Summary
Rival teams begin to solidify in “Obstaculos” as it becomes obvious that an unavoidable conflict is on the near horizon.
This recap of Cobra Kai season 3, episode 7, “Obstaculos”, contains spoilers. You can check out our thoughts on the previous episode by clicking these words.
Check out our spoiler-free season review.
“Obstaculos” opens with an obvious dream sequence, in which Sam finds Tory in the Miyagi-Do dojo. Tory promptly whoops her and tries to drown her in the pond. It might not be real, but it’s telling of Sam’s state of mind and the effect that their encounter at the school has had on her.
After the breakthrough in the previous episode, Miguel’s physical therapy is going better. We see him walking with crutches and then unassisted; he and Johnny bin the crutches, along with the wheelchair. He’s back. He and Johnny brainstorm names for a new dojo, but they need new students, which is convenient since Miguel is also going back to school. He returns to applause but his mood is soured somewhat when he runs into Demetri and finds out about his arm.
With the rivalry between dojos intensifying and the obvious fact that Kreese isn’t going anywhere, Amanda and Daniel both decide to reopen Miyagi-Do, but it’s an off-putting idea to Sam, who Daniel has to talk around to his point of view. At the same time, Johnny goes around looking for space to run the new dojo, but after a string of credit hiccups and viewings of overpriced garbage, he eventually settles on the public park.
As a bonding exercise, Daniel and Sam go fishing, though she’s wary about him trying to secretly trick her into doing karate. He pushes her to be honest and she confesses to freezing and being unable to help Demetri. She’s having panic attacks and doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to defend herself again. This is a problem since at school, we see Hawk has comfortably settled into the bully role, even being pally with Kyler. Miguel rightly confronts and shames him about his behaviour, which is another step on Hawk’s road to redemption this season.
Concerned about how the recruitment drive is going, Johnny sneaks into the school and gives Hawk and the rest of the Cobra Kais an earnest speech about screwing up. He gives a good pitch, even shutting down Hawk’s bravado (I genuinely howled at him slapping the kid’s tray out of his hands on the way out), but will anyone be keen to join his new ranks? At least kindness is beginning to creep into the school. Yas counter-graffitis Demetri’s cast, giving him a boost, and Sam is also impacted by Daniel’s advice to beat her fear (using more flashbacks, this time to The Karate Kid Part III). When they later train, it becomes apparent that the fishing trip was secret karate after all.
At least Johnny gets some willing participants in what he has dubbed Eagle Fang Karate, despite the fact that eagles don’t have fangs. But his first lesson is ruined somewhat by the arrival of Hawk, Tory, Kreese, and the rest of Cobra Kai. Kreese has an offer for Johnny, which he refuses. Apparently he’ll regret it. I guess we’ll see about that.
What did you think of Cobra Kai season 3, episode 7, “Obstaculos”? Comment below.
