Cobra Kai season 6 will feature the international Sekai Taikai tournament, which gives it the perfect opportunity to revisit Karate Kid II's setting. In the first five seasons, Cobra Kai primarily unfolded its storyline in the San Fernando Valley, aka The Valley. Located in Los Angeles, California, the destination proved to be the perfect setting for laying the foundation of Cobra Kai's overarching narrative because it left enough room for the series to reinstate legacy characters from The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid III while allowing it to introduce a new generation of fighters.
From Daniel LaRusso's first encounter with his bullies to Johnny Lawrence's road to redemption, The Valley has been the backdrop of many significant milestones in the Karate Kid franchise. Additionally, it has also been the venue for the franchise's central All Valley Karate Tournaments, where some of its best fighters have competed with one another. Owing to these factors, The Valley will remain a significant part of Cobra Kai's storyline. However, since Cobra Kai season 6 will feature an international tournament, its action should ensue in Karate Kid II's beautiful Okinawan setting.
Cobra Kai Season 6's Sekai Taikai Should Revisit Karate Kid II's Setting
the karate kid part II
In many ways, Cobra Kai's success can be attributed to its sense of nostalgia and how it weaves new narratives with 80s throwbacks and redemptive arcs of legacy characters. With each season, Cobra Kai has successfully etched its own identity while reminding audiences of all the emotional drama and action scenes that made the original Karate Kid series so incredibly entertaining. Cobra Kai season 6 can achieve the same by revisiting Okinawa, the primary setting for Karate Kid II's action.
In its closing arc, Cobra Kai season 5 sets the stage for a karate tournament called the Sekai Taikai. Since Sekai Taikai is an international tournament, it would make perfect sense for Cobra Kai season 6 to have an overseas location like Okinawa. Not to mention, even the name "Sekai Taikai" has Okinawan connections because it means "World Convention" in Japanese, which again makes the Japanese island a compelling backdrop for Cobra Kai's finale.
How Cobra Kai Season 6 Can Benefit From Returning To Okinawa
Daniel LaRusso and the Cobra Kai students
Karate Kid II may not be as critically acclaimed as the first movie, but what makes it a worthy successor is its scintillating depiction of Okinawan landscapes and emphasis on Okinawan culture, history, and traditions. Cobra Kai season 6 may have many intriguing stories about rivalries and bad blood. However, a tinge of rich Okinawan heritage in its storylines and cinematography could make it even more engaging. Even from a character development standpoint, Okinawa can provide a unique backdrop for the newer generation of characters to understand the origins and true meaning of karate, which they can later implement in the Sekai Taikai Tournament.
Considering how Daniel LaRusso has drifted away from a few crucial Mr. Miyagi philosophies in recent Cobra Kai seasons by using karate for seeking revenge, revisiting Okinawa can also give him a chance to rekindle Mr. Miyagi's profound teachings. Like Karate Kid II introduced Chozen in Danny's Okinawan arc, Cobra Kai season 6 can add new enemies and allies for the Miyagi Do dojo by unfolding its storyline in Okinawa. All in all, returning to Karate Kid II's setting will immensely benefit Cobra Kai season 6 since it will allow the series to tap into nostalgia, introduce new cultural elements, and expand Cobra Kai's universe.
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