“Cobra Kai” season six finale marks the end of the series. From the first spar between Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid to the final showdown at the Sekai Takai, the dojo’s fate is ultimately decided. Season six delivered thrilling fights, gripping emotions and unexpected twists.

With the tragedy of the accidental death of Kwon opening the season six finale, the consequences left much uncertainty. Kwon’s death felt somewhat abrupt way to inject immediate high stakes and raised tension surrounding the Sekai Takai international karate tournament.

As a longtime fan of “Cobra Kai,” I was eager to see how the characters would tackle their inner and outer battles. While the finale delivered on several strikes, redemptions and impressive martial arts spars, certain aspects felt less impactful or rushed.

One of the strengths of the series has been the evolution of its characters. Miguel Diaz achieved Sekai Takai international martial arts champion despite starting as an underdog scrawny teacher. His journey embodies the tenets of the Cobra Kai dojo of perseverance and discipline.

Similarly, Kreese, a character initially presented as the main antagonist, underwent a severe redemption. He sacrificed his life to protect Johnny’s family from Silver’s revenge. A surprising and poignant turn from his earlier days where he strived to defeat Miyagi-Do and previous manipulative games. 

Arguably, the best character arc of the season was Tory. Tory’s hard-fought victory in the Sekai Takai displayed a culmination of her personal growth and loyalty — undeniably one of the most fulfilling aspects of the finale. Despite recently losing her mother, she triumphed while staying true to her Miyagi-Do teammates, which made her victory all the more satisfying.

Silver, the mastermind behind so much destruction, had a jaw-droppingly secret. He was dying. His manipulative nature had been a driving force in previous seasons. While Silver’s terminal illness was a surprising plot twist, it felt a little rushed and too convenient of an explanation for his increasingly desperate actions rather than a natural progression of his character.

Season six introduced a fresh roster of characters who played crucial roles in the series finale. Sensei Wolf and Zara Malik, positioned as elite enemies, certainly raised the stakes for the final tournament. Patrick Luwis’s infatuation with Samantha amidst his physical and emotional abuse from Sensei Wolf felt forced, and the unreciprocated love was a little disheartening.

Master Kim Sun-Yung’s, a veteran from The Karate Kid franchise, return to the series took a cruel turn, where he was betrayed and murdered by his own daughter for control over his dojo.

The season also explored the not-so-perfect past of Mr. Miyagi. Though portrayed as a wise and noble mentor, he had a more complicated history than anyone had imagined. He killed someone in the last Sekai Takai championship — a reference that even the greatest teachers are not without flaws.

Johnny Lawrence’s character development was heartfelt, as he began to embrace his softer side and reconcile with his past. His confession to John Kreese, his old karate coach, was one of the most emotional scenes of the season, where he delivered the gut-wrenching line, “You left me. I had no one.” Despite the pain from his karate defeat and loss of his mother, he broke free from the cycle of hardship that had once defined him and became the father he wanted to be. 

While some moments felt slightly rushed, the finale was a satisfying end to the Cobra Kai series that honored the legacy of The Karate Kid, delivering top-tier martial arts at the Sekai Takai and resolution to long-standing rivalries. 

In the end, Cobra Kai stayed true to its mantra: “Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy.” While this marks the end of the series, the journey never ended, since Cobra Kai never dies! 

Final Rating: 9.5/10