Grab your tissues and your hankies.
The remaining 5 episodes of Netflix’s Cobra Kai’s sixth and final season will be released on February 13, and no one is prepared for what’s ahead. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that sweetly pays tribute to the past while celebrating the present and looking towards the future. Watch the trailer above.
The series finale reveals the final pieces of a successful IP expansion that gives fans what they want while staying true to the heart of the source material. While the entire series is a love letter from three of the most devoted The Karate Kid fans— Cobra Kai creators Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald— it’s this photo specifically that brings the entire franchise home.
In the photo (above), former foes turned total bros, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) practicing the famous crane move together on Venice Beach. It’s tough to view this image without getting emotional; trust me, I tried. If it’s been a minute since you last watched The Karate Kid or haven’t seen it, let me tell you why.
Picture this: the 1984 All Valley Karate Championship has reached its final match for the title with Daniel facing off against his bully Johnny. Johnny has his sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) in his corner pushing for no mercy. Daniel is tattered and limping on one foot as the fight nears its conclusion, but Daniel still has something up his sleeve.
As hecklers demean the smaller competitor and spectators cheer, Daniel breaks into crane pose—taught by his Sensei, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita)—and remains focused on his target. Johnny advances to strike but gets kicked in the face, bringing him to his knees. Daniel is named the winner, and the crowd goes wild. No one is prouder than Mr. Miyagi or Daniel’s mom, Lucille (Rande Heller).
It certainly wasn’t the end Johnny’s Sensei Kreese (Martin Kove) had imagined, but he continues his fight to reclaim what he feels was owed to him into Cobra Kai.
Netflix teases what’s ahead in Season 6 Part 3: “After a shocking result in the Sekai Taikai, Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai must reckon with their pasts while facing an uncertain future both on and off the mat. Almost 40 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, it’s all been leading to this.”
Cobra Kai also stars Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Peyton List, Dallas Dupree Young, Gianni DeCenzo, Courtney Henggeler, Vanessa Rubio, Alicia Hannah-Kim, and Thomas Ian Griffith.
Additional first-look photos can be found below.