MovieChat Forums > Cobra Kai (2018) Discussion > Ali's character was a little off

Ali's character was a little off

posted 3 years ago by kuatorises (7467)
49 replies | jump to latest

I was glad she was back. I was glad Johnny got to see her. He needed it. It was another step forward for Johnny. The show continues to make him likeable, which before we actually saw any episodes, we just thought it would be about the dick from the first movie. Their scenes together were wonderful. But a few things about her actions didn't quite add up.

She and Johnny left on pretty bad terms. Worse terms than her and Daniel. She and Daniel just broke up and moved on. I thought it was absolutely hilarious we found out she literally just TALKED TO another guy and Daniel lost his cool. I always figured she met a college guy and dumped Daniel. When it was apparent she was going to be in this show, I even wondered if that guy would turn out to be her husband. But I laughed my ass off when it was revealed Daniel got mad she said hi to some guy. She and Johnny broke up, she literally hit him, he broke her radio, and he bullied Daniel; which bothered her.

When they are all saying goodnight and Johnny and Daniel are busting each other's balls, she was all, "There's your version, your version, and the truth." The two have had several miscommunications, rush to judgement, bust each other's balls NOW, but there is absolutely no disputing their issues in HS were because Johnny bullied him. It's not up for debate. Christ, Johnny admits at the end of the movie that "Larusso is ok." Daniel earned his respect by beating him in the tourney. Ali was undoubtedly on Daniel's side. It was a little odd she tried to portray the whole thing as one big misunderstanding.

[–] Galactus03 (4287) 3 years ago

Well of course Johnny started it but Daniel didnt do himself any favors at the Halloween party. He should have left well enough alone That said they have all grown now. They are looking at things differently. Daniel and Johnny are now becoming maybe not best friends but respectful of each other.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

Enough with the Hallowwen party crap. He poured water on someone after that someone beat him up.

[–] Galactus03 (4287) 3 years ago

Dude you dont pour more fuel on an already burning fire. Lol. Daniel was asking for more trouble. That was obvious in the film. He may have not started it but he certainly wanted to finish it.lol

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

He. Poured. Water. On. Someone.

[–] Galactus03 (4287) 3 years ago

Doesnt matter. It was portrayed in a pretty realistic way. I have seen teens fight over far lesser transgressions.

[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

Um, they were literally going to murder Daniel over the affair. A fight over that is normal. Five dudes trying to kill someone over it is a little much.

[–] Galactus03 (4287) 3 years ago

They werent trying to kill him...lol...

[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

The intent of the scene is that Miyagi saves Daniel's life. Had Miyagi not intervened, the Cobra Kais would have killed Daniel.

Writer Robert Mark Kamen explicitly says this on the DVD featurette.

[–] Galactus03 (4287) 3 years ago

Killing someone accidentally and murder are two different things.

[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

It's not really accidental is it? Daniel couldn't stand and they purposely decided to keep beating him anyway.

Had Daniel freakishly keeled over dead after that first kick, that would be an accident. But if you decide to keep beating someone after it's been pointed out that the person can't even stand, the "accident" argument goes out the window.

[–] Galactus03 (4287) 3 years ago

The only character in the movies that wanted to kill Daniel was Chozen. Now the series is a different matter. Kresse tried to kill him.

[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

OK. They just wanted to beat him to death without killing him.

Makes sense....

[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

"They've beaten him [Daniel] to a pulp already, and he's going to kill him. No mercy."

-Robert Mark Kamen
Writer of The Karate Kid

https://youtu.be/UnkMIId8po8?t=656

The writer trumps your fan theory.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

They drove him off the road. That's technically attempted murder. There was also the initial fight with Johnny, the fight with Bobby, and the 5-on-1 fight. But sure, Daniel poured water on a guy. Shut the fuck up, you clown. The joke isn't funny anymore.

[–] whatwazdat (374) 3 years ago

Why do you say "someone?" It was Johnny Lawrence rolling a joint in the stall. And why do you say "someone" beat him up? It was Johnny and his gang chasing Laruso then beating him up until Miyagi saved him. It's like you didn't watch the movie. LOL! There is a theory long before this show that Danny is the real bully. The guys who do this show are crazy Karate Kid fans, and I guess they like that theory. I'm pretty sure that is why they had Ali being pretty neutral.

[–] WandererFromYs (1642) 3 years ago

Johnny beat up Daniel on the beach the Day before school started. Halloween is almost 2 full months later. It died down, he reinstigated it. Totally Daniels fault. Did he deserve a 5 on 1 beat down? Of course not. It was an an over the top response, but it doesn’t change the fact that it would’ve happened at all if he didn’t bring it on himself.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

Shut up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vERIDDbMcfk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfW9cFeCaa0
https://youtu.be/qb7ksNMvj0U?t=159

[–] WandererFromYs (1642) 3 years ago

The soccer scene was literally the first day of school, so it doesn’t change anything I said.

Also Daniel was in the wrong there too. He’s the one that threw a punch, which is why he was kicked off the team, and Bobby wasn’t. The Cobra kais didn’t even retaliate.

[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

Rumors suggest Shue hated how she was written out of the franchise back then, that her character just dumped Daniel for a college jock. I think adding that twist was part of them getting Shue to reprise the role. Honestly, I like that better, even if it is a retcon.

As far as her mediating Daniel and Johnny, I think Ali was talking more about their current rivalry than the past.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

I always assumed the character was written out because the actress couldn't do it. Why else would they not bring her back? Especially since it was a tactic they would do two more times – once with Kumiko and again with Jessica. I never really understood why they made it so he had a failed relationship in all three movies. If they made an effort to not bring Ali and Kumiko back and end things with Jessica in the same movie, that's really odd.

[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

According to Macchio, they wrote her out and she didn't really like how they did it.

https://youtu.be/TuVIZjjrWYQ

[–] exatera (3942) 3 years ago

What I didn't understand was why Daniel would be so jealous of Johnny spending time with Ali now. Well, just like I didn't understand last season how it would even be possible for him to still have feelings for someone from 35 years ago when supposedly he's been happily married for something like 20 years, and has two kids.

Too much time has passed, too many things have happened. They are all different people now. I can't imagine still having romantic feelings for (or really ever particularly thinking about) your high school ex.

[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

I'm glad they didn't linger on that too much.

The showrunners like to throw in misdirection a lot like this, to make you think the show might go a certain way for a few moments. I think they were just throwing a bone to the dorks who really thought Ali's return would signal a love triangle scenario. Thankfully, they were smart enough to not go down that road, but the had to tease the idea for a moment or two.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

You don't understand how someone might have feelings for someone they use the date? ......what?

Oh, and we see Johnny pining for Ali from the first episode of season one. It's not just Daniel.

[–] exatera (3942) 3 years ago

Johnny at least never had his life together.

And no, I don't understand it when they haven't even seen each other for 35 years. That's a lifetime, people move on a lot quicker than that. Especially with partners they've actually loved in between.

A high school sweetheart is someone you might think of fondly once every couple of years or something, but with Daniel it's like Ali is always at the forefront of his mind, which doesn't make any sense given the context.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

Johnny can still have a thing for Ali, but Daniel can't, because.......Johnny is a screw up? Say whaaaa??

Ali is "always" on Daniel's mind? Since when?

[–] exatera (3942) 3 years ago

Okay, I am getting the feeling that you are very young yourself, possibly just out of high school.

Never mind.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

I'm getting the feeling your brain doesn't work. It's some out there idea to you that someone still has feelings for someone they used to date. It's extremely bizarre this is a foreign concept to you.

[–] exatera (3942) 3 years ago

You don't seem to have the life or the relationship experience to be qualified to discuss this. And well, the immature insults, of course.

So, never mind, this isn't worth my time.

[–] Ldlamb (585) 3 years ago

I’m 46 and been married 14 years.

I definitely still have feelings for a couple of old girlfriends and think about them quite a bit.....doesn’t mean I don’t love my wife or my life.

[–] Acerz (186) 3 years ago

[deleted]

[–] exatera (3942) 3 years ago

Hurts to see her with another?? You have some major unresolved sh*t going on.

When someone told me my ex-husband remarried, to me it felt as though someone pointed at some random dude in the street and said, "See that guy? He just got married!" 🙄

I didn't understand why they were even telling me. [shrug]

[–] millsey72 (9530) 3 years ago

Oh my! You do realize this whole story is fiction. Your real life experiences have no bearings on this show. Its hilarious that you take it that seriously. Trust me; The writers of Cobra Kai are laughing at you

[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

I view it more as having to do with their rivalry, than Daniel actually still having romantic feelings for Ali. He's mad she connected with Johnny first because Johnny's been a thorn in his side lately. Daniel is having this fun reunion, and there's Johnny again. Lol

[–] exatera (3942) 3 years ago

Honestly though, he is a married family man - you know this reconnecting business is fraught with consequences. 😄

[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

I think this is a one-off appearance for Ali so it's not really going to go further.

[–] exatera (3942) 3 years ago

No, I meant in real life. 😊 When a married man (or woman) wishes to reconnect with an old high school sweetheart, it never means anything good.

Yeah, I don't see any possible reason for Elizabeth Shue to be back on the show now. They did actually do the star orthopedic surgeon bit that we all sort of expected after season 2, and it wasn't her.

I don't think there are any viable story lines left for her now. Even as it is, I wouldn't say her appearance the way it was done actually worked. Felt more like they inserted it just to appease the fans.

Btw, I watched that David Spade special after the show yesterday, and ES said she wanted her own dojo?.. How would that have worked exactly? It was pretty much the most ridiculous idea for her character I ever heard.

[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

No, I meant in real life. 😊 When a married man (or woman) wishes to reconnect with an old high school sweetheart, it never means anything good.

True. But Daniel's off the hook because she just happened to be there. Amanda's also confident enough to not really feel threatened.

As for the ES/dojo thing, I think that's a joke. Shue has stated in other interviews that she was jealous that Ralph and Billy got to do all the karate in the first movie, as she's really athletic IRL. I don't think she meant it seriously from a story perspective.

[–] AP (5256) 3 years ago

Yeah, I think it had more to do with Johnny than Ali. Johnny made it a point to show Ali reached out via facebook because Daniel mentioned she never sent a friend request. It was pretty childish of both fo them and Ali pointed it out.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 3 years ago

I agree with the thread title but for a different reason. I thought Shue seemed like she was gritting her teeth through the whole thing. Her acting felt like it was behind three masks. She was pretending to pretend that she was pretending to take it all seriously. Like someone keeping a smile on their face around someone they secretly dislike.

I like Shue. I think she is a good actress. This was weird.

[–] AP (5256) 3 years ago

On an episode of Reunited Apart, which came out before season 3, she said she wanted to make an appearance. I think she was okay with the role.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 3 years ago

I'd heard something to that effect. That's part of what makes her performance strange to me. My wife thought she was off too.

[–] Moonglum9 (10702) 3 years ago

Does she have any health problems. It seemed like in some scenes, when she was walking, she seemed like her back was stiff or in pain like she has MS or something. It may have just been some weird camera angle or something though.

[–] alycat32 (133) 3 years ago

It DID feel odd to me. I thought when she approached his table initially she was walking like her hips hurt. Then it kind of felt like she was drunk or on something some of the performance. It just felt a little odd. I’ve never noticed that in her other performances.

[–] Moonglum9 (10702) 3 years ago

In my post just above yours, I mention the same thing. I guess it wasn't just me.

[–] alycat32 (133) 3 years ago

For sure not just you. It’s strange because I’ve seen her in other recent things and didn’t notice.

[–] killerz298 (42) 3 years ago

I agree with both of you. Johnny, Daniel, and Kreese all felt normal to me. Ali felt a little off for some reason I can't put a finger on.

[–] Mustang (5194) 2 years ago

I thought Shue/Ali came off kind of cold and given she is the best actor in the original film it was weird. I also got the sense that there may be something medically wrong with her.

[–] hyljason (133) 2 years ago

You and many biased Johnny haters (minority) miss the point. In Karate Kid they made it clear Daniel was the one-note hero and Johnny was the one note bad guy so Ali sided with Daniel of course whereas the Cobra Kai creators make it a point to tell both sides so Ali is more impartial when she sees them both while leaving the high school drama out.