Let’s Overanalyze Cobra Kai Season 1

I know I'm late to the party. I just finished Season 1. I'd like to overanalyze the characters and story arcs. Please keep all Season 2 and 3 things out of this thread.

TL;DR is for pussies. GTFO.

I'd like to start by commending this show's ability to show nuance and layers of the main characters. I loved how immediately we as an audience know that this is going to be the Johnny Lawrence story...wait, what? I though he was the bad guy. (IKR, it was really Daniel, but I digress)

This show does an outstanding job of showing that not all "good" guys are good and not all "bad" guys are bad. The 80's were very much about the bad vs. good and then sometimes you had the redemption of the bad guy, like Rocky 4 and Karate Kid. But what if they aren't really "bad" at all?

I want to dive into some of the characters.

Johnny Lawrence- Damn. His story and his point of view, while laughable at times, kind of makes you realize why something like Cobra Kai can be so appealing to guys like him, and later all the nerds at school. Above all it inspires confidence and a brotherhood. Very Marine-ish IMO. As an actor, Billy has really good comedic timing and his character's anachronistic methods come off as genuine albeit sexist and non-PC. Which is always hilarious.

Daniel LaRusso- I appreciate his counter approach to Cobra Kai's teachings. The balance/inner-zen type thing is exactly what appealed to Danny as a teenager who had no structure, and he feels strongly that it is the "right" way. When he finds himself overcome with fear and hatred for Johnny and Cobra Kai, he opens his dojo back up and starts revitalizing that balance. Macchio isn't an exceptional actor. It is harder for him to pull of the balanced and professional community leader than the smart and scrappy Jersey kid.

Miguel Diaz- I am really digging his development. I find it fascinating that the nice, sweet, young boy could turn into such a fierce and angry person after given what he had always lacked, which was confidence and ability. I get why he returns to the Cobra Kai mantra as he sees that way as his keys to victory. Since he has always lacked that warrior spirit, he sees it as his most valuable tool. His arc is very Anakin Skywalker-like. He goes to the "Dark side" so to speak.

Robby Keene- It is also easy to see why Robby is so attracted to the balance of Daniel's Miyagi-do approach. Growing up so angry and lacking that sense of stability and structure, once he gets a little, it is very appealing to him.

I don't like them separating Johnny and Robby over karate. I hope the story allows them to reunite still, as it seems both were willing to do so before the tournament.



Aisha- she stands out. She also has great comedic delivery and is very funny.

It's a little heavy handed with the mean girls stuff sometimes, and it is campy, but I'm ok with that.