With its finale debuting at 14.8 million views last month (Variety), Cobra Kai—one of Netflix’s most successful and impactful revivals—came to an end after a 7-year run. Throughout its time on air, the Cobra Kai production team and cast have simultaneously resurrected a decade-old franchise’s fandom and created an entirely new generation of fans. Overall, the series received a total of nine Emmy nominations (Television Academy) and quickly became the #1 Netflix show in 28 countries in 2021 (Deadline). From continuations of past storylines to fresh ones, this series has done what only a few spin-offs have been able to do: Respect legacy while building a new one.

My father has always shared his love for 80’s movies with me. I grew up watching a mix of films from my generation (Generation Z) and those my parents grew up watching, such as classics like Back to the Future and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. When the revival of The Karate Kid trilogy through Cobra Kai was announced, we were ecstatic. Our bond grew more vigorous than ever. My dad immediately bought a subscription to YouTube Red, the show’s original platform. We binged every season together from then on. 

The show’s celebration of unity and reconciliation is a major factor that made this show the success that it became. Similar to my dad and I, many of the Cobra Kai characters’ dynamics grew stronger over time. A prime example of this is when Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso went from karate rivals to co-senseis, who, despite their differences, have gained mutual respect for one another. At the beginning of the series, the two start where they left off. Lawrence was still bitter about his loss against LaRusso, who frowned upon his Cobra Kai Dojo techniques. As their relationship progressed, they joined forces to fight against their common enemies, creating an unstoppable team that ultimately reigned champion at the Sekai Taikai.