A sneak peek at Cobra Kai season 6, part 2, has introduced some new villains at the Sekai Taikai, opening the door for a dojo redemption story. The coming episodes will see the Miyagi-Do gang finally compete in the global karate tournament against the best of the best. Of course, Cobra Kai is there as well, under the leadership of John Kreese and Sensei Kim. While they were anticipated to be the primary villains of the Sekai Taikai, a new dojo emerged as a threat that even Cobra Kai would have to work to overcome.
Cobra Kai season 6 is the last of the series, though the episodes have been split into three parts, with the second, part 2, releasing on Netflix on November 15, 2024. The third part will arrive early in 2025, so it will be a little while before this The Karate Kid spinoff series comes to a final close. Still, there are limited episodes for the various plotlines and rivalries of Cobra Kai to be resolved. As the overarching villain of the franchise, all eyes will be on Cobra Kai’s original sensei, John Kreese. However, a new villainous dojo could change the course of Kreese’s story.
Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 2 Features A New Rival Dojo At The Sekai Taikai
Enter The Iron Dragons
The Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 teaser clip sees members of Cobra Kai dojo’s Sekai Taikai team, including Tory Nichols, face off with some students from an organization called the Iron Dragons. It quickly becomes clear that Kreese’s students are no match for these fighters. Kreese and Kim watch in shock as Tory and her fellows are taken down in a matter of seconds. The Iron Dragons barely broke a sweat, and a cocky look between the new dojo’s sensei and Johnny Lawrence indicates that both Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai will have a common enemy in the Sekai Taikai.
A New Common Enemy Could Help Johnny Lawrence & John Kreese Make Up
Johnny & His Old Sensei Have A Lot To Work Through
Up to this point in Cobra Kai, the primary rivalry of the series has revolved around Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do. The students and senseis bounced between them (and Johnny’s Eagle Fang was established for a time), but everything came down to these two dojos. Now, however, both Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai have a common enemy, and this may open the door for them to work out their differences. At this point in the story, this would come down mainly to Johnny Lawrence and John Kreese, who have a complicated history with one another thanks to the abusive relationship they once had.
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Of course, even with a common enemy, John Kreese would have a lot of work to do before Johnny would be willing to work with him. It looked for a moment that this villain would get redemption while he was in prison in Cobra Kai season 5, but his big prison break and return to Korea tossed this out the window. Kreese even fought and killed an imaginary version of Johnny after being bit by a snake in season 6, part 1, indicating that he was officially done trying to mend his relationship with his old student. Still, redemption is the name of the game in Cobra Kai, so anything is possible.
Sensei Kim’s Cobra Kai Redemption Story Already Started In Season 6 Part 1
Cobra Kai Dojo Is Already On Its Way
While John Kreese is just as bad as ever in Cobra Kai season 6, part 1 sets the groundwork for Cobra Kai dojo itself to get a redemption. The first batch of episodes contained all the tell-tale signs that Sensei Kim was having second thoughts about John Kreese’s brutality. There were flashbacks to her childhood aimed at earning Kim’s sympathy and a few meaningful shots of her looks of concern as Kreese punished her students. If Sensei Kim is starting to soften, it’s likely that the rest of Cobra Kai will begin a journey toward redemption as well.
Kreese must decide whether to be part of Cobra Kai’s redemption or hold firm to his no-mercy ideals.
Of course, Kreese must decide whether to be part of Cobra Kai’s redemption or hold firm to his no-mercy ideals. When it comes down to it, there’s nothing this Karate Kid villain hates more than losing, so a temporary alliance with Miyagi-Do wouldn’t be out of the question if it meant beating the Iron Dragons. It will all come down to what happens after this enemy has been dealt with. Sensei Kim will likely back off, and many of her students will follow. This would make John Kreese the only one left with a grudge against Miyagi-Do in Cobra Kai—whether he chooses the right path, we can only wait and see.
Set decades after the events of the Karate Kid franchise, Cobra Kai shifts gears and puts viewers into the perspective of a former rival/antagonist, Johnny Lawrence. In his 50s and down on his luck, a chance encounter with a bullied young man leads Johnny back to Karate. Agreeing to help him, Johnny takes the opportunity to revive his former home, the Cobra Kai dojo – becoming a refuge for outcast teens.
- Cast
- Tanner Buchanan , Xolo Mariduena , Mary Mouser , Connor Murdock , Ralph Macchio , Nichole Brown , Jacob Bertrand , Griffin Santopietro , William Zabka
- Seasons
- 6
- Writers
- Josh Heald , Jon Hurwitz , Hayden Schlossberg , Michael Jonathan , Mattea Greene , Bill Posley , Stacey Harman , Joe Piarulli , Bob Dearden
- Directors
- Jon Hurwitz
- Showrunner
- Jon Hurwitz