Cobra Kai: Johnny’s Ultimate Comeback & Mr. Miyagi’s AI Return Explained

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SPOILER ALERT: The final five episodes of “Cobra Kai” are now streaming on Netflix.

Cobra Kai never dies, but Netflix’s popular karate action series has sadly come to an end.

Following its debut in 2018 on YouTube Red, a now-defunct streaming platform, “Cobra Kai” concluded its narrative journey after six seasons and 65 episodes. It managed to persist through two Hollywood strikes and made a successful transition to Netflix.

Following years of relentless battles, always taking the offensive, and showing no quarter, every “Cobra Kai” character received a fitting resolution in the last five episodes of Season 6 Part 3. The global Sekai Taikai tournament, temporarily halted due to the tragic accidental death of Cobra Kai’s Kwon (Brandon H. Lee), resumed once more, bringing immense delight to Daniel (Ralph Macchio), Johnny (William Zabka), and their dedicated pupils.

The championship showdown features the Iron Dragons, headed by Sensei Wolf (Lewis Tan), against Cobra Kai, now under the guidance of Johnny, following his emotional conversation with a reformed Kreese (Martin Kove). Tory (Peyton List) defeats Zara (Rayna Valladingham) to win the girls division, while Axel (Patrick Luwis) and Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), who stepped in for an injured Robby (Tanner Buchanan), compete for the boys title. Miguel emerges victorious, but a surprise turn of events occurs as Cobra Kai and the Iron Dragons end up with equal points. This necessitates a final battle between their mentors to determine the winner. The climactic fight brings everything full circle as Johnny triumphs over Wolf, earning his first championship title, nearly 40 years after losing to Daniel in “The Karate Kid.

Eventually, Johnny makes it onto the Sports Illustrated cover and purchases a home for his expanding family; he and Daniel ultimately develop into true friends and train offense and defense to new Cobra Kai trainees; Robby and Tory emerge as karate ambassadors; and Sam (Mary Mouser) departs for an exchange program in Okinawa, but Miguel delays his move to Palo Alto for Stanford to accompany her for a few weeks prior.

In an engaging conversation with EbMaster, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg share insights about the concluding episodes, their appearances, and future plans for the “Cobra Kai” universe. They also delve into the process of recreating Pat Morita’s character, Mr. Miyagi, in the significant episode titled “Skeletons,” where Daniel confronts both physical and symbolic ghosts from his past while being guided by his late mentor.

Looking back to when you created the show back in 2018 for YouTube Red, was this always the ending you envisioned?

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can confidently say that the ending of our series was the culmination we had envisioned all along. Of course, not every line of dialogue or character in the final episode was a part of our original mental blueprint – that would be an overwhelming task to maintain such intricate details. However, when it comes to the major plot points, themes, emotional moments, and the resolution of key characters like Johnny and Daniel, we had a clear vision in our minds. We didn’t want to take off on this journey without having a solid landing plan.

Unexpected twists and turns, such as the Sekai Taikai, weren’t part of our initial forecast, but we’re ecstatic that they presented themselves. What truly matters is that we were able to deliver our intended conclusion, one that reflects our original intentions for this story since its inception.

What was the most emotional sendoff or final episode to film?

The reason there are so many memorable scenes in Cobra Kai is due to our deep connection with the characters and actors over six seasons. Each significant moment, particularly the conversation between Johnny and Kreese, was filled with raw emotion. A notable instance is when they had a heated discussion, and Johnny expressed his resentment while Kreese offered an apology. This portrayal of a student struggling to forgive, yet learning to accept certain traits from Kreese that he admires, paves the way for him to progress and reclaim Cobra Kai. This scene is incredibly intense, made even more so by the fact that these actors have shared this on-screen bond for 40 years. For fans, it’s a truly immersive experience, as they witness Johnny’s tears and the return of his teenage self. The authenticity of the performance, coupled with the emotional atmosphere during filming, touched everyone involved.

Johnny still has his brash, non-PC sense of humor to the very end — he even calls a new Cobra Kai student Four Eyes. Did you always want him to go through this personal journey but maintain his same sense of humor?

Johnny Lawrence remains Johnny Lawrence at heart, but we aimed to develop a more advanced version of him. We didn’t want an abrupt transformation into a nice guy or a softie; he still retains his toughness. However, his bluntness stems from a genuine place now. When he nicknames someone Four Eyes, it’s part of his training philosophy, as he believes this approach won’t harm the student but will strengthen them to become a better person. The final scene was one of those moments that gave us goosebumps on set. As fans of the original show, we remember the early episodes where Johnny was in the dojo, and watching him teach a class now brings back those nostalgic feelings. But now, we see a Johnny Lawrence who has tamed the Cobra Kai spirit, and he embodies the words on the wall to be the best version of oneself – he’s now the best version of himself.

In the final episode, Johnny teaches a new definition of Cobra Kai’s motto “Strike Hard. Strike First. No Mercy” that’s about bringing out the best in his students and pushing them. How did you land on that new meaning?

Heald discusses the Cobra Kai philosophy: We explored a multitude of viewpoints concerning the Cobra Kai creed. “Is it adaptable? Does it truly exist? Is it something fresh or does it develop?” Our decision was guided by what felt most genuine to Cobra Kai. This series isn’t about Cobra Kai undergoing transformation, but rather about the individual guiding the lessons, using its influence to teach everyone in that room what it represents and interpreting it for them. We aimed to avoid implying that this philosophy is inherently flawed. Instead, we emphasize that certain actions are wrong. Words are just words, but they can inspire if perceived correctly, enabling one to reach their full potential. After considering all options, this was the path we chose.

We saw Mr. Miyagi return in Part 2, but now we see him fight alongside Daniel. How did you find the right body double to play Mr. Miyagi?

I was the one you saw, our exceptional fight choreographer – Don Lee. He shares a resemblance with Pat Morita, though he’s leaner than Pat was. To mimic Pat’s physique more accurately, Don would occasionally stuff a pillow under his shirt. Throughout our journey together, Don has been an invaluable addition to our team. The captivating fight scenes you’ve witnessed on this show are a testament to his incredible talent. It was a profound privilege for Don to embody one of his most revered heroes.

Before the season began, we discussed with Ralph what he would want to see in this final chapter. He was aware that we were crafting the story of Daniel grappling with Miyagi’s memories and learning fresh insights about him. Ralph was enamored by the prospect of him and Pat sharing screen time once more, made possible by the advanced technologies at our disposal. We too were excited about the idea of Daniel requiring his final lesson from Miyagi. In this tale, Miyagi appears to him, they engage in a fight, and he imparts some final words of wisdom that guide Daniel on his journey ahead.

How did you create the look of Mr. Miyagi’s face so it wouldn’t have that uncanny valley effect?

Schlossberg: Just keep persisting. Watch as each iteration improves, and it becomes less unsettling and grotesque with each pass. The early versions can be quite disheartening, and you might think, “Oh my goodness, did we take the wrong turn here?” But they reassure you that it’s going to be disturbing until it’s not, in essence. We suspect in the back of our minds that these are dream sequences, allowing us some flexibility regarding precise accuracy. We share this feeling about visual effects and special effects in general: You work with the budget you have, do your best, and hope the audience will suspend their disbelief. They understand what we’re aiming for here. We know story-wise it’s the right decision, and we strive to make the most of the technology available.

Did you use any archival footage or AI to recreate him?

As a passionate cinephile, I’ve found myself immersed in an extraordinary creative process. Instead of utilizing archival footage for our film, we meticulously shot key scenes featuring Don, the fight, and his entrance. These elements were captured authentically on camera.

However, we enlisted a VFX company with deepfake technology to bring Pat Morita’s character to life in the digital realm. We provided them with countless details, from the shape of his head to how his hair sat on it, all based on reference photos and iconic moments like Mr. Miyagi from ‘The Karate Kid.’

We went through numerous iterations, refining every detail until we felt we had captured the essence of Pat Morita’s performance. Then, a voice-soundalike actor was brought in to deliver the lines with an emotion reminiscent of the original actor.

To further enhance the authenticity, we used AI technology to match the voice with archival audio from Pat Morita. The end result is not a literal recreation of the man, but rather a heartfelt tribute to our hero, striving to bridge the gap between reality and remembrance while ensuring viewers are aware that they’re witnessing a digital interpretation.

Josh and Jon, you both appear in a scene at the very end where you’re playing producers discussing making a “Back to the Future” TV show. How did you decide to put yourselves in the show?

Heald: Jon and I found ourselves wanting to add a small touch to the series. Cleverly, Hayden portrayed Terry Silver’s lawyer. We were aiming for something that wouldn’t disrupt the storyline significantly or steal too much attention. Given that we had this scene where we catch a glimpse of Johnny and Daniel’s new friendship in the Valley – let’s head to the Best Friends restaurant and watch other friends interact. Since we’re in Los Angeles, these friends could be producers, discussing a potential revival of an ’80s property. This was quite self-referential for those characters to engage in such a conversation within the scope of this show.

The film “Karate Kid: Legends” is set to hit theaters this summer, featuring Ralph Macchio reprising his role as Daniel. However, could this mark the conclusion of the “Karate Kid” and “Cobra Kai” universe?

Speaker: Our aim is to linger longer than our time in this universe permits, as long as they’ll allow us. As of now, there’s nothing concrete we can discuss, but we’ve always been brainstorming ways to keep developing stories within this universe alongside Sony and Netflix. We will keep having these discussions until there’s an announcement about any official developments. The saga of Cobra Kai may come to an end, but the characters might return in some form or another. This is the conclusion of the main series, however, it doesn’t mean we won’t see these characters again in the future.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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2025-02-14 03:53