By ending its long run with season 6, Cobra Kai avoids a mistake that killed Karate Kid. Set in the San Fernando Valley, Cobra Kai marks the return of many familiar faces from the original Karate Kid franchises, including heroes and villains like Daniel LaRusso,
Johnny Lawrence, John Kreese, and Terry Silver. At the same time, the Netflix series also adds a new generation of teenage characters to its mix, allowing it to balance nostalgia with a fresh take on coming-of-age stories. Owing to this balance, Cobra Kai has not only retained audiences of the original Karate Kid franchise but also pleased new viewers.
Although Cobra Kai has had a few hiccups in its hefty five-season runtime, its seasons have consistently received positive reviews from viewers and critics. Considering how each Cobra Kai season has been on par with its predecessor — if not better — season 6 will likely tread the same path. The fact that Cobra Kai season 6 will be the show's last season, winding up its overarching storylines, affirms that it will not diminish the series' overall quality, primarily because it is not repeating a Karate Kid mistake.
Cobra Kai Is Ending At The Right Time - Unlike Karate KidCobra kai karate kid daniel
In a Twitter post, one of Cobra Kai's creators, Jon Hurwitz, confirmed that Netflix did not decide to end the series with season 6. Instead, Cobra Kai's creators called the shots on giving it a fitting closure in season 6. This decision proves that, unlike the Karate Kid movies, especially Karate Kid III, Cobra Kai will not outstay its welcome and rightfully end its storyline with season 6. Considering how Cobra Kai has consistently garnered the appreciation of audiences and critics, Netflix could have easily milked its fame and success by adding a few more seasons to its runtime.
However, as seen in the Karate Kid movie series, stretching the show's narrative would offer diminishing returns over time and gradually chip away at the impact of its best seasons. The first Karate Kid movie became one of the most influential coming-of-age combat sports movies. While Karate Kid II recycled many elements of the first movie's narrative, it delivered something new with its change in setting and emphasis on Okinawan culture. Karate Kid III, however, diluted the effect of its predecessors by reinstating their lessons and offering nothing new or memorable.
Considering how Terry Silver would not have been a part of Cobra Kai if it wasn't for Karate Kid III, the film deserves some credit for introducing one of the most compelling villains of the franchise. However, the movie's lack of originality is a lesson on how unnecessary franchise extensions can do more harm than good. Therefore, by ending the series on a pre-planned high note, Cobra Kai season 6's story will conclude all arcs at the right time and avoid repeating Karate Kid III's mistakes.
A New Cobra Kai Cast Wouldn't Work
Julie and Mr. Miyagi in The Next Karate Kid
The Karate Kid franchise tried reinventing its formula in The Next Karate Kid by focusing on a new character. While the movie had a talented roster, including Hilary Swank as Julie Pierce and Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi, it failed to leave a lasting impact because audiences were already too familiar with the franchise's portrayal of the typical high school underdog story. The Next Karate Kid's failure proved that the franchise's primary appeal came from its original characters, and their relationships, personal battles, and karate styles. Shifting its focus to new characters, alienated audiences that watched the Karate Kid movies because of how invested they were in the existing character base.
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