Unveiling the True Victors: 8 Karate Kid & Cobra Kai Fights That Defied Plot Armor

Summary

Takeaway 1: Plot armor is prevalent in Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid, often used to make the less skilled fighter win, upholding the underdog mentality of the series.

Rewritten

Key Point 2: Plot armor can often be excessively utilized and impractical, causing audiences to question the plausibility of fight outcomes.

Key Point 3: Plot armor affects both weaker and stronger characters, exemplified by Bert from Cobra Kai, as despite his training, he remains insignificant and feeble.

While Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid franchise boast captivating fight sequences, it is unfortunate that many of these skirmishes rely heavily on plot armor. Essentially, plot armor refers to situations in a story where certain outcomes occur due to the narrative's convenience, rather than logical progression. In Cobra Kai, plot armor often favors the less skilled fighter, allowing them to prevail despite their disadvantages. Plot armor, though a common element in storytelling, looms large within The Karate Kid franchise.

In the realm of The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai, plot armor can be viewed in a positive light. It upholds the underdog spirit that makes these films and series so captivating. If the superior fighter always triumphed, the narratives would lose their appeal. However, plot armor runs the risk of becoming excessive or even unrealistic. In the case of these fights, both Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid sometimes rely too heavily on plot armor, causing the audience to question the believability of the outcome. Thus, they represent the most extreme examples of fight plot armor within The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai.

8 Tory Vs Sam In Cobra Kai

A prime example of Cobra Kai's plot armor can be seen in the final fight between Tory and Sam in Cobra Kai season 3. Despite the intense animosity between these two young women, Tory's aggressive and intense fighting style should logically give her the upper hand over Sam. Surprisingly, in the season 3 finale, Tory manages to gain the advantage by striking Sam first and overpowering her quickly. However, due to Sam being perceived as the morally superior character, she emerges victorious in this battle and every subsequent fight against Tory. Consequently, Sam's consistent inability to lose makes it challenging to fully support her character, even though she may be the more virtuous individual.

7 The Mall Fight In Cobra Kai

The mall fight in Cobra Kai season 2, despite its heroic intent, lacks realism in its final outcome. After Demetri delivers a scathing one-star Yelp review to the Cobra Kai dojo, Hawk and his gang of four instigate a brawl at the mall. Surprisingly, Sam and Robby come to Demetri's defense, forming a team of just two against the five opponents. This already strains credibility, but what makes the fight even more implausible is when Sam and Robby defeat Hawk and his goons using the Wheel technique. Adding to the incredulity, it turns out that the mall's security guards were conveniently absent during the entire showdown, all of them coincidentally on their lunch break.

6 Bert Vs Reid In Cobra Kai

In Cobra Kai's first season, a striking fight scene showcases an unusual twist on plot armor. Bert, one of the youngest and smallest students, faces a continuous disadvantage against his adversaries. The All Valley Karate Tournament in season 1 exposes him to Reid, a significantly larger opponent. Naturally, Bert's defeat does not surprise anyone. Interestingly, this serves as an initial example of an ongoing plot armor that frustrates Bert's progress.

Specifically, Cobra Kai deliberately undermines Bert by consistently matching him with larger opponents and preventing him from honing his skills. Generally, plot armor is believed to assist weaker characters, but it can also hinder them. Despite training with Cobra Kai for a comparable length of time as his fellow members, Bert struggles to make the same advancements. This implies that the series utilises plot armor to purposely hinder and keep Bert's small stature and weak abilities.

5 Demetri Vs Hawk In Cobra Kai

Another unbalanced rivalry in Cobra Kai is between Demetri and Hawk. Demetri, a nerdy student lacking confidence, is contrasted with Hawk, an established member of Cobra Kai. In season 2, their relationship becomes strained to the point where Hawk attacks Demetri at school. However, the outcome of the fight surprises everyone. Demetri manages to successfully block one of Hawk's strikes and propel him into a glass trophy case. While this underdog victory may be admirable, it is not entirely realistic. Hawk clearly possesses superior skills compared to Demetri, and ultimately, it is the forceful impact against the trophy case that contributes significantly to Hawk's downfall. Similar to Sam, Demetri only emerges as the "better" person in terms of societal judgment.

4 Hawk Vs Kenny In Cobra Kai

Yet another instance of plot armor in Cobra Kai season 5 occurs during the fight between Hawk and Kenny. Like many other characters in the series, Kenny is a young individual who turns to karate to combat bullying. However, despite Hawk's extensive experience and superior skills, Kenny manages to seriously injure him by utilizing the Silver Bullet technique. The incongruity between their skill levels renders this fight lacking in realism.

3 Daniel Vs Chozen & Mike

The truth is, the original trilogy of The Karate Kid revolves around battles that Daniel shouldn't have been able to emerge victorious from. In the sequels, The Karate Kid Part II and The Karate Kid Part III, Daniel manages to defeat his opponents, Chozen Toguchi and Mike Barnes respectively, despite their significantly higher levels of skill. Both Toguchi and Barnes were renowned karate champions, with years of practice behind them, whereas Daniel had only a few years of training. Given this discrepancy in experience, logic would suggest that Daniel should have been defeated, but the movies decided to let him win nonetheless.

2 Miguel Vs Kyler In Cobra Kai

One of the most notable instances of plot armor in Cobra Kai takes place during a confrontation between Miguel and Kyler in season 3. Despite spending the majority of the season recovering from a life-threatening fall in the previous season, Miguel miraculously triumphs over Kyler in a fight that erupts during a house party. On the surface, this outcome seems incredibly improbable. At the beginning of the season, Miguel was unable to even walk, yet by the conclusion of Cobra Kai season 5, he is capable of besting an opponent who is in peak condition. Although it undoubtedly serves as an underdog moment, it remains exceedingly difficult to fathom.

1 Daniel Vs Johnny In The Karate Kid

The ultimate and pivotal confrontation involves Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, marking the inception of their intense clash. While the skirmishes depicted in the subsequent installments of The Karate Kid franchise may seem far-fetched, it is the initial encounter that truly stands out. On Halloween, Johnny, a proficient karate practitioner, pummels Daniel mercilessly, setting the stage for their impending confrontation at the All Valley Karate Tournament. Eager to prove himself, Daniel trains diligently under the guidance of Mr. Miyagi, dedicating his efforts to prepare for the tournament, scheduled to take place on December 19.

In the end, Daniel had less than a month to gain sufficient karate skills in order to defeat Johnny Lawrence. Having such a short amount of time to become proficient in karate seems highly improbable, highlighting the convenient protection of plot armor for Daniel. Nevertheless, The Karate Kid remains a timeless and iconic underdog tale. While plot armor may serve as a convenient narrative tool, it also reinforces the idea that with dedication and a pure heart, anything is achievable, just like Daniel and the Cobra Kai Miyagi-do students.