More details emerge about YouTube Red’s upcoming Karate Kid series Cobra Kai

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

So 80s nostalgia still won't go away, like a festering boil that plagues pop-culture, never seeming to burst, but always looking ugly. Anyway, a new YouTube Red series about the ongoing adventures of Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso from KARATE KID is coming out, titled COBRA KAI. Because of course there fucking is. Here's the official synopsis:

Thirty years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, a down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (Zabka) seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now successful Daniel LaRusso (Macchio), who has been struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of his mentor, Mr. Miyagi. The show is about two men addressing past demons and present frustrations the only way they know how: through karate.

While the show has been announced for a while, here are some exclusive plot details, found out exclusively by Moviehole:

1. Life has turned out peachy keen for Daniel (Macchio). He has a big time office job, top home, perfect family.

2. Like any good half-hour series, most of Dad’s dilemmas revolve around his kids. In this case, it’s eldest girl Samantha – who has started to date – that’s causing Daniel to sweat the most.

3. Mr. Myiagi? Mentioned from time to time. Daniel uses his stories to spur dinner-table conversation and show off those skills he learnt back in Peter Cetera’s heyday.

4.Daniel’s friends (and, from what I can gather, ’employees’) at work, Anoush and Vic, seem to think they’re the voice of reason – particularly when it comes to parenting.

5. Johnny Lawrence, Daniel’s old foe, is down on his luck. Cleans septic tanks. Mistaken for a homeless man at one point he’s that desolate. Look at what you did Kreese!

6. Johnny’s not as out-and-out ‘mean’ now. He’s more ‘just leave me the f*ck alone” than ‘i’m going to beat up whoever is under that shower curtain’ these days. Suggesting he does have a heart under that belt, we’ll see that he does help those in need when they need a helping… kick.

7. The Valley has a new ring of bullies, notably ‘wrestler’ Kyler and his thug brothers. Naturally Johnny and his old Cobra Kai pals are ‘jokes’ to these young punks.

8. Kyler’s dating, of course, Samantha Larusso.

9. Johnny teaches local bullied convenience store clerk Miguel self defense at the newly recommissioned Cobra Kai. Over the course of the episodes, one expects it to expand in clientele and start to resemble the institution of it’s glory days.

10. Karate hasn’t got the best name in ‘the valley’ these days. Johnny in particular thinks it’s become somewhat of a joke – and become more about showponies and media personalities flexing their bits and bobs on TV – than a legitimately cool way to impress Elisabeth Shue. Part of the reason he wants to resurrect Cobra Kai, obviously

I mean, whatever. I was born at the tailend of the '80s, so I was raised at a time when cheesy shit like this were already punchlines. And, look, it's cool that the original cast members are back at least. Who knows…t could be good? Anything is possible? Remember when they made a tear-jerking movie about LEGOS?

Meanwhile, COBRA KAI will start crane-kicking on YouTube Red sometime next year.