Cobra Kai is still the Karate Kid Even After All these Years

(CNN)Incredibly nimbly carving out its next-generation melodrama while including big doses of the second and third “The Karate Kid” movies, ” Cobra Kai “‘s season crosses the streams with its counterparts. There should be some sort of award for the finest revival draw from a small body of source material, even though it isn’t the best television series (OK, Netflix).

Even after all these years, “Cobra Kai” is still “Karate Kid” -ing around.

The San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles is now under the control of the oily Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith). Who, like Martin Kove’s Kreese, has found a brilliant encore in getting to reprise this villainous role. The inevitable battle of dueling dojos in Season 4 saw practically every child in the area taking up karate.

However, Daniel (Ralph Macchio) has teaming up with the heavy from “II.” Chozen (Yuji Okumoto), in an unexpecting but utterly hilarious combination, to fight the villain from “Karate Kid III.” (The literal-mind Chozen pulls out a knife and is preparing to go when Daniel indicates they need to cut off the snake’s head; he is a little hazy in his English.)

There is, of course, much more to it than that, with Johnny (William Zabka), who is frequently out of luck, attempting to negotiate his romance with Carmen (Vanessa Rubio), as well as the conflict between his kid (Tanner Buchanan) and hers (Xolo Mariduea).

The younger generation, whose karate masters are still amazingly spry and eligible for AARP, has just as many shifting allegiances. The producers have also continue to be quite inventive, not only incorporating vintage footage into the program when appropriate but also sprinkling in well-known characters — who, once again, shouldn’t be revealing — and treating the original “Karate Kid” trilogy earnestly as if it were some mythical franchises, a grounding hybrid of “Star Wars” and “Star Trek.”

Running out of Room:

“Cobra Kai” seems to be running out of room. At least in terms of how much more credible mileage can be milk from the younger demographic. Its like any show with this many high-school-age characters in the mix. The seasons have also started to follow a predictable pattern, with a strong beginning and a slow middle.

Even so, considering the show’s incredible tenacity to date. It begins on YouTube before moving to Netflix. This is where it flourishing into an Emmy-nominating success. It would be premature to write it off.

Furthermore, “Cobra Kai” has once again shown that all you need is one strong leg on which to continue battling. After only five seasons, the program has already surpassed all expectations. Also proven that “Karate Kid” wasn’t just a gimmick. On September 9, Netflix will premiere the fifth season of “Cobra Kai.”

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