Part 1 Review of Cobra Kai Season 6: A Slower Beginning to Create an Epic Finale
The last season of Cobra Kai starts rather slowly but steadily. With three episodes each, the sixth and last season of Cobra Kai has been split out to wrap up the narrative and offer the characters a fitting send-off. Although season 6 has plenty of space to breathe, this might also result in some too long sequences that would have benefited from being shorter. Part 1 suffers from slower pacing even if it features some intense scenes.
Review of Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 1: A Slowness Beginning an Epic Finale
Cobra Kai had to build suspense and get the characters ready for the Sekai Taikai competition following the explosive season 5 finale. When it comes to bridging the season gap, Part 1 mostly handles the heavy lifting; this leaves it in an uncomfortable role as filler. Though there are some developments, the spark in the first five Cobra Kai's last season episodes is rather dimmer.
Part 1 of Cobra Kai Season 6 sets the scene for an epic finale.
Still, it has plenty going for it even if part 1 lacks action and narrative developments. Although Johnny Lawrence and Daniel La Russo have worked through many of their differences and learnt to cooperate, communication suffers breakdowns and conflicts. Their pupils, who have their own rivalries and have to learn to get past their differences, mirror their relationship. And although season 6 requires this suspense to forward the narrative, Cobra Kai manages to deliver without making the characters seem to be regressing.
Season 6 Cobra Kai Part 1 Calls More Than Just Build-Up
Under pressure, Cobra Kai excels with its conflicted characters and villain who poses a very real threat to the safety of the involved dojos. The drama and pressure for the heroes to train and win grew when John Kreese or Terry Silver entered the scene. Part 1 concentrates on how characters deal with Silver finally being imprisoned and the Eagle Fang and Miyagi Dojo joining together, so failing to establish the enemies of the final season.
This finally results in a real lack of suspense and drama in part 1, so failing to let the story and characters blossom. Though it's unfortunate that this section doesn't resonate as well as past seasons, Season 6 part 1 clearly sets the wheels in motion for the remaining two sections. The actors did a good job, and the plot makes sense; but, it doesn't need five episodes to cover the few points it aims at.
Episode 5, when the build reveals the twist, marks the high point of Cobra Kai season 6 part 1. While highlighting how flat the rest of part 1 was, ending on a strong cliffhanger generates excitement for the rest of the season. Although Cobra Kai's last season might start off uneven, it does seem as though it will feature some very significant events throughout.
Now available on Netflix are all five Cobra Kai Season 6: Part 1 episodes.
Review of Cobra Kai Season 6: Part 1: A Slowness Beginning an Epic Finale
Set decades following the Karate Kid franchise's events, Cobra Kai turns its focus to Johnny Lawrence, a former rival/antagonist, so placing viewers in that viewpoint. Down on his luck in his 50s, Johnny finds himself back in Karate by chance meeting a bullied young man. Helping him, Johnny uses the chance to bring his former home, the Cobra Kai dojo, back to life as a haven for misfits teenagers.
