Cobra Kai Season Five review

 Dojo mojo!

 After the exemplary fourth season, the writers of this lively series have realised there are only so many permutations available of people swapping from one dojo to another, changing sides with the seasons so season five takes a different road. In fact, it’s surprising how few karate sequences there are in the first five or six episodes and those which do pop up are usually well away from the mats and training rooms. Instead, the series explore the non-karate side of the characters which makes for a noticeably lighter tone for long stretches. The storyline also ekes out a change of life for our two main characters; just as Johnny starts to develop a family life so Daniel’s behaviour takes him down a path more familiar to his one-time rival.

 

The season sees Terry Silver expanding his empire across the Valley and potentially beyond. He’s every inch the James Bond villain plotting either from his newly fitted dojo which has a bar and high-tech devices aplenty or his luxurious home. As agreed at the end of last seasons both Miyagi Do and Eagle Fang (that name cracks me up every time!) have closed but you and I both know they won’t be out of business for too long. Slowly both Johnny and Daniel with their respective families and friends come together to lead the fi back, the latter still traumatised by the treatment Silver meted out to him decades ago. The story sees the past and present coalesce in a satisfying manner. This season is rich with call-backs to the movies, but they are well used to underline points in the present. Cobra kai wears its legacy lightly and you can’t get more fun than Daniel and Johnny belting out `Eye of the Tiger in a stretch limo!

The emphasis also shifts when it comes to our main antagonist. Previously we’ve seen John Kreese scheming his way to defeat Miyagi-Do yet this time Cobra Kai steams on and its is the attempts but Daniel to disrupt its progress that cause the pain to rebound on him. I’m not sure how much time is supposed to have elapsed, but Terry Silver has wasted no time in expanding the Cobra Kai empire with ambitions beyond the Valley and even further. Thanks to his imposing height and demeanour Thomas Ian Griffith has become one of television’s best villains.   While we see how Silver can easily take on opponents physically, he’s also equally skilled at business and more deadly forms of revenge while using his wealth to keep people in check such as Stingray. These episodes show some chinks in the armour though. The deadpan Chouzen goes undercover and though he is discovered these scenes create some tense moments, it’s a pity they don’t last a bit longer. He’s an odd character in some respects being used later in the season as something of a comic relief. Tory is having doubts having last year seen Silver doing a deal to win the championship and the character’s ongoing development is well essayed by Peyton List.

In tandem with this Johnny has taken Robbie to Mexico to search for Miguel and while I’m sure there is some authenticity here, the quick-fire nature of the series’ storytelling means it’s a sketched rather than well drawn place where the locals really do describe outsiders as “gringo”. Perhaps that does genuinely happen but in the rush to get through the plots the whole storyline of Miguel’s real father unfolds un unlikely fashion. You can see the idea- a well-respected, popular local character hides shady deals and a meant streak but it’s all thrown together so quickly you don’t really buy it. When his young son is saved from being run down by Miguel you have to laugh at the coincidence. It seems the writers like to hastily work through temporary characters and get the gang back together. Johnny and Robbie’s travails are much more interesting with both William Zabka and Tanner Buchanan playing up to the comedic aspects of their trip. And the reunion with Miguel is a nice moment.

The other big plot development is Carmen’s pregnancy which leads to an amusing montage of Johnny preparing to do fatherhood correctly this time. William Zabka’s comedy timing remains impeccable and a great contrast to his more serious scenes. Inevitably this different approach means there is not the space now for many regular characters so the likes of Hawk, Demetri etc are seen only sporadically at least till a big water park sequence that is the seasons’ first sign of re-playing previous situations. We do have yet another character from the films turns up in the form of Mike Barnes whose large furniture business seems to have gone un-noticed till now. Again, this promising strand literally goes up in smoke in one episode though kudos for some of the witty episode names this year!

However, the second half of the season is more assured perhaps because it covers more familiar ground. While there is a certain inevitability to the plot points- of course Daniel will change his mind, of course Silver’s disparate opponents will come together - the series is adept at making these scenarios seem fresh. Plus, it can still pull surprises- there are some plot beats you don’t see coming.  You also don’t realise how much you’ve missed training sessions – absent during the first half of the season- till they come back with a ve in the second half. They underline the differing approaches of the rival dojos; it’s surprising how enjoyable a session in which the Miyagi Do students each have to stop an egg being smashed can be!  Even when matters head over the top the show can acknowledge the far-fetched developments.

That said, Mike Barnes’ entries are amazingly well timed to help the plot forward. Where the narrative is stronger is in empowering individuals yet also showing how that can go too far. It happened with Robbie in earlier seasons, now it is Kenny who’s understandable intent to stand up to bullies has led him to become one himself. It would have been interesting had more time been spent with him this season but there is just about enough to show how dangerous something like kung fu can be if taken too far.  Dallas Dupree Young has quite a range – he was equally convincing last year as the cowardly victim as he is this time as the cocky aggressor. His angry face scares me!

Especially satisfying g is the way nostalgia used to underscore plot pints from the present. This season is the most linked to the films since the first, yet it never feels overly retro and when we see what Daniel went through with Silver back in the day it adds to the contemporary plot. Whereas in the early season Daniel was portrayed as perhaps too much of goody two shoes now he’s become a character who is more practical. We also see how the cod philosophies of Mr M make some sense in the modern context. 

If most of the kids take a back seat in the first half of the season they get more to do later and here the script is economic but generous giving everyone a purpose beyond just being part of the big fight. What’s pleasing too is thew way that smaller plot elements echo later on- Stingray’s involvement, “protect the egg” and Tory’s conversion with Silver. There’s a palpable tension to the build-up and when everything explodes in the final two episodes it is to the accompaniment of the most over the top dramatic music yet. It’s getting more difficult for the series to top each finale with something even more incredible especially as the bar is set so high after season 2’s school rumble and season 4’s tournament drama. Yet somehow, they do it- this time splitting the action between the adults at Silver’s house and the kids at the Cobra Kai dojo. 

While we often single out the actors of the writers it’s fair to say these season climaxes are a testament as well to the excellent direction and editing. Here as the two sides engage in a full-on showdown what would probably look too arranged from a distance becomes urgent, full on combat courtesy of sharp direction and editing. At Silver’s house the fight is brutal to the point where it almost defies credulity- just how much beating can a man in his late fifties really take? It doesn’t matter though because once again the finale delivers. Somehow the combat seems harder than before. The series is continually presented in interesting ways- Samantha even has a Stranger Things style dream sequence.

The ending feels like it could be an overall conclusion to the show. All the disagreements and falls outs are resolved, the big bad is defeated. A sixth season is not yet confirmed and with the show having notched up exactly fifty episodes it does feel as if there is nowhere to go thematically except to re-work what has already been done, for example Kenny and Anthony could be the new Robbie and Miguel, Kreese could somehow come back to Cobra Kai (though wouldn’t he be arrested if he showed his face again publicly?), I suppose Silver would easily pay someone off to get the charges dropped.  Johnny and Daniel could fall out again. I’m in two minds, I’d like to see more yet feel potential story avenues have all been explored. A spin off though could be a thing...