Cobra Kai has released its final season the same year in which the saga celebrates its fortieth anniversary. Four decades have passed since the release in cinemas around the world of Karate Kid, a film that became an instant classic for an entire generation. Who in their childhood did not play trying to give the Crane Kick ever? That attack with which Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Maccio) beat Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) in the martial arts tournament. Along with this film, a whole series of titles were released that same year that rose to the category of mythical and in many cases they manage to keep returning to the screens with new installments. 1984 was the year of Karate Kid, but also the year of Terminator, Beverly Hills Cop, The Goonies, Gremlins and Ghostbusters. All of them were a must-see every time they were re-released in summer cinemas or one of the safest options when visiting the video store.
Netflix is fully aware that a strategic part of your market niche has among the 40 and 55 years of agewho tend to pay the subscription for the whole family, so a good part of their catalogue is aimed at exploiting the nostalgia factor of their younger years. Not only do we have a wide variety of titles set in the 80s, we also have soundtracks with some of the greatest hits of that decade. Stranger Things is a tribute to the cinema of the time. And there are also the sequels of some of those emblematic titles, where the aim is not only to reconnect with lifelong fans, but also to attract new generations.
One of the latest examples of these sagas resurrected from those years by Netflix is Beverly Hills Cop, which has just released its fourth installment. A film destined to exploit the nostalgic factor and a tribute to the saga that made Hollywood a household name. Eddie Murphy as one of the big stars of the 80s. That’s basically what the film offers, a two-hour story with shots, jokes, chases and very bad guys that abounded in the action films of the eighties and especially those from the producer’s factory. Jerry BruckheimerWe don’t know how it will go. Axel Foley on his new journey in the big red Nbut the platform seems to have stuck with another of the key franchises of the decade.
But where Netflix has definitely hit the jackpot has been with Cobra Kai. As we have said on other occasions, the best sequel to Karate Kid. The series started in Youtubein an attempt by the platform to launch into audiovisual production to boost its subscription plan, reaching the premiere of two seasons. The real boom came when the series passed into the hands of Netflix, immediately becoming one of its most iconic titles. To such an extent that its farewell will be divided into several installments. Not two, as we were already accustomed to in other series, but three. These final episodes that premiered last week, another batch of five chapters plus the November 28; and the third installment is announced for 2025For this final season, the path seems to be clear to see Daniel and Johnny’s final showdown against John Creese (Martin Kove), that dark sensei who is a dark version of Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), Daniel-san’s mentor.
This sixth season has been marked by the revelation of Hidden facts from Miyagi’s pasta decision not without controversy because, for many, he was the perfect sensei and the pedestal to which they had elevated him as a symbol of wisdom and peace is shattered. Daniel finds a box that holds secrets about his teacher’s past. Secrets that some show you most violent years of youth and in which he did compete in martial arts tournamentseven though in the movies the sensei was adamant in refusing to let Daniel do it. The protagonist’s crisis is served, although I do not doubt that the waters will return to their course when he understands that precisely that dark side of his sensei is what helped him become the man he finally became. For now, now that Johnny and Daniel were friends again, they return to this of going to the fight. But the series has already reminded us of that These types of rivalries are what make them improve. Without conflict, there is no motivation to improve.
The technique of wax on-wax offtells us about someone who incorporated the movements of everyday tasks into the practice of karate. Daniel met Miyagi when he was an old man. The wisdom that his teacher transmitted to him has been fruit of years of experiencein which he also has made his mistakes and learned from them. This revelation of dark facts from his past, They do not pervert Miyagi’s legacy, but rather humanize it. These first five episodes of the final season have been a preparation for what is to come and to place the characters in their respective positions on the mat. The final fight (which will be in Barcelonaby the way) can begin.
