Stakes are Raised in Season Two of YouTube's "Cobra Kai"

Enter YouTube39s original seriesamp160Cobra Kai the continuing story of Johnny Lawrence and the answer to the question amp8220What happens when your high school bully doesnamp8217t end up joining law enforcementamp8221 amp160In this instance he spends 30 years at the bottom of every Coors Banquet bottle in Reseda California amp160The Karate Kid told a very black and white story of the bullied vs the bully but Cobra Kaiamp8217s first season tells a more complete one because itamp8217s amazing what you can learn when history isnamp8217t written by the victors amp160In the seriesamp8217 second season Johnny has already completely revived Cobra Kai dojo survived local automotive kingpin Danny LaRussoamp8217s attempts to destroy his livelihood and finally won that All Valley Tournament amp160Danny on the other hand has won something slightly more important the respect of Johnnyamp8217s son Robby Tanner BuchananLetamp8217s back up a bit amp8230The most interesting aspect of the Cobra Kai series and there are so many is the turning of the proverbial tables amp160In 1984 Danny was just a poor kid trying to live his life and Johnny was the rich prick who just wouldnamp8217t leave him alone amp160Three decades later Johnnyamp8217s the one just trying to live life while LaRusso sits in his ivory tower notsosilently judging him amp160Since the ending of The Karate Kid Johnnyamp8217s life has been trash amp160He left Cobra Kai lost his way even more than he had before and fell into obscurity until the world had shifted so much that it turned out he qualifies as the hero now amp160Meanwhile LaRusso has seen nothing but success amp160The confidence he gained from crane kicking all the potential out of Johnnyamp8217s life gave him enough fuel to become a successful businessman and local celebrity with a beautiful family to bootThis success was a negative form of positive reinforcement for Danny though amp160After defeating his rival who was forced to cheat by his mentally and physically abusive sensei John Kreese Martin Kove by the way LaRusso saw himself as the hero his victory a sign that he was on the right path amp160He never examined the role that he really played in all this or considered the fact that Johnny was just a kid too amp160Yes Johnny was a dick but was it because he was evil and Danny was good or was it because he wasnamp8217t lucky enough to end up with the nicer of the two Karateteaching war veterans in Reseda amp160Also what the hell is wrong with ResedaHot take Maybe karate is evilYou see that movie The Karate Kid doesnamp8217t exist in their universe amp160In their world theyamp8217re just two grown ass men both old enough to have children in high school fighting a thirtyyear karate war amp160Seriously amp160I think we can all agree that a decades long rivalry over anything other than hidden money from an old bank heist is just ridiculous amp160In all honesty both of these men need much less karate and a lot of therapy amp160Every time they forget about karate and just talk you know like adults it appears theyamp8217re both coming to the realization that amp8220weamp8217re not so different you and Iamp8221 amp160Then karate rears its ugly giwearing head and everyone promptly remembers how much they hate each other amp160The only time this martial art truly does any good in this show is when someone learns to defend themselves from a bully and even still if they karate too much they just end up becoming the bullyaggressor themselves amp160Just ask Hawk Jacob Bertrand or Miguel Xolo Maridueamp241a in season one or I donamp8217t know Danny damn LaRussoTonally Cobra Kai hits a sweet spot between The Power Rangers TV franchise and a serious drama amp160We have colorcoded groups of hormonal teens expressing their confusing emotions through learned violence while spending way too much time with dysfunctional men in pajamas amp160Instead of fighting evil space monsters these teens are fighting the very real demons of their emotionally damaged predecessors amp160Oh and each other letamp8217s not forget that They constantly beat the hell out of each other amp160Plus no oneamp8217s scared to cuss and thatamp8217s always funStill thereamp8217s something amazing about the regular use of training montages and the employment of a nostalgically amp821680s soundtrack amp160It kind of reinforces the idea of how stuck in the past everyone seems to be amp160But again how could they not be amp160Hurt people hurt people and this is no different amp160Kreese abused Johnny Johnny abused LaRusso LaRusso abuses adult Johnny and round and round we go amp160Is Cobra Kaiamp8217s motto of amp8220Strike First Strike Hard No Mercyamp8221 a perfect one amp160Nah but theyamp8217re no more amp8220evilamp8221 than LaRusso was when he tried to keep Cobra Kai from competing in the All Valley tournament or that time he got Johnny amp8220Iamp8217m so poor I fry bolognaamp8221 Lawrenceamp8217s dojo rent doubled amp160Maybe Johnny was a mean kid but didnamp8217t Danny steal his girl amp160Two sides people amp160Two sidesIn the recently released second season we get to see what happens when even more middleaged men decide not to let sleeping dogs lie Kreese is back and the effect it has on their impressionable students sht gets even more real amp160As someone whoamp8217s already seen all of it I can tell you it is amazing amp160I love this show and its ability to pay respect to expand upon and continue the legacy of something that I wasnamp8217t alive for the first time around amp160In reality Iamp8217d need a podcast and an hour to truly get into all of the things that make this show the definition of amp8220surprisingly goodamp8221 but you donamp8217t have to take my word for it amp160Both seasons are on YouTube Premium right now and trust me you just need to watch themJust remember Danny sucks amp160TeamCobraKaiClick on the social media tiles above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively those of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated bloggersamp160

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Stakes are Raised in Season Two of YouTube's "Cobra Kai"

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Ainsley Andrade

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Stakes are Raised in Season Two of YouTube's "Cobra Kai"

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