“Cobra Kai,” a TV series streaming on Netflix, is a sequel to “The Karate Kid” movies. “Cobra Kai” picks up in the adult lives of main characters Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). Season 4 of the series is set to premiere Dec. 31.
In the first episode of “Cobra Kai,” Johnny appears to be drunk and has bad self-care. Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña), a key character in the series, is getting bullied in front of a strip mall. Johnny helps him overcome the bullying, and Miguel wants him to teach him karate. Johnny declines, saying he doesn’t do that anymore.
Miguel and Johnny later find out that they are neighbors. Miguel begs Johnny to teach him martial arts, and Johnny finally agrees. It finally gets into the karate part when Johnny starts teaching Miguel the same way he was taught by his sensei: 1. Strike first. 2. Strike hard. 3. No mercy.
Daniel, who owns a car dealership, has a wife, a daughter and a son. Those who have seen “The Karate Kid” know that Daniel won the All-Valley Championship by cheating, according to Johnny, but the ref didn’t think so, so Daniel won. In “Cobra Kai,” Daniel teaches karate to his daughter, Sam (Mary Mouser). Sam finds out that Miguel goes to her school, and when Miguel sees Sam, he is instantly attracted to her.
Cobra Kai is a full-on dojo that is packed and where Johnny’s old sensei, John Kreese (Martin Kove), takes over. At the end of last season, Miguel comes out of surgery from a severe injury and is kicking again. Now, Daniel and Johnny have to overcome their differences to defeat Kreese and another sensei. Who is it? Why is he back? Watch “Cobra Kai” to find out.
Rated: TV-14
