Summary
- The Sekai Taikai Tournament will be at the heart of the final season of
Cobra Kai,
with intense training and difficult choices for the dojos. - Tory’s struggles, including her mother’s death, led to her joining Kreese in the tournament, creating complex feelings among fans.
- Fans debate who should win the tournament, with Tory seen as a deserving candidate despite her affiliation with Cobra Kai.
As a long-time Karate enthusiast and someone who has followed the Cobra Kai saga since its inception, I find myself deeply invested in the characters’ journeys, particularly Tory. Having watched her transformation from a troubled student to a fierce competitor, I can’t help but root for her in this upcoming Sekai Taikai Tournament.
As a diehard fan, I’m thrilled about the sixth and concluding season of Cobra Kai, which promises to revolve around the Sekai Taikai Tournament, the grandest karate competition on a global scale. Over the first five episodes, we see Daniel (Ralph Macchio), Johnny (William Zabka), and Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) diligently training the youngsters for combat. Yet, when they discovered that only six fighters could represent each dojo in the Barcelona-based tournament, they turned to Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan) for his unbiased guidance as a sensei.
He put the kids through a set of rigorous tests, whittling down the competitors until they had the six chosen ones. But in a major twist in episode five, Tory (Peyton List), grieving from her mother’s death, gets upset and quits. She re-emerges in Barcelona with Kreese (Martin Kove) as one of the fighters competing for his reinstated Cobra Kai dojo. Even though she’s not part of Miyagi-do anymore, some fans still think Tory is the most deserving to win.
Which Cobra Kai Characters Could Win the Tournament?
The six competitors who initially made it into the tournament for Miyago-do were Sam (Mary Mouser), Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), Robby (Tanner Buchanan), Devon (Oona O’Brien), Demetri (Gianni DeCenzo), and Tory. With Tory quitting, her spot was offered to Hawk instead. Robby won the fight between him and Miguel to be team captain, and Sam won by default since her fight with Tory was cut short when Amanda (Courtney Henggeler) learned of Tory’s mother’s passing and urged them to stop.
On the Cobra Kai team, Tory isn’t the only notable character – Brandon H. Lee’s character Kwon and Daniel Kim’s Yoon also stand out. If the competition is divided by gender, it leaves Tory facing off against Sam and Devon. For the male competitors, Hawk and Demetri both express a desire to win, but it doesn’t appear as urgent for them as it does for others. Miguel, often the underdog, really needs this victory to show something impressive on his college application. Robby, on the other hand, needs this win to demonstrate his worth, not just to himself but also to those who doubted him or thought he wouldn’t achieve anything significant. With no plans for higher education and lacking academic skills, this competition might be all Robby has left.
For the female readers, Sam is determined to show herself and possibly even her father and Mr. Miyagi (the late Pat Morita) something significant. However, throughout the entire series, Tory has faced numerous hardships. Although she may come off as a bully, it’s important to remember that she has endured a difficult life. With an absent father who was likely abusive and a mother who fell ill when she was young, Tory had to shoulder the responsibilities of both a teenager and a surrogate mother to her younger brother for many years, a burden that no teenager should have to bear.
In my life as a dedicated cinephile, I’ve juggled numerous jobs just to make ends meet, all while balancing my academic responsibilities and karate training. It seems effortless for privileged individuals like Sam to glide through life. Yet, unlike the fortunate ones with supportive families, I stand alone, often misjudged and labeled as a villain before people truly understand me.
After securing a victory, Tory uncovers that Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) bribed the referees, which spoils the one instance she truly felt triumphant and at the pinnacle of success. To add insult to injury, Kreese continually undermines her confidence by implying she’ll never surpass Sam and won’t earn the same level of respect as a fighter. It’s no surprise then that Tory opted to team up with Kreese, hoping he could be her ticket to victory.
Why Fans Want Tory to Win in Cobra Kai
The predicament is ambiguous as fans hope Tory emerges victorious, yet not due to her Cobra Kai affiliation. If others see how crucial this win is for her personal growth, even her former allies might be pleased for her success, regardless of the dojo she represents. Miguel also faces struggles, but he’s fortunate to have a supportive family, comprising his mother, grandmother, Johnny, an upcoming little sister, and Robby in an unofficial brotherly role. Notably, Robby has endured tough circumstances, such as growing up with a neglectful mother and being distant from his father for most of his life.
In essence, both Robby and Miguel appear to have discovered a measure of joy in their lives. Robby has formed a new “make-believe” family with Miguel and rekindled his bond with his father. Despite a challenging phase, he appears to be thriving, albeit uncertain about his future beyond high school. To put it simply, fans might rejoice equally whether Robby or Miguel emerges victorious on the male side of the competition.
Unlike Sam, who’s had her fair share of victories in legitimate battles, Tory hasn’t managed a significant win yet. When it comes to genuine competition, Sam has consistently outperformed her. Currently, following the loss of her mother, Tory feels more isolated than ever. Despite having figures like Amanda watching over her, she is susceptible to those with more persuasive personalities, such as Kreese, who unfortunately take advantage of her vulnerability.
Tory persists in making poor choices due to manipulation and therefore shouldn’t be penalized. It’s worth noting that Cobra Kai functions as a tale of redemption for Johnny, who wasn’t truly the antagonist in The Karate Kid; he was merely a young man influenced by Kreese. Analogously, Tory can be seen as the modern-day equivalent of Johnny. She has an opportunity to change the narrative, particularly if she emerges victorious not due to Kreese but in spite of him.
What Cobra Kai Fans Have to Say
There’s a lot of discussion about matchups between Miguel vs. Robby, and Sam vs. Tory. If there are separate divisions based on gender, fans tend to support Tory in the female division, while some believe Robby should win in the male division. This is because both pairs made a promise at the start to win together.
Reddit user Asheto320 expresses their desire for Tory to prevail, demonstrating that “each approach [in karate] has its merits.” Meanwhile, user AppealWeak9081 points out a poignant fact about the character, suggesting she’s been battling throughout her life, primarily to endure. This resonates with a comment Tory recalled from her mother when she was young; her mother had told her that she needed to fight in life, and Tory interprets this instruction literally, employing the only method she is familiar with.
Yankees7687 notes that instead of focusing on the karate competition or choosing captains, everyone seemed preoccupied when they learned Tory’s mother had passed away. “Nobody seemed to say ‘Let’s put this contest and captain selection aside for now. Tory needs us more than anything at this moment.'” Thus, it is understandable that she chose to leave, and giving the victory to Cobra Kai in this situation might be fair.
Despite some opinions suggesting otherwise, it’s plausible that Sam might triumph due to her strong ties with Daniel and the rich legacy of Miyagi-do. As Redditor Forward-Piece-8421 puts it, “Sam, like Daniel, has a deep connection to Miyagi-do that seems to be intertwined with her personal identity. Winning could significantly boost the dojo’s reputation and uphold her family name. It could make for an intriguing storyline.”
One especially poignant comment, however, suggests that Tory’s redemption ironically needs to come without a win. “For her to move on and live positively without relying on a trophy for her self-esteem or to solidify her future would be a start,” writes After-Ad-3806. “The likelihood of her winning such stiff competition is slim, and she needs to begin to set new, healthy goals for herself.”
Thus, when it comes to winning or losing, perhaps the most important thing for Tory is not whether she wins or loses the Sekai Taikai Tournament. It’s that she gets the redemption she deserves and becomes a better person, no matter the outcome. Once she works on herself, Tory could easily become a force to be reckoned with on the mat. She’s young and has lots of time to hone her skills. For now, personal growth is the most important storyline for the character. You can stream Cobra Kai on Netflix. Episodes 1-5 of Season 6 are available now, with five more episodes coming November 15, 2024, and the final five on an unconfirmed date in 2025.
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2024-08-18 03:01