‘COBRA KAI’ SUMPTION, SEASON 6, SECTION 11: In the fire

Cobra Kai

Into the fire

Season 6

Section 11

Editor’s assessment

3 stars

***

Photo: Netflix

Welcome back! The streaming plan for this supersized last season of Cobra Kai Has been unusual, but now that we have arrived at the last batch of episodes, the structure makes a certain degree of meaning. I don’t want Netflix to make a habit of releasing its seasons these months-art chunks, but both Chunk 1 and Chunk 2 ended on pretty solid cliffhangers.

The biggest question that goes into season 6C, if that’s what we call it was if (and how) Sekai Taikai World Tournament would continue despite the loss of one of its top competitors. Kwon’s death certainly throws a pallet over this mid -season premiere; In the first scene located in Korea, we see that his classmates are gathering to turn on the funeral bird. Still, the tournament is back at the time the credits are rolling like nothing ever happened. It is probably not in Barcelona, ​​but otherwise it is left to see how this one-month break will affect the results of the tournament in the future.

“Into the Fire” is not so much about the kids because we can certainly assume that they are all still ready to end the competition and we know the effort that goes in for someone like Miguel (if Stanford Dreams have died without victory ). Many of the students are completely missing, including Tory, and Robby only really gets one scene. His guidance advisor tells him that it will be difficult for him to study high school and come to a good university, and she is also questionable about his chances of doing so in the professional karate world. She mentions to look at the trade school and imagine a life without karate, which increases the pressure to prove herself when the tournament Do Start up again.

I suppose if Cobra Kai Was interested in psychological realism, it could have taken some time to investigate how it could affect a bunch of children to see another competitor like themselves (albeit a frightening bully) literally become impaled and die on the mat – while they are all on TV, remember you. But if anyone understandably is triggered by the sight of a Cobra Kai GI, we haven’t seen it yet.

The idea of ​​returning to end the match is more complicated for the adults, especially Daniel, who has spent the last month burying his head in work and preparing for the upcoming anniversary party for the dealer. He doesn’t even offer bonsai plants to customers anymore, a sign that he’s still haunted by his spotted memories of Mr. Miyagi-and of history-repayment-even mortality in Barcelona. When he discusses Gunther’s Call with Johnny he is resolute not On board, for possessed by clinging for control.

But he has to get over so quickly because tournament or no tournament, changes are A-Comin ‘. He has stuck to the idea that Sam is staying near the home to go to UCLA, but she has been thinking about getting out of her comfort zone. Barcelona was great for her, and as much as she loves Miguel, she can’t stifle her adventurous spirit to stay glued on his side. I wonder if she is a bit in conflict with their long -term outlooks in general; Maybe she didn’t really crush on Axel from the walk they took on the beach but he showed her there is Other options out there.

Learning from Amanda about Sam’s plans is wake-up call, Daniel needs, and when Terry Silver arrives with Johnny to speak it out, he’s due to changing his mind. Apparently, silver is very ill and this tournament is all he has left. No more bad game, no more murder attempt – he just wants it out one last time, fair and square. I actually believe in him because I’m not sure what else the show could do with silver in these last episodes. I am glad that he still gets to preserve his personality, but as when he shows up for a test run with Johnny and almost kills both of them both racing irregularly around the valley.

Johnny is an easy sale, still unwilling to let go of his dream, even though he is happy with his life with Carmen. And the expressions silver offerings are pretty good: Daniel and Johnny will decide the room and refs, and Silver himself will cover the cost.

As is usually the case, Kreese and Kim Da-Eun-Centered Subplot has the least humor, making it the weakest part of the episode. Kim Sun-Yung responds to Cobra Kais failure, as you would expect: to scream about revenge and order his grandson to punish her students with a “special lesson” which involves forcing Yoon to knock the shit out of all his classmates. Kreese and Kim Da-Eun are both legitimately disturbed, which really says something.

Kreese is on the verge of quitting karate completely, without being enthusiastic by the idea of ​​returning to end the tournament. It really starts to sink in for him how much time he wasted by devoting his life to the “no mercy” concept and he even admits he is not a good person – that it is too late for him to change like a man. He fucked up with Johnny, he fucked up with Kwon, and now it would probably be best for everyone if he fucked off. He sends Yoon away and gives back Eunjangdo, making Sun-Yung furious.

For Kim da-eun to take her rightful place as a master of dojang, however, she has to prove herself with a brutal task: to kill Kreese. (Kim Sun-Yung comes with this test literally seconds after Kreese finishes her job and gives up the knife.) However, she is not down for it. Instead, she clings over her own grandfather’s bed and is considering stabbing him instead. He wakes up, and the two fights, eventually with her to perform the same wild-fucking-finger-to-your-your-to-bow movement, he taught her. “Perfect” is his last word, a little bit of confirmation of the new Sensei.

And with that, the master of Tang Soo Soo sopies this deadly coil! It’s definitely the right step to the show, I think; As legendary as the character can be in Miyagi-Vers-Lore, he is generally quite static. I’d rather focus on the end of Kreese’s, Silver’s and Kim Da-Euns bows in these last episodes. All three are in an interesting place at this time, morally, reflect on the violence they have caused, and decide whether they are willing to be better. We are not far from the end now, but there is always time for a heel to turn face.

• There is no sign of Chozen yet, but hopefully we will see more scenes with him and Kim da-eun.

• I am surprised that Gunther supports so quickly with silver, though there is an obvious appeal to regain the tournament while I honor Kwon.

• A kind of fun watching Julia Macchios Vanessa Larusso again, this time Amanda calls out to take advantage of her husband’s renewed focus on the dealer.

• Kreese says he returns to the tournament to take care of an unfinished business, and based on his rejection of change, it probably means he will try to finish the job and kill silver.