Cobra Kai Season 4 (2021) Review

Over the last few years, Cobra Kai has been one of my favourite shows and season 4 has just come to Netflix on New Years Eve and I have now watched it all and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso being forced to team up to attempt to take down the rising power of Cobra Kai. 

Main Character 

William Zabka and Ralph Macchio have been great returning as these two characters over the last few seasons and that continues here. It is fun watching them to co-exist with their very different teaching styles and I like how both of these characters do stick to their core beliefs and don't give into each other easily. They are both great again and it always amazes me that this show has managed to turn these two into interesting characters. 

Supporting Characters

Tanner Buchanan as Robbie and Peyton List as Tory have been some of the less interesting characters for me but I thought they both really shined this season. They both go through interesting character arcs and you see how especially Tory isn't just a pure villain and has a real depth to her. Martin Kove is back as John Kreese and he is just really fun to watch, that maniacal calculating manipulator comes through really well and even he is given more time and care to make you more interested in John Kreese. Thomas Ian Griffiths reprise his role of Terry Silver from Karate Kid 3 and he owns the screen, he is the perfect addition to this show and I really think he was a shot in the arm and different dynamic that aided the show overall. The whole cast is great and it is so large to go through everybody but everybody has a role they fill well. 

Story 

The story is interesting, seeing Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang attempt to co-exist is a fun watch and shows the real issue in rivalry. When the show leads to The All Valley Tournament it is at its very best and keeps you guessing as you have no idea what is going to happen. But this show does have some issues with its storytelling, there is a story involving the LaRusso Son and I really didn't like it and felt it took way too much story time away from other characters who are way more interesting. Also after 4 seasons it does feel a little bit tiresome watching Johnny and Daniel arguing so much as it feels like maybe it is a bit too much. But by the end of the season I was very satisfied with way the season finished. 

Script 

The script is really good, it is cheesy but I guess I think this show has cheesiness that manages to work because of the overall absurdity of the show's premise. The drama really does hit this season and I felt like especially in the last two episodes that there was so much heart involving these characters. 

Style 

The action scenes have never been better then they are in this season. The Karate is filmed so well and the athletic prowess is really well realised here with some really memorable moments. There is a good balance between humour and drama as well and it does feel in sync. But there are some pacing issues here and I think that is probably due to the amount of characters that there is on the show and that the spotlight is put on so many of them and that does make it a bit all over the place at times. 

Overall

Overall, Cobra Kai Season 4 is a great season of the show. For me it is the weakest season of the show but that doesn't stop it from being really entertaining and a great watch. 

Rating - 8/10