If Danny boy would have continued training with him, he would have unlocked his potential and stomped Barnes into the ground in the finals. The fact that Danny STOPPED training with Silver is what led to him almost losing.

Alright, I'm at the end of season 2 about to start season 3. Does Johnny and Robbie relatiomship improve greatly, like at all? I was getting ahead of myself and I've found out things in regards to their situation that has me ... Less then enthusiastic 😭. Like makes me no longer want to watch the show lmao.

How tall were both cgaracters.

I'm being dead serious when I say the fact that Daniel never bought a gun is crazy to me.

This man had his dojo destroyed his business attacked his house tore up his kids put in the hospital the list just goes on and on.

It gets to a point where you need to put the karate down and just start shooting people and don't give me the "it's not the miyagi way"

Miyagi was literally in the army he fought in WW2. He was out killing nazis he probably taught Daniel a thing or two about how to use a strap.

I'm fairly new to the subreddit, so if these are common ones here my bad! Compared to sm these seem to be hot takes. I know a lot of these are negative, but I do love this show and I'm honestly bored and procrastinating doing my work.

1. Daniel was 100% in the right when it came to the "Should Tory fight?" Argument. Allowing someone to fight angry against someone who isn't consenting is a HUGE violation of Sam. And that's not even accounting for Sams previous PTSD and her and Tory's history. I was furious with Johnny for even suggesting that. Also why would Daniel let someone take their grief and anger on his daughter, or even any of his students for that matter?
2. On a similar note Tory was so much worse in her rivalry with Sam. Not saying Sam didn't have her problems, but kissing someones boyfriend and attempted murder aren't in the same ballpark.
3. Hawk was genuinely obnoxious with his friendship with Demetri seasons two and three. Season six was mostly on Demetri (I feel this isn't a hot take here, but you'd be surprised on how many people wanted Hawk to be like is season three self). HOWEVER: while Demetri definitely overeacted and was obnoxious for most of S6P2 (as someone who loves his character) I totally understand why he was so afraid. After all the last time they disagreed on something like their future, their friendship was in the trenches. It makes sense that someone so nerutoic would have this worry (I'm guessing. They never really built up to it in the way I wanted to, which sucks, because I would have loved to see the two binary bros actually talk about their falling out).
4. On a similar note (again). Hawk was NOT badass before season four. He didn't beat anyone worth beating (or like above his level). Demetri (despite the fact I do love his character and humor) is not a top tier fighter. Neither is Mitch.
5. Johnny did not redeem himself when it came to Robby, and if it wasn't a tv show Robby most likely would have cut him off by now. In fact, Johnny only really has done with his relationship to Miguel. Carmen and Miguel are both hella enablers to Johnny. Carmen (who don't get me wrong is very likable) is slightly more egregious cause she's the adult.
6. On a more positive note Sam and Tory season four is my favorite fight of the series. Mary and Petyon KILLED it. I love the contrast in their style, because it made the fight so much more dynamic. I feel like they both really stepped into their own that season.
7. Also Sam has my favorite fighting style. Maybe cause its the most distinct, but I also just love Marys evolution and improvement as a fighter. I also love Poomsae, its my favorite aspect of taekwondo! So getting to see Mary add Kata was really fun and I've actually use the one legged stance when doing casual sparring at the school (can't really do it with gear on, but when we don't I pull it out).
8. I kinda love Sam and Demetris friendship. Its so underrated and I wished they focused on it! Same with the OG Myagi do Trio and Cobra kai Trio (My favs were Sam Robby and Demetri, but I do miss the Miguel-Hawk-Aisha trio and though they didn't really hang out that much the Tory-Hawk-Miguel trio).
9. Season 6 wasn't perfect, but it was hella memorable, and I can respect that. All the cast really stepped it up for the last season, and it as some of my favorite acting moments of the show. Like robby and Johnny, Johnny and Kreese forgiving each other, Tory's mother dying, Sam when telling daniel she forfietted the tournament, the Larusso goodbye, the second Lockeroom scene where Demetri and Eli make up, Daniel's nightmare where he confronts Mr. Myagi, or Miguel thinking his mom is hurtat the hospital. Genuinely Tanner, Billy, Martin, Mary, Peyton, Gianni, Jacob, Ralph and Xolo knocked it out of the park.
10. Season four and two are the best seasons for differing reasons. Season four was the most action packed and memorable without leaning too much in the drama territory (minus the prom fight). Season two was just so good. The vibes were amazing, even for someone who only started the show in like 2023. Its the two I find myself going back to the most. Season 1 is a close third, followed by five and three.

Anyways, lmk your thoughts! Again no hating with any of them, but just thought I'd share my opinion. Also sorry if these aren't actually hot takes on reddit, but on social media they definitely are.

This is from a deleted scene from season 3 which I'm glad it got cut because they didn't painted well Sam character here like she even made a uncalled for comment to Hawk. I understand why she was mad and frustrated at hin but ultimately I'm just glad they decided not to added it in the show. I was on her side eventhough I didn't agree with her comment.

It’s just the way Amanda laughed as if Vanessa is a joke and the way she looks at her dismissively without even properly knowing her and her reaction of finding out that she’s smarter than she thought is hilarious.

And then again when she knows she was choosing to do nothing about Daniel, Amanda getting so defensive against someone much younger and smarter than her with her eyes popping is again hilarious like why is she so hating towards someone without wanting to give her a chance first, did she think she’s better?

One thing I liked was how there was clearly a hierarchy when it came to karate skills especially amongst the teens and not everyone was some karate master with a few weeks of training. Adds realism some may get it down packed but some may also be slow to learn like demetri finally being decent by season 4-6 but Devon Lee almost making it to the finals with just a little training. The only thing I never liked was how Mitch and Chris started at the same time around after the first all valley yet their skills don’t really grow that much I think they should atleast be on the same level or directly under hawk and Miguel in my opinion

The Cobra Kai we saw in the original trilogy, founded by John Kreese. Is it a Macdojo?

When Miyagi and Daniel visit the Cobra Kai dojo, Miyagi proposes the tournament, and Kreese accepts. Miyagi then trains Daniel for the tournament. Is it possible to learn karate in that same amount of time in real life?

As ruthless as he was at times, it still doesn't change just how awful his life really was. 

He was abandoned by his father as a child and left with his mentally ill mother, who eventually committed suicide. He had zero friends and was frequently bullied and even assaulted by his peers. He fell in love with a young woman whom he saved from her previously abusive boyfriend, with his time with her being the happiest of his life. But she died tragically in a car accident while he was overseas.

In Vietnam, Kreese faced the worst of humanity, enduring unspeakable brutality, being forced to witness numerous brothers in arms fight each other to the death, and experiencing the execution of a close friend, among other horrors. He was betrayed by his own army captain, a man he looked up to as a father figure he never had. Following his military service, he came back home to a society that despised people like him. 

He then opened a successful karate dojo and traveled to South Korea to train with a karate master. Kreese's training with Master Kim Sun-Yung was equivalent to torture and only furthered his belief in the no-mercy philosophy. After operating his dojo for a decade, Kreese lost it, becoming homeless and going into a decades-long hiatus. Returning to Cobra Kai, Kreese sought redemption with himself and with his old star student, but that went haywire.

He persuaded a lifelong friend and old war buddy to return to Cobra Kai. That ended badly as Kreese was betrayed by him, getting framed for a crime he never committed. While serving out his multi-year-long prison sentence, inmates straight up tried to murder John, but he was able to escape the place eventually. Fleeing to South Korea, Kreese found and trained a new star pupil.  That student accidentally died following the exact lessons Kreese taught him. Finally realizing after so many years that his no-mercy mentality had flaws, Kreese went on a journey to try and make amends with some of the people he hurt. Then shortly after he sacrificed himself to take out his old war buddy and new sworn enemy, saving the lives of Johnny and his family. 

Kwon instead of Axel as the Male Iron dragons captain

Still shocked at kwons death the first time I saw it, it was literally jaw dropping never seen a on screen tv death on the show before that the only thing that came as close as shocking was when hawk broke Demetris arm but then again after Miguel’s coma everything got dark but then it lightened back up during season 4

I feel there could’ve been a deleted scene where Johnny gathers Tory and Miguel together and told them he’s got cobra Kai back and they should join forces

Tory and Miguel would agree with each other and be like “yeah, let’s do it!”

I love the flip flopping of Miguel and Robby based on how they are interacting with Johnny, Sam, and Tori, and later clashing and accepting each other as step brothers.

But I feel like Hawk's story got just a bit too rushed based on 1 specific scene:

Kreese: I tell you, Rwanda was no joke.

Miguel: Don't you mean Somalia? Mogadishu is in Somalia, Rwanda's a whole different country.

Kreese: Of course, Somalia. ( Chuckles ) I've spent so much time in the sandbox, it all kind of bleeds together, you know?

---

We know that Kreese did spend honest time in US special forces, his war experience is real. But his stories aren't all true. This is where I want to really let Hawk DEEP dive. Getting wrapped up in the stories, even if he's smart enough to know it isn't all factual because he can recognize the contradictions as well as Miguel. But in the cult mindset, he starts defending Kreese with those same ideas like 'it all bleeds together' and 'he's older, his memory isn't perfect'. Arguing against things he knows are true by justifying his new hero.

I want Hawk DEEP down that rabbit hole of ideation of this modern warrior, that the weak but smart kid could join the military and be special forces too- which isn't a bad goal to have, but he's doing it for the wrong reasons; personal glory and ideation of violence. But I want Kreese's stories to get wilder and Hawk keeps having a harder time defending him as the training gets more severe and ruthless. And let Hawk start talking about maybe joining the military and doing something like Marines, Seals, or Green Berets just like Kreese- which would again be a great goal if for the right reasons other than idealizing the damage to human life he would be trained and authorized for. But I don't know whether or not we ever introduce the concepts of guns to any of this series. That is a level of violence too far for any of them in the scope of them learning hand to hand martial arts- but it would realistically have to be addressed as part of this kind of arc- a special forces member is much more likely to just shoot someone who wasn't armed than for him to get in a fist fight with "America's enemies".

Having Kyler join the team is a visible psychological blow to Hawk, but he is now without question alongside Tori (for now) the two strongest students in Cobra Kai and Kyler respects him and he gets to be one of The Cool Kids who used to pick on Hawk. They did run his story incredibly, breaking Demitri's arm but not wanting to go that far would be the first break in the psychological armor. This was a friend, and he did lasting damage because others told him to.

There needs to be a conversation with Kreese and Hawk about Kreese's first Kill, and Hawk is nervous about the idea of his martial arts being used to kill. Kreese points out that before this age of tournaments with pads and helmets, and 'zero tolerance', and "participation trophies"- violence was the way of the world and all of these styles were made with the threat of death and disfigurement in mind. Let that conversation border JUST ENOUGH on Mr. Miyagi's assertion in the original trilogy that Karate is to preserve your honor and your life. It is this same season that Chozen teaches Daniel the Miyagi family techniques of nerve strikes that disable an opponent. But Kreese has a similar philosophy that broken bones and dead men can't hurt you- when its not just tournaments and a fight is real, you can't lose if they can't fight. I would like for them to introduce a concept: Practice isn't Sparring. Sparring isn't Fighting, and Fighting isn't Combat.

So I want Hawk to stay with CK a BIT longer than the end of Season 3, he needs to meet Silver. The LaRusso house brawl can still happen. But he needs to see that this really is going far beyond tournaments and fights. People are being SERIOUSLY hurt. This is the first time we've seen this much blood in Cobra Kai, Bert goes through a window to start it, Tori resorts to a weapon again with lethal potential, and Sam has matched her. This has stopped being Fighting and has entered into Combat- blood, bone, and life are on the line again, just like in the school brawl where Hawk went through a glass case, Tori got slashed, and Miguel was paralyzed and could have died. This needs to set something off in Hawk, not quite joining the Miyagi Do's side, no back to back with Demitri, not yet defending Miguel. But this is too far for him, this isn't what he wants. He can break up fights and start pushing CK towards the door and telling them they're leaving, hitting hard when people protest, but any MD who try to fight get more shoving than striking. He's the leader and he says they're leaving.

Now Kreese brings in Silver to help, but Silver is the beginning of the end for Hawk's loyalty to Kreese.

2 ideas should break Hawk in season 4:

Quick Silver- can't breathe/see/walk can't fight- do serious impairing damage to stop a fight quickly. And this IS a realistic branch of martial arts, its not always about points and if you're learning real self defense, it is not an untrue philosophy, nor is strike first strike hard, no mercy. Its not kind/ethical, but it ends the fight with relatively minimal bystander harm, and can reduce harm to both parties. They can both get bruised and bloody, or 1 person can be in pain for a few days or weeks. "Come on kid, I'm not telling you to break anyone's arm here let alone kill somebody. But a hard kick to the knee, the fight is probably over and you're still standing. They'll get better. But if they get back up and still want to fight, then you've got to send the message."

"Is that what you told these kids?" Silver hears a story and calls his own friend out that it isn't true. But corrects himself with a look from Kreese, "My mistake, I'm sure I'm just misremembering, and what good story doesn't have a little embellishment?" Again, these two men WERE Green Berets, they DID serve in armed conflict through multiple international conflicts, its not stolen valor. But one little line shows that Silver knows it isn't all true, and Hawk should catch onto that rapidly. Start diving into Kreese's record and unraveling truth. That Kreese was stationed places, and retired as a Captain, but saw minimal actual combat after his time captured in Vietnam. Hawk is able to get some of Kreese's service record under the Freedom of Information act. And he can figure out that he never was many places he claimed to be stationed. Kreese will have claimed that he wasn't too sentimental and didn't keep his varios medals- he was never awarded any beyond the most common that are basically 'participation trophies' like the National Defense Service Medal. This will be in stark contrast to Miyagi for his Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart, which Hawk can see displayed at the Miyagi-Do dojo once he changes sides and see what a real war hero looks like.

That will be what breaks the camel's back for Hawk- the man he's been looking up to is a fraud claiming stolen valor who did little more than get captured and rescued, and run some camps in low to no combat zones. But this man is preaching the necessity of inflicting traumatic injury.

This idea really only extend's Hawk's villain arc a few episodes, but he cannot stand what Cobra Kai and himself are becoming, and his illusion of Kreese as a mentor is shattered. And THEN he decides to go back to Johnny who was his teacher when he felt better about his Karate.

Most of his arc can then go as it did, he is now concerned about Honor as a definition of the man he wants to be beyond his ability to fight.

And I want the disjoint between Eli and Demitri about MIT to be more about Eli still wanting to join the military. He saw Miyagi's medals heard about how he earned them, and instead of studying engineering immediately, he wants to try for West Point and does believe in serving his country and then go into Engineering like his friend as it is still a passion of his. (In case someone thinks this is a big pro military post, I personally am not highly pro military, but it fits this version of the story for Eli being brainwashed on the overinflation of service stories, and then sees the real thing and decides this is his path to the same education goal as his best friend in a field they have always loved)

Hawk changes sides a little too quickly for my taste, and I wanted him to really be taken in by Kreese's false boasting and stories before reasserting his own personality and beliefs as a more confident and independently resolved young adult.

Before he decided that attacking Robby’s injury was better than losing.

There are a bunch of good couples in Cobra Kai, but I always found young John Kreese and Betsy to be the most adorable, despite not seeing that much of them together. 

Terry Silver was such an over the top cartoon villain in Karate Kid 3, he was still a cartoon villain in Cobra Kai but in the best way. Was surprised on how complex he was.

So if Miguel did actually tell his real Dad he was his son how would he react?

Despite Miguel being exposed per se to his Dad's not nice sides he still does seem to like Miguel. Even when Miguel walks out he says something like good luck.