Warning! Spoilers for Cobra Kai season 6, part 2, ahead!
Cobra Kaiseason 6 has introduced the new Johnny Lawrence, and the parallels are absolutely heartbreaking. TheKarate Kidspinoff series has been all about exploring the next generation of fighters, with former teenagers Johnny and Daniel taking on the roles of sensei. Part of what has madeCobra Kaiso interesting is the way it has utilizedThe Karate Kid’s formula. Johnny ironically filled Mr. Miyagi’s shoes while Miguel was presented as the new Daniel LaRusso. Now, the final season ofCobra Kaihas finally introduced the new Johnny.
Back inThe Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi was the wise sensei who befriended a teenager, Daniel LaRusso and used unconventional methods to teach him karate so he could defend himself against bully Johnny Larence.InCobra Kai,Johnny became the sensei who used unconventional methods to teach teenager Miguel karateso he could defend himself against a bully. However, said bully character, Kyler, was never a great parallel for Johnny’scharacter archtype inThe Karate Kid. He simply wasn’t complex enough. On the other hand,Cobra Kaiseason 6’s Axel perfectly fills Johnny’s old shoes.
Cobra Kai’s Axel Is Iron Dragon’s Golden Student (At A Cost)
Johnny Knows The Pressures Of Being The Best
Cobra Kaiseason 6, part 2 reveals that Axel Kovačević is the golden student of theIron Dragon dojo. He is immensely powerful and has gone wholly undefeated in each event of the Sekai Taikai. However, it’s revealed that Axel’s status has come at a high cost. Sam sees thatthe boy is being abused by his teacher, Sensei Wolf, and that failure or loss isn’t an option. Axel must do well or suffer the consequences, and while this has turned him into a great fighter, it’s a heartbreaking and unhealthy dynamic.
Of course, this was precisely the case for Johnny Lawrence inThe Karate Kid. He was John Kreese’s pride and joy, but this meant that Johnny was forced to endure abuse. This became especially clear at the beginning ofThe Karate Kid Part IIwhenKreese nearly killed Johnny for losing to Daniel LaRusso at the 1984 All-Valley Tournament. The impact of this abuse carried over into Johnny’s adulthood, and this presents tragic foreshadowing regarding Axel’s future. Still, this heartbreaking detail isn’t the only parallelCobra Kaihas created between Johnny and Axel.
Axel’s Beef With Miguel Reflects Johnny’s Karate Kid Story
Axel’s Story Fully Borrow’s Johnny’s Old Formula
Not only does Axel’s treatment under his abusive sensei reflect Johnny’sKarate Kidstory, but he has officially started some beef withCobra Kai’s Daniel equivalent. While Miguel was heading back to the US inCobra Kaiseason 6, part 2, Sam and Axel began a short friendship, during which the Iron Dragon boy started to develop feelings for his Miyagi-Do competitor. However, when he went in for a kiss, Sam put a stop to it and explained that she had a boyfriend. From that moment forward, Axel began to target Miguel unfairly, and a rivalry quickly evolved.
Cobra Kai has carried this same formula to season 6, adding even more connective tissue between Johnny and Axel, Daniel and Miguel, and now, Ali and Sam.
This story makes perfect sense for Axel sinceMiguel was established asCobra Kai’s Daniel equivalent long ago. Thebeef between Johnny and Danieldeveloped because the latter boy began dating Ali Mills, with whom Johnny was in love.Cobra Kaihas carried this same formula to season 6, adding even more connective tissue between Johnny and Axel, Daniel and Miguel, and now, Ali and Sam. It’s a similar story for a new generation—but theKarate Kidfranchise didn’t really start with Johnny and Daniel. Mr. Miyagi’s story comes first chronologically, andCobra Kaihas taken this into account as well.
Axel’s Opponent Dying In Cobra Kai Connects Him To Another Karate Kid Character
Cobra Kai Has Added Another Layer To Johnny & Axel’s Similarities
There’s one primary difference between Johnny and Axel’s stories inCobra Kaiseason 6. At the end of part 2,Axel’s opponent in the Sekai Taikai brawl was tragically killed when he fell on his own knife. Such a thing never happened to Johnny, but there’s anotherKarate Kidcharacter who went through something similar.Cobrapreviously revealed that Mr. Miyagi had participated in the Sekai Taikai once upon a time, and his opponent was somehow killed during their match.It’s a terrible thing for Axel to share with Mr. Miyagi, but even this ties him in with Johnny Lawrence.
Johnny fills Mr. Miyagi’s character archetype inCobra Kai, and this fact is emphasized by the reveal that Daniel’s sensei has a darker past than anyone has expected. It’s an indication thatMr. Miyagi once had to work hard for redemption, just as Johnny has throughoutCobra Kai. Now, Axel is taking on this archetype as well, and this is driven home by the fact that both he and Mr. Miyagi witnessed the death of their Sekai Taikai opponent. While Johnny won’t specifically relate in this case, his own commonalities with both Miyagi and Axel inCobra Kaican hopefully impact how these characters interact going forward.
Cobra Kaiseason 6, part 3, releases on Netflix on August 04, 2025.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
