Cobra Kai Recap: The Chozen

As a long-time fan of martial arts and 80s nostalgia, I must say this episode of Cobra Kai was a real treat! The way they weave the classic Karate Kid lore with modern storytelling is just fantastic. It’s like watching Daniel LaRusso himself, only with a bit more gray in his beard.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I must admit that the initial two episodes of this five-part collection left me yearning for more. The vibrant city of Barcelona was a refreshing change of scenery, but somehow, these opening events in the Sekai Taikai lacked the spark that makes this show truly shine. It seems as if we’ve been revisiting old character traits rather than delving into new and exciting aspects, which has muted some of the joy I usually find in this series at its peak.

The shift in my viewing experience occurred during “Snakes on a Plane,” which marked the halfway point of this 15-episode sixth season. This may come as a surprise, given that it’s the least Barcelona-focused episode for our group and includes a significant Anthony LaRusso storyline. Yet, I found myself experiencing genuine delight while watching this episode, not just during the shocking revelation at the end, but also throughout the build-up to it.

Considering her limited experience in karate and the sudden health crisis with Carmen, I’m truly amazed by what Johnny is achieving. When Johnny calls Amanda from the plane, she shares that Carmen remains unconscious and they are closely watching her bleeding. Unfortunately, we don’t have any more details about her condition or if she will recover. Frankly, I was hopeful that Carmen would pull through given how late in the series this is happening. But what makes the story intriguing is that while we can anticipate a positive outcome and appreciate the potential for humor during the plane journey, Johnny and Miguel are operating without such certainty.

Whenever Miguel experiences pain or feels ignored by Johnny, their reconciliation always tugs at my heartstrings. They form the fundamental, original master-apprentice duo of the series, a modern take on Mr. Miyagi and Daniel. In some aspects, they’re even more significant than Johnny and Daniel. Frequently, the tension between them arises simply because they’re both occupied with their individual lives – as Johnny clarifies to Miguel later in the episode, Robby requires more assistance than he does right now, being adrift without any clear college prospects. Emotionally, he confesses to Miguel, “You’re my son too.” He acknowledges his concern over losing Carmen, understanding it’s a false sense of security to pretend everything will turn out alright.

The rich asshole in first class is a pretty cartoony villain for the episode, but it’s fun to see Miguel be the one to punch him out rather than Johnny. And that’s the first of several Ws for these two, the biggest being the news that Carmen and the baby are completely fine! (That bloody bedspread was kind of horrifying for a moment, but I figured it was a misdirect.) She needed an emergency cerclage, but now she’s back to bedrest for a few weeks, so there’s nothing else to do. She even encourages them to fly back to Spain and win the Sekai Taikai.

In simpler terms,

Convincing Kenny to agree is no walk in the park. He’s still skeptical that Anthony was the one who spiked him with laxatives, which led to the infamous “Shit Butt” meme, a nickname that trips off the tongue awkwardly, to say the least (Kenny once called Anthony “LaPusso”). Amanda makes Anthony apologize to Kenny for the bullying, but Anthony is defensive about the laxative accusations, and they end up arguing. (Amanda: “Fucking karate.”) Always the mediator, Amanda quiets them down by revealing news about Carmen, a stark reminder that their squabbles are trivial compared to bigger issues. It’s crucial for them to move past this so Kenny can feel secure at Miyagi-Do and support his friends in Barcelona.

That doesn’t stop the war right away. But Anthony’s more earnest apology does, along with his over-the-top gesture of voluntarily evening the score when it comes to pants-shitting. Devon’s guilty call admitting to the whole thing seals the deal. Kenny and Anthony might not be besties right away, but there’s no longer any bad blood.

Meanwhile, as one conflict subsides, the teen drama in Barcelona escalates dramatically. Influenced by Chozen’s suggestion (despite Daniel’s disapproval), the group decides to let loose and enjoy the night out, with stops including a tapas bar where Robby, Tory, Kwon, and Zara find themselves embroiled in a complex mental battle. Although Robby typically abstains from alcohol, his recent breakup and impressive karate performances have left him in a gloomy state, leading him to order double rum-and-Cokes and brooding over Kwon’s boisterous flirting, as well as Tory’s apparent lack of impact from the breakup – both emotionally and in her karate performances, which often reflect each other.

After spending the night with Zara, it appears that Zara is deliberately causing trouble for Tory, either as a manipulative tactic similar to Kreese or due to an obsessive desire to be admired and well-liked. The following morning, Tory accidentally witnesses Zara and Robby sharing a quick kiss near Zara’s door, which will likely intensify the rivalry in their upcoming competition.

That evening, everyone seems to be getting overly friendly with individuals they shouldn’t, such as Demetri, who accepts a dance from someone other than his girlfriend, Yasmine. Eli’s FaceTime conversation with his girlfriend Moon appears to be an attempt to expose Demetri, even if he wasn’t aware that Yasmine was in the room at the time. This action only worsens the friendship between the two men more than it already was.

Sam shares some moments with Axel, expressing that she witnessed Sensei Wolf causing him harm. He appears deeply invested in fighting and seems shy about anything else, yet he attempts a kiss after an unsuccessful altercation with Kwon and his companions. It’s not entirely clear where this narrative is heading; could it be that Sam is gradually coming to terms with the possibility of desiring something other than the life she had envisioned for herself and Miguel?

All this stuff is solid, raising some intriguing wrinkles for the rest of the season. But I have to say, my absolute favorite part of the episode is Chozen and Kim Da-Eun’s subplot, during which they keep running into each other while searching for their students. At the beach district, they run into each other again, eventually tracking the kids to the tapas bar where they were last seen. Both expected to find the kids fighting, leaving a wrecked bar in their wake — after all, there’s historical precedent. But it turns out they worried for nothing, as far as they know.

Kim Da-Eun has consistently played a strong secondary villain, yet she hasn’t struck me as intricately complex like Kreese or Silver. However, it’s intriguing to observe her distancing herself from Kreese, expressing disapproval of his tactics off the battlefield. The episode subtly suggests that Kreese was responsible for Daniel’s kidnapping without Kim’s knowledge. But following Dennis to a hotel leads to an exhilarating twist: It turns out that Terry Silver orchestrated the kidnapping all along, presumably collaborating with Sensei Wolf to undermine Miyagi-Do and boost the Iron Dragons towards victory.

This scene is quite unexpected, happening earlier than anticipated, making it even more delightful. What stood out for me was the passionate kiss between Chozen and Kim Da-Eun, followed by an intimate moment off-screen on the beach. The chemistry between them throughout the episode is palpable, and it’s refreshing to see such a moment in a series like this, where encounters of this nature are scarce. Additionally, it’s not common for male characters to engage in combat with female characters, and there are few queer characters represented, which might be why this seems to be the first instance of its kind.

Apart from the joy of witnessing Chozen regain his rhythm following Towel Man’s interference, I find Kim Da-Eun’s transformation particularly appealing in this updated role. Alicia Hannah-Kim hasn’t had many comedy moments on this series before, so it’s a treat to see her showcase her comedic skills now. One of the most amusing scenes is when she shakes off sand from her sleeves and hair the morning after. It seems challenging for her character to make amends at this stage, considering the harm she has caused her students. However, the growing tension between her and the other antagonists adds an interesting dimension to watch. I wasn’t initially anticipating a romantic arc between enemies in Cobra Kai, but if that’s the direction this season takes, I’m eagerly looking forward to it.

Mr. Miyagi’s Little Trees

• “Why is the plane doing this bendy thing?” “You mean following the curvature of the Earth?”

• “Need to go inside. Looking for teenagers.” “I heard that one before.”

2024-11-16 03:54

Mr. Miyagi’s Little Trees

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