Cobra Kai Season 5 Latest Installment: Ralph Macchio and William Zabka Return
Brought to you by YouTube Red, Cobra Kai Season 5 picks up right where the previous season left off, with Johnny Lawrence still trying to cope with losing the All-Valley Under-18 Karate Championship. After his loss to Daniel LaRusso, the man he blamed for breaking his Cobra Kai dojo, it’s clear that Johnny’s life will never be the same. In Season 5, we watch Johnny make drastic changes in an attempt to redeem himself both personally and professionally…and of course, to try and get revenge on LaRusso one more time.
1) An Update on Daniel LaRusso
It was great to see Ralph Macchio and William Zabka back on the Cobra Kai set this summer. I am so excited to see the return of these two characters in the fifth season. Ralph reprised his role as Daniel LaRusso, who is now a successful car salesman. Daniel has been separated from Mr. Miyagi for many years, but he continues to be haunted by his old friend’s memory.
2) The All-New Supporting Cast
YouTube Premium original series Cobra Kai shares the trials and tribulations of two men pitted against each other at a prestigious martial arts academy. Picking up three decades after the events of The Karate Kid, this new season sees Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) make a triumphant return to the dojo of his former nemesis, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). Series star Miguel A. Núñez Jr. spoke with YouTube about playing as Eddie Chen in Cobra Kai Season 5.
In my opinion, I don’t think anybody would want to be on that list, he tells YouTube when asked what it was like being an antagonist in such a prominent story about karate-do versus bullying.
3) Classic Scenes Are Reshaped
Fans of the original Karate Kid movie will be thrilled to see stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprise their roles in the latest installment of Cobra Kai. The show, set 34 years after the film, follows a down-on-his-luck Johnny Lawrence as he is forced to reconcile with his old nemesis, Daniel LaRusso.
Their high school rivalry has grown even more intense as they both face challenges in life post college. Caleeb Pinkett and Susan Ekins of YouTube Premium original series Cozy Truck make appearances as Johnny’s friends around town. Overall, this was a very entertaining season that kept its viewers hooked through the heartbreak and happiness displayed on screen.
4) A Perfect Ten in Every Category
When Cobra Kai first premiered in the Spring of 2018, it was hailed as a heartwarming story of redemption. Directed by Justin Lin with Executive Producer James Lassiter, the series portrays good winning over evil for once after all these years. As we near the show’s season finale next week, there is so much to be excited about; nevermind the fact that Cobra Kai was a perfect ten in every category. It tells an amazing story, it has catchy dialogue, memorable performances and nostalgic references to hit movies like The Karate Kid.
During this time, I remember this one time when Coach Crowley introduced my best friend Bobby to Caleeb Pinkett and Susan Ekins who had just started working at Justin Lin’s production company.
5) A Spitting Image of 1984
Gossip Girl gets Cobra Kai treatment as a wildly addictive Netflix series. What do you get when you mix Gossip Girl with The Karate Kid? Something magical, that’s what. Making it even more captivating, the show brings back Ralph Macchio and William Zabka who star as their iconic roles of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence from The Karate Kid trilogy.
But there is one major difference this time around—Johnny’s adopted son Robby (Xolo Mariduena) throws Daniel a curveball in the first episode when he confronts him at a beach party while wearing his cobra kai uniform. Will Smith joins the cast in season five as Daniel’s film producing pal James Lassiter, with scenes to air sometime in 2020.
