8 Things We Loved, and 4 We Didn't

However, contrary to what the popular Karate Kid song says, this year there are a few things that “keep it down.” The biggest is that three-part final season structure. The first five episodes are paced well, with some very intriguing storylines, but they leave us hanging. There’s this undeniable feeling that the wait for not just the next five, but the five after that, is going to be brutal. Then again, we’d rather have five than none. There are more specifics too, which we get into below with full spoilers.

Picking up where the fifth season left off, Cobra Kai season six, part one sees Daniel LaRusso’s (Ralph Macchio) Miyagi-Do Karate teaming up with Johnny Lawrence’s (William Zabka) Eagle Fang Karate into one happy family. But after Sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) escaped prison last season, what does he have in store for his former student and rival? Below, read about the eight things we loved, and four we didn’t, from season six part one of Netflix’s Cobra Kai.

Cobra Kai season 6 — The core four of Cobra Kai – Netflix

We loved: A Valley at Peace

After five seasons of Daniel, Johnny, and their students fighting each other for every reason imaginable, it was nice to finally see everyone on the same team. It felt earned. It felt right. And then, of course, it set up a lot of excellent infighting.

We loved: The new bad guy

As Kreese learns more about his new Cobras, he focuses on Kwon, played by Brandon H. Lee. And, well, everyone in the world is about to fall for this kid. He’s the perfect Karate Kid villain. Handsome, roguish, a total asshole, and an even bigger badass. Almost certainly he’s the character one of the Miyagi-Dos will fight in the end.

We didn’t love: Chozen’s disappearance

Now, I love Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) in Karate Kid. I even love him this season, with all the HGTV jokes and whatnot. But the last we see him, it seems like he’s going back to Okinawa to profess his love for Kumiko and then… he just never comes back. We would’ve liked a little more closure there. Though we’re sure it’s coming.

We loved: Mike Barnes

I’ve always been a huge Mike Barnes fan and his return last season was awesome. But to then bring him back this season as the objective judge to pick the kids for the Sekai Taikai was a stroke of genius. We know he’s a hugely talented martial artist. We know he’s turned a page, and we learn a bit more about the character’s story too. When he says he wanted to compete in the tournament himself, but screwed it up, the Karate Kid Part III emotions were riding high.

We loved: The Miyagi cliffhanger

While the cliffhanger of our main characters arriving at the Sekai Taikai is one thing, the huge reveal about Miyagi is something else entirely. Miyagi competed in the Sekai Taikai? I thought he always said he never competed for points. It’s such a cool, potentially game-changing nugget to drop right there at the end.

We didn’t love: Barcelona

Now, granted, we haven’t seen much of Barcelona yet and obviously it’s a very gorgeous, historic city. But I don’t know. It just felt like a tiny bit underwhelming after all this build-up of where the Sekai Taikai could be it was just—Barcelona. I do have a feeling I’ll be eating my words on this come the next few episodes though.

We loved: Sekai Taikai games

I really, really loved that fourth episode. Not only did it bring back Mike Barnes, but it had this game show vibe with all the kids competing in various challenges. It brought a really fun, unique energy to the season and gave the opportunity to feature characters we know and love but sometimes don’t get the screen time they deserve.

We loved: Kreese’s Mind

Part one of the season sees John Kreese inherit a whole new set of students while also diving into his past. That means we get to see the younger versions of Kreese and Terry Silver again, which is always awesome, and Master Kim sends him on a quest. A quest that reveals his one true weakness is Johnny Lawrence. It’s all very important insight into what makes the evil sensei tick.

Cobra Kai season 6 will peek into Miyagi's past. — Cobra Kai season 6 will peek into Miyagi’s past. – Netflix

We didn’t love: Miyagi’s past

The cliffhanger part of this was great but leading up to that, it missed the mark. The idea to dive into Mr. Miyagi’s past is the boldest storytelling decision in this sixth and final season and it feels a little odd and misguided. Miyagi beat a guy to death and was friends with some guy who owned a boxing gym. Um, okay? And that guy’s grandson is still there? Again, it was just a confusing, underwhelming reveal of what is, at least, the first piece of this story.

We loved: Devon’s arc

The character with arguably the most interesting arc over the first five episodes is Devon, played by Oona O’Brien. To see her struggle to get noticed and finally sabotage one of her own teammates just to get ahead was both really complex and heartbreaking. We can’t wait to see how that impacts her moving ahead.

We loved: Johnny’s family

One of the most satisfying parts of everything being peaceful in the Valley is that Johnny and Miguel’s mom, Carmen (Vanessa Rubio), are now living together as they await their new baby. That means that Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) and Robbie (Tanner Buchanan) are kind of like brothers, which rules, and the dynamics with the grandma and eventual need for Johnny to grow up were all excellent.

We didn’t love: Tori’s turn

We understand that there had to be some major shake-up in terms of the Miyagi-Do students and, especially in the core four of Miguel, Sam, Robbie, and Tori. Tori losing her mom was sad enough but to then see her disconnect from her friends instead of embracing them and then go back with Kreese? It was pretty upsetting. Which certainly was the point, but we don’t like it.

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