#2 - Television

 Cobra Kai - Season Five

There is something special about nostalgia. For several years, television has tried bringing special memories back to all generations, from Generation Z to Baby Boomers. For example, shows such as Fuller House or That 90's Show target those who saw the original shows while catering to the younger generations. One of the most popular shows as of late is Cobra Kai. 

The first season of Cobra Kai was released in 2018 on Youtube Red; however, Netflix took over the show during the second season. The show is a continuation of The Karate Kid movies. Combining nostalgia with a new generation of karate mentees, the show creates a perfect balance of past and present. 

"Decades after the tournament that changed their lives, the rivalry between Johnny and Daniel reignites in this sequel to the "Karate Kid" films."

Cobra Kai has had great success with younger and older audiences. The show does have cringy moments; however, the disbelief is ignored for the sake of nostalgia. 

In September of 2022, the fifth season of the Netflix hit was released. I couldn't binge the season until recently, but my parents and I are always delighted to watch the show. 

The season picks up right where season four left off. Daniel and Johnny lost their dojos after the All-Valley Tournament to Cobra Kai's new sensei, Terry Silver. Desperate to take Silver down, Daniel fights to close Cobra Kai for good. After many hurdles, Daniel joins forces with Johnny and another person from his past, Chozen. Combining the different styles of karate, Cobra Kai may be defeated once and for all. 

Like the prior seasons, audiences must ignore the cheesy and unbelievable plot. Of course, the show portrays adults who believe karate will ruin the world if found in the wrong hands. This factor of the show is easy to mock. After all, it's karate? Most people would have grown out of this adolescent behavior. You do not often see men nearly in their sixties participating in a karate brawl involving high school students. It's also apparent that much editing is used to allow the older cast members to fight; however, the stunt doubles and camera cuts every two seconds make the fights look believable. If the show did not have a nostalgic cast or storyline, I would have turned it off well before making it to the fifth season; however, the carefree and funny feel of Cobra Kai brings audiences back for more. 

The Karate Kid left audiences rooting for the underdog, and Cobra Kai mirrors that enthusiasm. The show has recently announced that season six will be the final season. It will be interesting to see what comes next for Daniel and Johnny and to witness if they will prevail. Being able to experience nostalgic moments with my parents has been fun. It is neat to see the pop culture of their childhood become a staple of my own. I recommend people watch Cobra Kai, whether for cringy moments, nostalgia, humor, or all three.