Cobra Kaihas layered yet another profound connection between Johnny Lawrence and Mr. Miyagi—though this time, it’s even more painful.Though it would seem that theKarate Kidspinoff would make Daniel LaRusso the new Miyagi, the series has placed his old rival, Cobra Kai’s Johnny, firmly within this wise old sensei’s archetype.From the beginning, it was Johnny who defended a nerdy teenager from bullies and helped this underdog become an All-Valley champion. Several seasons later, Johnny has even more in common with Mr. Miyagi inCobra Kai.
Johnny has always been rough around the edges, and his role as a bully inThe Karate Kidwould have seemingly disqualified him as a replacement for Mr. Miyagi. However,Cobra Kaihas proven thatJohnny is something of a diamond in the rough. In season 6, part 1, the old Cobra Kai golden boy officially joined up withDaniel LaRusso’s Miyagi-Do, and he has been learning all about the balance between offense and defense. Johnny has come leaps and bounds, slowly closing that gap between himself and Daniel’s beloved sensei—to the point thatJohnny’s Mr. Miyagi parallelshave become far more literal.
Johnny Almost Losing Carmen & The Baby Parallel’s Mr. Miyagi’s Terrible Tragedy
Cobra Kai Planted A Heartbreaking Connection
Back inThe Karate Kid(1984),Mr. Miyagi told Daniel that he had tragically lost his wife and babyyears before. This detail was again brought up inCobra Kaiseason 6, part 2 when Daniel realized that his sensei would have participated in the Sekai Taikai just after he had experienced such a tragic loss. Shortly after audiences of the Netflix series were reminded of this,Johnny got word that Carmen, who is pregnant with his unborn baby, had been rushed to the hospital. It was unclear whether mother or child would make it through.
Thankfully, Carmen underwent surgery, and she and the baby were saved. However,the parallel between this near tragedy and what Mr. Miyagi suffered all those years before is clear. Johnny has been on a solid upward path inCobra Kai, becoming a better father, sensei, and person in general. However, had he lost these two important figures in his life, he might have gone tumbling down a far darker path. After all, that is precisely what happened to Mr. Miyagi.
Cobra Kai Hints Mr. Miyagi’s Loss Relates To His Dark Past
Daniel Has To Gain Some Compassion For Miyagi (& Johnny)
Daniel LaRusso has been struggling throughCobra Kaiseason 6, thanks to the knowledge that Mr. Miyagi might not have always been such a good person. It was revealed in part 1 that Miyagi had committed an armed robbery and that his opponent at the Sekai Taikai had been killed, and all this was simply too much for Daniel to swallow. However, the fact that Mr. Miyagi lost his wife and child before this indicates thatthis tragedy has everything to do with the darker moments of his past. This isn’t something Daniel has managed to wrap his mind around, however.
Still, with Daniel getting closer to Johnny, it’s likely that he will begin to understand better thatMr. Miyagi’s pastdoesn’t define who the man had been. After all Johnny has gone through, he will surely empathize with Mr. Miyagi and his past.He may grow tired of Daniel’s unfair judgment of Mr. Miyagiand remind him that a person’s bad decisions are often a product of their experiences and don’t necessarily make them a bad person. In the end, this may culminate in Johnny truly becoming the next Mr. Miyagi, and Daniel’s story trajectory could feasibly see him finally accept this.
Cobra Kai Continues To Hint That Johnny Will Be the Next Mr. Miyagi (Not Daniel)
The Parallels Keep Piling Up
The parallels between Johnny and Mr. Miyagi have been a significant part ofCobra Kai’s formula from the very beginning. Johnny’s role with Miguel was an ironic twist onMiyagi’s and Daniel’sThe Karate Kidrelationship, and the stark differences between these two teachers and their methods were all part of the comedy ofCobra Kai. However, asrecent seasons imply that Johnny and Mr. Miyagi aren’t so different after all, it’s becoming all the more evident that this character will end up taking over the Miyagi-Do legacy in the end.
They both went through some terrible experiences and had to work hard to claim redemption and secure a positive morality.
Thanks to Miyagi’s influence, Daniel has been able to stay on a clear moral path from the time he was a teenager. However, Johnny and Mr. Miyagi weren’t so lucky. They both went through some terrible experiences and had to work hard to claim redemption and secure a positive morality.Daniel admitted that he wanted to walk away from karate after the Sekai Taikaiand Amanda suggested that Johnny take over Miyagi-Do in his place. If this happens, it would solidify Johnny’s place in Mr. Miyagi’s shoes. Of course, he would put his own spin on things inCobra Kai, but this is a position he clearly deserves.
Cobra Kai
Cast
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.
