‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6 Is Punchy, Riveting & (Quite Possibly) the Best Season Yet

It's setting the stage for a wild finale

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Published Jul 18, 2024

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*Warning: Season 5 spoilers ahead*

When I finished the final episode of Cobra Kai season five, I was nowhere near ready to bid farewell to the warring dojos. I needed some answers. (And ideally, plenty more fight sequences between the senseis). But the biggest lingering questions were: What will John Kreese (Martin Kove) do now? What could this mean for the disgraced Cobra Kai? And will this jeopardize Johnny (William Zabka) and Danny's (Ralph Macchio) plans to run their newly joint dojo?

In case you need a quick refresher on season five, it ended with the Miyagi-Do crew celebrating their victory over Cobra Kai and Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith), who got arrested for cheating at the All Valley Tournament. Still, unbeknownst to everyone, Kreese faked his death and escaped from prison—no doubt with a new plan to resurrect his dojo.

So now, in Cobra Kai season six part one, the karate students are gearing up for their biggest tournament yet: the Sekai Taikai—where they'll face off against the best dojos from around the globe. But of course, new challenges arise and jeopardize Miyagi-Do's chances of taking that title.

As you'd expect, Johnny is still hilariously impulsive. Danny still has a massive ego. Tory (Peyton List) and Sam (Mary Mouser) are now friends..ish. But best of all, Cobra Kai continues to honor the legacy of Karate Kid without taking itself too seriously. There's a great balance between humor and drama, the characters (well, most of them) are compelling and the fight sequences are still top-notch. But here's the thing. Although I've only seen the first five episodes, I've seen enough to predict that this will be the show's best season yet. Here's why.

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1. The Stakes Are Higher

Yes, the stakes were high in season five, but let's just say that several characters, including Johnny and Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), have a whole lot riding on their potential victory at the world tournament. For instance, now that Johnny is a father-to-be, he's eager to spend the winnings on a new home for his family. As for Miguel, he's desperate to get into his dream school—and winning a global karate competition just might help him do it. Knowing that major characters have everything to gain (and plenty to lose) makes the drama all the more thrilling.

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2. Kreese Is More Terrifying Than Ever

You're probably wondering how this is even possible, considering how he stooped to the lowest of lows and birthed a generation of ruthless bullies. But guys—it really does get worse. I won't spill too many details, but I will say this: Miyagi-Do had better watch out. This time, Kreese allies with another formidable villain, and it's safe to say that whatever humanity he had left is now gone.

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3. The New Cast Doesn't Disappoint

It's good to see that the kids of Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang are at the top of their game, and I'm always rooting for them. However, they're not the ones who caught my attention. You'll notice that when Kreese makes his return, the show introduces a new group of skilled young fighters who, quite frankly, are way out of Miyagi-Do's league. In fact, I'd say their fight sequences are even better and seriously brutal. (Just wait until you get to episode three.)

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PureWow Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Cobra Kai season six is off to a solid start. It maintains its usual charm by balancing nostalgia with humor and fresh storylines. It raises the stakes to keep fans invested, and martial arts fans are in for a real treat with the fight sequences. With new twists and plenty of drama, the series already sets itself up for a wild finale.

Cobra Kai season six part one is now available to stream on Netflix. Part two, which includes five episodes, will hit the streaming platform on November 28.

For a full breakdown of PureWow's entertainment rating system, click here.

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