Logophilelass

I grew up watching the Karate Kid movies. They had such a big impact on me as a kid I went on to study martial arts for several years. So, when I first saw the advertisements for Cobra Kai I had my reservations. Soulless reboots and nostalgia bait of once-great franchises have become the Hollywood default these days and I feared Cobra Kai would just be more of the same content we're being inundated by in an age where it seems original ideas are dying out. However, when Youtube dropped the first two episodes of season one for free I gave it a chance and I am SO glad that I did. The love and respect the writers, directors, and actors all have for the original Karate Kid movies shine through clearly in each episode. It's clear that they have a firm knowledge of the original movies and instead of a soulless bit of nostalgia bait Cobra Kai manages to pay homage to all that was good in Karate Kid (including the late Pat Morita who played Mr. Miyagi) while also evolving so that this series has something unique of its own to offer a new generation of viewers. The characters are complex and portrayed with consideration and care and the plots are so entertaining and immersive that you almost have to bing watch them because stopping is so difficult. This show has heart and is one of my absolute favorite things to watch on any streaming platform or tv provider hands down. So, do yourself a favor and give it a shot because you don't know what you're missing.