Episode 17: Cobra Kai - S02E06 - Take a Right

3:59PM Jan 15, 2023

Speakers:

Jason Connell

Sal Rodriguez

Keywords:

cobra kai

johnny

karate kid

dojo

daniel

tommy

miyagi

crease

miguel

students

chris

dough

cobra

moment

watch

robbie

point

sensei

hawk

film

Welcome to Just Curious Media. This is Let's Talk - Cobra Kai. I'm Jason Connell.

And I'm Sal Rodriguez.

All right, so here we are season two, Episode Six.

Yeah, we're coming into this episode. And I'm kind of sad going into this episode. Why so? Look, we open up on the vandalism of the Miyagi dojo. I gotcha. I mean, that's, I was sad to

watch. Sad because there's only five episodes. Well, yeah,

I am sad about that. Also, this is the end. But I am sad about just seeing people destroy the Miyagi dough dojo was was really painful to watch.

Heartbreaking. But this episode is entitled take a right, it's 9.1 rating on IMDb. And you're right. We opened up Miyagi dough Dojo with a montage of things being put together with, I believe the score from the Karate Kid. Really, which is kind of a little tip. Wow. And right, what I thought Daniel and company would make an appearance. I was surprised.

Yeah, because you think that it's our gang, fixing the dojo, putting it back together? Yeah, that's what you think is happening. They're rebuilding, right. But no, no. You see from the back, it's Miyagi. It was a flashback to something we've never even seen before, which is Miyagi putting together his home initially,

initially, except before he met Daniel son to come on. Yeah. Pam kind of restored, if you will. Yeah. What a cool idea.

So it's like a body double from the back. Right? Right. But it was tastefully done. It really was, it was a nice homage. And they didn't go any further. Now. You see the back, you know, it's him. And then they cut back. And now we see that it is

Daniel looking at the mess. Yeah, that was a nice moment. You know, and I could see the creators just not being able to control themselves. But when they do it, they do it for good reason. And their execution is amazing. These guys nail it. Every time. Every episode of the show

is a perfect example of when the creators and producers are fans. Exactly. I think it really makes a difference, right? In fact, I think that maybe the fans should have taken over the Star Wars franchise and taken it out of George Lucas's hands sooner. Yeah,

I'm glad it's in JJ Abrams hands, very capable. And I've enjoyed Oh,

that's right. George Lucas isn't a part of Star Wars anymore.

And that's why they've gotten good. Ah, well, at some point in time. This is true with a lot of professions. Too much success takes away the hunger Oh, yeah. And therefore it's hard to be as creative as you want to be

sure any comedian any great top comic will tell you their best work was in the beginning. Yeah, not later, once they got rich and fades rare.

I mean, even people like who I strongly admire who actually came to my hometown as I spoke to in earlier episodes and made two films back to back the outsiders and Rumble Fish, Francis Ford Coppola. He hit it out of the park early in his career with Godfather godfather to the conversation, Apocalypse Now. His films much later left a lot to be desired. Yeah, do I need to say Godfather three? Sure certain people make genius work in the beginning, and they never live up to that other guys like Martin Scorsese continues to put out good films, but he is an exception to the rule. Most people do not continue to make great content.

Sure. But when you see something like Cobra Kai, we are seeing people who love the product. They love the content, the authenticity of it. Yeah, they were fans making a show.

And there was a void. I mean, credit card three came out so long ago, the last two films had nothing to do with Daniel. So yeah, there was a void. There was an opportunity. And oh, my goodness, it fell in the right hands.

What was the last film? Was it the one with the Jaden Smith? Right? That was the last one. Yeah,

but had nothing to do with this story. No. And when was that though? I'm gonna guess it's 2010.

Wait, was Will Smith involved as producer in the Karate Kid that his son was in? I believe so. He was. Yeah. Okay. So then that piggy

back so he just stayed and probably got involved. Jerry Weintraub, and then he just stayed attached to the property.

Okay. Does Will Smith do martial arts?

I don't know. These are great questions for

Will Smith. Yeah, I wonder I don't know. I mean, I can trace my interest in karate kid. I can tell you my stories. But I'm curious as to how Will Smith got involved? Maybe some sort of emotional involvement. Maybe he loved karate kid when he was young.

I didn't mind that film. In fact, I want to go back and watch the 2010 film again. I liked Jackie Chan a lot. Oh, sure. And it was a different take. It was abroad. It wasn't in the States. So I'm glad that didn't try to actually remake the movie beat by beat. Yeah. And therefore there is a void since 84. That magical first film came in to beam and this show how smart to lock down. Raf macho Williams Act, the authenticity of that. And the storylines. And yeah, very, very, very well executed. All we need now is Elizabeth Shue.

Yeah, no,

you Let's hope Fingers crossed.

If Elizabeth Shue puffs out,

forget about it.

I will fate. Okay,

so now where's the Cobra Kai dojo? And Johnny is punishing the students to find out who trash Miyagi dough dojo?

Yeah. He wants to know who's the culprit, you know, it gives Cobra Kai a bad name. Exactly. It brings down the name of Cobra Kai, Johnny's trying to bring the name up. Meanwhile, the name is getting dragged down. And he wants to get to the bottom of this. So unfortunately, in these types of situations, much like when you were in PE and middle school or high school, one student messes up. Everybody gets punished. Exact. I think the military does that, too. So they're having to do all these floor exercises. Yeah. Burpees I think they were doing burpees they were doing burpees. Yeah, countless outlets. And then let's burpees in fact, during this episode, I'm marveling at how much time they could spend at the dojo, these kids.

Yes. Well, it's summer break. So are they

on summer break? Yeah. Okay. Oh, then I expect the beach scene soon.

So Johnny gets a call. And then Hawk shares his crease that he should come clean to Johnny about trashing the aikido dojo. And what is crazy say, say nothing. He'll handle it

before that crease made that comment, which is very telling obviously another crease moment. When he says who's going to break right he's almost teasing them. Who is going to break who's going to be a stool pigeon and squeal on themselves and the rest of the group.

That's right. So now we're back at me aikido dojo and Sam Robin and Dimitri try to lift a huge rock as former Cobra Kai students show up.

Yeah, bunch people showing up wanted to join Miyagi dough. Now these are former Cobra Kai. Robbie was not having it. No, Robbie wanted no part of Cobra Kai coming to join Miyagi though

he's flashing back to the mall, the food court saying the big showdown and he thinks these guys are here to infiltrate and do something dirty. I mean, they already trashed the dojo. Yeah, he doesn't know it wasn't these guys.

There was that moment where Robbie says once a Cobra Kai always a Cobra Kai, implying you can't change but Robbie of all people is the living example of people that can change. Good point. Robbie wanted to rip off LORUSSO auto he was stealing the code from Amanda. Very true. Now he's living with them. They trust him. He's part of their family now practically. So he's living example that people can change. So sort of hypocritical and Robbie's like, once a Cobra Kai always a Cobra Kai, implying people cannot change when Robbie, people can change you yourself are changing.

Yes, and Dimitri throws out another Game of Thrones reference and says they're like the wild lanes, meaning you can't trust them. They're gonna come here with ill purposes. And Daniel once again counters because he knows his Game of Thrones as much as Dimitri does. And points out that Jon Snow got along with Ohio lanes and they formed a strong union and so it squashes Demetrius concerns

I'm imagining Daniel and Amanda binge watching Game of Thrones together. Oh, yeah. Well, not a kid show their kids probably aren't watching this right. Game of Thrones is very adult. I

understand Anthony strikes me is the type of kid that would like Game of Thrones.

But isn't Game of Thrones very adult? Well, there's, there's times I've seen it.

There's times to cover your eyes. There's some sexing. But I bet you young Anthony has seen some episodes.

Speaking of episodes, and young Anthony, we haven't seen or heard of him in a couple of episodes.

Not much know. Where is he?

I don't know. What is he doing? Anthony? Where are you?

So Johnny got this call. And it's urgent. And we don't know what it is. But we're about to find out.

Well, he just says, I gotta go deal with something. Yeah, he leaves crease in charge of the instruction of the dojo. He says to him, do what you got to do. Increase response. These lines from crease or I just got Chris says, Don't worry. I will. And you go Ah, he's gonna do something bad.

And he wants you to find out who did it. Meanwhile, Chris already knows who did it.

Chris already knows who did it. And prompted Hawk to do it. Yeah. Well, hang on. Let me be clear. We don't know for sure that crease told Hawk go vandalize Miyagi dough. Buddy did put a bug in his ear about what revenge? Yes. About the hey buddy. The fights not over to you say it's over. You know, so he was prodding him? Oh, yeah. So we don't know if he said go vandalize. But he was definitely prodding and hitting Hawk when he was vulnerable.

Absolutely. So now we see where Johnny was going. And it is to the San Bernardino hospice center. And if you know anything about these types of places, it's where people don't have much time left.

Okay, you know who I thought I was going to be who? I thought he was going to see a stepdad in there. Oh, that's just what I thought I asked her. Yeah, well, who else would it be in a hospice center? Who else is would be there? I don't think he would have rushed. That's true. But that's what I thought at first. Yes, sit, but I was surprised to see the old gang

Well, first he sees Bobby X Cobra con from the original Karate Kid. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And come to find out that Tommy is pretty sick. Yeah,

we don't know exactly what he has. Right? Well, he

does say it's gone to his brain cancer time. So yeah, it's it's spread and he doesn't have much time left. So Johnny has an exchange with Tommy and tells him he was a tough fighter. He always was and still is. And he references the 83 all Valley tournament that was interesting to hear when he beat Vidal in the semifinals to face, Johnny.

Yes. And the final the final was Tommy versus Johnny in the 83. All Valley. Holy cow. We didn't know that till now. Right. Oh,

wow. And Johnny said he didn't make it easy on me. Yeah. So he must have beaten a very accomplished fighter. And we don't know if Idelle was a two champ. Yeah, do not no,

no. I want to see the list. One day, we got to see this entire list. Right. What is it? 50th anniversary of the valley? Was that what it was? Yeah. Okay. I want to see the names. I want to see all the names creators.

Please give solid Eilis just make it up. Throw a crease in there somewhere crease

is 1971. Champ. That's my birth. Well, no, it would have been before that because it was pretty it was in Vietnam, early 70s. Who's over 18? Yeah, it'll be like 1975 champion. Maybe

it's after that. But that's

just no, no, I mean, like 1967 Maybe. Okay, there we go.

So then they're joined by Jimmy, another ex Cobra Kai, not as big of a role as Tommy and Bobby both had and the original karate kid because they had speaking lines. You recognize them right away. Jimmy kind of a bit player in that. But to me Dutch was another big player, but he's not in this. Now. Wait a

second. Do we know why Dutch was not in this Cobra Kai episode. They say that later on. We know why he's not there. We know why Dutch is not the I don't know the actor. We know what it

is. He is Steve McQueen son. Yeah. And now being Steve McQueen. sigh I think he went through a little acting stint. And he's fine on acting anymore. No, and nor does he need to act anymore. So yeah, that would have been nice to bring that back. He was such a good villain. Sure. Kind of reminds me of Hawk in a lot of ways. Yeah, it reminds me of Dutch. Yeah. But yeah, I would like to see that as well. I was hoping we're gonna see him and who knows what the future holds. But in this particular episode, no Dutch?

Well, we learn where Dutch is. Well, that's so there could be a Dutch reunion at some point.

Exactly. So I step outside of the room, Jimmy, Bobby and Johnny and what do we find out?

We find out and Johnny's finds out yes, that the guys have a plan to take Tommy out of the hospice and give them a night to remember because they don't think he's going to make it through the night. So they don't want him to die in the hospice. I mean, how many of us want to die in some hospital bed? And he's got a 24 hour release? Yeah. So they allow them to take Tommy out of the hospice, which was odd that the hospice would allow that,

but I'm not sure they didn't think he's going to make it through the night. They just don't know how many more nights he has. Okay. And he has a 24 hour release. Yeah. And they're going on a road trip.

Yeah, this is actually pretty special and magical, that your old friends reunite at your bedside at your 11th hour and take you out on Nitro. Wow. I'm about to cry. It really is a real special moment. And as a cinephile seen all these Karate Kid guys. They're on camera. Now. It's cool here, what? 35 years later than where we are? Exactly. Holy cow. This is one of those pause the video moments where you go, Wow, I can't believe they're all on the screen together like this.

It's pretty cool. So now we're back at the cobra, Kai dojo, and Chris continues to push the students and now they're doing rope drills.

This is where I'm wondering how much time do these people have to stay at the dojo? They live at the dojo? Surely their parents will be like, where are you now? Yeah, they're on the ropes now and the battle ropes as they call them, this big thick ropes that you see in the gym. Now. They didn't have those ropes back in the 80s and 90s. Now you see these ropes at all the gyms now I do like those ropes been there. They are pretty fun. I've used some 24 Hour Fitness. They are pretty fun. In fact, I have a battle rope myself in storage. I will use it at the park one day, but it's the storage for now. So yeah, they are just being worked to death pretty much. In fact, I would imagine by this point, you would wish that you were back in the cement mixer. Right? That's probably easier.

I noticed that Raymond is now referred to as chumps.

Oh, Raman, the hardware store worker, the 80s guy. Yep. Yeah, he's there. I gotta hand it to him. He's in there. He's about to throw up. He said he's the only adult

on the floor. Exactly. So then Chris gives a speech and says to meet him in the main Dojo for the real training.

Okay, so Chris is using this opportunity, while Johnny sort of being kidnapped by his old buddies to take Tommy out on this excursion at the end of his life and creases, swarming in there. He's in Oh, yeah, he's like Chris is glad Johnny's gone. Oh, yeah,

it's all working out.

This is back to 1984. Again. Yeah, this is crease, the head of the dojo leading the class. This is

1984. Where it's like 74. Yeah. All right. Overall Johnny was when he ran into him probably in the late 70s. Mid to late 70s.

This is Chris's home. This is where he feels he belongs anyway.

So now we're at the Russo Otto and Amanda is on the phone with Daniel, who yet again, cannot make it to work,

missing the second sales meeting in a row. Now Amanda is one of these women who's you know, warm and loving. But she's about business. She is a business woman. Yes. And her partner is like running off on these karate missions got new business? Yeah. And she's like, Oh, you're missing the second sales meeting in a row.

And he's like, I just got a bunch of new students. They literally just showed up.

Yeah, I almost felt at this point. Like, she's just be like, okay, look, you go run Miyagi dough karate schools, and I will run LORUSSO Auto, and that probably would make sense at this. Yeah.

We've talked about this in a previous episode. I think this happens at companies. You know, they built this thing at some point in time. It's run by someone else. Yeah. So he could take a sabbatical. If this really is fruitful venture, yeah. Me aikido dojo, and now it's becoming more so if it was him and Robbie or just him and Sam. No, sure. But more students are coming. He's gaining from it.

But you remember also, all these students are taking karate for free. It's not making them any money. Miyagi dough is not for profit business. So Amanda has to see all this time her husband is spending on a not for profit business. Meanwhile, the profit business is suffering because it has an absentee owner.

They're going to need a 501 C and make this thing legitimate, or Amanda is going to shut it down. Yeah, pretty much. So Daniel is now breaking up an argument with Dimitri and I believe it's Chris.

Yeah, he says, this nerd called me an imbecile. He called him a nerd. This nerd called me an imbecile.

And so he gives them a task, a very hard task to solve together so they can work through their differences.

Yeah, he has them lift up the stone that was felled

or not lift up yet. Just figure out how to lift it up. Boy,

he says to lift the stone to work on teamwork. Yeah. What do you think this thing is weighs? It's got to wait, what 600 pounds is probably Yeah, 600 pounds stone laying on the ground that was knocked over by Cobra Kai hawk and buddies to be specific, not Cobra Kai. Johnny was not a part of it now. But knock over the stone vandalize the place. And now these guys task is to lift up the stone. And they start bringing up the fulcrum fulcrum technique. Yeah.

Now we're back to Johnny company, if you will. And they're all on motorcycles.

Where did these motorcycles come from? Awesome. First of all,

but now they got motorcyle. Well, a

switch also talked about flipping the script. In Karate Kid. They were on dirt bikes. These are hogs.

No doubt. Yeah. Now we're doing a mash up montage, going back and forth between footage from the Karate Kid them on those motorbikes and then on their hogs. Now?

What was that movie with Tim Allen and wild hog? Is that what? That's what this reminded me. Yes, exactly. I always imagined like the middle aged guy on their Harley. Yeah. Yeah, they

look cool. What

would you have think if they would have had dirt bikes again? Would you have supported the dirt bike? would have been cool, too. Yeah, yeah. I would have been actually funny if you would have had them on dirt bikes. Yeah. Because yeah, they their youth was dirt bikes and then later on, they're on the road bikes now. You know,

it's really beautiful. The landscape was beautiful. The foliage was great. A lot of great colors to beautiful same that mountain bikes were they were in helmets. They were wearing helmets. Well, I think most states have a helmet law. Now. I know for sure Arizona,

which I go to maybe once a year I went up in Arizona, particularly Sedona there's no helmet law in Arizona, not smart. There is something about that air blowing through your hair and

get on a bicycle. On a bicycle. It's dangerous.

Okay, so these guys had their helmets on which is you should do law or not.

I agree. So they're riding along and they wind up at a bar, and we're catching up and reflecting on the old times.

So we see the guys ride through the forest. You don't know where they're going at first. At first I thought they were going to the lake where Miyagi tre Danielson in the rowboat. Also we're Daniel Chang Ravi Yes, that's where I thought they were going wasn't that big bear also, I'm not sure I don't remember but anyway they wind up going to Big Bear Lake and then winding up at this bar sitting down having drinks talking about the old days

and speaking of Big Bear Lake I love Big Bear Lake Yeah, I rent cabins there from time to time I take Miko

with me well, you didn't recognize the scene on the show them.

I didn't know the bar and I should probably look it up. I didn't know the bar per se but I do know the area might well have gone out throughout different times of the year. It's always beautiful. It's always like arrowhead. It's very similar. But they're at this bar. And it's really nice to hear these guys conversing again. Yeah. You know, not in a hospice Center, where it's a bit cold, and everyone's afraid to kind of show emotion. Yeah, they're letting their guard down. And we're hearing some old stories and we find out about one Cobra Kai member that we had no idea.

Yeah, well, these guys are all catching up. So we know that they have not been in communication with each other. They haven't been Facebook friends. For all these years,

Tommy and Bobby could be I mean, we don't know if some of these guys okay,

what Johnny then was kind of reintegrated back into the group. So the other three guys could have been hanging out as buddies, and they invited Johnny back into the fold. Then again, so he joins them. And then we learn that Dutch is in prison in Lompoc. Five years, which I believe is an actual prison over there. Yeah, I think so. We don't know why he's there. Right.

I'm gonna guess that it was some sort of assault.

Well, whenever you look at a prison term, and somebody's over two, three years serving time, you know that it wasn't for writing bad checks. No, you know, it was probably something physical or something really bad. Absolute felony. Yes. I

would not put it past the character Dutch. Yeah. Grow up and do something that cross the lines. Yeah.

And look how differently they've all turned out. One of them's a pastor. We don't know yet. What the other guys Yeah, Bobby's a pastor Bobby's a pastor. We don't know what the other guys tell

me. We don't know what he is doing. He's just the one who's not good. Hell yeah. And Jimmy seems like a super nice sweet guy. Yeah. I didn't recognize him from head of the class. Yeah, until we looked him up just a little while ago. Like, oh my gosh, I'd never knew it was that Cobra Kai? Because again, Jimmy was a lesser known Cobra Kai to Bobby and Tommy. Yeah, I

don't think he had his face in front of the camera as much as the other guys didn't have as many lines. No. So what a treat it is. They're all sitting there. They're all catching up. And this is where Johnny reveals that he opened up a dojo.

Yeah. So what's it called?

Yeah, that was, yeah, they go. Let's call it he goes Cobra Kai, and they were like, you brought back Cobra Kai. And then Johnny says, That's not all that's back. And you know, he's referring to crease.

So we stopped there while they continue to talk but we cut back to Cobra Kai dojo, or Tory spars of the new student. And as that student falls down, crease instructs her to do what? To kick up. Finish him. Yeah. And she stops

while Miguel raise that red flag indicating a point. Yep. Tori has scored a point. Basically the fights over for their purposes. Right. Chris says, finish them. And there's a little pause. And that's when Miguel has his Wait a second. This isn't how sensei Lawrence instructed us, right? So there's that moment where Chris has to then recalculate and readjust. He doesn't want to blow his own cover. That's when he says you're right. To defend your sensei as approach you are correct. In a tournament. It's about the points. But on the street, there are winners and losers and there are no losers in this dojo. That's a familiar line that Chris has said. Oh, yeah. And it says the right to Miguel,

what Tori stopped for a second question. Thanks. But she was then moving towards a kill shot. Tori was going to do it. She thought she and Miguel had to really interrupt.

Yeah, I mean, we learn later her reasoning. But yeah, she was gonna go for it. I mean, that killed the kid. No, but she was gonna hit him again and hurt kick him in the ribs or something. Sure.

Now we got to Miyagi dough dojo, and Daniel has the newer students inside the X Cobra Kai students. Yeah. So Sal, what does Daniel asks the new students?

This is fantastic, because these are the former Cobra Kai students that Daniel is trying to retrain. Yeah, reprogram, reprogram. Daniel ask what is the purpose of karate and then one of the students says, strike first strike hard. No Mercy, Sir. And Dan is like, ah, you've been brainwashed. And then he asked, what is the ultimate lesson? And somebody answers? Don't be a pussy, which is total Johnny Lawrence coming through there.

Now we're outside and Dimitri and Chris are still having issues. They're not getting along very well. And this leads to Daniel coming outside and admitting what to everyone. This

threw me off completely because I couldn't tell if Daniel was making this up for the sake of instruction and tutelage, because this was news to me. Daniel tells his students that he was once a member of Cobra Kai,

from Karate Kid part three. Now we've talked about this very briefly, but it was so many episodes ago. I think it was like the first episode. I talked about how I had only watched it when I was 19 and couldn't even finish it and I believe he'd become a Cobra Kai in it. Well, I'd recently seen Karate Kid part three and it's true. Daniel does become a Cobra Kai for X amount of the movie. Wow. Yeah, that's why I've encouraged you sow allow you to see Karate Kid part two, which you recently did. I

am in the middle of watching Karate Kid two and part three. Yes.

So we can do special episodes of those as well.

Yeah, but see, this is blowing my mind because if I had watched Karate Kid three, I would know this. Yes. Right. But without watching Karate Kid three, I was just like what? Yeah, it's true. Daniel Russo was a member of Cobra Kai.

Yeah. And that's everyone's reaction, including Samantha's

she didn't even know her own dad was a member of Cobra Kai. At one time, he wasn't proud of it. But

he had to show them that a person can change

will also show them that a person can be sucked into something. Well, that's right, that they probably shouldn't get involved with when you're vulnerable. Yes, you know, there are these moments where all of us are vulnerable, either through sadness or disappointment or whatever, or through broken heartedness like Miguel has been with Sam. And those are the moments when you're vulnerable. Those are the moments when the devil gets on your shoulder or crease gets on your shoulder, same difference and whispers in your ear. Look out for those moments when you're down and out. Look out for people coming to whisper in your ear.

So now we're back at the bar and the Cobra guys. I call them Cooper cats, and the gang can't believe crease his back.

Did everyone think Chris was dead? They didn't act

like Johnny did. They were just more shocked that he was back in the scene. I don't think they had Johnny's perspective. Right. Johnny was the closest maybe he'd heard some things through the grapevine. Yeah, they were just after that moment in time credit card, part two. Those guys probably never looked at karate again.

Well, it just occurs to me that crease trashed Johnny's trophy. Got him in a headlock for second place. Yeah, he didn't do anything to the other guys who didn't place at all.

They weren't champs. Wow.

So the higher on the ladder you are at Cobra Kai, the more wrath you have to experience from your sensei. Yeah. That's kind of how it works. Is that just normal for dojos

and the Circa 70s 80s Cobra Kai, okay.

So yeah, these guys are surprised to hear after what they saw in that parking lot at the All Valley afterward. What you're hanging out with the guy that tried to kill you in the parking lot.

Yeah, exactly. So Johnny tries to explain that things are different with Cobra Kai and crease this time around. But then Tommy changes the subject. And he wants to play some pool.

Yeah, they go over to play some pool. And they see this jerk kind of pushing this girl around and manhandle on this woman. Yeah. And then if that's not bad enough, because she walked off, that could have been the end of it. Yep. But then they get into Johnny's face. And he's got those giant dangly air leeches. Yeah, he's got the, I think that it goes reverse. So he has the big ear lobe, things go over there. But it's like in the world of gauges. The lower number is bigger, right? Yeah. So what would this be like a one? Probably th he has a giant huge ear lobes that get ripped off once the fight starts now he started the fight, right? Absolutely. Yeah, he was definitely instigating and

Johnny is not a guy that you want to mess with in this situation. You

don't want to get in his face. So all of a sudden here we are. Cobra Kai is kicking ass.

Of which we've never seen this group of covert guys in that type of fight. Not even when they were young. No, we saw them attacking Daniel. Yeah, Halloween costume. Yes. And Miyagi attacking them. They were young. We saw them in tournaments sure

or we see Johnny kicking acid flats or on the beach so that

was it. We've never seen them and I'll bar fi Yeah, and that was a really cool scene. Yeah,

fight. They did great and Tommy dying of cancer yet he kicks ass. Oh, man. They all had some moves still. Yeah, it was really great to watch really satisfying. satisfying for the Karate Kid fantasy. All these guys kicking ass, especially at

their age. They dominated and they took out all the aggressors. Yeah,

well, that guy with the gauges. Yeah. his buddies started jumping. Yeah. So it became a bar brawl. And Cobra Kai and X Cobra Kai,

they kicked us they messed with the wrong middle aged guys. Yeah, you don't want to do that. Now we're back at Miyagi dough dojo, and Daniel is explaining his time at Cobra Kai, basically, explaining Karate Kid three, which we just talked about how he got into it, how he got lured in the dark side, because Miyagi wasn't training him at that time, and he he was asked to be in the tournament and again, so you do need to see it. Please watch it soon. Wait,

who is the sensei? Then in Karate Kid three of the sensei of Cobra Kai.

Terry silver. Wha? Yeah, because Chris was a little Mia Lane low.

So we meet Terry silver. To see that you got to see Karate Kid three. Now.

Now is the tournament up to the standard of what we're used to. No. In fact, I have a lot of bones to pick with Karate Kid. Riis tournament, but I'll save that for that special episode. But the movies we're seeing,

I will I will, I'm gonna seek Radek eight three I got to I'm gonna know how I might even watch the cartoon the credit card cartoon. Well, I know I'm going to that next Yeah, I'm just gonna watch all of

it. So he tells them that Cobra Kai teaches power and that you can get caught up in it. And my analogy is always to the dark side. Yeah. And the students take this in, and the ex Cobra Kai students totally understand this.

Yeah. And you know what, this is also reminiscent of when didn't Johnny say at one time in his class. I was once like you write a nerd, or a geek or an outcast? He's got babes though. I still got babes though. So this is now Daniel saying to his students. It wasn't so much that I used to be a member of Cobra Kai. The real messages. I used to be just where you are. I was where you were. I was you.

And he was lacking a sense at that point in time. He wants me I had died. No, no, Miyagi just chose not to train Daniel for another turnip. Ah, I

see. I need to watch Karate Kid three listeners watch Karate Kid. Karate cut two and credit cut three and listen to our special episodes. Yeah. Let's talk Cobra Kai special episode of Karate Kid is available to listen to right now. It sure is. Yeah. So be sure to tune into that.

So now we're back at Cobra, Kai dojo, and Miguel is training. As Tori walks in. And he shares his concerns about crease.

Yeah, he talks about the No Mercy concept. And Tori shares the story about her mother that used to work at a restaurant that used to bring the leftover food home to the family. But when she was found out she was fired. And her analogy or her reasoning is the world doesn't show mercy. No. So why should you? I'm almost so jaded enough in life where I almost agree with that sort of thing. She has been hardened. Yeah. You know what? It's rough out there. The world is a tough place you got to survive. The world ain't showing us no mercy. No. So why should we show mercy? So? Yeah, it's one of those things where a tough world makes you tough or a cold world makes you cold. It's a tough place to be. And it is going into that dark side. It really as you start to go towards the darkness, you start to at least face the darkness. Maybe you're not entering it like Darth Vader, but you're starting to face in that direction. I recommend you be careful.

So now back at Miyagi dough dojo, Dimitri and Chris have solved the problem.

They use the fulcrum technique. So this pivot point is like an axis for lifting the weight. So these guys develop a little tool, using the fulcrum using an axis to lift up this giant boulder. Yeah, that way. I'm sure it weighs at least 600 and at least 500

using leverage. You couldn't get enough people to get good hands good control to lift it up. And they tried a much weaker prop earlier, like weak stickers. I just broke broke. Yeah, so you need the right thing. The right access point is you say, and they got it to work. They put the big boulder back in place

and Daniel's words, as a team, anything is possible. So Daniel is not only teaching individuals, karate, but creating a team creating a Miyagi dough community. That's what he's trying to do here.

At the next all Valley tournament. It's gonna be a great showdown with Miyagi dough dojo, which is now represented by more than just Robbie. And they're a strong team verse. A well oiled Cobra Kai squad, just think about it now.

Wow. The 2020 Or would it be the 2019 2019? The 2019 all Valley? Yes. Yeah,

that's gonna be pretty interesting. The 51st anniversary, and Miguel

defending his title. Yes. So we'll who's the topic on Miyagi dough will be Robbie that defined? Yeah. Wow. All right.

The oddsmakers are going crazy now. So now we're at the Cobra Kai campsite, and Tommy and Johnny ketchup.

I don't know where the other guys are. They're out doing whatever.

Maybe they're asleep, making a tent, making some food. I don't know. For some

reason I imagined them playing cards. I don't know why I imagined that I'm just playing card, but they're off. And it's just

Bobby and Jimmy. So you know. Yeah. So Tommy shares that he was in love with Ali, their freshman year.

What's funny is when he says I want to share something with you right here. I want to tell you something. I was not expecting. I was expecting anything but that I totally agree. Yeah. So he says he was in love with Ali and their freshman year was way when their freshman year when Tommy was in love with Ali was that before Johnny got together with Ali. Yeah, he

says that, but you came along later and made them.

Okay. That's funny. That reminds me of when I was in high school, one of my high school girlfriends named Jessica, my friend Albert and I are at the bus stop waiting for the bus. We see Jessica, we didn't know her. I said Oh, she's so cute. And he said, Are you gonna go talk to her? I go, I don't know. He said to me, I never forget. He said, If you don't go talk to her, I'm gonna go talk to her. And I was like, oh, okay, and then I made my move and then just kind of dated for a while. You go, but yeah, you have those moments where your friend, what would have happened if I didn't make my move, Albert would have made his move. And Albert would have dated Jessica instead of me, holy cow.

So it's a nice exchange between these two, because Johnny shares that he never really let someone get close to him after Ali has been harboring a lot of bad feelings since high school regret, if you will. And Tommy says to him, you still have time. The one thing that Tommy does not have,

yeah, and this is one of these moments where as a viewer and as a, as a fan, you just got to reflect on your own life. You know, if you're young, you think you're going to live forever, right? As you get older, and you see that clock, and that calendar flipping quicker. That's when your mortality kicks in, you know, otherwise, when you're young. Now, you don't know it. You don't think about it.

What's kind of beautiful that Tommy. And the situation or state that he's in, is still comforting, Johnny. Yeah. And it looks up to him. He's champ. Yeah, like they admire Johnny. Yeah. And that's really nice.

And John has been carrying this with him. This heartbreak from high school. Yep. Carrying that with him all these years. I couldn't even imagine that. I will say that as much heartbreak as I've had in my life, giving and receiving. I don't think I'm carrying much pain from high school. Yet Johnny still carries that from high school. Holy cow. That's a burden.

I mean, that's the story that these creators wrote. I mean, in reality, Johnny loses the fight against Daniel and a4. But gives Daniel the trophy, right? Yes. And right then in there, let's just call it Karate Kid. One. There's no other Karate Kid films or no TV show. You assume that? Hey, he learned a lot there. That kid was a jerk. He was a bully. He has a respect for Daniel. Hopefully he's on the right side of things now. Yeah. Cut to credit get to, he gets beaten up by a Sensei and his trophy destroyed in the parking lot. And that may have changed. They chose to give the guy the sad reality regret. My world is Johnny grew up and married another girl and had a great life. It's an interesting take. They made him have 35 years of regret, because he lost ally, he obviously got married. Yeah, had a son had a son, as he spoken about in previous episodes, never showed up to be part of that ran to the bottle to not be a dad because he didn't have a dad morning,

his mother as a son has been born

exactly all of that. It's interesting choice that they made. And they have crafted a really interesting character through that. But it's a tough pill to swallow to see someone take 35 years of regret, and amazed that he's still standing, he could have easily drank himself to death, or had a much worse life.

Well, what's interesting is when you look at all the parallels that take place in the Karate Kid and Cobra universes, respectively, and you watch Karate Kid to you see, Miyagi had carried stuff with them. Do we all carry stuff with us?

Now? That's a good point. He sure did. There was some scenes in The Karate Kid. Part two that were very touching. But we'll save that. But you're right. You know, it's a real interesting way to take it because they gave Daniel and we've talked about this before as well. Seemingly a better life. Yeah, seemingly Sure. financially. Sure. Family. Sure. Yeah. But they're both still a little off balance.

Well, in Karateka, two, we hear Daniel talk about the death of his father. Yeah. Which we didn't hear about in Karate Kid. No. Nor have we heard about in Cobra Kai.

He just talked about how he lost his father. Yeah.

But we get to hear about his father. Period. Right. Yeah. Because you don't learn a lot about his father and no, but But you get to hear speak of his father. At

least he wasn't left and then leave his mother. Yeah. And have this like deadbeat dad, but he got

to be with his dad, as the dad was dying, which is pretty powerful.

We still don't know who Johnny's father was.

No, I keep wanting to think his father's crease. But we'll see what maybe you don't want to think that maybe I don't want to but I'm just wondering, Ian. He's the usual suspect in a situation like this. Well, well, who else would Johnny's dad be besides crease? I hope I'm wrong.

So it's a really great moment between Tommy and Johnny. And probably when a Tommy's last. And as I've already said, Tommy has nothing but respect for Johnny. And it's really sweet. That after all these years, they still hold one another in high regard.

Yeah. Very special in touching scene. And I'm all about the outdoors and campfire. So it was a real, real cool scene.

And it's kind of sad that Tom is not surrounded by family at this point in time, which leads you to believe there is no family for Tommy Yeah, you

can wonder where his family is at. Does he have any kids? Does he have a wife? An ex wife? Anybody? Yeah, I guess if you're hanging out with your old high school buddies and your 11th hour, that's it. That's what you got.

That was one of his last requests. So so now we're back at Miyagi dough Dojo Joe and the place is back to normal. And Daniel leads the class in unison and some sort of Kata.

Yeah, the Dojo is back to normal. It's all fixed up. It's all beautiful. Okay, so the vandalism has been taken care of

wiped clean whitewash the vandalism, and they've brought team unity. And me aikido dojo has never been stronger.

Well, there's never been this many dedicated students ever. Now.

They blew their registration away.

What are we up to about 12? Now, like 10 to 12 students?

Yeah, can be 10 to 12. Students. Yeah. And now we cut back to cobra, Kai dojo, and Miguel apologizes to crease.

Yeah. I didn't like seeing that. I didn't like see Miguel doing that. Because, you know, Miguel is a good person. Miguel wants to do the right thing. Yep. Miguel is not hawk. And I like Hawk hawk has his troubles, obviously. And I'm mad at Hawk for trashing the Miyagi dough dojo. Yes. But Miguel, I think is a you know, he's a little bit of a better person, I think, a little more introspective, maybe. And when he went up and apologized to crease, I think because Miguel thought he did something wrong. Miguel thought, oh, I should not be like trashing my sensei, or my sensei sensei. Miguel wanted to do the right thing, apologize, decrease his creases, doing arm curls. Those were about I think, 30s 2530s he's doing his arm curls there. Because the thing of it is, is it's not so much that Miguel apologizes. It's who he's apologizing to, and how the person he just apologized to will use that apology against them later in some way in some manipulative fashion. Yeah. When you apologize to crease crease has you? And that's where I don't want Miguel or anybody to

be. Yeah, he says, It's okay to be loyal to Johnny. But he's a little messed up, and we'll get him on the right track.

Yeah, so this is almost like him putting his arm around. I'm like, Hey, you and I both together. We'll we'll help Johnny. Yeah. So when others come on to my site, come on to my team. And we'll help Johnny, you and me together. And he's

confused. I mean, Johnny initially taught him this way, changed his tune after the tournament, and Robbie's involvement, and Miguel and hawk and others started to see the difference. They're very impressionable. They see Johnny teach one way, and then sort of change his mind and creases going back say, no, no, that was the right way. Let's get back over here on this side. Yeah. They don't know what to do. But they're thinking, yeah,

that makes sense. Well, he's introduced as your sensei sensei.

Yeah, so obviously, he knows the way he created this. Johnny's not here, he entrusted him to run the show. So sure, we'll go do that. Yeah. It's tough. It's dangerous. It's like,

I remember once I was in a position between my mother and grandmother, my mother and grandmother were fighting. And I was standing in the middle like, ah, what do I do? Like I just stayed out of it. But it's those confusing moments who were like, well, we're on the same team. But this is my sensei, but this is my sensei sensei. So it's kind of like your grandparent and all. So yeah, it could be confusing for the student. But Miguel

is good hearted and there's some things that he recognizes that aren't right. And I mentioned to see how Miguel progresses through this. And I wouldn't be shocked if Miguel train at Miyagi dough. Wow. Now I don't know if that's gonna happen. There's so many things that could happen in this season and in season three, but one thing I have learned is prepared to be surprised.

Yeah. Cobra Kai is good for delivering those surprises. You know, that make me back up. Robbie

and Miguel both switch dojos mind blown.

Wow. Yeah, it could happen. Anything can happen. They show

up at the All Valley ready to go. And then they switch team somehow. I don't know. Interesting. They're gonna happen. They're pushing the envelope on the show. And I greatly appreciate

know, what you see is that the possibilities are endless. Yes, things can go in any direction.

So we're back at the Cobra Kai campsite, X Cobra, Kai campsite, and Tommy isn't waking up. You have Bobby and Jimmy yelling, trying to wake Tommy up. While Johnny is waking up just on his own and realizes what's going on.

I was a little surprised by their reactions, because he's not waking up. But what was the reason why you took them out of hospice in the first place?

I know but no one wants to see it happen on their watch. Right. If there's a chance to revive someone you're gonna try. Okay. No, I don't think they have any notion about Tommy living that much long. Yeah. But they're also in the middle of an incredible adventure. Yeah. Relatively speaking. Sure. And you're always going to try to revive someone, but they didn't do any CPR. No, they called 911. Yeah, that goes into motion while we cut back to the Cobra Kai dojo and crease gives a speech as we cut back and forth between the camp site as they tried to revive Tommy as well as shots at Miyagi dough. And Sal, this is a really beautiful sequence scored by the show must go on On by coin, it's a very powerful montage.

When not to mention, I think where the show is going at this very moment. They haven't delved there yet. They haven't touched that yet. No. We're getting into death now. Yeah, they haven't gone there yet. Nobody. Not in Cobra Kai.

I mean, Mr. Miyagi passed away. But we went to a gravesite. We weren't there to see Yeah, his passing.

Okay. Yeah, this is hard to watch on many levels, because there's the backstory of not only Tommy, but also Rob garrison. So we're starting to get to a real

yes is an incredible sequence. So crees begin to speech, which is Cobra Kai is not a hobby. It's not a club. Cobra Kai is your brothers and your sisters, your all Cobra guys for life, because Cobra Kai never dies. So while that speech is being delivered, and the song is playing underneath it, we are cutting to see what the EMTs are working on Tommy

Yeah, checking his pulse trying to see if there's any signs of life because they're they're trying

and Bobby, John and Jimmy, they're all standing by. It's a lot to take in. I mean, to actually see death happen. Yeah, we're just hanging out and having a great day with Tommy. And the same kind of comes to a head as the EMTs pronounced his death. And not verbally, but just visually, yeah, because the song score is drowning out anything else. And as Chris speaks that last line, Cobra Kai never dies. They zip up Tommy and a body back.

Yeah. Which was a metaphor for the true fan and aficionado. You'll catch that. I must admit, I have to admit to the listeners. To be fair, Jason caught it. I did not catch it. But it's a throwback to the line from the Karate Kid. When Tommy yells out, put him in a body bag. And now here is Tommy been zipped up in an actual body bend respectfully. Yeah. And then rob Garrison, who plays Tommy actually dies shortly thereafter?

Yeah, he passed away. September 27 2019.

I don't think the producers knew he was battling any illnesses. I don't think Rob Garrison knew nobody forecasted this, but it was this thing is so eerie.

Or even if they did, no, I mean, how moving is it so sad. But how poetic to play out Tommy's not many people in the Karate Kid Cobra Kai universe, get to play out their death on screen. No, I mean, Mr. Miyagi, he went on and made a fourth Karate Kid film without Daniel and the gang. But he passed away years later, but they beautifully bring him in and out of scenes, but they had Daniel visit their grave site, which was just wonderfully done. But this is the first time I've ever seen something like this happen.

And I was very happy to hear that based on when this was shot, based on one of their based on when Rob passed away, that Rob was able to see this.

Yes, because they must have filmed this in 2018. Yeah, it came out in spring of 2019. He passed away in September. So yes, he got to see this episode. Yeah, sure. It was just riveting for him and all of his friends and family. And then for him to pass. It's like, oh my gosh, we kind of just saw him pass in this beautiful episode. I mean, this and did incredibly powerful and moving and that if you know the song queen, just, it just makes your hair on your back, your neck stand up. It's a very impactful, same.

Yeah, it was. I'm one of these people that will sit through things that are hard to sit through. Yeah. And this was hard to sit through. It was it was hard to see again, knowing the backstory with Rob, hard to watch him pass away on screen, knowing that he passes away shortly thereafter. Very hard to watch. But I'll tell you a beautiful send off by Cobra Kai. I mean, not only for Rob Garrison, the actor, but for the character Tommy to die under the stars at Big Bear Lake surrounded by your old friends. Yeah. I couldn't think of much better ways to go. Yeah, they did an amazing job. Yeah, it was really fun.

And I just hope that he was incredibly proud of it. He was great in the episode. And had he lived longer. I would have liked to seen him in future episodes if they brought the Cobra Kai gang back and maybe they will with Bobby and Jimmy. Yeah, Cobra Kai goes on.

But it was my understanding. I believe I did read an article that says they did plan to bring him back in some way before I guess they went to the death though. Or unless we're gonna do flashbacks. Yeah, they could do them early into some sort of flashback. But they weren't going to have Tommy back on the show for more scenes.

Wow. Rob garrison. Wonderful job. You will be missed greatly. Yeah, rest in peace, rest in peace. And that's the end of another amazing episode of Cobra Kai.

Yeah, talk about an emotional roller coaster man

who four left Sal and season two.

I kind of just want to like, you know, when you watch a show, it's called binge watching. Yes, I just want to binge podcast. That's it. Like, let's just bang out, knock it out. Let's binge watch the four episodes, and then just bang out the four episodes on a binge podcast has that been done? Probably. Man besides myself, I don't even know I'm at a loss of what even to expect any more or for the season. I mean, I don't even know what's what's gonna happen. What's, where do you go from here?

Expect the unexpected. That should be the tagline for COBRA. So thanks so much for listening. And we greatly appreciate it if you could subscribe and rate us on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast. And if you have the time to leave us a short review, it would truly help us as well.

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No Mercy