Warning! This article contains spoilers for Cobra Kai season 6’s part 3.
Cobra Kaihas had a strong 6-season run on Netflix, but it will not be returning with season 7 on the streamer. While many factors have contributed to theend ofCobra Kai’s run, some have been more crucial than others. Long beforeCobra Kailanded on Netflix and became one of the most valuable IPs for the streaming giant, it was an original YouTube Premium series. The show’s seasons 1 and 2 premiered on YouTube Red before the subscription service shut down its scripted original programming.
For a while,Cobra Kaiwas in limbo before Netflix acquired it in June 2020, allowing it to show its full potential to a global audience. The rest was history. Since its Netflix release,Cobra Kai’s popularity and acclaim have only grown from strength to strength with each season. Owing to this, it is hard not to wonder why, despite having impressive commercial and critical value,Cobra Kaiis ending with season 6.
Cobra Kai Season 6 Was Written To Be The Show’s Final
Cobra Kai’s Showrunners Decided Where The Series Would End
Cobra Kai’s creators, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, did not let Netflix decide where the series would end. Instead, they allowed it to run its natural course and ended it with season 6 because it seemed like the right time to conclude its story. As Jon Hurwitz revealed via Twitter,they always wanted to “end Cobra Kai on their own terms"and were also grateful they got the opportunity to do so. Hurwitz’s statement confirms that the show’s creators decided to end its run when they were satisfied with how they had explored and exhausted every storyline and character beat.
Hayden Schlossberg also shared similarexplanations aboutCobra Kai’s pre-planned season 6 ending. He revealed that “the point was in season 5 to have the kids kind of come together so that they can kind of join as one giant team in this Sekai Tekai against the next level fighters that they’re about to face.” As Schlossberg added, they also intentionally left a few plot threads hanging towardCobra Kaiseason 5’s endingto “see what happens with all that"while knowing that in season 5 they were “in endgame times.”
Why It Makes Sense For Cobra Kai Season 6 To Be The Last
Cobra Kai Did Not Have Any More Stories To Tell
Cobra Kaiseason 5 effectively paved the way for the series' final arc after resolving almost all the bad blood and rivalries between the main characters. While Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence finally saw eye to eye in season 5’s final arc, even their students realized the animosity between them was not as entrenched as it once seemed. Terry Silver’s All-Valley dojo domination also reached an abrupt end when Daniel and Johnny’s students exposed his unethical acts and ruined his reputation.
With only a few story beats left to explore,Cobra Kaineeded just one more installment after season 5 to bring a well-rounded and natural closure to its overarching narrative.
Additionally,Cobra Kaiseason 5 also set the groundwork for Johnny Lawrence’s redemption by confirming that he was going to be a father again. John Kreese’s narrative, too, reached its final run when he escaped from prison and set out to confront his past and exact revenge on Silver. With only a few story beats left to explore,Cobra Kaineeded just one more installment after season 5 to bring a well-rounded and natural closure to its overarching narrative.
How Old Each Cobra Kai Kid Actor Is Compared To Their Character
Cobra Kai features several teenage characters, but how old they are compared to the actors who play Miguel, Tory, Sam, and others are very different.
Most ofCobra Kai’s main characters, like Robby, Miguel, Tory, Sam, Demetri, and Eli, also reach the end of their school life in season 6’s final arc. Since coming-of-age themes have always been crucial drivers ofCobra Kai’s story, it would not have made sense for the show to extend beyond season 6. It could have shifted its focus to the next generation of fighters in subsequent seasons, butthe series would not have been the same without the original characters audiences have grown attached to. Therefore, it is good that season 6 has marked the end ofCobra Kai’s long run.
What Is Next For The Karate Kid Franchise After Cobra Kai
A New Karate Kid Movie’s Release Has Already Been Confirmed
AfterCobra Kaiseason 6, audiences can look forward toKarate Kid: Legends, which is scheduled to be released on August 09, 2025. Although the movie does not serve as a direct follow-up toCobra Kai, it will be set in the same universe as the Netflix series and unfold after its events in the franchise’s overarching timeline. The movie serves more as a reboot that not only marks Ralph Macchio’s return as Daniel LaRusso but also teams him up withJackie Chan’s Mr. Hanfrom the 2010Karate Kidreboot.
Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg
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The two iconic martial artists from the franchise will join forces to train a new student, Li Fong (played by Ben Wang), and hopefully pave the way for another movie series. When it comes toCobra Kai, the show’s creators have not revealed much about their plans after season 6. However, interestingly, Jon Hurwitz has confirmed (viaTwitter) that he andCobra Kai’s other showrunners are already “actively working” on a spin-off idea.
Cobra Kai
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.
