Eunjangdo
The end of episode 9 saw Miyagi-do beat Cobra Kai, with Robby defeating Kwon to win the final point. Johnny says his goodbyes to Kreese, as they’re booted out the tourny, but there’s still the situation involving Silver to contend with. He’s done his homework though, and Silver hands over a letter with details surrounding Miyagi’s past to Daniel. It’s the Sekai Taikai record for when Miyagi competed. It turns out he actually killed his opponent.
As episode 10 of Cobra Kai season 6 begins, Miyagi’s final fight plays out as a vision, with Daniel in the position of Miyagi’s opponent, and he eventually kills him. Daniel wakes up in bed, shocked.
The results are authentic it seems, but Daniel is rocked by the man he believed to be holier than thou and it dents his resolve. Chozen and Johnny can sense it too, but the drama here revolves around the tournament itself, as we still have extra drama here.
Some of the interpersonal issues here are still unresolved, including the kiss with Robby and Zara, and the attempted kiss between Axel and Sam on the beach. Kwon shows up and he confronts Robbie while he’s trying to talk to Tory and points out he got lucky. This rivalry is far from over.
Cobra Kai has in-fighting directed at Tory, which Kim struggles to get under control. As for Kreese, he’s got unfinished business with Silver. He tracks him down and tries to find an opportune time to stab him with a knife he had in his bag.
However, all competitors are called into the main lobby for a big announcement. The Sekai Taikai has discovered a team have been cheating. It’s the Russians, and they’ve been found guilty for performance-enhancing drugs. As a result, Cobra Kai are back in again.
The draws for the semis are made, with Sam and Tory squaring off, while Axel and Robby square off. This means it could actually end up being a rematch for Kwon VS Robby in the final. However, Tory is off-kilter and not focusing properly, and she’s not prepared to throw everything away just for the sake of winning. Kim does her best to talk her around though.
While Cobra Kai train, Miyagi-do are a mess. At least until Miguel gives a pep-talk and gets the group into focus again.
The Semi-finals get underway and Kwon comes out victorious and by a landslide too. Zara also wins, leading into Robbie VS Axel. Axel’s strength is on-point, and he even manages to cause Robby to spit blood. His defence is just as impressive, and he takes a 5-0 lead. However, all of this eventually leads into the Russian Sensei returning and surprising everyone by beating the host down and causing an all-out war in the dojo.
In the chaos comes opportunity, and Kreese finds Silver on the other side of the dojo and follows after him. Wolf ends up fighting with Johnny and Daniel on the mat, at least until Johnny notices Kreese and decides to follow. Unfortunately, he’s dropped his knife and someone else has picked it up. On the mat, we get resolutions to Robbie and Tory’s relationship, Sam and Tory’s feud, along with Axel saving Sam when it matters most.
Through it all, Silver and Kreese fight it out, with Silver getting the upper hand. That is, until Johnny jumps in and saves him. They fight it out but Johnny comes out on top.
Unfortunately, it’s Kwon who manages to find the knife ahead of everyone else. He picks it up and Daniel notices. The thing is, Kwon ends up falling on that very same knife, and as blood seeps out, the fighting stops. Everyone realizes the horrifying truth. There’s been another death in the Sekai Taikai, and this time it’s Kwon.
The Episode Review
Explosive, pulsating and shocking; Cobra Kai is absolutely not pulling any punches in this final season. This episode works really well as another stop-gap before the final 5 to come next year. This bite-size release schedule is super annoying though and honestly, for a show like this I wish Netflix would just release this with one episode every week instead.
Alas, we get five to binge through and all the drama comes to the fold and is resolved pretty well on the mat. All the individual skirmishes and fights are given some closure, while we also see a death in the Cobra Kai ranks, shaking everyone to their foundations. It wouldn’t surprise me if Kim ends up turning on Kreese, and you can see that yes, while winning is important, she and Chozen together is something that may actually sway her, especially after Tory’s words about sacrifice and giving everything up for those we love.
As for this episode, Kwon’s death is going to send shockwaves throughout the rest of the dojos and I can only imagine how Axel must feel, being the one to hit that final kick that subsequently sent Kwon falling on the knife.
This show has been solid and with 5 more episodes to go, we’ll have to wait and see how this one is going to end.
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Episode Rating
(4)
When Cobra Kai first premiered, it masterfully accomplished what few legacy sequels could: it honored its source material while forging its own identity. The show’s early seasons were a masterclass in character development, realistic storytelling, and nuanced exploration of generational trauma. However, the recent season 6 part 2 finale represents a concerning departure from these foundational strengths.
The Erosion of Character Consistency
The show’s greatest asset has always been its deeply realized characters who grow and evolve while maintaining their core identities. The finale, unfortunately, reduces these carefully crafted personalities to predictable cycles of fear and determination. This emotional ping-pong feels less like organic character development and more like a formulaic attempt to manufacture drama. Each character takes their turn in this emotional carousel, making what should be unique personal journeys feel oddly synchronized and artificial.
Production Choices That Break Immersion
While ambitious in scope, the climactic fight scene stretches credibility beyond the breaking point. In an era where live broadcasts are carefully monitored and regulated, the extended chaos would have prompted an immediate feed cut by any responsible producer. The scene’s length and escalation cross the line from dramatic license into pure fantasy.
Even more jarring are the moments where characters somehow maintain perfect situational awareness amid the mayhem. The ability of protagonists to spot specific actions across a crowded, chaotic venue defies both logic and basic human perception. These moments pull viewers out of the experience, reminding them they’re watching a constructed drama rather than experiencing an organic story.
A Strong Foundation Undermined
The episode’s core plot shows promise – the beats are there for a compelling part 2 finale. However, the execution fails to deliver on this potential. The very elements that made Cobra Kai a phenomenon – its grounded approach to martial arts, psychological realism, and character consistency – are sacrificed in favor of spectacle.
What made early Cobra Kai exceptional was its ability to balance larger-than-life martial arts action with genuine human drama and realistic characters. The show understood that its greatest fights weren’t just about physical prowess, but about personal growth and emotional stakes. This finale loses sight of that delicate balance, prioritizing grandiose setpieces over the storytelling, attention to detail, and realism that built its fanbase.
Pathetic!
That’s what I call season 6 episode 10. Pathetic. A 10-minute brawl between all the opponents and their Senseis….Continuing with this stereotype that people who like karate a violent psychos. This season in particular leaves no hope for parents to see in karate a healthy and balanced sport/discipline for their children.
Such a shame!