Cobra Kai

Thirty years after the original All Valley Karate Tournament, Cobra Kai follows two former rivals as their lives collide again. Johnny Lawrence, once the bad boy of karate, tries to give his life purpose by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, training a new generation with an uncompromising approach. Daniel LaRusso, now a successful businessman, has built a life without his old mentor but finds his calm threatened by Johnny's return and the new conflicts that arise between students, families, and old grudges. The show mixes action, humor, and drama while focusing on how past choices shape present relationships, without revealing any major plot twists.

Created by Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald, and Jon Hurwitz, the series premiered in 2018 and stars William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence and Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, with Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Mariduea, and Tanner Buchanan rounding out the core cast.

Cobra Kai rekindled interest in The Karate Kid universe, bringing original actors back and introducing new characters that caught on with younger viewers. Its callbacks to the 1980s films and its blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling helped it become a recurring topic in pop culture discussions and social media fandom.

Critics and audiences responded positively, reflected in an audience vote average of 8.207/10 from 6,787 votes. Reviewers often highlighted the show's mix of comedy and earnest drama, its action sequences, and the way it handles themes like redemption, mentorship, generational clashes, and the fallout from past behavior. The tone shifts between lighthearted and serious, and character growth is central to the series' appeal.

The show has received recognition across television and fan-voted award circuits, with nominations and honors that acknowledge its ensemble cast, choreography, and stunt work. These acknowledgments underline how the series managed to resonate with both longtime fans of the films and a new streaming audience.