The final part of Cobra Kai season six came out on February 13, 2025. With this, an entire franchise has come to a full close. We finally see peaceful endings with Johnny, Daniel, and the rest of the Valley kids.
Cobra Kai follows Johnny Lawrence thirty years after the events of The Karate Kid, in which he was beaten by his high-school rival, Daniel LaRusso, in the All-Valley karate tournament. It seemed like from the beginning, Johnny still harbored bitter feelings towards Daniel, which lasted throughout most of the show. In the final season, both men have grown a great friendship, much to the shock of many characters.
The third part follows the dojos after the disastrous outcome of the Sekai-Taikai, where Kwon fatefully dies by being impaled by the same knife he was going to kill Axel with. This was a severe and shocking cliffhanger, and it seemed like the tournament would be over.
However, this cliffhanger is now resolved, showing that Kwon has died and had a funeral hosted in his honor by his dojo Cobra Kai. The Sekai Taikai abruptly stops, leaving all of the characters to go back to their daily lives before karate. Eventually, the tournament is brought back on because of Terry Silver and his pushy efforts in bringing the championship back—this time not in Barcelona, but in the All-Valley itself.
The All-Valley was where The Karate Kid ended, which makes it a great parallel to see the show Cobra Kai end as well. This is an example of a stylistic choice that the producers voiced in the show.
There were several more stylistic approaches that the producers approached, such as showcasing darker lighting towards Daniel and Johnny–displaying their weary and tired faces. It’s clear that abstaining from karate has gone to their heads and caused them to look older. Later on in the season when they agree to play in the Sekai Taikai, this contrasts their facial expressions. As both men agree to joining the tournament again, it’s obvious that the light is back on their faces, eager to go back to practicing the sport that they love.
The producers made many parallels from the first season to the last season of Cobra Kai. This was shown the most in the last episode when we see the flashback memories of Johnny’s match in the Karate Kid and his final match against Sensei Wolf. The quick flash to the past and to the present really shows the character development of Johnny and how much a person changes after thirty years.
To add on, Johnny’s relationship with Kreese has intensified this season and it shows that he truly is trying to make amends with his former student. The private moment the two shared was very emotional and heartwarming, displaying how far the two of them have come.
Another parallel is shown when Miguel becomes the boy’s winner of the Sekai Taikai, as the champion of Cobra Kai, just the same as when he becomes the winner in the first season at the All-Valley. Although Miguel’s been a part of three dojos, Cobra Kai, Eagle Fang, and Miyagi-do, this last season shows that he went back to where he originally started.
Going back to the winners of the Sekai Taikai, seeing that Tory wins as the female champion is yet again another side-by-side of when she wins in the fourth season. This is a great opportunity for the teenager, she didn’t have much of a future outside of the All-Valley and the fact that she’s won and even picked up an advertisement agent is a great accomplishment. This is especially due to what she has been put through, taking care of her brother and the unfortunate deaths of her mother and former Cobra Kai teammate.
The more it’s stressed, and the more it’s portrayed: Sensei Wolf and Axel Kovačević are mirrors of Kreese and Johnny Lawrence. Just like Kreese, Wolf has shown to be an intimidating sensei, even going so far as to belittle and abuse his student, his ‘prized jewel.’ In both ways, Kreese and Axel have been formidable opponents and have been far more susceptible to being manipulated by these men. However, in the end, these two fighters started a small rebellion against their senseis and defied them.
In the end, the conclusion of Cobra Kai tied up all loose ends. There’s a future and an ending to every unresolved character. Every villain from the Karate Kid movies is gone and locked up for good. Although this show has ended, there is another movie coming, named Karate Kid: Legends, coming out May 30, 2025.
Will it be just as good as the Karate Kid movies? Or will it have a modern spin just like in Cobra Kai?