I started watching this show with my friend after I saw the karate kid, and I feel like that made my experience watching it different. It made it really difficult to like Johnny Lawrence since I had just seen him in the movie, but then when the seasons go on I think his character gets better. It's interesting to watch sometimes because a lot of the stuff that happens in this show would have zero chance of happening in real life. The rest of the characters are usually pretty likable (except for the Cobra Kai kids in the later seasons, they are so annoying oh my god. Especially Kreese.) I'm really liking it so far even though I haven't finished the last season yet, but it's shaping up to be an intense finale. :)