Summary
Cobra Kai returns with some inventive, exciting fight sequences. It’s a light and straightforward reintroduction to this world, offering silly but uplifting entertainment.
Cobra Kai returns for Season 5 with Episode 1, “Long, Long Way From Home”, which perfectly reintroduces viewers to all the main characters and the infamous rivalry between the titular dojo and Daniel LaRusso’s Miyagi-Do Karate school. The premiere splits its narrative between the rivalry back at home and a new storyline set in Mexico, featuring the usual well-crafted fight sequences and that strong sense of camaraderie you have come to expect from the show.
Cobra Kai Season 5 Episode 1 Recap
The opening scene works as a TV advertisement inviting students to join the Encino Dojo of Cobra Kai. Terry Silver promotes his business, mentioning state-of-the-art training facilities, remarkable trainers and then he finally adds the fact that they are home to Tory Nichols, the first female All Valley Tournament Champion. Thanks to this ad and Terry’s big dreams of building an empire in the Valley, students queue around the block, hoping to sign up with the famous dojo.
Rival sensei Daniel LaRusso has brought in Chozen Toguchi to help bring down Cobra Kai, although his wife isn’t happy that this stranger is living in their house and swimming naked in their pool. It is the summer holidays and she just wants to relax by the pool, sipping alcoholic beverages – I can’t blame the woman, me too! Daniel explains that Terry is brainwashing these kids and he needs help in bringing the villain down once and for all.
Meanwhile in Mexico, Miguel Diaz searches for his father. The naïve, young man asks for directions and ends up being swindled out of most of his money by a gang of surfer thieves. His luck doesn’t much improve when he thinks he overhears his father’s name – Hector Salazar in a seedy bar. Yet this criminal isn’t his father at all. Miguel has to fight his way out of this situation and calls girlfriend Sam (Daniel’s daughter) for help.
While Miguel hunts for his father, Johnny and Robby search for Miguel. Johnny feels like he’s made many mistakes in his life and he wants to at least right one wrong. He hopes to track down and return Miguel to his mother. Johnny needs some good karma and doesn’t want to live with regrets. They nearly crash their car and then ask around for Miguel’s whereabouts. The same Australian thieves from before come to Johnny’s rescue, but it is all a ruse again. Johnny and Robby have to fight to keep their wallets and their lives. It’s a fun and inventive set piece, displaying the show’s great attention to detail in the action department.
Miguel manages to find his father, but hesitates when the chance to speak with him arises. He watches from afar and then tries to spark a conversation with Hector’s son Luis. The boy runs into the street and is nearly ran over. Miguel saves his life and in return, Hector invites him over for a meal. Miguel doesn’t explain his circumstances to Hector, but accepts the offer and has dinner with his father.
Cobra Kai Season 5 Episode 1 Ending
Back in America, Daniel announces that he is closing down Miyagi-Do Karate. They lost the tournament and Daniel says he will always stay true to his word, shutting up shop like he said he would. The students feel let down and Sam worries that it is all her fault, as she lost to Tory in the final. Daniel reassures his daughter and says that he will fix things. This is where Chozen comes in. Daniel’s secret weapon is going to help bring down the Cobra Kai empire once and for all from the inside.
Chozen notices that Terry is following the controversial teachings of Kim Sun-Yung, where individuals fight with no honor and no mercy. He shows Daniel how to fight this way, almost strangling his ally in the process. The premiere ends with Chozen infiltrating Terry’s dojo as a newly recruited sensei. It makes for a clever plot twist to bring a satisfying end to the opening instalment.
What did you think of Cobra Kai season 5, episode 1? Comment below.
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