cobra kai is actually really bad
SEASON SIX AND OVERALL DISCUSSION

ੈ✩˚⊹ before you judge, hear me out. take a moment to revisit season one and then jump to season six. the difference is striking; they almost seem like entirely different shows.

don't misunderstand — i love it. i even have a robby fic, and a soon to be uploaded xolo fic, but i can't ignore how exaggerated it's become. it used to feel so grounded, with a touch of campiness that added to its charm.

as far as i remember, seasons 1-3 were almost perfect, capturing the essence of what made the show so compelling. season 4 was okay, a bit of a transition, while season 5 teetered on the edge of being over the top, yet it remained decent and enjoyable.

but season six... where do i even begin?

why... why do they keep resolving issues and then reigniting them with the same characters for no reason? it feels like i'm on a rollercoaster that never stops, constantly twisting and turning, leaving me with emotional whiplash.

it's as if the writers are afraid to let them move forward, to truly evolve and embrace the lessons they've learned. instead, they're pulled back into the same dramas, the same tensions, over and over again. it's frustrating, watching these characters i care about, caught in a loop that undermines the very progress they've made.

miguel and robby are both reverting to using anger and jealousy to drive them, their rivalry reigniting despite the growth they had shown. a major tournament becomes the trigger, driving a wedge between people who had once seemed on the verge of reconciliation. it's disheartening because the complexities of their relationships are being reduced to simplistic conflicts.

and it's the last season, for crying out loud. to see them argue and fight still is such a bore. i know this is only part one, but it's my least favorite season so far. the writing feels lackluster, as though the depth and nuance that once defined the show have been sacrificed for recycled conflict.

speaking of irritating conflicts. why was mitch forgiven so easily? it feels as though there's been a pattern in the show where characters are given these miraculous redemptions without the weight of their actions fully being addressed.

mitch's actions were kinda severe, ❨ i mean, betraying them for cobra kai then, giving them a t-shirt? c'mon. ❩ and yet he's quickly embraced by the very people he wronged, as if saying "i'm the good guy now" is enough. there hasn't been a single character on the show, ❨ aside from my bbygrl tory and hawk kinda? ❩, who has been truly redeemed in a meaningful way.

instead, characters just show up at miyagi-do and are met with open arms, their past misdeeds are seemingly forgotten. this approach feels hollow.

johnny is about the only person who hasn't really regressed. like he has a lot of maturity and character growth on his part after daniel punched him, he just said he's doing it for the kids.

and are we just going to ignore the fact that kreese got bitten by a cobra and emerged completely fine without any medical attention? kreese should've been dead. i understand the need for suspension of disbelief, but this kind of storyline is getting ridiculous. it borders on comical, detracting from the series and undermining the sense of realism ❨ the little realism they have ❩. it feels like a desperate attempt to inject drama, but it only serves to highlight how far the narrative has strayed from its more believable roots.

WHY. WHY DIDN'T ANYONE CHASE TORY? her mother passed away, and the reaction is essentially, 'i guess she's out, hawk you're in!' this feels like nothing short of bad writing, or perhaps heartless neglect on their part.

daniel makes a big deal about her not being fit to fight in her state, which is understandable. but when tory storms off, no one seems to care anymore. no one makes an effort to follow her, to check on her emotional well-being. the only concern becomes the vacant spot on the team.

this infuriates me. there are three adults present, and none of them seem to consider that this young girl has just lost her mother and shouldn't be left alone. the priority appears to be her potential to hurt percious sam larusso, rather than her emotional state. and amanda, usually the only sensible one, merely says, 'i know how you feel' and then does nothing beyond that. her statement promised some sort of meaningful guidance, but it fell flat.

and of course, tory ends up aligning with a fugitive, which, while not entirely surprising given the villainous team's need for major characters, still feels like an underwhelming development. i think i was even more surprised i didn't see kenny there too, if I'm being honest.

and you know what else i can't wait to see in part two? robby competing against the dojo that once corrupted him. he's going up against the very dojo that tainted four of the people he cares about most: his father, his girlfriend, his mentee, and his soon-to-be stepbrother. he's facing the sensei who physically assaulted his father on numerous occasions and tried to kill him. he's competing against the sensei who might have been involved in a convoluted plot that potentially led to the death of his girlfriend's mother, ❨ a theory that i find particularly intriguing ❩. the weight of this match carries so much emotional and narrative significance.

you know what else is gonna be just so great to see? "Miguel, i just got an owiee *sad eyes* pls take my spot and win the sekai taikai. your him."

i want miguel to win but i don't want it to be in a predictable way. i would prefer miguel's victory to come from a place of genuine growth and strategic prowess, rather than a dramatic downfall of his rival. let his triumph be a testament to his perseverance, his skill, and his evolution, rather than a result of robby's misfortune. that way, miguel's win feels earned, resonant with the journey he's been on, and truly satisfying in the context of the story's rich tapestry.

don't know how they would do that but they're the writers not me.

not necessarily a critic, but I would have loved to see the sekai taikai set in okinawa. it would have brought the show and the movies full circle. barcelona feels like such an odd choice. what a missed opportunity to tie everything together.

and here's the last thing I'll mention: i really wish they'd handled the release schedule differently. dropping the first five episodes at once then making it a weekly show would have been so much better.

waiting half a year for 15 thirty-minute episodes feels like a test of patience, especially when the content didn't hit the mark.

as for the sekai taikai, I'm rooting for miguel to win it all. sorry, robby enthusiasts, but my bias is showing.

i want a POC character come out on top and miguel's journey has been so compelling, and seeing him succeed would be a fitting end it all.

much love,