Cobra Kai is back. It seemed I could not resist nostalgia again this time. But after season 1 finale leaving us like that I needed to to watch season 2. So how did it fare? Huge spoilers ahead.
Well I am an actual emotional mess.
School summer holiday were about training in Karate, Cobra Kai and Miyagi-do way. Kreese is back in town and has his struggles and while Johnny gives him a second chance, you just sense there is something off. It's John Kreese. He's faked death more than once and knows when to strike. He was willing to get by Johnny's Cobra Kai approach which was be honourable while being a BAMF as well.
Obviously this causes a few changes in the Cobra Kai dojo students. Miguel thank god did not go as deep as the likes of Hawk. He probably had the biggest character development in season 2. Apart from supposedly getting over his break up with Sam by going with new girl Tory with a y (wait, doesn't that sound familiar? "Hi I'm Ali with an I"). That hot-headed girl does not mess around at all and it doesn't take long for her to instantly dislike Sam when Sam sees her stealing alcoholic drinks at a party and the fact she is Miguel's ex. Hawk fell down the rabbit hole and became more of a bully, how reminiscent of the old Karate Kid film with the original Cobra Kai gang. It's understandable he wanted to completely rebrand himself as some bad boy and get rid of the geek who had a weird lip but he did not want to show mercy. It also cost him his girlfriend Moon who left him after finding he was behaving badly.
Demetri being chased by Hawk and other Cobra Kai goons...with the same music played when Daniel was being chased by Johnny at that Halloween party is nostalgic. What's even more nostalgic and heartbreaking is when Johnny meets up with his old friends and they go on a road trip/bike trip with Matches' The Ride playing. Tommy, Jimmy and Bobby all meet in the hospital as Tommy is dying and they all reminisce in a bar to catch up on old times. Yes he did get a body bag. That is a tragically sad but true pun. Writers you are smart.
Aisha barely had screen time in season 2 which was a shame as I thought she had growth in season 1 after signing up to join Cobra Kai dojo. Her friendship with Sam had been slowly dissolving since Cobra Kai interrupted Miyagi-do's demonstrations at the Valley Fest but then you know from that one glimpse in in the last episode during the ridiculously long school fight in the finale she was having trouble rooting for either Tory or Sam. If day one of a new school term was like this well no point in studying. The teachers and security letting the fights go on since they felt they didn't get paid enough well look what happened after that.
Robby needs some actual TLC but I did not expect his mother to show up in the last episode to admit she needed help and that she had to go to rehab. The fact she said Johnny does care for him and that he should go live with him proves she knows she's just as much of a mess as a parent. Daniel was kind enough to let him stay and train in Miyagi-do but after that accident in school with Miguel it's going to be a while to get things back on track. The last episode was a bit silly in not letting us see what happened to Robby afterwards. It just cut straight to the hospital. He and Sam were of course going to couple at some point though what will follow afterwards remains to be seen.
I'm still holding out for Carmen and Johnny to start again but not going to happen in a hurry (that cheeky dream Johnny had with Whitesnake in the background - so 80s rock). Johnny lost his dojo as well. Miguel is definitely his second chance of becoming a father though he deserves another chance with Robby. I imagine season 3 will be about recovering and redeeming even further for everyone. That last scene with the FB friend request by Ali...get your smartphone back Johnny. Elisabeth Shue has got to come back for season 3. If she can help Miguel out, there will be reunion between her, Johnny and Daniel.
Massive moment of LOLz is when Daniel saw negative comments on his Youtube advert for Miyagi-do. Asian white washing, cultural appropriation and being labelled Daniel LaRacist...the writers know what is up on SNS. Technically if you look at it carefully both dojos do the same thing. American Karate as Johnny jokingly called it in his video. In fact why not just label all the non-Asian/non-Japanese dojos just that with the Asian white washing? Anyone notice how Chris, the big Black guy was probably the 'Bobby' of Cobra Kai during the Hawk chasing Demetri scene when he said he already learnt his lesson?! He even started the season as a bit of an arse kisser too. There were other POC in the dojos but they didn't get much scenes (some Asian boys and the one smaller guy with glasses who fought in the school as well). I would rather not have them be in a stereotypical moment (Johnny on those hilariously fail Tinder dates including an Asian female RME) or perhaps not be included at all. Kyler don't come back for your sake.
Indeed this entire story is about toxic masculinity and pride from an old grudge. Daniel was so busy trying to work on the dojo he forgot about his own wife who always had to bring him back to reality about his own business and family. Cobra Kai knows how to honour the original story and give us modern touches to blend with the nostalgia. Cruel Summer by Bananarama is still my bop. Clearly this season was definitely a cruel summer for sure.
Official Trailer can be seen below. Roll on 2020 for season 3.
Well I am an actual emotional mess.
School summer holiday were about training in Karate, Cobra Kai and Miyagi-do way. Kreese is back in town and has his struggles and while Johnny gives him a second chance, you just sense there is something off. It's John Kreese. He's faked death more than once and knows when to strike. He was willing to get by Johnny's Cobra Kai approach which was be honourable while being a BAMF as well.
Obviously this causes a few changes in the Cobra Kai dojo students. Miguel thank god did not go as deep as the likes of Hawk. He probably had the biggest character development in season 2. Apart from supposedly getting over his break up with Sam by going with new girl Tory with a y (wait, doesn't that sound familiar? "Hi I'm Ali with an I"). That hot-headed girl does not mess around at all and it doesn't take long for her to instantly dislike Sam when Sam sees her stealing alcoholic drinks at a party and the fact she is Miguel's ex. Hawk fell down the rabbit hole and became more of a bully, how reminiscent of the old Karate Kid film with the original Cobra Kai gang. It's understandable he wanted to completely rebrand himself as some bad boy and get rid of the geek who had a weird lip but he did not want to show mercy. It also cost him his girlfriend Moon who left him after finding he was behaving badly.
Demetri being chased by Hawk and other Cobra Kai goons...with the same music played when Daniel was being chased by Johnny at that Halloween party is nostalgic. What's even more nostalgic and heartbreaking is when Johnny meets up with his old friends and they go on a road trip/bike trip with Matches' The Ride playing. Tommy, Jimmy and Bobby all meet in the hospital as Tommy is dying and they all reminisce in a bar to catch up on old times. Yes he did get a body bag. That is a tragically sad but true pun. Writers you are smart.
Aisha barely had screen time in season 2 which was a shame as I thought she had growth in season 1 after signing up to join Cobra Kai dojo. Her friendship with Sam had been slowly dissolving since Cobra Kai interrupted Miyagi-do's demonstrations at the Valley Fest but then you know from that one glimpse in in the last episode during the ridiculously long school fight in the finale she was having trouble rooting for either Tory or Sam. If day one of a new school term was like this well no point in studying. The teachers and security letting the fights go on since they felt they didn't get paid enough well look what happened after that.
Robby needs some actual TLC but I did not expect his mother to show up in the last episode to admit she needed help and that she had to go to rehab. The fact she said Johnny does care for him and that he should go live with him proves she knows she's just as much of a mess as a parent. Daniel was kind enough to let him stay and train in Miyagi-do but after that accident in school with Miguel it's going to be a while to get things back on track. The last episode was a bit silly in not letting us see what happened to Robby afterwards. It just cut straight to the hospital. He and Sam were of course going to couple at some point though what will follow afterwards remains to be seen.
I'm still holding out for Carmen and Johnny to start again but not going to happen in a hurry (that cheeky dream Johnny had with Whitesnake in the background - so 80s rock). Johnny lost his dojo as well. Miguel is definitely his second chance of becoming a father though he deserves another chance with Robby. I imagine season 3 will be about recovering and redeeming even further for everyone. That last scene with the FB friend request by Ali...get your smartphone back Johnny. Elisabeth Shue has got to come back for season 3. If she can help Miguel out, there will be reunion between her, Johnny and Daniel.
Massive moment of LOLz is when Daniel saw negative comments on his Youtube advert for Miyagi-do. Asian white washing, cultural appropriation and being labelled Daniel LaRacist...the writers know what is up on SNS. Technically if you look at it carefully both dojos do the same thing. American Karate as Johnny jokingly called it in his video. In fact why not just label all the non-Asian/non-Japanese dojos just that with the Asian white washing? Anyone notice how Chris, the big Black guy was probably the 'Bobby' of Cobra Kai during the Hawk chasing Demetri scene when he said he already learnt his lesson?! He even started the season as a bit of an arse kisser too. There were other POC in the dojos but they didn't get much scenes (some Asian boys and the one smaller guy with glasses who fought in the school as well). I would rather not have them be in a stereotypical moment (Johnny on those hilariously fail Tinder dates including an Asian female RME) or perhaps not be included at all. Kyler don't come back for your sake.
Indeed this entire story is about toxic masculinity and pride from an old grudge. Daniel was so busy trying to work on the dojo he forgot about his own wife who always had to bring him back to reality about his own business and family. Cobra Kai knows how to honour the original story and give us modern touches to blend with the nostalgia. Cruel Summer by Bananarama is still my bop. Clearly this season was definitely a cruel summer for sure.
Official Trailer can be seen below. Roll on 2020 for season 3.