Warning! Contains spoilers for Cobra Kai season 6, part 1.
Summary
A prevalentCobra Kaiplot armor problem might have gotten worse because of season 6’s new villain casting. Towards the end of season 5,Cobra Kaiburies all character rivalries and destroys all bad blood, making it hard not to wonder who the show’s main villain will be in the final season. However, just when it looks like the show has run out of compelling villains, season 5’s final moments feature John Kreese’s epic prison escape, making his return as the primary antagonist.
ConsideringCobra Kaiseason 5’s ending, it is not surprising that Kreese returns in season 6’s early moments to trainCobra Kai studentswith Sensei Kim. What is surprising, however, is that the final season of the Netflix series risks adding one new young villain to the mix. While the casting for the new young villain seems perfect, and even his plot developments in season 6 seem compelling, one aspect of his characterization potentially worsens a plot armor issue thatCobra Kaihas faced since its early seasons.
All Sekai Taikai Teams Competing In Cobra Kai Season 6
Cobra Kai season 6 part 1’s ending finally unveiled the various karate teams that will compete at the international Sekai Taikai tournament.
Cobra Kai Season 6’s Kwon Actor Brandon H. Lee Is A Real Martial Artist
Brandon H. Lee Was Stunt Double In Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings
Cobra Kaiseason 6 features a new antagonistic character named Kwon, who trains under John Kreese and Sensei Kim at the new Cobra Kai dojo. Kwon is perfectly portrayed by actor Brandon H. Lee, who has previously starred in television shows likeThe Elementals. What makes Lee’s casting intriguing is that he is a real martial artist and evenhas a 5th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. He has won several martial arts competitions in the past, with some of his biggest achievements including wins at the Chosun University Presidential International Poomsae Taekwondo Championship and the World Taekwondo Cultural Expo.
Brandon H. Lee was also among Simu Liu’s stunt doubles inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, proving how incredibly talented he is at what he does.
Owing to his expertise in the sport, Lee had even landed a spot in the United States team but decided not to pursue the sport any further to focus on his acting journey (viaShoreview Press). Brandon H. Lee was also among Simu Liu’s stunt doubles inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, proving how incredibly talented he is at what he does. Even inCobra Kaiseason 6, his fight against Sensei Kim’s other students has some of the best action choreography featured in the entire series. Owing to this, his casting could not have been more perfect. However, it creates some visible issues.
Brandon H. Lee’s Martial Arts Background Makes Kwon Seem Levels Above Robby & Miguel
Cobra Kai Season 6 Might Be Stretching The Suspension Of Disbelief Too Far
Because of Brendan H. Lee’s martial arts forte and his ability to execute complex moves inCobra Kaiseason 6, part 1, it’s hard not to notice how his character is levels above Miguel and Robby. Given how overpowered Kwon seems in the final season’s first installment,it would be strange if characters like Miguel, Robby, and Hawk even came close to defeating him at the Sekai Taikai tournament, let alone emerging victorious. While Kwon’s skills effectively make him a formidable villain and raise the stakes for the Miyagi Do characters, he seems too dominant for a straightforward defeat to be believable.
18th July 2024
15th November 2024
Part 3
2025
Even in previous seasons,Cobra Kaihas had moments of extreme plot armor. For instance, Miguel miraculously recovered from his severe spin injury inCobra Kaiseason 3 before returning to fighting at the All-Valley in season 4 despite initially being paralyzed for several weeks. While Miguel’s recovery was still believable to some degree becauseCobra Kaitook its time with it, the difference in power scales between Kwon and the heroes from the Miyagi Do dojo is too vast to fix without significant narrative contrivance.
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.
