This week, instead of focusing on a movie, I wanted to point your attention to a new YouTube Red series.

Right off the bat, I want to say that Cobra Kai is one of the best viewing experiences I have had this year. It creates a new story, while lovingly paying tribute to the original movies. I grew up with the original Karate Kid, and it has always been one of my favorite franchises. However, I never thought that the story really needed to go any further than the first three films. After the passing of Pat Morita and the 2010 remake, I just assumed that the story was over. As word of the series spread, it definitely caught my interest. 

It was certainly an intriguing idea to have the original antagonist be the main focus; Could Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) carry an entire series? After watching the first episode, I can say without question that Zabka absolutely nails it. He has no problem drawing you in and gaining your sympathy. The character I hated as a kid has suddenly been humanized. Of course, Ralph Macchio also returns as Daniel Larusso, and both he and Zabka slip back into their roles effortlessly. There’s a complex relationship between the two rivals, where their roles switch back and forth. There are times where you want to see Johnny succeed and then suddenly you’re back on Daniel’s side. We are also introduced to a new generation, and this is where the real focus of the series is, in the relationship between Johnny and his students. All the kids do an amazing job and show real range, especially Xolo Mariduena as Miguel. Just like Johnny, we see him change throughout the season. The relationship between Johnny and Miguel is where we truly see Zabka shine. We also get the student-teacher relationship between Daniel Larusso and Robby Keene, played by Tanner Buchanan. Showrunners Josh Heald, John Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg understood that the real force behind the original movies was the relationships. The fighting was secondary, and that’s exactly how it is here.  There is even a great tribute to Pat Morita, that actually brought a tear to my eye. Honestly, I found myself getting choked up quite a bit while watching the first season. It’s not easy bringing a franchise back and making it just as engaging as the original. I can’t recommend this show enough.

All episodes of Cobra Kai season one are streaming on YouTube Red, so get your free trial and start watching!