There’s trouble in the dojo: the final season of Netflix’s critically praised Cobra Kai is off to a rough start, at least where critics are concerned. The sixth season focuses on the aftermath of Cobra Kai‘s closure: for the first time, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and their students are at peace. While that certainly sounds nice, especially since it’s the show’s final season, it’s also the main point of contention for critics who feel the show is missing its usual (and expected) drama and conflict. Has Cobra Kai gotten too zen?
Cobra Kai premiered in 2018 (initially on YouTube Red before moving over to Netflix), picking up decades after its predecessor, 1984’s The Karate Kid, and centering on the reignited feud between Daniel and Johnny. The series saw the two men operating rival dojos with different teachings: Johnny’s Cobra Kai focused on an aggressive fighting style, while Daniel’s Miyagi-Do taught a more defensive style. Through its run, the series has explored the clash between the two men, their philosophies, and the struggles of the new “karate kids” involved in Daniel and Johnny’s dojos.
As Netflix released part one of Cobra Kai‘s sixth season on July 18, reviews are limited but pointed. TheShockNews’s Audrey Fox notes that “while Season 6 has some satisfying character arc closure, the fact that almost everyone seems emotionally healthy makes it less chaotic — and a little bit less fun — than some of its earlier seasons.” The Daily Beast‘s Scarlett Harris writes that the show had “lost its mojo,” adding:
“I’m all for characters sitting around and shooting the sh*t, but after the cartoonish high jinks that this show has managed to survive on for seven years, diehard fans of the ‘
Karate Kid’
universe will be none too happy with the comparative calm of part one.”
Alex Godfrey of Empire felt similarly, awarding the series just 2/5 and saying:
“As it readies for the end, the first third of the final season of Cobra Kai feels a little knackered. If only Mr Miyagi were around to magically massage it back to life.”
And while Screen Rant’s Ben Gibbons had some issues with the first part of the final season, they did feel that there are bigger and better things in store:
“Cobra Kai’s final season may be off to a rocky start, but it does feel as though the rest of the season will have some massive moments.”
A Cliffhanger, Comedy & 80s Nostalgia May Keep Cobra Kai Fans Hooked
Despite issues noted by critics, it’s not all bad for Cobra Kai. Paste Magazine’s Amy Amatangelo praises the season’s comedy (it “has plenty”) and notes that the series “remains delightfully steeped in its ’80s culture roots,” which is, undoubtedly, a massive plus for The Karate Kid fans watching the show for nostalgia. Maybe most significantly, Amatangelo shares that “by the end of the five episodes that premiere as part of this first tranche of the sixth season, the series delivers one heck of a cliffhanger.” And that leaves plenty of time for redemption. The second part of Cobra Kai‘s final season will likely rev up the drama and action as it shifts focus to a tournament.
Collider’s Nate Richard, meanwhile, declares that “Like Its Namesake, The Spirit of Netflix’s Karate Comedy Never Dies.”
“While it will inevitably be hard to say goodbye to Cobra Kai, if Part 1 of Season 6 is any indication, longtime fans of the series and the franchise as a whole will get the best possible conclusion that they could have hoped for.”
With the first part just being released, it’s too early to predict fan reception for part 1 of season 6. Over on X (previously Twitter), series fans are just happy to celebrate ‘Cobra Kai Day,’ especially since they’ve been waiting nearly two years since season 5 aired. Critically, Cobra Kai started strong, earning a perfect score for its debut season on Rotten Tomatoes. While subsequent seasons maintained positive reviews, scores slightly dipped, though season 5 defied the trend, returning to near-perfect acclaim with a 98% rating.
Cobra Kai stars Macchio, Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Jacob Bertrand and Peyton List, and some well-known Karate Kid faces are expected to appear alongside them this season.
Five
Cobra Kai
final season episodes premiered on Netflix today, July 18. Part two will follow in November 2025, with the final part set for 2025.