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in ‘Cobra Kai.’ Photo: Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix.