We have reached the sixth and final season of Netflix’s Cobra Kai. Six years ago, a new generation was introduced to Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai on the experimental YouTube Red. Now it’s time for one last journey with this blend of new and returning characters of the franchise, in a three-part 15-episode final season. Each part will consist of five episodes.

One of Cobra Kai‘s strengths has always been its ability to invest returning fans of the franchise along with a new younger audience that can follow along with the young cast. This has allowed families to have a show they can both appreciate together. Now it’s time to pay off all that invested time in this final season. One that in the first five episodes lays the foundation for what seems to be a thrilling finale.

WHERE WE LEFT OFF IN COBRA KAI

In the finale of season, four of Cobra Kai, billionaire Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) had finally been defeated and put behind bars. Both dojos, Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai had earned spots in the prestigious international Sekai Taikai tournament. It would seem at least for a moment that Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) can finally rest easy. But in the final moments, we learn that John Kreese (Martin Kove) had escaped from prison.

PEACETIME IN THE VALLEY

Season 6 of Cobra Kai kicks off with an episode titled, “Peacetime in the Valley”. Most of the students who wanted to continue karate have joined Miyagi-Do. Cobra Kai is seemingly no more, as showcased by construction workers throwing away the logo. What is interesting about this episode and those going forward is that after so much fighting, they don’t seem to know how to handle this time of peace. Throughout this new season, we see underlying tension between rivals that are now “friends”. Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) and Robby (Tanner Buchanan) as well as Tory (Payton List) and Sam (Mary Mouser) are all dating each other and playing nice. But you can tell that it wouldn’t take much to once again ignite the rivalry.

The same could be said about the two sensei Daniel and Johnny. They are at odds about the way that they can train their students together. Also, there seems to be certain favoritism by both of them to certain students, creating more tension that then spills over the teenagers.

UNDER PRESSURE

With everyone on edge, the first five episodes of the season explore what then happens when you add the pressure of a tournament like the Sekai Taikai. Only a select few can represent the dojo. Of those few only two can be captains. Then once in the tournament, there could only be one winner. During this season we see many of the characters reliving past moments that still haunt them and pressure them to do whatever they can to prepare for the tournament. As the episodes progress the tension builds, leading to an exciting cliffhanger.

Cobra Kai

Meanwhile, Kreese has found a way back in the mix. Finding a new group of students who are being trained by Kim Da-Eun (Alicia Hannah-Kim). Kreese will now use these students to represent Cobra Kai in the tournament. This is something unknown to Daniel and Johnny as they know Kreese is a fugitive and think it would be crazy for him to show his face. But all bets are off if he is outside of the States.

WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN’T IN COBRA KAI

Cobra Kai does a great job at setting up the magnitude of what our favorite characters are going to be facing in the Sekai Taikai tournament. It is heart-wrenching to watch every one of the teenagers put everything on the line, only to see some succeed while others fail. The series makes it easy to empathize with each of them and thus get easily invested in this final season.

The same can’t be said about both Johnny and Daniel. They seem to always learn something, only to revert to their old stubborn ways. This of course to the detriment of themselves and the characters around them. There is a side story regarding a box found with secrets of Mr. Miyagi that feels more like a distraction rather than something that will genuinely pay off in future parts. The series works best when we are following the teenagers that are also starting to question what comes after karate and high school.

The series has great fight sequences, but they are nothing that we haven’t seen before. After five seasons of Cobra Kai it’s almost more important what leads to the fight and the following consequences. I am curious to see how the creative team with shake thing up in the tournament, as it has been described as the student’s toughest challenge yet. As they say, its not about being the best in the valley, but the best in the world.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Overall this is a solid start for the final season of Cobra Kai. It allows characters to breathe and continue to develop. Taking what we have seen in the previous seasons and using it to validate why they are making certain decisions. It is great to see that we are seemingly getting back to the basic rivalries. Which means that I am betting that there will be many viewers picking different sides. This first part of season 6 sets the table for some exciting moments that are ahead of us. My only concern is that we don’t linger too much on the Miyagi side story.

Cobra Kai season 6 part one begins streaming on Netflix July 18.