“Cobra Kai” Season 6, Part 3 (Netflix) features a bizarre mix of the awful and the amazing. Ultimately it leaves us feeling good as it completes what was initially a quite novel idea: bringing a borderline villain (William Zabka’s Johnny) from a decades-old kids’ movie into the spotlight for a redemption story.
The series started way back in 2018 on YouTube Red. Seven years isn’t so “way back” to those of us who watched “Karate Kid” as children in 1984, but flashbacks to Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) and others in Season 1 reminds us they’ve grown up so much they barely look the same. This final batch of five episodes achieves smooth nostalgia by intercutting fights with similar moves from the “Karate Kid” films and previous seasons of “Cobra Kai.”
As has been the pattern with each of Season 6’s three five-episode batches, the first few are weak and the last couple are strong. While any writers’ room will tell you there are no “filler” episodes, and there is no “padding” the run time, it certainly seems like more effort is put into the last couple episodes.
“Cobra Kai” Season 6, Part 3 (2025)
Netflix, five episodes
Creators: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
Stars: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler
Different kinds of fights
Plain ole excellent fight choreography rules the day in the closing rounds of the Sekai Takai, which moves from Barcelona to the Valley after the tragic death of a Cobra Kai fighter at the end of Part 2.
Zabka does especially fine acting in an emotional scene across from his former sensei Kreese (Martin Kove), with second place going to Petyon List in a genuine moment when tough girl Tory thanks the LaRussos. These are the culminations of many great monologs that drive home “Cobra Kai’s” core tenet: Some people are haunted by their past, and if they can overcome that, it’s a true breakthrough. Although Johnny himself would never admit it (or fully understand it), he’s fighting a relatable mental-health battle.
At the other end of the writing spectrum is the arc of Daniel’s daughter Sam (Mary Mouser). As the quality of the choreography was generally on the rise toward the finale, the show likely realized it had no stunt double similar enough to Mouser to effectively show Sam is among the world’s elite karate girls. Especially since the Iron Dragons’ Zora actress, Rayna Vallandingham, is a real-world black belt.
Sam’s decision to not fight in her semifinal match for Miyagi-do, despite not having any physical or mental issues, is desperately painted as noble, but it rings false. The writers missed an opportunity to grapple with a controversial issue in sports: the idea of not competing due to mental health even if you’re physically able to compete.
The most famous example is gymnast Simone Biles in the 2021 Olympics. That’s a nuanced situation, wherein Biles could tap a replacement. Sam could not, and therefore in my opinion should’ve fought. Or the writers – altering the Sekai Takai’s rules so regularly it must be intended as a winking joke – could’ve allowed a replacement Miyagi-do fighter.
Gitcha head in the game
That the writers’ heads aren’t always in the game is further illustrated by the arc of semi-evil Cobra Kai sensei Kim (Alicia Hannah-Kim), who unambiguously commits murder and not only gets away with it but also gets a happily-ever-after with Chozen (scene-stealing Yuji Okumoto), who deserves better.
“Cobra Kai” has a lot of balls to juggle in this final batch, and they drop some. The mystery of Mr. Miyagi’s past violence is explained at the dinner table by Daniel’s mom, who just happened to know the answer all along! The writers choose to focus on Johnny while giving grace notes to everyone else.
More money is spent in the final couple episodes, notably on needle drops (“You’re the Best,” “Sweet Child of Mine”), and an edge is achieved by increased amounts of swearing – most effectively in Tory’s “Welcome to the Valley. Bitch.” These final fights are truly intense in stakes, choreography, staging, framing, editing, music and dialog.
Head writers Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg return for the 65th and final episode for a thesis statement: Life is about winning and losing, and – with the exception of the bizarre Sam and Kim storylines – it’s about fighting in an above-board and noble fashion. The series finds a delicate balance wherein Johnny has become a good person but he doesn’t forget that if you’re Mr. Nice Guy, the world will push you around. “Strike first, strike hard, no mercy” morphs into a measured and nuanced phrase, even if the words stay the same.
“Cobra Kai” drifts from its goals in this final batch – as it sometimes does throughout the six seasons – but finds its way back. Viewers who complete this journey with Johnny will feel almost as satisfied as he does.