If Mr. Miyagi taught us anything in 1984’s The Karate Kid it’s that patience pays off. Fortunately, we didn’t have to paint fences or wash windows to learn that; we just needed to wait to find out the new home for the franchise’s sequel series Cobra Kai. The dojo has left YouTube, but it isn’t closing its door. The show is moving to Netflix for an all-new third season, and it’s taking the first two with it.
Netflix has announced the critically-acclaimed Cobra Kai will continue on the streaming site. The first two seasons of the show premiered on YouTube Premium, but part of Netflix’s deal with Sony Pictures Television includes the entire show making the move over. The first two seasons will begin streaming on August 28.
#CobraKai Seasons 1 & 2 are coming to Netflix on August 28!
— Netflix Queue (@netflixqueue) July 21, 2020
Set 30 years after the original, now-successful Daniel LaRusso must face his old foe — down-and-out Johnny Lawrence — who seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo pic.twitter.com/qqGkoXTnh1
Cobra Kai reintroduced us to the finalists of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament 30 years later. Three decades later, a “successful Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) struggles to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of Mr. Miyagi, and must face his previous adversary, down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), who seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo.” That leads to them training their own young martial artists and continuing their decades-long feud.
The show, written and executive produced by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, was a hit with critics. However, it failed to break out from behind the paywall of YouTube Premium. It still developed a loyal fanbase, but the move to Netflix gives the series a chance to reach the larger audience it deserves.
It’s not clear when the series will make its Netflix debut, But all that matters is that it was not time to get a body bag for Cobra Kai yet. Now we just have to be patient. Good thing we learned that lesson in 1984.
Featured Image: Sony Pictures Television
Originally published on June 22, 2020.
