Schuyler Kropp, Staff Writer
The show Cobra Kai is based off of the events in the movie The Karate Kid. It was made in 2018 by Josh Heald, John Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg in hopes for the Karate Kid saga to live on. The show begins thirty four years after Karate Kid. The dojo name “Cobra Kai” is taken from The Karate Kid, and there are many returning faces including John Kreese, Paul Dugan, and Terrance Silver. This show explores many different forms of relationships and how they can teach us to be better people.
Robby Keene is the main character in season one. Miguel Diaz is the main character in season two. They become friends throughout the show as you get to know the differences and similarities between Miguel and Robby and how their bond is formed. They both want the same things, but have different paths to get there. At first, they don’t like each other because Robby is jealous that Miguel starts to have a father figure to look up to. Throughout the seasons, they have their problems, but they grow up and move together towards achievable goals that bring them together.
In one memorable event from the season two finale, Miguel ends up in a coma because Robby kicked him off a high staircase. However, later in the show Robby and Miguel fight again and resolve their conflict. Eventually, they find common ground after the fight and become best friends. They are able to unite because they both didn’t have male role models growing up. I feel like the lessons that are being taught to the viewers are that people can have conflict at first, but it is important to know and understand their side of the story. This also shows that the two people who once didn’t get along can always move on from the past, and grow into more mature people.
Another character, Tory Nichols is also similar to Johnny Lawrence. Both of them miss father figures, and resort to isolating themselves. Tory and Johnny never really got to know who they really were as they both grew up without knowing who their biological father is. Many have speculated online about rumors of Mike Barnes possibly being Tory’s father. I disagree, but I think her father could be either Dutch or an unknown man. Both Dutch and Tory had difficult lives and both ended up in juvie. That is revealed when Johnny’s buddies from high school mention that he was up in Lompoc County.
While learning under Sensei Johnny Lawrence, Miguel starts to become close to a girl named Samantha, and eventually starts a relationship with her. They find things in common and they share chemistry together as their relationship grows stronger each season. Miguel struggles in this relationship because Sam feels like she doesn’t know and understand him anymore after a few weeks. They eventually break up and Miguel gets into a short relationship with Tory Nichols to try something new in an attempt to get over Sam. Tory points out that this is unfair for her. Eventually Miguel returns to Sam when she finds an octopus necklace in the dojo and realizes that Miguel still likes her more than a friend. They get back together again because they spent some time on their own trying to find out more things about themselves but they end up realizing that they love each other romantically. This shows how willing Miguel was to communicate and understand his love for Sam from the very beginning of the show, all the way to the end. Their relationship can show us how to communicate in romantic relationships, and everyone should be able to do this in their own lives.
Throughout season one, Robby gets hired at LaRusso Auto and works there helping a character named Daniel fix and sell cars. Daniel later becomes a father figure for Robby. Both of them had demons in their past and fought them. Daniel sees the potential he had in himself and decides to help Robby use it in his life. Robby struggles against his opponents in tournaments. Robby knows the sorts of struggles that he faces are inevitable. He makes lots of mistakes throughout every season. but he wants to take responsibility to show Daniel that they are alike in many ways. Daniel learns how to trust himself throughout this father-son relationship as he helps Robby. There are times where they argue, but they eventually put their differences aside to come back together. Robby and Daniel are very much alike and they have always found ways to win in various situations.
Many people struggle with bullies in their life. Yet, in the end, it is always important to remember what you’ve been taught. Even if that is fighting for your purpose or love. I have most certainly dealt with a whole lot of bullying and I do not like it. It is because of bullying and the things I dealt with in my early life that I began to watch this show Cobra Kai. I feel like if I get better at fighting for what is right, then maybe I could pass down my knowledge as a sensei one day. While I hope that everyone lives their lives full of happy memories and experiences, they should also be ready for unfortunate events to happen. However they can overcome those difficulties by remembering to spend the most time you can with the people that you love and care for.