The Shocking Secret Twist: Unveiling the Untold Story of Johnny Lawrence in Cobra Kai Season 5!

Summary

Cobra Kai season 5 reveals that Johnny Lawrence is no longer the main character, as the show starts to focus more on Daniel LaRusso's side of the story.

Johnny Lawrence's storyline has remained stagnant, while Daniel LaRusso experiences a profound catharsis in season 5, emerging as the central character of the show. Expectations are high among fans that season 6 will find a better equilibrium between Johnny's and Daniel's screen time, allowing Johnny the redemption and closure he rightfully deserves.

Cobra Kai season 5 sets the stage for the series' season 6 finale, exposing a somber reality about Johnny Lawrence's narrative. Numerous factors contributed to the success of Cobra Kai, but its primary strength lies in its justified existence. Ralph Macchio reportedly received multiple pitches for Karate Kid reboots and spin-offs, all of which he turned down due to their lack of substance and contribution to the original film series. Cobra Kai, however, stood out as an exception, as it not only complemented the existing narrative of the movies but also showcased its potential to forge its own identity.

By elevating Johnny Lawrence to an equally significant character as Daniel LaRusso, Cobra Kai took the franchise on a fresh and innovative path. Consequently, Johnny Lawrence, initially portrayed as Daniel's antagonist, became one of the franchise's most adored characters. This transformation was made possible not just by William Zabka's exceptional acting skills, but also by adding layers of humor and emotion to Johnny Lawrence's character. However, despite these narrative subversions in its early seasons, Cobra Kai is now beginning to unveil a tragic truth about its own limitations and the overarching storyline of Johnny Lawrence.

Johnny Lawrence Is No Longer Cobra Kai’s Main Character

Cobra Kai initially challenged the conventions set by the original Karate Kid movies, telling the story from Johnny Lawrence's perspective. However, in recent seasons, the show has shifted its focus and failed to continue this trend. In an attempt to appeal to long-term viewers and evoke nostalgia, Cobra Kai introduced characters like Chozen and Mike Barnes as Daniel's allies, as well as the return of villains like Terry Silver. Unfortunately, these characters were not part of the original Karate Kid movie, which featured Johnny Lawrence as one of the main characters. This shift in focus indicates that the show is now primarily centered around Daniel's side of the story, neglecting Johnny Lawrence's own journey.

Furthermore, Johnny Lawrence's storyline has become stagnant over time. While the show has explored interesting developments in his narrative, such as his transformation from an alcoholic loner to a family man, his characterization has remained largely unchanged in the past few seasons. In season 5, Lawrence's arc primarily revolves around his struggle to maintain a job, reinforcing the idea that he has not made significant progress since season 1. Despite the show being named after his karate fighting style, Cobra Kai has reverted back to emphasizing the Miyagi way as the correct path, similar to the Karate Kid series.

Even in regard to his relationship with Robby, Lawrence continues to repeat the same errors in season 5. An example of this is seen in his deception towards Robbie about the purpose of their trip to Mexico, and his failure to sincerely apologize to his own son. While Lawrence's character development remains stagnant in season 5, Daniel LaRusso undergoes a profound transformation. Throughout Cobra Kai season 5, Daniel evolves from an angry and resentful individual to someone who realigns himself with Mr. Miyagi's teachings, understanding the significance of balance in life and how it can lead to overall improvement. This transformative journey solidifies LaRusso as the central figure in season 5.

Cobra Kai Began As Johnny Lawrence’s Story

Initially, Cobra Kai focused more on Johnny Lawrence and Miguel than on Daniel and the other characters. In fact, Daniel was portrayed as somewhat of an anti-hero in season 1, struggling with the idea of Johnny finding success by teaching karate to kids. The show even presented Cobra Kai's "strike first, strike hard, no mercy" philosophy in a neutral manner, showcasing how it helped characters like Eli and Miguel overcome their bullies and insecurities. This allowed Lawrence to truly thrive as a sensei, taking the necessary steps towards redeeming himself.

Miguel's victory in the All-Valley tournament further confirms that Cobra Kai's main focus was to challenge the character dynamics established in the Karate Kid movies. John Kreese's introduction as the primary antagonist also played a crucial role in highlighting the significance of Johnny Lawrence, as Kreese represented a haunting figure from his past. Although Daniel also viewed Kreese as his enemy, Johnny had a more complex relationship with his former sensei, which made him susceptible to Kreese's manipulations.

However, with Kreese's incarceration in the latter part of Cobra Kai season 4, the show had limited material to contribute to Johnny Lawrence's storyline. As a result, Johnny was downgraded to a secondary protagonist in Daniel LaRusso's narrative during Cobra Kai season 5. Considering that Johnny's role as a karate sensei is now a fraction of the Miyagi Do dojo, and Cobra Kai has established itself as the domain of the show's villains, it appears unlikely that Cobra Kai season 6 will elevate Johnny Lawrence back to his previous status as a primary character.

Cobra Kai Would Have To Focus On Daniel LaRusso Eventually

Given Daniel LaRusso's pivotal role in establishing the Miyagi verse franchise, it is understandable that Cobra Kai had to refocus on the authentic karate kid to maintain its nostalgic appeal. While the show deserves recognition for deviating from the original series' simplistic good vs. bad approach and taking a more balanced stance on rivalries, the majority of the franchise's storylines have revolved around Daniel LaRusso. Consequently, bringing back characters from LaRusso's past was crucial for preserving the sense of nostalgia that has garnered the Netflix series such popularity.

Unlike Daniel, Johnny Lawrence only featured in the first Karate Kid movie, which limited the show's available backstory to work with. Despite the decline in the franchise's quality following the second movie, Daniel remained the central figure in three Karate Kid films, providing ample opportunity for the franchise to expand his narrative in fresh and exciting directions within Cobra Kai. Nevertheless, while it was narratively logical for Johnny Lawrence's storyline to take a backseat in the recent season, it is difficult not to hope that season 6 will strike a balance between his screen time and that of Daniel LaRusso, affording him the redemption and closure he rightfully deserves.