Spoiler Alert: The following contains spoilers for Cobra Kai Season 5
After the tear-jerking, tearing clothes, the tension on the edge of your seat and the unprecedented success of Cobra Kai season 5, fans are excited to hear what showrunners and executive producers Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald and Hayden Schlossberg have in store for the inevitable season 6. The show centers on the adventures of former All-Valley karate tournament champion Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) more than three decades after their decisive game. It has dominated Netflix since the streaming giant first acquired the series in the summer of 2020.
From that moment on, Cobra Kai has triumphantly laughed and delivered hearts and has consistently raised expectations. Season 5 of the show, released on September 9, received a rare 100 score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The show knows how to balance and gives audiences what they want to see from Daniel and Johnny’s groundbreaking characters and the recent addition of Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto), the antagonist of The Karate Kid Part II, and the equally exciting and meaningful development of the next generation. Against all odds, the series, initially conceived by Hurwitz, Heald, and Schlossberg and later with the addition of Ralph Macchio and William Zabka as executive producers, always gives us the moments we want to see but never dreamed of. This includes old rivals Daniel and Johnny singing REO Speedwagon together in the car and Chozen Toguchi comically “honking” Daniel’s nose in a rematch.
With the show seemingly getting better and better with each season, it’s safe to say fans could be looking for an even more exciting sixth season sometime next year. There is a lot Cobra Kai can still be done on everything from character development to international intrigue, especially after the shocking events of the conclusion of season 5. What can we expect next year from this acclaimed series that shows us how to make buddy comedy, nostalgia and new beginnings?
We want to see more of Kim Da-Eun
Now that the new generation of Miyagi-Do has officially joined Johnny’s son Robby (Tanner Buchanan) and soon-to-be stepson Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), Tory (Peyton List), and Daniel’s children Sam (Mary Mouser) and Anthony (Griffin Santopietro), It’s time for the Miyagi-Do/Eagle Fang students to prepare for the hard-fought international championship. It’s exciting to imagine these characters using their skills and legacy worldwide after their surprising takeover of Terry Silver’s (Thomas Ian Griffith) originally sinister idea.
Speaking of which, with Silver apparently in the hands of the authorities, the main karate antagonist role will likely shift back to John Kreese (Martin Kove), now that he’s taken his fate back into his own hands and broke out of prison. However, Cobra Kai Season 5’s real star, Alicia Hannah, who played Terry Silver’s main collaborator Kim Da-Eun, is a formidable foe herself.
Da-Eun is a wealthy karate instructor from Japan who wants to connect her legacy with Silver’s by training American students to win places in the coveted international competition. Her brutal, intense and tireless performance is immediately noticeable from the first moments of her introduction. We are very excited to hopefully see this character more in Season 6 as she is a strong foe and a deep character with a lot of potential for future seasons.
A focus on family
Some of the biggest, heartfelt developments on the show involve Johnny Lawrence’s burgeoning family. He successfully brought Miguel and Robby together as brothers after the horrific events of Season 2 and managed to conceive another child with the beautiful Carmen (Vanessa Rubio). Hopefully Season 6 will give us some time to enjoy these characters living in love and harmony with each other and navigating these new waters as a solid family unit.
But speaking of family, the biggest question mark is Miguel’s biological father, Hector (Luis Roberto Guzmán), whom we met briefly when Miguel went to Mexico to visit him. There’s no way Hector won’t find out who Miguel really is and go looking for him at some point. As Johnny Lawrence would say, Pandora has opened her box in that regard, and we can’t get away to see more of Hector until we’re ready.
A relationship between Chozen and Kumiko
Season 5 also arranged all of the show’s longest-running romantic relationships, such as between Sam and Miguel and Robby and Tory. It even opened the door for a relationship between the beloved Chozen and Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita), the lead actress in The Karate Kid Part II who had a cameo in season 3 of ? Cobra Kai. This much-loved fan favorite, Tamlyn Tomita, should return to the series, as she is a complex and less explored character that fans would love to explore further.
Chozen really got rid of it with karate kid fans and took a special place in the hearts of the viewers, despite the horrific actions of his character in the second karate kid continuation. We’d love to see him explore a relationship with his longtime friend and supporter, Kumiko. in many ways, Cobra Kai as a franchise focuses on the brutal dualism of the 80s, with all characters good or bad. Chozen’s character redemption best illustrates the nuanced need for understanding and openness.
The Return of Hilary Swank
.jpg)
But finally, there is a prominent actor from the… karate kid franchise we haven’t seen yet, an actor whose appearance would probably make some fans faint from her sheer star power: Hilary Swank. Shall Swank return to the karate childfresh in season 6, finally? We hope so!
Cobra Kai Season 5 is currently streaming on Netflix and we eagerly await official updates on the upcoming next season!