Rules for off topic forum
- Be nice
- No advertisement
- No events
- No fundraisers
- No political discussions
- Post in English
Cobra Kai series
6 year(s) ago • 2468 views • 44 replies
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
What do you think about this one? I guess many of us here have grown up with Karate Kid. I found the first season to be really fun, loved to see the characters again, the dynamics between Daniel and Johnny. Annoyed me that Daniel is such a jerk; Johnny is still the real hero for sure. Also incredibly annoying that they still push the narrative that one can acquire sports skills without practicing with timing and resistance.
Second season got a bit stupid with teenagers constantly fighting. And their excuse to get Johnny and Daniel to finally fight was silly; they had literally just woken up from an evening where they had become good friends and shook hands (same thing in S1). Next thing they kick each other in the face?
I think season 2 lost me a bit, but I guess I'll still watch 3 when it comes out.
Second season got a bit stupid with teenagers constantly fighting. And their excuse to get Johnny and Daniel to finally fight was silly; they had literally just woken up from an evening where they had become good friends and shook hands (same thing in S1). Next thing they kick each other in the face?
I think season 2 lost me a bit, but I guess I'll still watch 3 when it comes out.
JABlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
Still working through season 1 :-)
SCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
What do you think about this one? I guess many of us here have grown up with Karate Kid. I found the first season to be really fun, loved to see the characters again, the dynamics between Daniel and Johnny. Annoyed me that Daniel is such a jerk; Johnny is still the real hero for sure. Also incredibly annoying that they still push the narrative that one can acquire sports skills without practicing with timing and resistance. Second season got a bit stupid with teenagers constantly fighting. And their excuse to get Johnny and Daniel to finally fight was silly; they had literally just woken up from an evening where they had become good friends and shook hands (same thing in S1). Next thing they kick each other in the face? I think season 2 lost me a bit, but I guess I'll still watch 3 when it comes out.
If you turn off the BJJ part of your brain, it's relatively enjoyable to watch (although, as you said, Season 1 was definitely better than Season 2).
MFBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
I thought they were good. Nostalgic for sure but I could have done without the big, everybody is fighting scenes. Another good one, for low budget, is The Debt Collector on Netflix. There are two movies and I thought they were entertaining.....
SCBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
ive watched the whole "Daniel is the bad guy" on youtube years ago and it made complete sense now.. then they made this show and I was super stoked.. The first season was well done and they continued the narrative pretty good from a totally different perspective. after i got finished watching it, I went back and watch Karate kid 1 and Then you'll see the movie in a whole different light.. and Daniel was the instigator majority of the movie. We've all been Dooped into thinking that we was rooting for the Good guy but he started all the BS in the first place. Then in karate kid 2... HE DOES IT AGAIN.. dude be hitting on chicks that are taken.
the second season is just utter chaos. more of downfall of Cobra kai is where that is going and how johnny is going to finally separate himself form that legacy. Sad that one of his old buddies died ( even in real life). but they did a good scene honoring him. Overall i like it...
the second season is just utter chaos. more of downfall of Cobra kai is where that is going and how johnny is going to finally separate himself form that legacy. Sad that one of his old buddies died ( even in real life). but they did a good scene honoring him. Overall i like it...
SCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
ive watched the whole 'Daniel is the bad guy' on youtube years ago and it made complete sense now.. then they made this show and I was super stoked.. The first season was well done and they continued the narrative pretty good from a totally different perspective. after i got finished watching it, I went back and watch Karate kid 1 and Then you'll see the movie in a whole different light.. and Daniel was the instigator majority of the movie. We've all been Dooped into thinking that we was rooting for the Good guy but he started all the BS in the first place. Then in karate kid 2... HE DOES IT AGAIN.. dude be hitting on chicks that are taken. the second season is just utter chaos. more of downfall of Cobra kai is where that is going and how johnny is going to finally separate himself form that legacy. Sad that one of his old buddies died ( even in real life). but they did a good scene honoring him. Overall i like it...
It's been so long since I've seen the movies. I'll have to rewatch them with this new narrative in mind.
DBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
Shoes on the mat in almost every goddamn scene.
SCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
I was pleasantly surprised by Season 1, a lot better than I expected on pretty much all fronts: acting, character development, plot, production values, etc. I also love that it didn't go the boring black and white "This guy is bad, this guy is good" route either, each of the two main protagonists - Daniel and Johnny - wasn't entirely 'good' or 'bad'. I find that's a decent benchmark for a quality series, in terms of the characters being sufficiently complex that you can't easily pigeon hole them like that.
Though yeah, it wasn't anything spectacular, as in many ways this series was basically just a competent rehash of the original film, with some cool nods to the fans and lots and LOTS of nostalgia. As I love nostalgia (especially 1980s nostalgia), I enjoyed it.
Not sure I can be arsed with season 2 too: is that as good as season 1, or a dip in quality?
(and yay, that finally posted! Thanks Christian ;) )
Though yeah, it wasn't anything spectacular, as in many ways this series was basically just a competent rehash of the original film, with some cool nods to the fans and lots and LOTS of nostalgia. As I love nostalgia (especially 1980s nostalgia), I enjoyed it.
Not sure I can be arsed with season 2 too: is that as good as season 1, or a dip in quality?
(and yay, that finally posted! Thanks Christian ;) )
RMBrown beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I saw the Karate Kid once or twice growing up, but for some reason it never really formed much of an impression on me, and I've never had any kind of nostalgic feelings towards it in the way I did for, e.g., Rocky or Bloodsport. Nonetheless, I started watching Cobra Kai last week and it's fairly enjoyable so far.
For a show centred around martial arts though, it has some terrible fucking fight choreography. Just started season 2 and that opening scrap between Johnny and Kreese looks like something out of Xena or Hercules.
For a show centred around martial arts though, it has some terrible fucking fight choreography. Just started season 2 and that opening scrap between Johnny and Kreese looks like something out of Xena or Hercules.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Yeah, the fights are rubbish. However, Hercules the Legendary Journeys is my FAVOURITE live action TV show of all time, so I don't have particularly high standards for that, in something that isn't purely about fighting. ;)
If this was a Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Donnie Yen etc film, then yeah, I'd think it was shit because of the fighting. But as it's about karate (and specifically crappy 80s karate), it almost kinda feels like bad choreography fits. It would be weird if Johnny was doing awesome wire fu while Kreese backflipped away from him (though that would be cool, in a different way: maybe if this was a more gritty, realistic reboot, as opposed to a super cheesy one with an absolutely magnificent 80s soundtrack to match). :P
If this was a Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Donnie Yen etc film, then yeah, I'd think it was shit because of the fighting. But as it's about karate (and specifically crappy 80s karate), it almost kinda feels like bad choreography fits. It would be weird if Johnny was doing awesome wire fu while Kreese backflipped away from him (though that would be cool, in a different way: maybe if this was a more gritty, realistic reboot, as opposed to a super cheesy one with an absolutely magnificent 80s soundtrack to match). :P
RHPurple beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I watched it when it first came out and just recently watched both seasons again. I hope Season 3 is around the corner. I loved both season, but was disappointed how it ended with Johnny leaving Cobra Kai. I hope he returns to take it back and keep it heading in the right direction!
Unfortunately I feel that it continues to create unreal expectations of Martial Arts. These kids become incredible in such a short period of time. This has has always been a problem with the movies.
Unfortunately I feel that it continues to create unreal expectations of Martial Arts. These kids become incredible in such a short period of time. This has has always been a problem with the movies.
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I watched it when it first came out and just recently watched both seasons again. I hope Season 3 is around the corner. I loved both season, but was disappointed how it ended with Johnny leaving Cobra Kai. I hope he returns to take it back and keep it heading in the right direction! Unfortunately I feel that it continues to create unreal expectations of Martial Arts. These kids become incredible in such a short period of time. This has has always been a problem with the movies.
Ha - yeah, one moment they've all just started, the next they are all black belts and competition ready. I mean, I know karate goes a lot quicker than BJJ through the belts, but not THAT quick. ;)
ABlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Think it’s a nice series... took me back in the 80ies
BJBlue beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I enjoyed Cobra Kai very much, although the first season was far better than the second. It was crafted with an enormous level of affection for the source material and fondness for fan theories about the show. (See the popular 2015 "Danny is the Real Bully" video on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/w[...]_Gz_iTuRMM, for example). Even in my college days, I remember karate people telling me Danny's final winning kick was illegal. Sure enough, the show has an exchange between Johnny and Danny on that.
What I think I enjoyed most about CK Season 1 was its subversion of what a villain is. There really are no villains in Season 1 of the show. There are some unrepentant bullies, but they are side characters. Both Danny and Johnny periodically act like jerks and have understandable reasons and motivations for acting the way they do. Danny is now the one coming from a position of wealth and respectability, but in many ways, he never recovered from the childhood bullying he endured and continues to act out of that trauma. Johnny is overtly sexist, racist, ableist, and hateful towards "nerds," yet he takes those "nerds" under his wing and teaches them to hit back at bullies (but in some of the wrong ways). Johnny is also quintessentially 80s and his clash with a world that got "woke" and moved on without him makes for a lot of the more amusing scenes in the show. Danny occasionally experiences this as well. ("Cultural appropriation? What?!")
And when John Kreese returns to the show for Season 2, we learn that some people really are just a**holes, manipulators, and villains.
Where I think the show is weaker is in its triangle between the three teen leads, Samantha, Miguel, and Robby, a recreation of the triangle between Danny, Johnny and Ali. The show really, really wants us to care about these three, and in the first season, we kind of do. But part of the reason the second season slipped is that it threw so much into these characters, and let's face it, their dumb teen angst isn't something most of us feel for anymore.
I also think the show is pretty weak on its female characters, though I like the storyline between Samantha and Aisha in the first season. Elizabeth Shue was really wonderful on Season 1 of The Boys, so I'm hoping her return as Ali-with-an-I will pick things up here.
A little self-promotion: I wrote an article on how CK got me into jiu-jitsu -- http://www.itsbridget.com[...]jiu_jitsu/
What I think I enjoyed most about CK Season 1 was its subversion of what a villain is. There really are no villains in Season 1 of the show. There are some unrepentant bullies, but they are side characters. Both Danny and Johnny periodically act like jerks and have understandable reasons and motivations for acting the way they do. Danny is now the one coming from a position of wealth and respectability, but in many ways, he never recovered from the childhood bullying he endured and continues to act out of that trauma. Johnny is overtly sexist, racist, ableist, and hateful towards "nerds," yet he takes those "nerds" under his wing and teaches them to hit back at bullies (but in some of the wrong ways). Johnny is also quintessentially 80s and his clash with a world that got "woke" and moved on without him makes for a lot of the more amusing scenes in the show. Danny occasionally experiences this as well. ("Cultural appropriation? What?!")
And when John Kreese returns to the show for Season 2, we learn that some people really are just a**holes, manipulators, and villains.
Where I think the show is weaker is in its triangle between the three teen leads, Samantha, Miguel, and Robby, a recreation of the triangle between Danny, Johnny and Ali. The show really, really wants us to care about these three, and in the first season, we kind of do. But part of the reason the second season slipped is that it threw so much into these characters, and let's face it, their dumb teen angst isn't something most of us feel for anymore.
I also think the show is pretty weak on its female characters, though I like the storyline between Samantha and Aisha in the first season. Elizabeth Shue was really wonderful on Season 1 of The Boys, so I'm hoping her return as Ali-with-an-I will pick things up here.
A little self-promotion: I wrote an article on how CK got me into jiu-jitsu -- http://www.itsbridget.com[...]jiu_jitsu/
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Now THAT Is what I wanted from this thread: great analysis, Bridget! :D
BJBlue beltVerified
BJBlue beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Season 3 of Cobra Kai was fantastic. Returned the show to Season 1 form, IMO.
"You didn't like all her pictures or anything, right?" and "I heard YOU were the bully!"... My favorite lines.
"You didn't like all her pictures or anything, right?" and "I heard YOU were the bully!"... My favorite lines.
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I got bored in season 2, but yeah, will most likely watch the rest of it at some point. I super binge watch if I'm in a slump, so get through a lot of TV. ;)
JWBlue beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I love it! I actually started back into Jiu Jitsu because of the first season. Seeing Johnny get back up on his feet and kicking ass was inspiring to me. I may even have a Cobra Kai Jiu Jitsu gi. lol
TMBlack beltVerified
JWBlue beltVerified
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
You could also just buy some patches, unless you need a whole new gi. ;)
https://www.etsy.com/uk/s[...]ai%20patch
https://www.etsy.com/uk/s[...]ai%20patch
JWBlue beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
You could also just buy some patches, unless you need a whole new gi. ;) https://www.etsy.com/uk/s[...]ai%20patch
I actually bought the patches for a black gi I had. Then that gi popped up in an ad and I had to get it.
DBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Side note.
Whatever happened to Marc Laimon & his gym Cobra Kai in LV?
Marc was a bit of a strange bird, but quite ahead of the curve on a LOT of meta games, if memory serves.
Whatever happened to Marc Laimon & his gym Cobra Kai in LV?
Marc was a bit of a strange bird, but quite ahead of the curve on a LOT of meta games, if memory serves.
JWBlue beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Side note. Whatever happened to Marc Laimon & his gym Cobra Kai in LV? Marc was a bit of a strange bird, but quite ahead of the curve on a LOT of meta games, if memory serves.
The gym is still there. I ran across it while visiting Las Vegas. It’s owned by Simpson Go now.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
VBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I liked season 3
Liked how they got into the back story of the original characters, and why they are they are. Puts an interesting twist on the show.
Liked how they got into the back story of the original characters, and why they are they are. Puts an interesting twist on the show.
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
The gym is still there. I ran across it while visiting Las Vegas. It’s owned by Simpson Go now.
Cool! Yeah, I can remember that Sim Go popped up on the (still sorely missed, I randomly got an email from Caleb a while ago, which was lovely) Fightworks Podcast a number of times back in the day, I think Laimon did too? That gym used to be well known in BJJ circles, but I haven't heard from them in a long time now (though to be fair, I don't listen to podcasts religiously like I used to back in 2006-2012 or so).
JABlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
ive watched the whole 'Daniel is the bad guy' on youtube years ago and it made complete sense now.. ... and Daniel was the instigator majority of the movie. We've all been Dooped into thinking that we was rooting for the Good guy but he started all the BS in the first place. Then in karate kid 2... HE DOES IT AGAIN.. dude be hitting on chicks that are taken. the second season is just utter chaos. more of downfall of Cobra kai is where that is going and how johnny is going to finally separate himself form that legacy. Sad that one of his old buddies died ( even in real life). but they did a good scene honoring him. Overall i like it...
In Season 3 they even address this, so now it's canon... Season 3 hit all the right notes of nostalgia and character development for the main folks... Hell, martin Kove even had his son play the Football bully jackass in the show :)
BJBlue beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
My one disappointment with Season 3 was that Aisha did not return. She was written out because the writers didn't know what to do with her. She was the only female character on the show who wasn't thin and, apart from Miguel's mother, the only WoC on the show (though the one-episode cameos by two of the Japanese girls from KK2 were welcome).
Apart from that, I think they did a really good job with season 3. Much better than season 2.
Apart from that, I think they did a really good job with season 3. Much better than season 2.
