Warning: Spoilers for the Cobra Kai series finale ahead!Ralph Macchio shares his thoughts on where Daniel and Johnny ended up in the Cobra Kai series finale. The Karate Kid spin-off show takes place 34 years after the events of the original movie, beginning with Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) seeking redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai dojo and revisiting his rivalry with a now-successful Daniel LaRusso (Macchio). Cobra Kai ended with season 6 on February 13, capping off the show with Johnny and Daniel leading separate dojos, but still working together as friends and allies.
During a recent interview with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley, Macchio explained his satisfaction at seeing Daniel and Johnny finally becoming friends after years of their bitter rivalry. He went on to explain the connection between the two characters, noting how their lives have paralleled in many ways. Check out his comments below:
It was great. I mean, the one thing that has been proven over the course of Cobra Kai is we love to see Daniel and Johnny like this [butting heads], but we also like to see ’em like this [holding hands] because the fans were even ahead of it because they see how different, but the same they are. They see that maybe if Johnny Lawrence ran into Mr. Miyagi and Daniel LaRusso was dropped on the doorstep of John Kreese, their lives may be totally different. That’s playing that through line, throughout the series, has been really all the richer. And for Billy and I, becoming such good friends during this journey and on this journey, life friends for that matter now 20 years ago, I would’ve said, ‘What? Are you crazy?’ And here we are. I think it shows such evolution for Daniel to have Johnny’s back and put his friend before everything else, that they appreciate that and they both grow in a real paramount way going forward. And I think the fans are going to love that.
What This Means For Cobra Kai And Its Legacy
Danny And Johnny Finally Make Amends, Four Decades Later
Cobra Kai‘s season 6 finale saw an intense conclusion to the Sekai Taikai tournament. After a dramatic tie between the two dojos, Johnny and Sensei Wolf (Lewis Tan) were called to settle the score in a final battle. Johnny’s eventual victory becomes the key point in what is ultimately a happy ending for him and Daniel both. It leads to the revival of his dojo, while Daniel continues his Miyagi-do teachings with his own school. In the end, they eventually form a cooperative relationship between their dojos, something that would’ve seemed impossible at the start of Cobra Kai.
Macchio’s remarks about Daniel and Johnny’s friendship reflect the overarching themes of Cobra Kai, which are redemption and change. Daniel and Johnny finally putting their differences aside has been foreshadowed for several seasons as they continued to evolve, so it is only natural that they ended up in a positive place. It ends the show on a beautiful, satisfying note. The conclusion of their story arc signifies the growth of a key relationship in the Karate Kid universe, and now paves the way for Daniel’s appearance in Karate Kid: Legends, which will premiere in May.
Our Take On Cobra Kai’s Conclusion
A Satisfying Ending That Leaves Room For More
After six seasons of rivalry and personal growth, Johnny and Daniel’s mutual respect and collaboration felt like a well-earned conclusion to their complicated relationship. The decisions made in the finale, especially the defining moments like Johnny overcoming his old habits during the fight with Wolf, demonstrate the characters’ growth in a satisfactory way. Because of this, Cobra Kai leaves on a hopeful note, and it will be exciting to see how its conclusion affects Karate Kid: Legends and any future iterations.
Cobra Kai
5/10
- Release Date
-
2018 – 2024
- Network
-
Netflix, YouTube Premium
- Showrunner
-
Jon Hurwitz
- Directors
-
Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz, Joel Novoa, Jennifer Celotta, Steven K. Tsuchida, Sherwin Shilati, Marielle Woods, Steve Pink, Lin Oeding, Michael Grossman
- Writers
-
Josh Heald, Ashley Darnall, Chris Rafferty, Bill Posley