Cobra Kai Recap: Road Houses

As a longtime fan of the Karate Kid franchise, I’ve grown up watching Johnny Lawrence struggle with his demons and try to find his place in the world. His latest journey is no exception, as he grapples with providing for his family and embracing the teachings of Miyagi-Do karate.

As someone who has been following the Cobra Kai series from the very beginning, I must confess that I’m not a big fan of episodes heavily focused on John Kreese. Don’t get me wrong, I find it intriguing to see how the character’s backstory connects to the original Karate Kid storyline, with Barrett Carnahan brilliantly portraying a younger version of Martin Kove’s iconic character. However, after witnessing numerous flashbacks that delve deep into Kreese’s past since the gloomy third season, I can’t help but feel that this aspect of the show has become somewhat repetitive.

In “The Prize,” it is revealed that Kreese and Terry Silver studied under Master Kim Sun-Yung in South Korea. The flashback at the start of the episode shows their involvement in Da-Eun’s early education. Similar to George Bluth, Master Kim enjoys imparting intricate teachings to assess his students’ preparedness. This aspect is significant in the current storyline. Surprisingly, the legendary Kim Sun-Yung, who was only mentioned by Silver in a single line in “The Karate Kid Part III,” is indeed still alive. He is now portrayed by actor C.S. Lee, known for his roles in “Dexter” and “For All Mankind.” Although I haven’t seen his birth certificate, Master Kim might hold the title of the oldest man in the world.

At Kim Da-Eun’s dojo, Kreese makes an anticipated appearance with a proposal: They will join forces and compete in the Sekai Taikai using the spot Da-Eun earned with Cobra Kai. This collaboration aims to spread her grandfather’s karate to the global community, similar to how Daniel used tournaments to promote Mr. Miyagi’s teachings. However, Master Kim is alive but displeased with Da-Eun’s inability to finalize the deal due to Silver’s interference. He will only endorse this partnership if Kreese demonstrates a commitment beyond just winning the competition.

The task at hand: Master Kim misplaced an old, ceremonial knife named eunjangdo, which he had lost during a boyhood battle against Japanese invaders under colonial rule. (He reportedly killed around a dozen of them.) When Kreese reaches for the blade, he receives a painful bite from the protective snake guarding it. This encounter triggers a sequence of hallucinations, reminiscent of his therapy sessions last season where similar hallucinations occurred. However, unlike those previous sessions, Johnny appears in his original form and not as a de-aged person. He goads Kreese with his hatred, causing him to feel hurt for the first time. This vulnerability enables Kreese to acknowledge Johnny as his true adversary once more, ultimately leading him to kill this version of Johnny.

The vision quest was an extra step, but once Kreese managed to obtain the knife by defeating the snake initially, he grasped Master Kim’s fundamental teaching. It wasn’t just about focusing on the goal. It was about getting rid of anything obstructing the path to the goal. Now, with this newfound comprehension and Master Kim’s approval, Kreese is ready to move forward.

In the Valley, people are going about their regular business. However, an unexpected issue like a broken sewage pipe at the Diazes’ home causes concern, particularly for Miguel who dreams of attending Stanford. Overhearing his mother’s worried conversation with Johnny about the tuition costs makes him proactive and visit the college fair to explore alternative, more affordable options.

Demetri and Eli accompany Miguel on a visit to College of the Valley, a tiny institution with a party reputation that Demetri jokes is similar to University of Phoenix if it weren’t online. The duo doesn’t have many responsibilities during this tour. However, their interest shifts when they encounter Kyler and Brucks. They become fixated on discovering how Brucks managed to gain admission to MIT, unaware that he is actually attending “Midwest Industrial Training” instead.

I was deeply invested in Kyler’s storyline in “Cobra Kai.” He once served as Miguel’s primary antagonist, known for his bullying ways. However, just like in the show, feuds don’t last long among immature kids, and they often grow out of their insecurities. In the latest finale, Kyler joined Cobra Kai, but little did he know that the frat brothers would exploit him and then abandon him once they’d used him for their labor. This twist made me feel a pang of sympathy for Kyler as he plotted his revenge against those who had treated him like a “human vacuum.”

Another fraternity quickly offers Kyler a place, and he helps Miguel realize that he should go after his dreams instead of immediately settling for something that falls short. Johnny, meanwhile, is learning the opposite lesson: Sometimes, you need to be realistic, buckle down, and work. If he’s going to provide for a rapidly growing family, he’ll need a job.

Prior to reaching our destination, Johnny sets out on a house hunting journey for the Lawrence-Diaz clan, accompanied by Chozen who brings along his extensive real estate knowledge gleaned from watching “Selling Sunset.” However, their experience is marred when they encounter an agent named Baz. Baz becomes irritating to them, primarily due to his rejection of Johnny, who tries to present himself as an unstable tenant. Yet, Johnny manages to maintain his composure and doesn’t resort to violence, a significant achievement for him. He is making great strides in adopting Miyagi-Do philosophy with Chozen’s guidance.

An old acquaintance from school, referred to as Little Stevie, owns a couple of houses up for rent. This could be an excellent opportunity for Johnny. However, since instructing karate at Miyagi-Do doesn’t generate significant income, he must find employment. With ease, he decides to follow Daniel’s path and enter the car sales industry instead. Daniel expresses doubts, but Johnny swiftly demonstrates his potential, eventually securing his first nine-to-five job. I never imagined this day would come.

In simpler terms, the current storyline isn’t extremely engaging yet, as we spend quite a bit of time on Kreese. However, we are only at the beginning of this long-awaited final season. The personal and overall plot developments are essential, even if it includes some less serious scenes. I’m willing to accept the occasional comedic interludes. Fortunately, there is a new formidable immortal sensei antagonist joining us for the ride.

Mr. Miyagi’s Little Trees

• “Your incompetence is why I must stay alive” goes hard.

John isn’t particularly fussy about what constitutes an excellent home: “Wow, this place is amazing. It even has stairs.”

It’s amusing to watch Chozen skillfully exaggerate Johnny’s background, referring to him as a “business partner in the Valley’s up-and-coming industry,” but Johnny undermines this impression when he reveals his meager bank account balance.

Steve Young, nicknamed Little Stevie, admired Johnny from observing him compete in the 1983 All Valley tournament. Sadly, he missed the following year’s event.

Kyler asked, “Do you really believe West Valley High would allow me back?” Miguel responded with a puzzled expression, asking, “Why on earth would that be?” or “Why would you even think that’s possible?”

“Amanda LaRusso guessed, ‘I bet there’s a bologna sandwich and a stack of unwanted mail in that briefcase.’ Her witty comment marked an amusing moment this season.”

• Johnny, selling a car: “Congratulations. You’re gonna look so hot in this.”

2024-07-22 20:05

Cobra Kai Recap: Road Houses

Mr. Miyagi’s Little Trees

Read More

Minority Mindset