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Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 2: Demetri & Hawk’s Conflict Gets Ominous Tease From Stars With Chilling Season 2 Connection
WhileCobra Kaimay have given Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) a second chance, showrunners Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz affirm that oneThe Karate Kidvillain will not be redeemed and be at his worst in the sixth and final season. The Netflix series is set thirty-four years after the events of the 1984 sports movie, as both Johnny and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) deal with growing older and training a new generation of young fighters. Season 1 sawformer mentor Kreese (Martin Kove)approach Johnny looking for forgiveness, only to manipulate his way into control once more.
Ahead of the return ofCobra Kaiseason 6 on November 15, Heald and Hurwitz opened up toScreen Rantabout whether one character could be given a new perspective that could explain their actions. Despite the series redefining what many know about the cast ofThe Karate Kid,both showrunners agreed that Kreese was too far gone to be redeemed, with neither Johnny nor Daniel wanting to give him a second chance and him set on destroying their lives.
Josh Heald:I think he murdered all of them. But, no, he forcibly exited a prison and walked into the night dressed as a maniacal doctor. And next we locate him, he’s coming ashore in Korea, so he’s resourceful. He’s somebody who’s got a goal right now, which is destroying his enemies. Daniel and Johnny have let him know, in no uncertain terms, that they hope he rots in prison for the rest of his life, and they have no love for him, so any hope of redemption is out the window.
Kreese is single-mindedly set on taking them down, and showing them that they’re not going to have their happy ending. They’re not going to get to have a conflict-free Sekai Taikai, he’s going to show up and spoil it for them. We just thought what a good stopping point for the final season to have that be the moment at the end of the first chunk.
While Kreese may have a strong team of fighters and the continued trust of Tory (Peyton List), Hurwitz stated that it is the effect on the two original rivals that will show just how much of an antagonist Kreese is.The showrunner stated that not only will Kreese’s past with Johnny leave his former student off balance, but Daniel’s current struggle will leave both mentors disturbedas he emerges from the shadows in the penultimate batch of episodes.
Jon Hurwitz:Well, we saw in the first five how Kreese has this new Cobra Kai, and he’s teamed up with Kim Da-Eun, who he has a long history with, and he has some very formidable fighters there from Korea. So, he’s excited to bring next level fighters to take on the fighters of the Valley.
As for Tory, he’s always had this sort of pure relationship with her, for the most part. It’s almost like a grandfatherly relationship, even in season 5, when she was acting as a mole for him, staying within Cobra Kai, and then he seemingly abandoned her, he was doing so to protect her. He wanted to make sure that she stayed clear of his plans to liberate himself. So, bringing her back into the fold, he was looking out for her. In his own mind, he thinks it’s best for her to be with Cobra Kai. And at the same time, he needed a female captain who he thought was the best in the world, and he had that level of faith in Tory.
As for Johnny, he thought Kreese was a thing of the past. He was in jail, he escaped, but if he pops back up, he’ll be tossed back in there. So, there’s no thought to Kreese. But the moment he shows up, at the end of those first five, Johnny’s now entering this middle five off balance, because this father figure/sensei that he has is now there ready to mess with him. And Daniel is not in his best place either. So, our senseis and our kids have that big punch to the stomach of seeing Tory, who they thought is their friend, now on the other side, and Sensei Kreese returning with a vengeance.
What Heald & Hurwitz’s Statement Means For Kreese’s Story
Even Cobra Kai’s Abusive Original Mentor Didn’t Start Off Cruel
Kreese may be irredeemable in the eyes of both ofCobra Kai’s showrunners, but the series has devoted time to explain just what events turned him into an abusive mentor. Orphaned at a young age and left to fend for himself,Kreese is shown to initially have a good heart, something he would lose through his traumatic experience in Vietnam when he is forced to fight and kill his abusive captain. While his cruel streak took time to manifest following the war as he founded Cobra Kai, he would eventually become the character seen throughouttheKarate Kidseries.
Kreese’s 10 Best Quotes In Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai has had several villains, but John Kreese’s quotes prove why he has always been at the center of the karate dojo’s complicated story.
Despite this tragic fate and entering the series looking for redemption, Kreese has spent many of the chances offered to him throughout the series, even resorting to more brutal and violent attacks as time passes. While he has had his own demons to conquer throughout the series and attempted to make amends and been given a backstory that explains what went wrong in his life,the showrunner’s responses suggest that Kreese cannot avoid his ultimate comeuppance forever.
Our Thoughts On Kreese’s Cobra Kai Season 6 Fate
Kreese Is A Looming Shadow Over The Cast
Like howCobra Kaichallenged how audiences not only view Johnny and Daniel, but Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) too, the series offers a new perspective on Kreese as well. While he may have started as another boy in search of guidance, the series illustrated how his own poor mentor in Vietnam created a cycle of violence and misery that his former student is trying to break for good. As such, Kreese’s role as a villain throughout the show has rendered him a warning of what could be if either Johnny or Daniel fails to break free of the past.
AndwhileDaniel’s journey may continue inKarate Kid: Legends,Heald and Hurwitz' response does indicate that Kreese’s story will come to a well-deserved close. Though the journey ofCobra Kaimay be nearing its end, the former sensei is set to be the perfect final foil for its more heroic mentors.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
