Cobra Kai's Season 6 Finale Solves the Karate Kid Dilemma

By concluding its extensive six-season run, Cobra Kai avoids a fatal error that plagued Karate Kid. Located in the San Fernando Valley, Cobra Kai brings back numerous familiar faces from the original Karate Kid movies, including the likes of Daniel LaRusso, Johnny Lawrence, John Kreese, and Terry Silver. Simultaneously, the Netflix series introduces a new generation of teenage characters, striking a perfect balance between nostalgia and a fresh perspective on coming-of-age tales. This equilibrium has not only maintained the original Karate Kid franchise's fanbase but also captivated new viewers.

Despite a few minor setbacks throughout its impressive five-season tenure, Cobra Kai has consistently garnered positive feedback from both audiences and critics alike. With each season on par with, if not surpassing, its predecessor, it is highly likely that season 6 will follow suit. The fact that season 6 will serve as the final installment, concluding the overarching storylines, further reinforces the notion that it will not compromise the series' overall quality, primarily because it avoids repeating the same mistakes made in Karate Kid.

In a recent Twitter post, Jon Hurwitz, one of the creators of Cobra Kai, confirmed that the decision to end the series with season 6 was not made by Netflix. Instead, it was the creators themselves who decided to give the show a fitting closure in its sixth season. This choice demonstrates that Cobra Kai is different from the Karate Kid movies, particularly Karate Kid III, as it will not overstay its welcome and will conclude its storyline in season 6. Despite the show's consistent popularity and critical acclaim, Netflix could have easily extended its runtime by adding more seasons to capitalize on its fame and success.

However, the Karate Kid movie series demonstrated that stretching the show's narrative over time would ultimately lead to diminishing returns and diminish the impact of its strongest seasons. The first Karate Kid movie was a groundbreaking coming-of-age combat sports film that had a lasting influence. Karate Kid II, while recycling certain elements from the first movie, offered a fresh take by changing the setting and focusing on Okinawan culture. Unfortunately, Karate Kid III failed to live up to its predecessors by rehashing their lessons without adding anything new or memorable.

It is worth acknowledging that without Karate Kid III, Terry Silver would not have become one of the franchise's most compelling villains. However, the film serves as a cautionary tale on the negative consequences of unnecessary franchise extensions. Therefore, by concluding the Cobra Kai series on a carefully planned high note, the story in season 6 will bring closure to all story arcs at the appropriate time and avoid repeating the mistakes of Karate Kid III.

A New Cobra Kai Cast Wouldn't Work

The Next Karate Kid attempted to reinvent its formula by introducing a new character, Julie Pierce, portrayed by Hilary Swank, and featuring Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi. However, the movie failed to make a lasting impact due to audience familiarity with the franchise's portrayal of the typical high school underdog story. The primary appeal of the Karate Kid franchise lay in its original characters, their relationships, personal battles, and karate styles. By shifting its focus to new characters, the film alienated audiences who were invested in the existing character base.

Similarly, other high school TV shows such as Glee, Saved by the Bell, and Skins have also attempted to prolong their runtimes by introducing new characters as the main focus. Unfortunately, this approach did not prove successful as these shows lacked a compelling reason to keep audiences engaged once they had resolved the story arcs of their initial characters. It appears that Cobra Kai is also running out of fresh stories to tell within the high school and karate setting. Simply repeating the same formula with new characters would not be enough to captivate viewers.

Cobra Kai Ending With Season 6 Will Protect The Show's Legacy

Cobra Kai stands out as a rare exception among franchise reboots, surpassing expectations by not only capitalizing on the popularity of Karate Kid, but also surpassing it in numerous ways. Instead of simply replicating the Karate Kid films, Cobra Kai skillfully incorporates the lore of its predecessor to evoke nostalgia while simultaneously establishing its own unique and innovative approach to the tired and outdated tropes of the Karate Kid franchise. By concluding its journey with its sixth season, Cobra Kai not only solidifies its own legacy but also safeguards the remarkable contributions it has made to the overall franchise.