- Critic's Rating - 8.0/108/10
Cobra Kai (2018)
American web television series
What initially seemed as another show about insecure teenagers, kept me glued to the screen till the season finale!
We always see the bullied, the weak as innocent, victims, some’thing’ to be sympathized with. But the underdogs can also be radicalized. The series is about a group of underdogs, turned aggressive through a style of Karate – “Cobra Kai”. It is very opposite to “Miyagi-do”, another style of karate which emphasizes balance, harmony etc.
(Spoilers)
The series is sequel to the Karate Kid Movies, following a distraught Lawrence whose life and confidence is ruined after losing the karate competition to LaRusso during high school. While LaRusso becomes a successful car dealership owner, happily married with children, Lawrence is this unemployed (sort of), aggressive middle aged man (who are very well known in the post-recession Trump era in US). LaRusso, though better off than Lawrence, suffers in his own way in his business, in his family life, and being away from his passion.
Lawrence opens up his own dojo, radicalizing bullied teenagers with his Cobra Kai style. Things seem fine at first, as the weak being equipped to defend themselves, but things start going wrong when his followers turn too aggressive by his ideology.
I love this series! Eagerly waiting for season 2.