[This will be review will be spoiler-free, and will only contain information from season 1 and the trailers for season 2.]
How to watch: Youtube (free with ads, or paid without ads)
Starring: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Xolo Maridueña
Episode Count: 10, approx 30 mins each
Rating: TV-14
Release Date: 04/24/2019
Style: Martial Arts, Drama
For more information on the show, you can go to IMDB.com
Cobra Kai Season 2 Strikes First, Strikes Hard, And Has No Mercy
Like many, I was very excited when I first heard that the original actors from The Karate Kid were getting back together for a show. I was also hesitant as I know that some movies and shows from my youth don’t translate well into today. There are multiple examples where rebooting or revitalizing an old movie or show just doesn’t work. Thankfully, I had nothing to fear as the first season of Cobra Kai was simply fantastic.
However, that leads to a potential problem. The response was far beyond anything the showrunners or Youtube had expected, so of course, they wanted a second season. While the first season definitely set up numerous plot threads for season 2, I still worried a little. Would the writing continue to be excellent? Maybe they would rush the scripts and production, thereby creating a lesser product when compared to the first season? Would they try to go “bigger and bolder” in season 2 and forgetting what made season 1 so good? Additionally, I wrote a primer for season 2 that contained plot-based questions as I was curious how they would be answered. Well, now that I have sat down and watched the whole season, I can say some things definitively. Read on!
Show Review: 9.5/10
Pros:
As we all know, the story and the characters were the strength of the original movie. Even the first two sequels were enjoyable largely based on the story and characters, though there was some over-acting in the third one. This is what made the first season of Cobra Kai so good. The showrunners understood what made the original movies so good and translated that masterfully to an episodic format. I’m happy to report that they show no signs of losing their touch with season 2.
While the main characters continue to get wonderful writing and growth, the secondary characters don’t get left behind either. Virtually everybody from the first season continues to get room to grow with great script-writing. Also, the acting continues to be surprisingly good. Not only does the dialogue come across as natural, but the non-verbal aspects are really well done too.
From a “callback” perspective, The Karate Kid Part II got a lot of love this time around. Lots of visual and scripted references to the second movie, as well as a couple of flashbacks. The Karate Kid Part III also got a little love with a flashback and a vague reference. Of course, there are references to the original as well.
The biggest “pro” though is the overall story and message of Cobra Kai season 2. I came away with two big words after watching this season: Responsibility and Consequences. The writers literally pulled no punches with this season when viewed in totality. There are so many lessons that our characters learned, often the hard way. The theme of bullying is still front and center. Instructors are not always perfect and make mistakes. Additionally, many of our favorite characters will be forced to take a good look in the mirror after the events of this season. The story strikes first, strikes hard, and has no mercy for anybody this season.
Cons:
I have very little gripes with the show overall this season. The only gripe I had is that for a couple of episodes after the halfway point, I wasn’t quite sure where things were really going with this season. That was quickly remedied though.
Martial Arts Review: 8.5/10
Pros:
The showrunners, stunt coordinators, and actors all really stepped it up for the second season of Cobra Kai. The fight scenes are better, and there are more of them this season. Many of the main characters have definitely been training as they look more comfortable in their various action scenes. We get to see virtually all main and side characters have their time to shine at one point or another. I also like that the choreography, generally speaking, looks realistic for each character. No obvious wire-work here.
I am a big fan of the “long take” most recently popularized in the three seasons of Daredevil, and one of those can be found in this season. It’s pretty well done overall and does a good job portraying the chaotic nature of a fight. Really well done.
Cons:
Not a lot here, but I did notice a couple of things. I do feel like the show tends to gloss over the aftermath of a fight, confrontation, or hard training when it doesn’t serve the story. There are rare mentions of bruises, concussions, and other things anybody would likely mention at the dojo the next day. Honestly, that does bug me.
Also, it is nice seeing Ralph Macchio get some action scenes this time around besides teaching the basics of Miyagi-Do. I do wonder if he is training a lot, or is that just how he moves? He has always had an odd movement pattern, so maybe that’s why he looks just a bit odd.
Overall Review: 9/10
I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed Cobra Kai season 2. I really liked where they took a lot of the characters this season and weren’t afraid to put them into uncomfortable situations. The acting was also really well done as you would expect having seen the first season.
A big part of this show that I appreciate is how they portray the realities of high school, bullies, the bullied, and the difficult decisions that teenagers can face. While the subject matter and language can be a bit uncomfortable at times, I do think the show presents the “lessons” of the story very well to the viewer.
What did you think of season 2 of Cobra Kai? Better than the first, or not? Let me know in the comments section below!
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