Oh yeah? I thought. This has to be a dodgy throwback to that amazing Karate Kid movie of the 80's. Wrong. This is a new kind of classic, well written plus having the added bonus of a mature Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) and his arch opponent Johnny Lawrence (William Zabca). It's a "feel good" show, but it's a show with many layers, that lead you the unspecting viewer into layers of revelations and growth within the characters. Lessons include letting go of the past, growing, reconciliation, mercy, understanding the responsibility when one gets power or not letting power corrupt you, etc. No one is perfect but everyone can find their way out of their problems. The plot? Thirty years after their final confrontation at the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, Johnny Lawrence is at rock-bottom as an unemployed handyman, who feels hgis life is going nowhere. However, when Johnny rescues a bullied kid, Miguel, he feels inspired to restart the notorious Cobra Kai dojo. It's not all plain sailing, with Cobra Kai Johnny restarts a simering rivalry with Daniel LaRousso, a successful car dealer who may be happily married, but is missing tjhat spark of life since the death of his mentor, Mr. Miyagi. Miguel and his mates are gradually poisoned by Cobra Kai's brutish ideas. Meanwhile, while Daniel's daughter, Samantha, finds herself in the middle of this conflict, Johnny's estranged son, Robby, finds himself inadvertently coming under Daniel's wing and grows in ways worthy of Mr. Miyagi Its got a comic twist, it's different and worth a look, if you hark back to the nostalgic days of "Karate Kid" and "The Outsiders."
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