Season Analysis

Cobra Kai

Season 1 Analysis

Season Woke Score

out of 10

Season Overview

Decades after the tournament that changed their lives, the rivalry between Johnny and Daniel reignites.

Season Review

Season 1 of "Cobra Kai" is a direct sequel that reignites the classic rivalry by focusing on the failures and attempts at redemption of its two main characters, Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence. The story centers on the power of mentorship and the contrasting philosophies of Cobra Kai's aggressive 'No Mercy' creed and Miyagi-Do's emphasis on balance and defense. The narrative explores how philosophy, regardless of the individual's background, can either uplift outcasts and nerds or corrupt them into bullies. The show's primary conflict is moral and personal, dealing with themes of legacy, second chances, and cycles of toxic behavior. It deliberately avoids identity politics as a central plot driver, instead focusing on individual character choices and merit. The series features a diverse cast of young students whose arcs are fundamentally about overcoming personal hurdles, not overcoming systemic oppression.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics3/10

The main student of Cobra Kai, Miguel Diaz, is a non-white lead, and his story focuses on merit and personal empowerment after being bullied. The cast is diverse, featuring characters like Aisha, who is Black and body-shamed, yet her arc is one of self-improvement through martial arts, not political lecturing. The narrative judges characters based on the philosophy they embrace (Cobra Kai's toxicity versus Miyagi-Do's balance), which applies across all races and classes. The show sometimes satirizes contemporary language and sensibilities through Johnny Lawrence’s oblivious, anachronistic behavior, rather than adopting the intersectional lens.

Oikophobia4/10

The season critiques a specific, toxic aspect of American culture and masculinity embodied by Johnny Lawrence’s adherence to the harsh Cobra Kai ideology from the 1980s. Johnny's failure is framed as a result of clinging to this flawed past. Daniel LaRusso champions the Miyagi-Do tradition, which is a foreign (Japanese) martial art, as the superior, balancing force. This contrasts a toxic American heritage with a positive non-Western one, but the main thrust is on individual failure and personal redemption, not a wholesale condemnation of Western civilization.

Feminism3/10

Female characters like Samantha LaRusso and Aisha are portrayed as skilled martial artists whose involvement in karate empowers them. Aisha's transformation from a bullied outcast to a confident fighter challenges body-shaming without resorting to the 'Mary Sue' trope. Johnny Lawrence's outdated and sexist comments are a running gag and a clear sign of his personal flaws, which the narrative does not reward. Daniel's family unit with his wife and daughter is presented as a positive, stable force, avoiding anti-natal or anti-family messaging.

LGBTQ+1/10

The core relationships in the first season are traditional male-female pairings among the teenagers. The story focuses on love triangles and high school drama entirely within a normative structure. One brief scene includes a teacher delivering a politically correct lecture which is played for comedy, indicating a mild pushback against gender ideology. Sexuality is a private matter of the characters and is not centered for political or ideological commentary.

Anti-Theism1/10

The series is secular, establishing its central moral conflict through two opposing martial arts philosophies: the aggressive 'Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy' of Cobra Kai and the defensive 'Karate for Defense Only' of Miyagi-Do. The morality is presented as a choice between these transcendent life-philosophies rather than religious doctrine. The story contains no depiction of or hostility toward traditional faith.