This past week, another five episodes of COBRA KAI dropped on Netflix. While the soap opera antics are high, the season continues to be comfort food for viewers who want to experience nostalgia and ignore all narrative logic.
The big Sekai Taikai tournament in Barcelona is hit-and-miss in P2 as we watch Miyagi-Do compete for the ultimate prize. What works is the usual fun, fighting, and chemistry of the lead characters. What doesn’t work is the soap opera elements are unusually grandiose. Tory and Robby’s plots are frustratingly lame, and LaRusso’s quest to understand Mr. Miyagi falls flatter than the CGI version of Pat Morita. But what does shine are Miguel and Johnny, who continue to be the heartbeat of this series.
I’m not going to spoil what happens at the end of P2. However, I will say that it sets up a series that I’m not as excited to see finish. The events at Sekai Taikai will cause a massive change for the last five episodes, and I predict it will turn this once-action-packed series into even more of a soap opera.
Sixty-five episodes are a lot for an add-on series to an original universe. The only one to have done it to equal success is BETTER CALL SAUL (at 63). COBRA KAI is not top-tier TV like SAUL. It’s the perfect show to binge on a Friday night with whiskey and popcorn. And sometimes, that’s exactly what a show should be.
P2 is available on Netflix.
