MovieChat Forums > Cobra Kai (2018) Discussion > I have a lot of thoughts! Let’s discuss!

I have a lot of thoughts! Let’s discuss!

posted 4 years ago by Norty81 (2)
4 replies | jump to latest

I’ve been binging Cobra Kai non-stop & there are some things I just really need to get out there! I will state up front, I am 1000% rooting for Johnny & think he is crazy sexy. So, few things I would like to open for discussion. <>

1) I get the whole Daniel-was-the-real-bully-in-the-original theory. Let’s call a spade a spade; Johnny was a d*ck in the movie, but I believe much of that was due to his home life (which we assumed what Daniel assumed in the film, that he was a spoiled rich kid) and his horrible sensei. I love that we (and Daniel) get to learn more about Johnny’s background.

2) Daniel’s motives for hating Cobra Kai/Johnny are constantly flipping. He hates them because Johnny was his high school bully, but then hates them because of what they did to get banned from the tourney (which Johnny had nothing to do with). He then defends Johnny to Robby saying his dad isn’t a monster, not a bad guy, just had a bad teacher. So, really, he hates Kreese & his philosophy, yet takes all that hate out on Johnny. And does some shady crap to get back at him (raising the rent stunt).

3) Why does Daniel STILL have beef with Johnny after 30 years? During the tourney, it’s clear many of the Cobra’s are figuring out that Kreese is a bad egg. The one guy in the semis even says sorry to Daniel after a cheap shot Kreese told him to do. In the final fight, even Johnny realizes that Kreese’s teachings are wrong & hesitates. And at the end of the fight, Johnny grabs the champ trophy, gives it to Daniel & says, “You’re alright, LaRusso.” So, this would imply that Johnny has let go of the beef because he realized that he was following a bad teacher.

4) It REALLY bothers me that they (just about everyone) call Daniel “champ” & treat him like a karate king, but Johnny was also a 2-time champ before he lost to Daniel. So, why aren’t people showing Johnny the same? Is it because he’s not rich? Not a prominent community member? Associated with Cobra Kai?

5) I feel a lot of the conflict between Johnny & Daniel could’ve been avoided if they just listened to each other rather than assuming/jumping to conclusions/throwing fists. But, it’s been established that they’re both hot heads, so I suppose it is keeping with their characters.

Let me know your thoughts!

[–] Flybynight45 (165) 4 years ago

Danny didn’t hold a grudge at first and tried to make peace with Johnny when he first saw him again. But remember that the cobras did some pretty awful things to him such as beating him up to the point he was unconscious. Who knows how far they would have gone if Mr Miyagi hadn’t have been there?

[–] Norty81 (2) 4 years ago

Very fair point. Bullies are bullies, regardless of home life or misguidance from a “trusted” adult.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 4 years ago

No one actually believes "Daniel is the really bully", it's just trolls. The original YouTube video was funny, but these idiots refuse to break character and have ruined the joke. They're the definition of trolls. Johnny was an asshole as a kid. We all know this. For fuck's sake, he threw Daniel down a hill. It's presented in a melodramatic way and kind of laughed off because we all knew The Karate Kid wasn't going to kill a teenager, but the act in of itself is quite serious.

Daniel was pretty friendly to Johnny, initially. They both did their part to keep the rivalry alive, but Daniel didn't hold a grudge. He repaired Johnny's car for free and even gave him another one when his moron cousin trashed it. The whole "You're all right LaRusso" thing obviously goes out the window or we'd have no show.

Johnny was a prick and a bully as a teen. He was arguing with Ali, trashed her radio, and got pissy when Daniel simply picked it up. I agree that in this show - there's just massive miscommunications between them - but Johnny was to blame when he was a kid. The major miscommunication towards the end of season 2 could have been avoided if Johnny simply let Daniel in his apartment to see his missing daughter. But this came after 2 seasons worth of misunderstandings and being petty with one another.

Daniel's motives didn't change. It's all-encompassing. Johnny, Kreese, Barnes, Silver - they were all Cobra Kai. Cobra Kai made his life a living hell.

As far as Daniel being called "champ" and not Johnny, no one knows who Daniel is. Daniel's active in the community. Johnny pretty much hides in his apartment. The other members of the board didn't even know who Cobra Kai was when Johnny tried to register for the tourney.

[–] liscarkat (16476) 3 years ago

Irrespective of the previous movies, in this television series Daniel is an arrogant, self-righteous prick who thinks he knows best how other people should live their lives and that he should tell them what to do. He needs to have his ass kicked to take him down a few notches. Am I a "troll" because you disagree with me? Too bad for you, eh?