TV Review: ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6 Part 1

Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, Yuji Okumoto as Chozen in 'Cobra Kai' season 6.

Arriving on Netflix on July 18th, ‘Cobra Kai’, which has successfully been running on the streaming service for the last few seasons, is getting ready to wrap things up.

Yet there is a wrinkle in terms of scheduling for this final run –– as with several of the company’s other hits (‘Bridgerton’, ‘Stranger Things’) –– Season 6 has been split into distinct parts. This first part will be followed by Part 2 on November 28th and Part 3 at some point in 2025.

Fans might be disappointed that the show is ending can be reassured that the show has not, for the most part, dropped in quality.

Does ‘Cobra Kai’ Still Show No Mercy?

Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri, Jacob Bertrand as Eli 'Hawk' Moskowitz, Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz in 'Cobra Kai' season 6.

(L to R) Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri, Jacob Bertrand as Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz, Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz in ‘Cobra Kai’ season 6. Photo: Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024.

Though the season is split into three, creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have promised that each five-episode chunk will tell its own story within the wider arc, and on the evidence of Part 1, that’s holding true.

What works about the show is still in place –– the comedy and action still blend, and the characters are still entertaining (with one exception; more on that below).

‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6: Script and Direction

Martin Kove as John Kreese in 'Cobra Kai' season 6.

As Season 6 opens, the story largely continues on from the previous season –– Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), the two main senseis, having finally seen off Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) and the resurgent Cobra Kai dojo, are trying to find a way to successfully merge both their dojos and their teaching styles. And despite burying their differences, they still have friction.

Two main issues remain on the writing front –– one, it’s still tough, especially within a shorter season chunk, to cater to the expansive cast, finding interesting things for both the older and younger characters to do. Daniel and Johnny naturally enjoy the lion’s share, but some of the plot lines for the kids end up edging into soap opera territory.

The other is potentially more serious (if hardly serious in tone), though largely siloed off on its own storyline: a nonsense subplot about Johnny’s old teacher John Kreese (Martin Cove), who has been an occasional nemesis in the series’ run. In this latest outing, his off on some misguided quest to recruit new students, and there’s a whole part with a snake that is so on the nose, it’s ridiculous.

Direction has never been the show’s selling point –– it’s perfectly adequately shot, but rarely troubles the cinematic styles of fellow Peak TV shows or even other Netflix offerings. But the character work remains solid.

‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6: Performances

Khalil Everage as Chris, Nathaniel Oh as Nate, Griffin Santopeitro as Anthony Larusso, Owen Morgan as Bert, Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso, Aedin Mincks as Mitch, Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz, Jacob Bertrand as Eli 'Hawk' Moskowitz, Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Peyton List as Tory Nichols in 'Cobra Kai' season 6.

(L to R) Khalil Everage as Chris, Nathaniel Oh as Nate, Griffin Santopeitro as Anthony Larusso, Owen Morgan as Bert, Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso, Aedin Mincks as Mitch, Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz, Jacob Bertrand as Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz, Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Peyton List as Tory Nichols in ‘Cobra Kai’ season 6. Photo: Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024.

As we mentioned on the scripting front, there isn’t always an equal amount of solid storylines to go around. But the cast are, as ever, happy to throw themselves into these roles.

Raph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso

The heart and soul of the franchise since the original ‘Karate Kid’ franchise, ‘Cobra Kai’ has allowed Macchio to dig out different sides and shades of the character, including the fact that he can sometimes lean into his arrogant side. But for the most part, he’s still the Daniel we know and respect, with a beefy extra storyline in which he discovers a side to his late mentor, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), he never knew.

William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence

If anyone has truly benefitted from ‘Cobra Kai’ in terms of character work, it’s Zabka, who has found the space to expand what was a stock villain (albeit with some depth) into a fully-rounded wannabe badass with a brain and a viewpoint stuck in the 1980s. He’s endlessly entertaining, and you absolutely empathize with his attempts to be a better man (while still being a dumbass at times).

Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso

Largely a supporting character in earlier seasons, Courtney Henggeler’s role as Daniel’s wife has been expanded in the last season or so, and with good reason: she’s a comedy assassin while also being a great emotional performer.

Martin Kove as John Kreese

It has always somewhat as though, unlike Johnny, Kreese as outlived his usefulness in the story. Yet the writers keep bringing him back. That’s not really the fault of Kove, who is an all-in actor, but the pantomime side of Kreese more often makes him feel like a throwback rather than a properly rounded character.

As for the rest of the cast, we’d highlight Yuji Okumoto as Chozen, a late addition to the series (who appeared in ‘The Karate Kid Part II’) and who has proved to be a very welcome part of the show, capable of comedy, drama and action.

And while some of the teen characters trend towards melodrama at times, they’re always watchable, especially breakout star Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz.

‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6: Final Thoughts

Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso, Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, Nathaniel Oh as Nate, Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi, Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Peyton List as Tory Nichols in 'Cobra Kai' season 6.

(L to R) Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso, Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, Nathaniel Oh as Nate, Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi, Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Peyton List as Tory Nichols in ‘Cobra Kai’ season 6. Photo: Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024.

We’ll be sorry to see ‘Cobra Kai’ go, but A) at least, on the evidence of this, it’s going out while there are still worthwhile stories to tell. And B), there are still 10 more episodes to come.

And the blend of comedy, drama and (though there has less of it in this initial chunk) martial arts action remains strong. ‘Cobra Kai’ still strikes hard.

‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6 Part 1 receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.

“Two legends. One dojo. Their biggest battle yet.”

TV-146 SeasonsMay 2nd, 2018

What’s the story of ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6 Part 1?

The TV follow-up to the ‘Karate Kid’ movie franchise.

With Cobra Kai eliminated from the Valley, our senseis (Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence) and students must decide if and how they will compete in the Sekai Taikai — the world championships of karate.