Alison “Ali” Mills by Elisabeth Shue
Tamlyn Tomita’s Kumiko and Yuji Okumoto’s Chozen (and the damn “child in the storm” Yuna!) Were not the only characters from Karate Kid’s past to appear in season three.
The final three episodes featured Alis “Ali” Mills, by Elisabeth Shue, who returned from Colorado to the Valley on vacation.
And while it looked like there may have been a new spark reigniting between Ali and Johnny, who spent a fun night together playing mini golf and reminiscing about their past, leaving the past behind, Ali wasn’t there to dive in and mess things up between Johnny and Miguel’s mother, Carmen (Vanessa Rubio). Nor was it there to cause (a lot) of tension between Johnny and Daniel – although there were some at the beginning.
At the Encino Oaks Club, Ali and Johnny joined Daniel and his wife Amanda (Courtney Henggeler) for a night of drinks and reminiscences, while Ali finally had to tell and tell his side of the story, regarding the great rivalry between Daniel and Johnny from previous decades. She also revealed that Daniel, after The Karate Kid, basically became the overprotective and jealous boyfriend that Johnny made the mistake of being. And, as with Johnny, he made Ali break up with Daniel.
Daniel and Johnny made peace with each other a few times over the course of the first two seasons of Cobra Kai, only to see that fragile truce break quickly. Alison, however, was able to bring these two together in a more meaningful way and prepare them for the big choice they make at the end of the episode.
Great moments for Sam, Miguel and Hawk
Meanwhile, while Daniel and Amanda were getting drunk with Johnny and Ali, Sam (Mary Mouser’s) attempt to bring together Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang’s students was ambushed by Cobra Kai’s cold-hearted grunts – and what followed it was the culminating karate of the 3rd season fight inside LaRusso’s house!
This brutal one-shot fight not only characterized teenagers sticking with their fists, elbows, knees and feet, but also great character moments for three fighters – Sam, Miguel and Hawk.
Sam, who had been suffering from panic attacks and freezes since his fight with Tory (Peyton List) in high school, was able to overcome his fear using the advice Mr. Miyagi gave Daniel when he was fighting Mike Barnes in the Karate Kid Part III. She then used a staff to fight a Tory with a nunchuck in her home’s dojo and sent her away.
At the same time, Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), who had been struggling for months to regain strength in his legs, used his inner rage and impulse to fight Kyler, who became one of Cobra Kai’s newest and cruelest students. Miguel may not be back in full force yet, but his burst of energy and power was enough to take his opponent out of season 1.
The biggest turnaround, however, came from Hawk (Jacob Bertrand), who, after evaluating the damage he and his dojo companions had done, decided to hear his inner voice about Kreese’s lies and attack Cobra Kai in the middle of the battle. Joining their old friend Demetri (Gianni Decenzo), the two easily knocked down Cobra Kai soldiers.
Cobra Kai’s origins and Thomas Ian Griffith’s Terry Silver provocation
Throughout season 3, viewers received the story of John Kreese. His mother’s tragic suicide led him to a life that was difficult to pursue and ostracized, which in turn led him to the army.
In the Army, while serving abroad in the Vietnam War, Kreese was trained in karate and the merciless forms of war and covert operations by his captain. Unfortunately, Kreese’s hesitation in killing his own friend caused his squad to be captured and held prisoner by the enemy. Blaming himself for his situation, Kreese watched as his friends were forced, in pairs, to fight to the death over a snake pit. It was here that the crazy and toxic John Kreese we know from The Karate Kid was born.
This crucible not only gave birth to the name Cobra Kai, but also showed that Kreese was a man pushed into the precipice when he murdered his captain at the snake pit after it became clear that they were about to be rescued. Kreese had just learned that his girlfriend had died – a secret that his captain had been hiding from him – and the news, in addition to the fight, caused Kreese to explode and kill someone without a just cause.
So who is Kreese calling at the end? Although nothing has been confirmed yet, chances are that Kreese is contacting his Vietnam War friend Terry Silver, the man shown in Kreese’s flashbacks as the most vulnerable in the group. The man who told Kreese that he owes him for saving his life.
Terry Silver was the main antagonist of The Karate Kid Part III, where he was played by Thomas Ian Griffith. After the war, Terry taught himself karate and then used his wealth (which he earned by running a toxic waste disposal company) to create Cobra Kai and give it to John as a gift for him to run. After John Kreese’s disgrace in Karate Kid I (and II), Terry took over Cobra Kai and devised a scheme to ruin and embarrass Daniel and Mr. Miyagi.
In the second season of Cobra Kai, Daniel told Sam and the others at Miyagi-Do that even he it was Cobra Kai. This is what Daniel was referring to. In The Karate Kid Part III, Terry lied to Daniel and said that he was executing Cobra Kai in the right way and when Miyagi refused to train Daniel for another tournament fight, Daniel went to Cobra Kai and practiced with Terry. Again, however, it was all a trap to lure Daniel into the final round of the All Valley Tournament and have him wiped out by another fighter, “Bad Boy Karate” Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan).
Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang Alliance
Although Daniel has no idea that Kreese is (probably) summoning Terry Silver to help him inflict massive damage in Season 4, Cobra Kai, now with Johnny’s son Robby (Tanner Buchanan) as a star student, is a threat enough for Daniel and Johnny to finally put aside their differences and join a dojo. Although they are certainly confronted with teaching styles, and probably even a new name for the dojo, they will need all of their courage and strength combined to fight Cobra Kai.
Kreese dictated the rules. Whoever loses in the next tournament is gone. Who will be the potential champion of each dojo? Are we looking at Robby against Miguel again? But this time, Robby, who lost himself after feeling abandoned and betrayed after season 2, will he be the merciless fighter and Miguel, who is now back on the side of peace and defense, will he be Miyagi-Do’s representative?
Or we can see something more along the lines of Sam vs. Tory? We know that there has been a female branch of the tournament since we saw Aisha fighting in season 1 (although we don’t know who won that key). We also don’t know if mixed fighting is allowed, because if so, there are even more possibilities.
Will there be a secret karate trick that will help propel Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang to the top this time? Daniel already broke his special attacks of paralysis, which he learned in Okinawa, in Kreese at the end. Can they come back again, or will there be more magical martial arts to unlock?
What would you like to see happen in Cobra Kai: Season 4? Who will make it to the final round of All Valley? Will Mike Barnes return with Terry Silver?
How about a possible appearance by Hilary Swank, as Julie Pierce in The Next Karate Kid 1994? Daniel is going to need all the help he can get, right?
Matt Fowler is an IGN writer and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.