Paul Costinett

Outstanding show. The nostalgia of revisiting the characters aside, the fact of the writing and character development makes the show sing. Season 2 delved a bit too far into "teen romance" I think, but didn't takeaway that much from the show. Conspiracy theorists have a point. Daniel is the root of all the problems in this series' universe. His shortfalls and inadequacies show. His continual attempts at denying Johnny's attempts at redemption cascade into all he touches; the impetus of a causal chain driving all issues for which he always blames Cobra Kai for. In other words, the writers have presented a case in which all the things Daniel accuses Cobra Kai of, are indeed, a result of Daniel's own insecurities, narcissisms, and angst. He jumps to conclusions and makes assertions facts; taking steps to derail Johnny (who is broke beyond measure) at every opportunity. Johnny Lawrence is on a quest of redemption and simply seeks to teach kids that to "Strike First, Strike Hard, Show No Mercy" is a metaphor for dealing with the Sisyphean difficulties of life and not just a way to punish an opponent. It is interesting that his prime student is the one who points this out to him. Daniel routinely accuses Johnny of things Johnny either did not do or has no knowledge of, using the past to justify all his actions against Johnny and Cobra Kai yet claims the value of the past to justify reactivating Miyagi-Do. One has to wonder if karate was really all that important to Johnny from the time of Miyagi's death till now, given his focus has been on car dealerships and not restoration of an undermaintained dojo; there are no billboards for Miyagi-Do, only LaRussa auto sales. It is only because Cobra Kai is back that suddenly Daniel finds a need to start karate again. Johnny works to build Miguel up, making up for his lack of success with Robbie, his biological son. Yet Daniel cannot accept that Johnny can be redeemed; that Cobra Kai can be everything Miyagi-Do claims to be and more. It is because of Daniel that Kreese gets his hooks into the karate world again. Had Daniel not inserted himself into the All-Valley, it is unlikely Kreese would have taken any notice of the reemergence of the dojo he once founded. Cannot wait to see what season 3 and 4 have to offer. So long as the same writers stay on board and the pace, humor, and detail remains then this show is likely to be successful. Just don't belabor the story and try to make 10 seasons out of this.