Cobra Kai

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Season 1
Season #: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 270 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 225 out of 270
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 270
  3. Negative: 31 out of 270
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User Reviews

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  1. Onlyclassicvg1
    Sep 26, 2022
    8
    The movie film is a government assigned project to broaden and enlight people and glory of nation. Cultural learning is emportant to follow on global basis. We make our nation a better and more convenient place for house and living. Kazakhs are progressive and asstonishing people that with conclusion of project will have new optimistic
  2. Jimz14u
    Jan 1, 2022
    10
    So glad they came out with this show. Love binge watching the show and it's awesome they have alot of the same people! Very smart and look forward to seeing more Seasons, just finished Season 4 and looking forward to Season 5!
  3. drlowdon
    Feb 17, 2021
    8
    Set thirty years after Daniel LaRusso (The Karate Kid) defeated Johnny Lawrence of Cobra Kai to win the All Valley Karate Championship, Larusso has since gone on to live a happy and successful life whilst his once bitter rival has been unable to make much of his life.

    'Cobra Kai' isn't perfect, but with a humorous script that utilises the 80's nostalgia just enough without over doing    Set thirty years after Daniel LaRusso (The Karate Kid) defeated Johnny Lawrence of Cobra Kai to win the All Valley Karate Championship, Larusso has since gone on to live a happy and successful life whilst his once bitter rival has been unable to make much of his life.

    'Cobra Kai' isn't perfect, but with a humorous script that utilises the 80's nostalgia just enough without over doing it, this first season is an enjoyable watch whether you're a fan of the original movie(s) or not.    … Expand
  4. brockcheese
    Nov 5, 2020
    7
    If you liked Karate Kid you will definitely like this show as it takes a fan theory and realizes it to its fullest potential. While some of the drams is pretty corny, the action and character development are well thought out.
  5. Hua
    Oct 22, 2020
    10
    A perfect, poetic sequel to The Karate Kid films, and just an amazing show in its own right; great characters, arcs and acting. Loved every second of this first season and cannot wait for the journey to continue!
  6. Rohan1207
    May 1, 2019
    10
    This is just a great show... with a different perspective on things, and a true successor to the original Karate Kid...
  7. ComandanteCobra
    Apr 23, 2019
    9
    Fear does not exist in this dojo, Pain does not exist in this dojo, Defeat does not exist in this dojo..even after thirty years.
    Good show...better than karate kid 2 and 3.
    Fast, short and different (in a good way) from what I was expecting...I feared a show created just to monetize on 80's nostalgia but isn't the case.
    I'll wait for the second season
  8. sitebender
    Apr 20, 2019
    10
    Entertaining with start to finish with both comedy and drama done well. It's also helped by the fact that these episodes are 30 minutes or less. The only thing watchable on Youtube Red or whatever they're calling it now. Surprised that it didn't go to Crackle since this is from Sony.
  9. MiniMovieManiac
    Feb 6, 2019
    9
    Cobra Kai brings the great 80's nostalgia and meshes it perfectly with new, modern, characters and stories. It's great to see the original actors reprise their roles with talented young actors that make the series worth watching. What makes this series standout is one thing, while you may be overjoyed to see Ralph and William back, you find yourself more invested in the youngerCobra Kai brings the great 80's nostalgia and meshes it perfectly with new, modern, characters and stories. It's great to see the original actors reprise their roles with talented young actors that make the series worth watching. What makes this series standout is one thing, while you may be overjoyed to see Ralph and William back, you find yourself more invested in the younger characters. You realize that the story you're following is not Danial and Johnny's rivalry, but how the teach these new kids their ways of karate. This was the biggest surprise of 2018 and was well worth it in every way, fun with great comedy and just enough nostalgia to keep you happy that the franchise is in good hands.… Expand
  10. SkyfighterDK
    Feb 1, 2019
    10
    Cobra Kai is quite simply put a 80's boy wet dream, everyone on this show did an amazing job and you can feel the love for the original 1984 Karate Kid. Haven't you ever wanted to bring back to life your most beloved show or movie if you had the mean to do it? well these guys did just that and the result is awesome. Rushed through it in one go and it was a blast! Big hopes for more CobraCobra Kai is quite simply put a 80's boy wet dream, everyone on this show did an amazing job and you can feel the love for the original 1984 Karate Kid. Haven't you ever wanted to bring back to life your most beloved show or movie if you had the mean to do it? well these guys did just that and the result is awesome. Rushed through it in one go and it was a blast! Big hopes for more Cobra Kai from the looks of it too. Thanks a lot!… Expand
  11. SchnitzelPoof
    Aug 11, 2018
    10
    I did not care much for the original Karate Kid, but this series is a work of genius. The characters are all complex. Endearing, but flawed. Their conflicts are tragic, arising from their imperfect character. Almost everyone is transformed throughout the season to some degree, and each journey is a pleasure to follow. In two words: must watch!
  12. Davrosdaleks1
    Jul 23, 2018
    10
    This half-hour dramedy on Youtube Premium is a sequel to the Karate Kid movies featuring Danny LaRusso and his old high school rival Johnny Lawrence with the main plot focusing on a down-on-his-luck Johnny opening the old Cobra Kai dojo. This naturally results in opening old wounds with Danny considering that the dojo had been his enemy up until this point.

    When I first heard of this    This half-hour dramedy on Youtube Premium is a sequel to the Karate Kid movies featuring Danny LaRusso and his old high school rival Johnny Lawrence with the main plot focusing on a down-on-his-luck Johnny opening the old Cobra Kai dojo. This naturally results in opening old wounds with Danny considering that the dojo had been his enemy up until this point.

    When I first heard of this show, naturally I was a little curious, especially with the focus on the antagonist. When the first trailer came out, my interest waned a bit because, it just didn't seem all that interesting. Then the buzz came and after hearing all the positive reviews, I decided what the heck and subscribed to Youtube Premium just to watch. Not only does this live up to the hype, I feel it actually surpasses it.

    This show has an exceptionally compelling plot. There are a lot of twists and turns and not a moment feels wasted. The cast is strong even down to the most minor characters. Still, the star player is Johnny. No offense to Ralph Macchio, but William Zabka is the stronger actor and keeps this whole thing going with a multifaceted performance. Here Johnny is the lovable d***. He's not PC, doesn't know current technology, estranged from his son and has a very tough love/anti-Mr. Miyagi style. Yet, he is sympathetic: his current life sucks, his childhood personal life turns out to be less-than-idyllic, and he wants to improve things with his son, get his life back together, and teach the one thing he' was ever good at. He's pretty funny too. Johnny struggles all the way. He's clueless and is basically flying by the-seat-of-his-pants and improvising on the spot as a business owner and mentor.

    The constant between tension between Johnny and Danny works because they're both have valid points and weaknesses. Danny has a legitimate reason not to see Cobra Kai's "no mercy" doctrine continue, but years of struggling against his opponents and to be successful has left him with a bit of a black-and-white mentality. Johnny wants to restore the glory of Cobra Kai, which was destroyed by his previous sensei Kreese, but is misguided in his belief that only Kreese was flawed and not the teachings.

    Although there are too many characters to endorse, special kudos should be given to Amanda, Danny's level-headed wife and the voice-of-reason, and Miguel, Johnny's overly enthusiastic hero-worshiping pupil who forms a bond with him.

    Although this is an antihero show, don't worry about this getting too dramatic or serious. Cobra Kai has a very 80's quality and breezy feel to the proceedings. The jokes flow naturally and are pretty funny. The show is also self-aware and isn't afraid to call itself out on the ridiculousness of two middle-aged men fixated on a high school rivalry and the fact that karate dojos aren't quite as popular as they were in the eighties.

    I watched this in the course of a weekend, and it is probably one of the best shows I've experienced in a while.    … Expand
  13. joeyabuki
    Jul 16, 2018
    9
    Excellent series, dama, action with touches of comedy; character development after 34 years is great, new characters are good as well; good plot and script; great choreaography that remind us the saga; tribute to Rocky. This show is made with love.
  14. norse
    Jun 30, 2018
    10
    This is an absolutely astounding series - the characters experience real growth, behave like real people, and the writing has a subdued humor that I haven't seen in TV often enough. I particularly appreciate the moments when the series could go with a cliche but instead has the characters behave rationally. Phenomenal acting by the original actors who pick up from their original roles, hat off!
  15. FerCasal
    Jun 27, 2018
    10
    What can I add that It's not already been said, Cobra Kai is the way to do sequels, period, it's just a blast.
  16. AmyBenevento
    Jun 20, 2018
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Cobra Kai is goofy at times, silly, sometimes original/sometimes cliché-filled, sometimes depicting black+white characters; and other times, showing well rounded characters. It wobbles.

    At first, I thought the series was written for kids, until I saw dicks on posters, dicks peeing on cars, and dick-ee people, not to mention the constant drinking and bong-ing. Ahh... okay.

    SPOILER ALERT AHEAD:

    Johnny was too dark and "all bad", at times. But when they showed the duality of his character, that's when things got interesting. What's bad about this show is how he's so horrible to his new and only student (and is the kid such a total idiot he doesn't see this?). What's good is when Johnny starts to show affection for this teen. And his son.

    Daniel is just adorable... always was, and is so even now into his 50's... adorable in a chipmunk kind of way. His wife is just too perfect and too pretty. His 11-year-old son (at first, I thought his son was a girl) is despicable. He's not real... too despicable in an unreal way, created for laughs. His daughter seems like all of Daniel's girlfriend when he was a teen... no real definition... just stereo-typed "good teen girl."

    The wife just exists for Daniel. She has no life. Just Daniel. I take it just men are writing the screenplay here, as the women characters are flat. Except for the heavy teen girl who joins Cobra Kai... love her.

    I also enjoy that teen boy nerd. Good side actor.

    The boy with the hair-lip who later spikes his hair is an attempt at humor, but again, too cliché. Please... make him REAL, not just funny.

    The Hispanic boy has potential, as long as he doesn't turn "all bad" with Cobra Kai's influence. They need to show conflict in him, and not turn him into a comic book character.

    I think Johnny/William is a better actor than Daniel/Ralph. But Daniel is cuter.

    If the writers stop trying to be so obviously funny and develop the characters and show how human and conflicted they are, this show could be fantastic. However, I almost peed my pants in laughter when Johnny and Daniel are riding in the car, fighting, until their favorite corny chick-song plays on the radio... and they both start singing to it. Priceless.    … Expand
  17. Benski2046
    Jun 7, 2018
    10
    A true spiritual sequel to the original Karate Kid movie, the idea of starting this series from the perspective of the 'bad guy' is inspired. Seriously, it's astonishing how well it works. How it manages to be hilarious one moment and touching the next; how it's got one foot firmly planted in the world of 80s action and martial arts movies, and the other satirising contemporary socialA true spiritual sequel to the original Karate Kid movie, the idea of starting this series from the perspective of the 'bad guy' is inspired. Seriously, it's astonishing how well it works. How it manages to be hilarious one moment and touching the next; how it's got one foot firmly planted in the world of 80s action and martial arts movies, and the other satirising contemporary social issues at a standard South Park would be proud of. And it's the juxtaposition of 80s values and modern society that provides most the laughs. That shows us how far we've progressed, on one hand, and how much we've lost on the other. Not least an age when film and TV had personality, felt larger than life and took risks, and most of all, was just downright fun to watch.… Expand
  18. Stroker_289
    Jun 4, 2018
    10
    Simply put.....AWESOME!!! So many great memories, great plotlines, great everything! Sleeper series of the year for sure! Cobra Kai never dies!!!!!
  19. Skeletor71
    Jun 3, 2018
    9
    It might not be perfect, but man is it awesome! This is nostalgia done the right way. There are a few cringeworthy moments, but if you're willing to look past that it is such a feel good trip. I'm getting my walkman and playing my Boston - Don't look back tape right now!
  20. donthemagicjuan
    May 31, 2018
    9
    After 4 eps, Cobra Kai stands on its own from the movies. It's a good blend of comedy, action, with heart and the twists and subplots are now starting to develop. Poignant moments w/parents and children, lost friends and generational misunderstandings make this a really good show. By far, William Zabka's best work.
  21. CharlieBrown8
    May 28, 2018
    10
    The best surprise of this TV season! It’s such a wonderful gem. With superb writing and acting, it stays faithful to its source material, and then adds so much thoughful depth and layers to it that it emerges with a bigger heart than the original. This is how to capitalize on a cinematic legacy. Now can we please have something similar for The Goonies, Ferries Buehler's Day Off, TheThe best surprise of this TV season! It’s such a wonderful gem. With superb writing and acting, it stays faithful to its source material, and then adds so much thoughful depth and layers to it that it emerges with a bigger heart than the original. This is how to capitalize on a cinematic legacy. Now can we please have something similar for The Goonies, Ferries Buehler's Day Off, The Breakfat Club, and Gremlins?… Expand
  22. JadenFrost
    May 23, 2018
    9
    A great throwback to the original movie, It even uses the two original actors. Protagonist and Antagonist. As of season one the writing has been good, as is character deployment. If you were a fan of the first one or even 2 and 3, you'll probably like this show. Wile seeing the first ones aren't needed you'll appreciate some of the references more if you have.
  23. srink
    May 23, 2018
    8
    Great series. A great Emotional ride. Started slowly and as the episodes go up, it gained pace and the finale is absolute killer. Excited for season 2
  24. EludiumQ36
    May 20, 2018
    8
    All the poz reviews have it right here so I won't repeat 'em. This first season was put together well and I look forward to another since the final scene of the finale definitely paves the way for one.
  25. shahidkhan
    May 17, 2018
    9
    This is how to get nostalgia right.

    I'm an 80s kid and, like many of my peers, have fond recollections of the Karate Kid movies. I have vivid memories of my friends and I practising the crane kick in the school playground on each other. So imagine our surprise to hear that this beloved series was being brought back as a comedy web series on YouTube. With the original cast no less.    This is how to get nostalgia right.

    I'm an 80s kid and, like many of my peers, have fond recollections of the Karate Kid movies. I have vivid memories of my friends and I practising the crane kick in the school playground on each other.

    So imagine our surprise to hear that this beloved series was being brought back as a comedy web series on YouTube. With the original cast no less. And the first trailers landed and immediately hit me hard in the nostalgias.

    Tonally, the trailers were comedy-heavy and whilst the jokes were amusing it did feel like a departure from the world that had been created in the movies.

    I am incredibly happy to report it is better than I ever expected it to be and better, as I read in another review, than it has any right to be.

    This is nostalgia done right; with a reverence for the original source but a willingness to be playful with it. Yes there is comedy but it veers more towards comedy-drama and is not too dissimilar from the first movie from which this series takes its entire inspiration.

    Johnny Lawrence is a down-and-out loser surviving day-to-day as an odd-job man, living in a run-down apartment building. Turns out you lose one karate tournament as a teenager and it really screws up the rest of your life.

    Johnny is still hung up on his past, unable to move on and finding it impossible to escape his rival’s success as Daniel’s numerous promotions of his car dealership intrude on his life. From his point of view, Johnny was the hero in his own story and Daniel was the villain. But the hero lost in this version and we get to see the fallout all these years later.

    And then a new kid called Miguel moves in next door to Johnny and a parallel to the first movie is played out after which Cobra Kai is open for business once again as Johnny has a point to prove to his old nemesis and his other doubters.

    I have to say, the central performance by William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence is excellent. Despite being abrasive, misogynistic and borderline racist, somehow you still end up rooting for him. His delivery in every scene is pitch perfect and lines that should sound nasty are softened by a smart, nuanced performance of a man lost in time, still living in the 80s. In later episodes he flat out bullies some of his students and his choice of language is hilariously inappropriate – “God, I feel like I’m a virgin again just looking at you” is delivered to a young, skinny teen and that’s one of the kinder things he says to his new protégés.

    The series strikes a precarious balance between modern humour and 80’s cheese without crossing the line into parody - which it could easily have done. A scene in a graveyard in later episodes ends on a quietly epic shot that highlights an obvious respect the makers of this series have for the original.

    The real fun for us old-timers is the references back to the original films.They weave in flashbacks and musical cues from the movies but it isn’t overdone and in most cases serves the story. But the show doesn’t rely on nostalgia alone and actually manages to offer a compelling narrative about the rivalry between two men that goes back to their youth and which neither has fully gotten over.

    Also Daniel is revealed not to be the cocky douche he came across as in the trailers. Although a successful businessman he has trouble connecting with his kids and still suffers from bouts of anger which lead to questionable decisions. And he finds himself lost later in life without Mr Miyagi’s advice to guide him. In other words, this is a totally believable evolution of the character in the first movie.

    Neither Danny or Johnny is the hero or villain here, both have good and valid reasons why they think they’re both in the right. The show does a good job of layering in complexity to both characters, their relationships and how they react to each other. Again I was surprised by the level of nuance built into the series. Yes it has moments of crude humour, and the language is certainly saltier than the PG rating the movies got. But it strikes the right balance between 80s cheese, modern humour, story and nostalgia.

    The show did lose steam for me when focusing on the teenage cast. Although all decent performances the narrative was once again about high school crushes and bullies which we’ve all seen before. The fight scenes aren’t really as captivating either to those of us watching amazing choreography weekly in the Arrowverse or Marvel’s TV offerings, but they’re not supposed to be and that’s fine. This is supposed to be the real world and aside from one overly-enthusiastic contestant in the tournament who kept doing somersaults for no discernible tactical advantage that I could see (aside from maybe it looks cool) the fight scenes are believably realistic in most cases.

    But all in all, when considering just how bad this series could potentially have been, I'm amazed they pulled off so well!    … Expand
  26. therealbones
    May 16, 2018
    10
    I thought this TV show was going to be another corny sequel but I was really surprised. It captures the spirit of the old Karate Kid with a mix of Revenge of the Nerds and Bad News Bear. This is one of the few shows that binged with excitement. The writers flipped the story focusing on the former antagonist Johnny Lawrence and making him likable without drastically changing his personalityI thought this TV show was going to be another corny sequel but I was really surprised. It captures the spirit of the old Karate Kid with a mix of Revenge of the Nerds and Bad News Bear. This is one of the few shows that binged with excitement. The writers flipped the story focusing on the former antagonist Johnny Lawrence and making him likable without drastically changing his personality of the high school bully.

    The TV series does a good job at exploring Johnny's perspective while revisiting the Karate Kid as an aging father/husband going through somewhat of a midlife crisis. But the saga still puts "coming of age teenagers" at the center of the storyline retelling the Karate Kid saga and having a lot of fun doing it.    … Expand
  27. elyh
    May 15, 2018
    8
    The show is great especially if you grew up in the 80s. This series shows how to reboot an old franchise, stay true to the original and bring something new. Puts to shame a famous space opera movie released recently.
  28. Valeli
    May 14, 2018
    8
    Was worried it would be awful, but watched it anyways with YTR's one-month free trial. I actually really liked it. Maybe it's because my expectations were a bit low, but I thought it was fun and got into the melodrama.

    What really impressed me, I guess, is how it scratches the nostalgia without being a complete retread of the original, or without trying to intentionally blow up the    Was worried it would be awful, but watched it anyways with YTR's one-month free trial. I actually really liked it. Maybe it's because my expectations were a bit low, but I thought it was fun and got into the melodrama.

    What really impressed me, I guess, is how it scratches the nostalgia without being a complete retread of the original, or without trying to intentionally blow up the spirit of the original, unlike "some" popular movies of late. Cobra Kai felt a lot like a natural continuation... pleasantly surprised.

    I'm cancelling my YTR trial because I can't find anything worth watching on it, but when season two comes out I might pay for a month to see what follows.    … Expand
  29. MeiLongDong
    May 14, 2018
    9
    I enjoyed it more than it is good if that makes any sense. I'd rank it about a solid 8, but my enjoyment level was more like a 9 or 10. Sequels are never what you want them to be, but is it good is the question, and in this case yes it is. Season 2 can't come soon enough.
  30. MichaelA91
    May 14, 2018
    9
    A solid TV show that builds upon its characters in interesting ways without insulting its legacy but without getting swamped in self-referencing either.

    The only reason this isn't a 10 is because most non-fight scenes are very flat, the dialogue and acting are definitely interesting and the way they're shot seems bland by comparison. Then again it's shot very well when it really    A solid TV show that builds upon its characters in interesting ways without insulting its legacy but without getting swamped in self-referencing either.

    The only reason this isn't a 10 is because most non-fight scenes are very flat, the dialogue and acting are definitely interesting and the way they're shot seems bland by comparison. Then again it's shot very well when it really matters, so not having the consistent editing quality of things like Game of Thrones or Stranger Things feels like more of a budgetary constraint rather than a mistake.

    The jokes made me laugh, most emotional scenes got a bit of a reaction out of me and the tense scenes actually kept me guessing about how things would turn out.

    The show doesn't really have a "good guy" character as the main character, he's too flawed, so in case you NEED a great hero as a lead this might not be what you're looking for.

    Cobra Kai has some of the best character development on TV, not only for the main characters, but most of the secondary characters get an arc as well.

    The story also very directly deals with the issue of bullying and how it's changed in modern times, if you're someone very bothered by scenes with bullies then be warned this show treats that issue a LOT.

    The acting is consistently good from the leading characters INCLUDING the younger actors.

    The show's first episode isn't bad by any means it may be the weakest since it takes a lot of time just establishing the way things are before the show actually gets going, so I suggest watching the first and second episode before deciding if the series is for you.

    This being said i'm not really looking forward to season 2, I think the first one was great and would have had greater emotional impact as a one-off, here's hoping it turns out well though.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best TV Season of 2018
12
#12 Most Discussed TV Season of 2018
52
#52 Most Shared TV Season of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. CNN
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    May 2, 2018
    75
    For the most part, it's an extremely clever revival, an overachiever that knowingly plays off the title's kitsch factor while evolving the characters and augmenting the cast in savvy ways.
    Read full review
  2. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Jen Chaney
    May 2, 2018
    70
    Even if Cobra Kai is a little too in love with its evocations of the movie, there is still something compelling about seeing Johnny and Daniel back together, particularly because both men haven’t changed in key ways and have different ways of grappling with and denying that.
    Read full review
  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Mekeisha Madden Toby
    May 2, 2018
    70
    This show gets a lot of things right from the perfect amount of references and music from the original and the acid-washed 1980s where the movie reigned supreme to the impressive casting and acting. .... That said, Cobra Kai relies on coincidence far too often even for a show spawned from the decade of decadence.
    Read full review
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