Cobra Kai season 4
Created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
Based on The Karate Kid by Robert Mark Kamen
Composers Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson
Production Executive producers William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Will Smith, James Lassiter, Caleeb Pinkett, Susan Ekins, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
Producers Katrin L. Goodson, Bob Wilson
Cinematography Cameron Duncan
Editors Nicholas Monsour, Jeff Seibenick, Ivan Victor
Production companies Hurwitz & Schlossberg Productions (seasons 1–2), Overbrook Entertainment (seasons 1–2), Heald Productions (season 2), Counterbalance Entertainment (season 3), Westbrook Studios (season 3), Sony Pictures Television Studios
Distributor Sony Pictures Television
Starring:
Daniel LaRusso Ralph Macchio
Johnny Lawrence William Zabka
Amanda LaRusso Courtney Henggeler
Miguel Diaz Xolo Maridueña
Robby Keene Tanner Buchanan
Samantha LaRusso Mary Mouser
Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz Jacob Bertrand
Demetri Alexopoulos Gianni DeCenzo
John Kreese Martin Kove
Tory Nichols Peyton List
Carmen Diaz Vanessa Rubio
Terry Silver Thomas Ian Griffith
After the third season, I wasn’t sure I wanted to watch season four. While it had its bright moments, the plot staggered from an endless parade of love-lorn and jealous teenagers constantly misunderstanding and misinterpreting everything (usually with violent results), becoming something of a slamming-door farce. The theme seemed set in cement: warring dojos prepare for all-the-marbles rematches at the annual All-Valley tournament. In the meantime, the conflicts between the dojos would escalate past the point of absurdity, resulting in injuries that should have been permanent, or even life threatening, while the wise senseis fluttered their hands and glared accusingly at one another.
Even worse, the set up at the end of season three suggested nine more episodes leading up to…what else? A winner-takes-all match at the next All-Valley Tournament.
The saving grace was the acting skills of the adult regulars and (some of) the kids, who managed to keep their personae credible even as the plot got ridiculous. There are even some affecting moments, as when Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) travels to Japan to Miyagi’s home town to find his roots.
So I figured to give it a try. If it got too silly, there’s a couple of Korean rom-coms I want to finish watching that are no sillier. I don’t mind silly; I just mind when it’s meant to be serious.
I’m happy to report that season 4 breaks the mold. Not entirely; the teen angst is still there, although greatly toned down. The conflict among the dojos continues, but we move from high-school rumbles causing serious injury to pranks involving the sprinklers in the park. The closest thing to a rumble is a pool party tumble where everyone (predictably) ends up in the water. For the most part, violence is limited to instances of individual bullying, and one stunning incident where an adult character kicks one of the students half to death (indeed, we though he had been killed at that moment.) Yes, that one has the sort of consequence you might expect—massive consequence.
LaRusso and Lawrence (Zabka) finally, after 37 years, finally show some personal growth and finally admit to one another that the kids benefit if they combine Lawrence’s offense with LaRusso’s defense. Even Kreese (Kove) shows some development, although through unconventional circumstances.
The ending does break the mold entirely, and leaves me with no idea where the series is going to go next. The show’s producers must have realized that, and the final scene closes with a closeup of Kreese’s face and an assurance that yes, there is going to be a fifth season.
There is a new character, a sensei for Cobra Kai, named Terry Silver (Griffith) and the writing and acting of his character is utterly electrifying. He is a stunning admixture of seeming decency and horrific sociopathy. His presence is transformative.
I’m looking forward to season 5 to see where they’re going with all this.
Now on Netflix.