Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 3 Brings Back A Karate Kid Legend For A Much-Needed Scene

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Contains spoilers for “Cobra Kai” Season 6, Episodes 13 and 15 — “Skeletons” and “Ex-Degenerate”

In the sixth season of “Cobra Kai,” Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) experiences turmoil. What throws him off balance is ultimately what helps him: a dream visit from his deceased mentor, Nariyoshi Miyagi (Pat Morita). Through this dream, Daniel is able to reevaluate his feelings towards Mr. Miyagi as a significant influence in his life, placing him appropriately within the emotional context of Daniel’s experiences. This doesn’t transform Mr. Miyagi into a villain; instead, it humanizes him, showing that he too has imperfections, just like Daniel, when dealing with his own students.

The cameo, despite needing extensive computer editing, still hits the mark perfectly. The blend of old footage, CGI, and AI audio might seem a bit unsettling (like crossing over into the “uncanny valley”), but its emotional punch is undeniable. It surpasses an earlier season’s cameo in this regard. Lately, Daniel seems to be obsessed with Mr. Miyagi. Can you recall his previous dream about him? Also, how did the creators of “Cobra Kai” manage to create the illusion of Miyagi? Let’s delve into it.

Why has Daniel been so preoccupied with Mr. Miyagi in Season 6?

Throughout much of Season 6, Daniel LaRusso found himself deeply engrossed in understanding and safeguarding the legacy of his late mentor, Mr. Miyagi. During the process of preparing his team for the Sekai Taikai, he stumbled upon some old newspaper articles that hinted at a shocking truth: as a young man, Miyagi had fatally defeated one of his opponents in the same tournament.

Because Miyagi taught Daniel a more refined, harmonious, and intellectually demanding form of karate compared to what Cobra Kai and other dojos offer, Daniel was taken aback by the surprising news. Additionally, it shattered a fundamental rule about the virtuous Mr. Miyagi, leaving fans in disbelief. Previous seasons, including Season 3 which revealed that Mr. Miyagi passed away from a long illness in 2011, had portrayed him as an angelic figure. This recent development is indeed surprising.

In Episode 10 of Season 6, titled “Eunjangdo,” Daniel harbors such a strong resistance to the idea that Mr. Miyagi has imperfections that he dreams about being severely beaten by his mentor. As the crowd roars, Miyagi confronts Daniel in the dream, stating that he withheld information about his darker side because Daniel could never accept the truth. Daniel wakes up disoriented, and it’s not until Episode 13, “Skeletons,” that he comes to terms with his mentor’s complexities.

What happened between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi during Episode 13?

In Episode 13 titled “Skeletons,” it’s Daniel who initiates the interaction with Mr. Miyagi in a dream this time. Instead of receiving blows from his mentor, Daniel challenges him and pleads for genuine answers. He reproaches Miyagi for leaving without providing any hint or solid direction about how to proceed with life. In his desperation, Daniel implores Miyagi to provide him with something to trust in – a reason to persist in the struggle.

Instead of focusing on winning or losing, Mr. Miyagi gently reminds Daniel that he’s missed the point – the crane kick isn’t just a technique for triumph, but an expression of an art form. In his quest for absolute victory, Daniel has overlooked the very joy that comes with mastering this art. After waking up rejuvenated and content, Daniel discusses Samantha’s (Mary Mouser) internal struggle concerning her education, which may distance her from Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) and the upcoming Sekai Taikai competition.

The significant present Miyagi gave Daniel was a fresh perspective on both karate and guidance. Ralph Macchio had hoped for Miyagi’s involvement in “Cobra Kai,” and this plot development certainly achieved that aim.

How Cobra Kai brought back Mr. Miyagi

In Episode 13 of “Cobra Kai”, the character played by the late Pat Morita was revived using similar methods as seen in Season 6’s second part, where Mr. Miyagi was brought back. Brian Takahashi portrayed Miyagi in scenes alongside Ralph Macchio. Digital imagery of Morita was then layered over Takahashi’s performance. The co-creators of “Cobra Kai”, Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald and Hayden Schlossberg worked closely with Morita’s family and the creator of the “Karate Kid” franchise, Robert Mark Kamen, to achieve an accurate representation. They combined various digital techniques to capture the character’s voice authentically.

Instead of using CGI to depict Miyagi in Daniel’s dreams, we find it more engaging to hire an actor who can embody the character. This approach allows us some creative liberty in portraying how Miyagi might appear at different ages, as our characters never met him when he was 30 or 40. Essentially, this decision gave us the flexibility to choose someone who could convincingly portray Mr. Miyagi, both in appearance and acting style.

It took us a significant amount of time before everyone agreed on the final digital image we created. We went through various stages, refining and adjusting until the audience could comprehend our vision. As Schlossberg told TV Insider, “We’ve seen the scariest versions, the recreations, but we finally ended up feeling really satisfied.” Given Ralph Macchio’s expressed interest in a Mr. Miyagi prequel series and his desire for “Cobra Kai” to delve into the teacher’s backstory, it seems prudent for the show to prepare this groundwork.

Mr. Miyagi’s last gift to Daniel is also a final gift to fans

Through Daniel’s dreams about Mr. Miyagi, he learned that it’s acceptable for mentors to have flaws and imperfections, and this doesn’t mean Daniel must emulate them completely. In the episode “Ex-Degenerate,” Daniel encourages Johnny (William Zabka) by explaining that Johnny and Cobra Kai are no longer obligated to follow John Kreese (Martin Kove), just as Daniel can lead Miyagi-Do towards new paths without being bound by Mr. Miyagi’s less-than-perfect past, which is not a burden he must carry.

Daniel clarifies to Johnny that their mentors are just ordinary people, much like us. He suggests that once they both understand this, they can release their past attachments, mature, and learn to embrace their own flaws as instructors and individuals. This wisdom seems to have been instrumental in helping Johnny reach the pinnacle of Sekai Taikai, and it also serves as a foundation for the two men to build a fresh friendship on the basis of this shared realization.

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2025-02-13 18:00