The fourth season ofNetflix’sCobrai Kaileft its characters with plenty of ups, downs, losses, gains, and a lot of bruises. Even whileseason 4 redeemed two of it’s biggest bullies, more often than not, these beloved characters were dealt something they didn’t want or ask for, but what about the times the characters were handed exactly what they needed?RELATED:‘Cobra Kai’ Season 4 Ending Explained: Who Takes Home the All Valley Trophy?Whether it was a well-deserved winning streak, an unexpected team-up, or a taste of their own medicine, these crucial moments of theCobra KaiSeason 4 finale were exactly what these characters needed in order for them to thrive in Season 5.
Miguel Needed To Not Compete
Season 4 became quite a rollercoaster for Miguel. He worried about the financial struggle of going to college, had an argument with his girlfriend, and found out his sensei was dating his mom — all while training for the All Valley. But when it came time for Miguel to have his final battle against Eli — one that would decide Eagle Fang’s fate in the tournament — Miguel was nowhere to be found.
He left with some thinking he was too injured to fight, while others assumed the pressure got him, but Miguel ditching the tournament to hop on a bus to go find his biological father was not just a twist most viewers didn’t see coming, but was a much-needed act of closure Miguel needed in order to continue growing next season.
Kenny Needed To Stand Up To Anthony
When Kenny first arrived on the scene, he was a happy-go-lucky nerd dancing to his own beat — until Anthony LaRusso decided to become his bully. After the first few days at his new school were full of pranks and chases, Kenny realized he was going to need some help learning to defend himself.
Although the lessons Cobra Kai teaches are less than morale, it does in fact teach Kenny some self-defense. And when Anthony attempts to be the bigger person and apologize to Kenny, Kenny sees it as the perfect opportunity to show Anthony exactly who’s boss with a little payback full of punches and the evilest grin since Pennywise.
Anthony Needed That Beatdown
Twerp-turned-school-bully Anthony LaRusso did a lot of growing up, andlearned a lot of Miyagi lessons in Season 4. He dug deep and asked himself What Would Mr. Miyagi Do? And attempted to apologize to his victim, Kenny.
But sometimes a simple apology isn’t enough to make up for pranks, name-calling and catphishing. Kenny’s unexpected beatdown in the All Valley locker room may just be exactly what Anthony needed to finally take his father seriously and put his time and energy into learning karate.
Demetri Needed That Nerdy Peptalk From Eli
Demetri and Eli have been through the ringer onCobra Kai,going from best friends to enemies and back to the nerdy friends they were truly meant to be. Fighting against his friend never took well to Demetri, and getting his arm broken by him was the icing on his destroyed-friendship cake.
RELATED:‘Cobra Kai’ Star Gianni DeCenzo Shares His Version of Demetri’s Home Life
But after Eli had a change of heart in Season 3 and teamed up with Demetri to take down the Cobra Kai students destroying the LaRusso home, it’s been all video games and space movies for the pair. So when it came time for Demetri to fight Robby in the tournament, it wasn’t Mr. LaRusso’s wise words that encouraged him, but the nerdyStar Warsreferences from Eli that gave him the confidence to give it all he had in his fight.
Daniel Needed Johnny
The Daniel and Johnny rivalry has spanned generations, all starting with a girl and a boombox. Their enemies-to-friends story has been ongoing since the start ofCobra Kai,and the audience cheered the second these two senseis paired up their dojos to take down their shared enemy Kreese.
Despite their differences that landed them in a battle-of-the-dojos this season, causing Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang to part ways, the Cobra Kai styling of Johnny’s teachings stayed with the Miyagi-Do students. And when Daniel realized the only way to win was for the students to combine their karate techniques, he mended those painted fences with Johnny in the knick of time, and for just one tournament, Miyagi-Fang was born.
Eli Needed To Win
Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz has to be the most layered character onCobra Kai.The show certainly hasn’t been kind to him; giving him a bully-fueling scar combined with a nerdy personality, on top of anger issues that caused him to join Cobra Kai, get a mohawk and ultimately break his best friend’s arm. It’s no wonder Moon dumped him.
But come Season 4, it’s hard not to feel bad for the troubled teen, especially after Cobra Kai shaves off his confidence when they shave off his purple mohawk. So when it comes time for the tournament and Eli winds up with two wins in a row — granted one was by default due to Miguel’s absence — the other was all Hawk, beating Robby at his own game by using both Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai against him and ending up the All Valley male champion, a win he’s deserved all season.
Sam Needed To Lose
Sam has turned into a more complicated character over the seasons, but Season 4 found her one of the least favorable. Sure, she had her wins, but her hatred for Tory seemed to take over her entire story this season. Inan interview withPeyton Listit’s revealed that Sam was too focused on Tory and Robby to enjoy her prom night with Miguel. It was Sam who tormented Tory at a child’s birthday party. And it was Sam who turned down Tory’s numerous olive branches. Like father, like daughter…
So, when it comes time for her and Tory’s final showdown at the All Valley, you can’t help but have a part of you that’s rooting for Tory. After all, when Tory comes out on top, she asks Sam if she’s okay, to which Sam pulls a Miguel and runs away. Let’s hope that rather than fueling her already-blazing fire, this loss will start putting things in perspective for Sam come Season 5.
Tory Needed That Win
While Tory is definitely still considered one of the show’s antagonists, Season 4 leaves us with the beginnings of a soft spot for Sam’s foe, especially when we see her reaching out for help from Mrs. LaRusso, going to therapy, and those butterflies she’s feeling for Robby.
RELATED:Peyton List Discusses Why Tory Did THAT to Sam at the End of the All Valley
Season 4 seemed to be the start of Tory’s redemption on the show, and especially after the way Sam’s been hyper-focused on making Tory’s life worse than it already is, Tory’s win as female champion came with a lot more cheers than boos. If only her win was a fair one.
Kreese Needed A Taste Of His Own Medicine
John Kreese has been a long-standing Miyagi-Do villain since the originalKarate Kid,so it came as no surprise when he showed up to wreak havoc on Johnny’s reimagined Cobra Kai dojo. The entire All Valley ultimatum was his idea, after a fight with Daniel that ended in bloodshed and broken glass.
RELATED:William Zabka Reveals the Johnny/Kreese Scene That Needed Workshopping
No, he doesn’t deserve to be framed for a crime he didn’t commit, but watching him be taken away in handcuffs after all the trouble he’s caused felt a little justifying. The only question is, who will be his one phone call?
Robby Needed His Dad
Robby and his father Johnny have arguably the most complicated relationship onCobra Kai.They’re both to blame for their restrained father-son relationship, but Season 4 showed us how much Johnny secretly longs to be a father, not only to Miguel, but to his son.
It’s been an incredibly rocky road getting to this point, but one of the most unexpected moments of the entire season was when Robby found Johnny at the dojo. In a tearful admission, Robby opens up to Johnny about how tired he’s become of being against him, then receives a much-needed hug from his father. After silently disagreeing with the ways of Sensei Kreese, Sensei Silver and Kenny, the only person left Robby can turn to is his dad, setting upa brand-new dynamic forCobra Kaiin Season 5.
