Daniel LaRusso vs Johnny Lawrence: Unveiling the Real Hero of Cobra Kai

Summary

Daniel's bad decisions and superior attitude make him just as flawed as Johnny in Cobra Kai.

Daniel's preoccupation with karate is evident in his neglect of his son and strained relationship with his daughter.

Daniel's lack of good judgment is showcased through his disregard for his wife's opinions and his inappropriate behavior towards Kumiko.

In The Karate Kid, Johnny Lawrence was portrayed as the antagonist, but in Cobra Kai, Daniel LaRusso's actions prove that he is far worse. Over the course of the six seasons of the Netflix series, their relationship evolves from enemies to reluctant allies, but it didn't start off that way. The show sheds light on Johnny's perspective, revealing that Daniel made some questionable choices that affected their dynamic. These choices continued to impact Daniel's relationships with other characters from Cobra Kai. Johnny and Daniel's relationship began when Daniel moved to town and got involved with Johnny's girlfriend. While their situation was more complex than that, the show presents a different viewpoint that helps us understand why Johnny felt threatened by Daniel, especially after Daniel's victory in the All-Valley Tournament. This theme in Cobra Kai suggests that the lines between good and bad are not always clear. While Daniel is not inherently bad, there were moments when he acted worse than Johnny.

10 Daniel Frequently Forgetting About His Son In Cobra Kai's Early Seasons

Daniel's life in Cobra Kai season 1 appeared to be perfect, despite the fact that his children were quite a handful. Particularly, Anthony was incredibly spoiled to the extent that when his parents confiscated his game system, he shamelessly ordered another one right in front of them, using their money. Furthermore, Anthony had no interest in karate, causing Daniel to have minimal interest in him during the initial seasons of Cobra Kai. Their relationship only began to develop when Anthony himself became a target of bullying, which ironically started with him bullying Kenny Payne.

9 Daniel’s Superior Attituded Toward Johnny In Season 1

The reunion of Daniel and Johnny in Cobra Kai was a moment filled with pain for Johnny. And to make matters worse, Daniel didn't make it any easier. It's understandable in some ways that the former Karate Kid would seize the opportunity to assert his superiority. After all, Johnny had once been part of a wealthy family and had used his stature to mistreat Daniel on multiple occasions. It's natural for most people to seek revenge on their tormentors, but Daniel never let go of his grudge. Throughout the later seasons of Cobra Kai, it's evident that Daniel still considers himself above Johnny, which is reflected in how he speaks to him and views his decisions.

8 Daniel Basically Abandoning Robby After Cobra Kai Season 2

7 Daniel’s Temper Is Worse Than Johnny’s In Cobra Kai Season 2

Johnny, while teaching karate to a child with similarities to Daniel, ironically had his own son being taught karate by Daniel, his former enemy. However, this arrangement couldn't last indefinitely, and Daniel eventually discovered Robby's true identity, which led to him expelling Robby. This expulsion was particularly harsh considering the close bond they had formed. Although Daniel later apologized, their relationship never fully recovered. Furthermore, when Robby caused Miguel's injury during the school fight in Cobra Kai, Daniel became more concerned about his own reputation than the well-being of either student.

As Cobra Kai Season 2 unfolded, Daniel's flawless composure gradually crumbled. Johnny managed to get under his skin, unraveling the calm and balanced facade of Miyagi-Do. This transformation became evident by the season's end. Consequently, when Daniel discovered that his daughter had spent the night at Johnny's house with Robby, his composure completely evaporated. In an unusual turn of events, Johny became the voice of reason, offering sound parental advice. Sadly, Daniel refused to heed his words, sparking a violent and utterly irrational altercation.

6 Daniel Being More Interested In His Reputation Than Miguel After Season 2's Ending

The clash between Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai reached its climax in season 2 with the school brawl. It culminated in Robby hurling Miguel off a balcony, resulting in his severe injury. While Robby represented Miyagi-Do during this altercation, it did not reflect positively on Daniel. Nevertheless, it is paramount that the adult in this situation prioritizes the well-being of the children involved over the reputation of his former sensei's martial arts school.

5 Daniel’s Relationship With Sam Depends On Karate In Cobra Kai

In Cobra Kai, Daniel has a much closer bond with his daughter Sam, which is not surprising considering she has been involved in karate since she was young. However, when Sam decides to quit martial arts, their relationship becomes strained and Daniel struggles to understand her, sometimes unwillingly. It's understandable that Daniel would hold onto this aspect of their relationship, as Sam is the only one of his children who had the opportunity to learn from Mr. Miyagi. Nonetheless, the pressure on Sam as a daughter is immense, and Daniel doesn't always handle it with grace.

4 Daniel’s Repeated Disregard For His Wife’s Opinions Throughout Cobra Kai

Amanda LaRusso, the voice of reason in Cobra Kai, consistently finds herself unheard. Despite being the sole character willing to involve law enforcement during challenging situations and maintaining distance from inter-dojo conflicts, Amanda's valuable insights often fall on deaf ears. Even though she has rescued Daniel from numerous troublesome situations, it appears that he disregards her advice and dismisses her opinions on the absurdity of his ongoing rivalry with Cobra Kai, despite pretending to listen and consider her perspective.

3 Daniel’s Inappropriate Behavior Toward Kumiko In Cobra Kai Season 3

Daniel's blatant disregard for Amanda's concerns becomes even more concerning when examining his behavior towards Kumiko in Cobra Kai season 3. His abrupt trip to Japan was concerning enough, but during his time there, he reconnected with his former love interest from The Karate Kid Part 2. While it's natural to feel nostalgic during such a reunion, Daniel took it to a slightly peculiar level. There was an undeniable spark between them, and considering he had a wife who was desperately dealing with his ongoing drama back home, Daniel should have avoided getting too close to Kumiko. Even Johnny never put himself in a position where he could betray Carmen.

2 Daniel Being Less Willing To Compromise With Johnny In Season 4

Cobra Kai season 4 witnessed the unlikely alliance of Daniel and Johnny in their attempt to dismantle John Kreese's Cobra Kai, but the outcome was far from ideal. These long-standing foes harbored deep animosity towards each other, making it unsurprising that their vastly different teaching approaches clashed. Despite Johnny being expected to be the most resistant to this arrangement, Daniel made minimal effort to bridge the gap. He seemed to assume that Johnny and the Eagle Fangs would seamlessly adapt to Miyagi-Do's methodology, disregarding the obvious challenge it presented. Ultimately, this culminated in yet another confrontation between Daniel and Johnny within the realm of Cobra Kai.

1 Daniel Putting Chozen Undercover With Silver In Cobra Kai Season 5

Upon arriving in California from Japan, Chozen was filled with enthusiasm to assist Miyagi-Do in any possible manner. Realistically speaking, it would have been challenging for Daniel to prevent him from doing so. Nonetheless, Daniel could have voiced his objections regarding some of Chozen's decisions. Regrettably, he wholeheartedly backed Chozen's risky endeavors, such as going undercover as a new sensei at the Cobra Kai dojo. Given their awareness of Silver's extreme danger, it becomes evident that this plan was taken to an excessive extent as it led to a near-fatal battle. In Cobra Kai, Johnny may not be flawless, but he never endangered others in the same manner as Daniel did.