Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 1's Macchio, Zabka & Okumoto On Villain-To-Hero Journeys And Mr. Miyagi Mystery

Summary Cobra Kai season 6 sees Daniel and Johnny ready to put their rivalry to bed for good, only for the return of Kreese and a box of secrets from Mr. Miyagi's past putting a wrench in their efforts.

William Zabka and Yuji Okumoto are thrilled by getting to finally bring their villains-to-heroes journeys full circle and how "it feels good to have some people on your side."

Ralph Macchio is also thrilled about the Miyagi secret reveal after "banging the drum loudly" for a new challenge for Daniel to face beyond Johnny's rivalry.

Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka's Johnny Lawrence are finally on track to fully put the past behind them in Cobra Kai season 6. The majority of the Karate Kid sequel show has seen the duo at odds with one another after Johnny reopens the titular karate dojo, with this heated rivalry spilling over into the lives of their respective high school-age students, including their own children. With the rise of Terry Silver and John Kreese, and support from Daniel's wife Amanda and Johnny's girlfriend and mother of student Miguel, the former rivals finally begin working through their issues.

In Cobra Kai season 6, Daniel and Johnny are tasked with combining the forces of their Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang students to prepare to compete in the Sekai Taikai, the most prestigious international karate tournament. Though Daniel and Johnny face some hurdles in balancing their teachings of offensive and defensive skills, their personal issues become an even bigger challenge as Daniel learns of a box of secrets hidden by Mr. Miyagi and Kreese's return from prison leaves Johnny angrier than ever. Things are made even more complicated as Chozen also contemplates his life beyond the Sekai Taikai, including a reconciliation with Kumiko.

Related 10 Biggest Ways Cobra Kai Has Changed After 5 Seasons Cobra Kai is going to wrap itself up in season 6, which makes this the perfect time to reflect on the changes in the Karate Kid spin-off series.

Alongside Macchio and Zabka, the ensemble Cobra Kai season 6 part 1 cast sees the returns of Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Peyton List, Dallas Dupree Young, Vanessa Rubio, Martin Kove, Gianni DeCenzo, Yuji Okumoto and Alicia Hannah-Kim. Split into three epic parts that both build out the Karate Kid universe and bring a fitting close to Daniel and Johnny's stories, the show continues its winning streak with meaningful character development and stylish action.

Ahead of the show's premiere, Screen Rant interviewed stars Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, and Yuji Okumoto to discuss Cobra Kai season 6 part 1, reflecting on how the show has given the latter two full-circle journeys from villains to heroes, and how the major Mr. Miyagi secret will impact Daniel and his teaching of his Miyagi-Do students in time for the Sekai Taikai.

Saying Goodbye To Cobra Kai Is Both "Tough" & "Great" For Zabka And Okumoto

Image via Netflix

One of the biggest selling points for the entire show has been exploring Johnny's perspective on the past 30 years and offering him a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of audiences. With Cobra Kai season 6 bringing a close to the show and full-circle closure to Johnny and Okumoto's Chozen's journeys from villains into heroes, the duo reflect on the "amazing" experience they've had getting to bring a new perspective to their characters, with Zabka in particular humorously expressing "it feels good to have some people on your side":

William Zabka: First of all, that this ever happened feels amazing. Yeah, we carried the torch of being the villains for 30-some years, so the fact that we had the opportunity to play these characters again and give them some humanity and depth and color and see through their eyes, all that, has just been a thrill. But we're excited about season 6, and we feel like the resolve and where this all lands is going to be crowdpleasing, and certainly was pleasing, as an actor, to play. It's a great close to this chapter of this story, and yeah, it feels good to have some people on your side. [Laughs] Yuji Okumoto: For sure, saying goodbye is always tough, isn't it? When I was brought on to Cobra Kai season 3, it was really amazing, because the writers did such a wonderful job in kind of flipping the script and humanizing Chozen, and bringing humor, and not losing that sense of the bada--ness that he brought in the whole Karate Kid stuff. So, when I was brought in for season 3, it was like, "Wow, this is amazing." And to be able to work again with Ralph and with Tamlyn Tomita, who plays Kumiko, was such a joy. And I think it's hats off to the writers, because it's thanks to them for understanding how you've got to evolve and change, and I think it was a blessing for me.

Macchio Has Been "Banging The Drum" For A New Challenge Beyond Johnny

While the majority of Cobra Kai has seen Daniel pitted against Johnny and his former rival's efforts to move beyond the past, season 6 finds the original Karate Kid hero questioning everything he knew about Mr. Miyagi after discovering a box of secrets from his former sensei's past. Macchio recalls that he has been "banging the drum loudly" to the writers' room to present a new emotional challenge for Daniel beyond his rivalry with Johnny, and is thrilled to see the new arc they've created for him:

Ralph Macchio: I loved it. I always, at the start of each season banging the drum loudly toward the writers room, saying, "What could we find to give LaRusso that is not so put together, besides Johnny Lawrence frustrating him, and them going at each other's throats? How do we not overstay our welcome in those areas? And how can we mine some new information that sets him off his axis, or out of balance?" So, the concept of finding information finding these clues to a past that don't line up with the perfect mentor that Daniel has always carried Miyagi along in his life, and since he's passed, it now adds double meaning of conflict for Daniel. Both personally, "Why didn't he tell me?" and "What is this about?" and "Is this real?" And the deeper he digs, the more down a downward spiral he goes, and then on top of that, he has put Miyagi-Do and all the teachings [forward]. It's so paramount for him, bringing it to the world in the Sekai Taikai, and all this, and now he's got to carry that burden of upholding that legacy. I think it's a great narrative story, and we figured out a way that it entertains, creates conflict, and sort of takes Daniel down this path that he has to come back from, and he learns from it. He's better at the end of it for the journey. I can't go into details, but it's an exciting and thought-provoking narrative for what is almost 13 episodes of the entire season 6.

About Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 1

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With Cobra Kai eliminated from the Valley, our senseis and students must decide if and how they will compete in the Sekai Taikai — the world championships of karate.

Cobra Kai is written and executive produced by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg via their production company, Counterbalance Entertainment. Will Smith, James Lassiter and Caleeb Pinkett executive produce for Westbrook Entertainment along with Susan Ekins in association with Sony Pictures Television. Ralph Macchio and William Zabka also serve as executive producers.

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Check out our other Cobra Kai season 6 part 1 interviews with:

Creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg

Peyton List, Mary Mouser, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo

Cobra Kai season 6 part 1 begins streaming on Netflix on July 18, followed by part 2 on November 28, with a finale event in 2025.

Source: Screen Rant Plus