As a long-time fan of The Karate Kid series, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions as Cobra Kai comes to its final five episodes. Growing up with Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence has been like watching my own life unfold on screen – the struggles, the triumphs, the friendships, and the rivalries.
[This story contains major spoilers from Part 2 of Cobra Kai‘s final season.]
In July, when the initial portion of Cobra Kai‘s sixth and final season premiered on Netflix, fans of the popular karate series found themselves anticipating a showdown between their beloved Miyagi-Do squad and an old adversary at the international Sekai Taikai Tournament in Barcelona, Spain: the reformed Cobra Kai, under the command of their longstanding enemy and ruthless former sensei John Kreese (portrayed by Martin Kove). To make matters worse, one of Miyagi-Do’s key members, Tory Nichols (played by Peyton List), switched allegiance from the joint martial arts school led by Danny LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence (Ralph Macchio and William Zabka) to join Kreese’s team of uncompromising fighters.
However, if these two competing karate schools believed they could vent their rivalry in an international tournament, it’s clear they haven’t kept up with this series. A more formidable and ominous martial arts group would pose a significant threat to both Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do during the tournament as the show resumes (now streaming during the split release of the final season). And so, the most striking revelation in “Cobra Kai” Part 2 is the return of a villain with animosity towards Kreese, LaRusso, and Lawrence: the notorious Terry Silver (portrayed by Thomas Griffith) and his merciless Iron Dragons.
In a scene reminiscent of past events in episode nine, titled “Blood In Blood Out,” we find Silver, who has managed to break free from prison, now residing in Bangkok, Thailand. Here, he’s on the hunt for a formidable martial arts warrior from an underground fight club to spearhead his sponsored squad for the Sekai Taikai tournament. In this episode, Hayden Schlossberg, one of the co-creators, makes his acting debut as Silver’s legal counsel, trying to dissuade him from seeking vengeance during the tournament.
Recently, The Hollywood Reporter interviewed Schlossberg along with his co-creators Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz on various aspects of their series Cobra Kai. They discussed the intricacies of old and new rivalries, filming an epic fight sequence – the biggest melee in the show’s history during a crucial scene at the international tournament, the emotional death scene, what viewers can anticipate in Part 3 of the final season, and potential future developments within the Cobra Kai universe following the conclusion of this Karate Kid saga.
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“Does the death of Brandon H. Lee’s character in Part 2’s finale imply that hatred, a base and corrosive emotion, can be used without danger by any person, according to Thomas Dreier, the author-novelist?
JON HURWITZ That’s an excellent quote! It’s challenging to pinpoint specific lessons from Kwon’s demise as the characters are still grappling with its implications in the final five episodes. However, it’s clear that Kreese, who has been influenced by Master Kim for years and was motivated by hate initially, has been passing down these teachings to his students, including Kwon. This is a significant factor behind Kwon’s actions leading up to his death. Consequently, the upcoming five episodes will delve into everyone’s reactions to these events, with Kreese playing a crucial role in this exploration.
How much time was spent organizing the intricate fight sequence in the final episode, involving multiple team members clashing with one another, not forgetting the climactic confrontation between Terry Silver (Thomas Griffith) and John Kreese (Martin Kove)?
JOSH HEALD The concept for that scene was already in development before the script was finalized. While we were brainstorming the episode, we had a rough idea about the significant events that would unfold during the fight sequence. Early on, we collaborated closely with director Sherwin Shilati and our talented stunt team, headed by Ken Barefield and Don Lee, to decide how grandiose we wanted the fight to be, even before we’d secured a filming location. Once the script and location were set, they worked diligently in the background, presenting us with numerous ideas: “What if we did this?” or “How about that?” Our goal was to ensure the fight didn’t devolve into mere chaos; instead, it should tell a story as it progressed.
We examined various approaches to portraying this fierce battle, ultimately deciding to create a chaotic yet distinct scene showcasing individual rivalries, ranging from long-standing feuds to recent disputes. These rivalries span decades to just minutes old. Once we assembled the pieces, we considered the limited time available for filming, approximately three to four days, considering everything from Robbie’s fall off the mat until the episode’s conclusion. This was a substantial amount of content, involving numerous background and stunt performers, doubles, and actors performing carefully choreographed actions to minimize risk of injury. We were thrilled with how it turned out and the abundance of material we had to work with in post-production to ensure we delivered the biggest fight scene ever shown on screen.
Indeed, it seems that Silver was the one who orchestrated the abduction of Daniel LaRusso, making it appear as if Kreese was responsible. I wonder if this is a personal vendetta against Kreese, Daniel, or perhaps a scheme to target both of them.
Hayden Schlossberg suggests that the plot seems primarily aimed at Miyagi-Do as a whole. Silver, from the beginning, has numerous plans and schemes, which become evident when you meet him in Bangkok’s bar. At this point, he desires the world to be engulfed in flames following his personal experiences. He amasses the best team to cause chaos, but the kidnapping scheme is specifically designed to disrupt Daniel and Johnny mentally, to disrupt their team. This, unintentionally, could also lead Miyagi-Do, including Daniel and Johnny, to harbor hatred towards Cobra Kai, as they are unaware of Silver’s existence in Barcelona. For a while, Miyagi-Do becomes aggressive towards Cobra Kai, causing them to lose their balance, while Silver remains hidden, silently hoping for everyone’s failure.
The background of Pat Morita’s character, Mr. Miyagi, becomes even more captivating and mysterious once it’s revealed that he was responsible for a fatal incident during one of the Sekai Taikai tournaments in the late ’40s or early ’50s. The death of Kwon, whose actions leading up to his demise could be questioned, sheds light on Miyagi’s tournament history. Is there an element of “curse” involved here, or are we dealing with the consequences of a tragic event in Miyagi’s past?
It’s quite plausible. In the initial five episodes, Mike Barnes mentions the Sekai Taikai to the class, implying that people have perished during it. This suggests a history of such events. We aim to highlight that this tournament has been clandestine for years and hasn’t received global attention. The violence associated with it in the past elevates the danger level above what we’ve seen in the All Valley Tournament. Regarding Miyagi, we learn that his match ended fatally in the past, and we might uncover more details about that confrontation, such as what transpired exactly. Daniel is grappling with this information, particularly when he witnesses Kwon’s situation, which seems like a replay of history right before Daniel LaRusso’s eyes. This continues his introspection not only about Mr. Miyagi but also about karate and competitions in general.
It was intriguing to see how you skillfully managed to resolve the dispute between Anthony LaRusso (Griffin Santopietro) and Kenny Payne (Dallas Dupree Young), involving Devon (Oona O’Brien) in the process. Was it your intention that Devon’s moral sensibilities would lead her to this resolution, thereby teaching both characters about forgiveness and personal growth?
Initially, we aimed to find even minor adjustments that could propel the characters into unexplored territories. Devon, a character who consistently strives for excellence and surpassing the exceptional, would complete every task assigned, including extra credits, and was always eager to start early and stay late at work. However, in episode four of Part 1, she felt overlooked by Barnes as he assembled the team. This left her feeling cornered due to the limited number of available positions and the high standards she set for herself. When seeking advice, she only encountered responses such as “You must do whatever it takes, be relentless, and go all out.
And she makes this decision to dose Kenny, which has unintended consequences of pouring gasoline on the Kenny/Anthony relationship and becomes this kind of private regret and embarrassment that she takes with her to the Sekai Taikai. It gives her a little bit of inner turmoil, as we’re dealing with some major turmoil between Robbie and Tori, and Miguel and Robbie, and everything else that’s beginning to pull apart this team, which is just another ingredient in the mix of conflicts that the Miyagi-Dos are going through as they’re on the world stage.
Well, can we say that Devon didn’t belong there? She wasn’t a better competitor than Kenny?
In essence, we’ll never truly understand. If she hadn’t manipulated Kenny’s drugs, would she have made it out of the woods with the flag and secured her place in the World Games? She chose to eliminate that question, denying both herself and Kenny the answer. It was a choice that brought her pain because she’s not a character who resorts to cheating. Instead, she thrives on every opportunity. So, this act was out of character for her, yet it led her into a moral gray area where she had to choose between doing what is right and something less ethical.
Will seeing the death of Kwon internationally via streaming end the Sekai Taikai Tournament?
In our storyline, we purposefully left many questions unanswered at the end of this middle part, and one significant question is: What will become of this tournament and people’s overall perception of karate? We often incorporate real-life events into our narrative, like incidents in sports. For instance, an athlete might seem severely injured during a game, sparking widespread discussion. Similarly, we can manipulate our show using karate scenarios. By the end, you’ll witness how we conclude things. The second part certainly leaves room for numerous speculations from all angles. For the children we’ve been focusing on and Miyagi-Do, it raises questions about their tournament-related aspirations. For Cobra Kai, it involves a student’s death, which Kreese must face responsibility for. In a way, everyone is implicated. Therefore, you’ll see how everything unfolds in the final part.
In the finale, it seems that Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai formed an alliance against Silver’s Iron Dragons team. However, it’s unclear if everyone from both sides decided to join forces or just one party did so.
One of the recurring themes on our show is that even though team members compete against each other, they’re all human beings first. It doesn’t mean someone across the mat is automatically your adversary; they might be your ally and it could foster healthy competition instead of a full-blown karate clan feud. During intense moments like the melee, it shifts from competitive sports to real-life scenarios where people can get hurt – people you care about and have connections with. When the contest transforms into actual life, human feelings and relationships become more important. Despite any negative incidents during the melee, there are instances when true colors of allegiances and relationships emerge; hidden conflicts dissipate under pressure and stress-testing.
Now, with Part 3, we’re nearing the conclusion of the enthralling Cobra Kai saga that’s captivated millions on Netflix over six seasons. Can you share some insights about the last five episodes?
As we approach the final chapter, only five episodes remain. All loose ends must be tied up, with some outcomes being more gentle than others. We’re eagerly anticipating the resolution of various storylines – not all of which will have happy endings, but they will bring closure nonetheless. Considering the dramatic cliffhanger, the current state of martial arts, and a death on the global stage, how does this event impact our characters? How do these experiences shape their future aspirations, helping them find positivity amidst adversity? These are questions we’ll be answering in the coming episodes. The narrative spans decades, encompassing events both recent and from long ago. We promise an exhilarating conclusion that you won’t want to miss!
A second part to that question — does that lay the groundwork for the spinoffs?
In watching the final episode of “Cobra Kai,” it’s evident that numerous spinoff possibilities have been subtly hinted at throughout its six-season narrative, both intentionally and unintentionally. Thus, while the show may extinguish our love for “The Karate Kid,” our yearning to explore within the “Karate Kid” universe persists. The story primarily focuses on Johnny Lawrence’s [played by William Zabka] redemption arc, which is coming to an end. However, during this journey, we’ve encountered a plethora of characters and delved into their pasts and backstories. I believe that upon completing the series, you will be left wanting more, either by exploring these characters further or uncovering where their futures may lead. There will undoubtedly be many opportunities for such stories in those final episodes.
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Currently, you can stream Cobra Kai’s first two parts on Netflix. The third part of the final season will be available starting February 13, 2025.
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2024-11-18 19:55