Cobra Kai Recap: Teacher’s Pet Sematary

As a longtime fan of the Karate Kid franchise, I’ve always held Mr. Miyagi in the highest regard. His wisdom and guidance have shaped not only Daniel’s life but also countless other students throughout the years. However, watching “Sleeper,” I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment as we uncovered yet another layer of his mysterious past.


As someone who has spent years training in martial arts and following the journey of the Miyagi-Do dojo and its students, I must admit that I was starting to feel a bit confused about the direction of this final season. But after watching the first five episodes, I’m beginning to see the bigger picture.

As a longtime fan of Cobra Kai, I must admit that this recent episode left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as eager as anyone to see how the current storyline unfolds in the upcoming episodes. But before we reach that cliffhanger, we were served with an “okay-est” episode.

Kim Da-Eun is finding it challenging to manage one student, Kwon Jae-Sung, who frequently disregards rules and exhibits boastful behavior, disrupting his classmates. However, Kreese recognizes potential in Kwon and pays more attention to him than Yoon Do-Jin, who is commonly regarded as the top student. To add fuel to the fire, Kreesse metes out harsh punishments for the entire class, infuriating Yoon enough to push Kwon down the stairs. “A champion emerges only through suffering,” Kreese explains, and when Kwon eventually confronts him, he advises the hothead to channel his anger into a meaningful cause.

Yoon behaves like an obedient pupil in the dojo, strictly adhering to every command without adding his own flair. This rigidity hinders him as a fighter. When Kwon chooses to retaliate and attack him, Yoon is unable to predict Kwon’s actions or launch any unexpected countermoves. Kreese concludes with a lesson that the only way to defeat someone with heart is by being heartless. However, this narrative feels repetitive. In the dojo setting, I prefer developing Kwon and Yoon as multidimensional characters rather than just new opponents for our heroes. Previously, we cheered for Cobra Kai fighters, and having a similar attachment to some of those fighting against our heroes at the Sekai Taikai would add depth to the competition.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but notice how some humor could make the heavier scenes in Korean dramas more bearable. It’s one of the reasons why Johnny’s story shines in this particular episode. While both Kreese and Johnny are instigating chaos to mold their pupils into formidable fighters, it’s a lot more entertaining to see familiar characters at work. With the recent announcement that he and Carmen are expecting a baby girl, Johnny proudly assumes the role of “girl dad” and steps in to resolve an issue involving a couple of female students.

As a movie buff, I’ve noticed that Sam and Tory’s dynamic needs a change. It’s wonderful they’re friends now, but their productive rivalry seems to be missing. They’re hesitant to challenge each other, possibly because of the past when Tory injured Sam’s arm. So, Johnny decides to spice things up by crashing Devon’s sleepover. This would feel uncomfortable in most shows, but given Cobra Kai’s unique narrative, it adds an intriguing twist.

As a fan, I find it amusing how Johnny attempts to create tension between Sam and Tory during our sleepover, yet his schemes are blatantly obvious. He’s cleverly exploiting their past issues, but taking Miguel’s and Robby’s phones to send them suspicious messages is an ill-advised move. The fact that he’s making it seem like they’re both trying to cheat on their girlfriends with their exes at the same time only adds fuel to the fire. If only we could witness Miguel and Robby’s reactions when they discover Johnny stole their phones and tried to implicate them in such a scandalous situation.

In more conversational terms, you could say: From watching sitcoms, we’re used to the idea that Sam and Tory will have a falling out before the episode ends. However, “Sleeper” takes a different approach, allowing them to work through their issues without resorting to a physical fight or prolonged conflict. They acknowledge past transgressions, such as Sam accusing Tory of stealing Amanda’s wallet and Tory nearly killing Sam. The heartfelt hug they share is the emotional climax of the episode, and it makes sense that they couldn’t confront each other at the dojo before due to their unresolved issues. Now, they can be both friends and sparring partners.

Daniel’s storyline centered around Mr. Miyagi is mostly satisfactory, yet it leaves a faint sense of incompleteness. It seems that Daniel still has unresolved emotions regarding the hidden truths from his mentor. As they make room for Chozen, they unearth a cache of Mr. Miyagi’s past possessions concealed under the floor. Among these relics are old boxing gloves and a passport revealing a birthdate that is six years older than what he had shared with everyone. Furthermore, there’s a news clipping hinting at an incident from 1947 where a man named Keisuke Miyagi was accused of assaulting and robbing someone.

Amanda joins the team to seek out more information regarding a boxing gym, as indicated by the address on Miyagi’s ID, where it is revealed that Miyagi was once a business partner. The descendant of the gym’s late co-owner verifies this story, sharing that Miyagi reportedly left America following an allegation of stealing an expensive necklace. However, he emphasizes that his grandfather held Miyagi in high regard and trusted him implicitly. It seems that everyone, including Mr. Miyagi, has a complex nature; the theft was merely one aspect of a man who was cherished and admired by many. Daniel comprehends this notion on a deeper level, though it’s implied that the revelation about Miyagi’s past takes place just a few years after the death of his wife and newborn son in an internment camp while he was serving abroad. Daniel recognizes this historical context, but is still distressed by the fact that Miyagi kept this part of his history hidden from him. He finds it difficult to accept that Miyagi didn’t believe him worthy of sharing such a significant truth.

As someone who grew up watching the original Karate Kid movies, I have always held a special place in my heart for Mr. Miyagi and his iconic mentor-student relationship with Daniel LaRusso. So, when I heard that Cobra Kai was delving deeper into this dynamic as the franchise comes to an end, I couldn’t help but feel curious and excited.

Mr. Miyagi’s Little Trees

• “Your daughter is a pussy now.”

• “Are we ever gonna tell Sam and Anthony about Cancun?” Wow, go Daniel and Amanda.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve been pondering over the notion that every moment spent with our dear ones is precious. Therefore, I find myself considering the option of booking a flight to Okinawa, where Kumiko resides. Perhaps, in due time, we’ll unravel the reason behind her not reciprocating my feelings towards her.

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2024-07-22 20:02