In the realm of "Cobra Kai," prison barely registers as a blip on the radar, doesn't it? I'm thrilled that Johnny boldly highlights this fact in this installment. However, it stands to reason that the prosecution against Terry Silver was far from solid; it hinged, surprisingly, on Stingray's credibility as a witness. It stretches credulity that none of the other senseis were privy to this information. But hey, we're immersed in the world of "Cobra Kai," where drama reigns supreme, and in this context, it's a brilliant twist.
"Blood In Blood Out" swiftly clears the air regarding Silver's current predicament. He's clearly on a mission for revenge, having been stripped of his one true passion by our heroes. (It seems he's not swayed by the idea of returning to the serene yet mundane life depicted in the early episodes of season four, where he played the piano and indulged in tofu skewers with a hot girlfriend launching a mindfulness app.) Thus, three months prior in Bangkok, he enlisted the ruthless Sensei Wolf to his cause, vowing to clear his debts by transferring ownership of the Iron Dragons dojo back to him if he could humiliate Miyagi-Do on a global platform.
Johnny, Daniel, and Chozen understand the necessity of uniting to confront Kreese and Silver, who aren't aligned this time. I appreciate how this episode subtly handles Johnny and Daniel's reconciliation; their on-and-off relationship has been well-documented, and this particular make-up doesn't necessitate more than a fleeting acknowledgment of Johnny's heartfelt voicemail. The sooner they patch things up, the sooner they can team up, and "Cobra Kai" can delve into the exciting stuff.
In this scenario, "the exciting stuff" entails exploiting Kreese and Silver's rivalry by swiping Kreese's cherished eunjangdo and framing Silver during the final showcase event for the top eight dojos. The scheme unfolds flawlessly, resulting in Kreese punching Silver in the face. True, it's a minor incident, and Kim Da-Eun quickly catches onto Chozen's manipulations. But it's exhilarating to witness the good guys employing underhanded tactics and to see Kreese and Silver at loggerheads.
This event, an all-dojo best-of-three tag team competition, is crucial for Miyagi-Do's victory. However, Kenny's arrival in Barcelona isn't as seamless as he'd hoped; Demetri brands him a traitor, emerging at the same time as Silver and forgiving Devon for the Shit Butt sabotage too readily. This suspicion clouds Demetri and Eli's judgment during the event, causing them to refuse tagging Kenny in. Furia de Pantera racks up one point on Demetri and then two on a distracted Robby, ending the first match and once again putting Miyagi-Do at risk of elimination.
For a moment, it feels like Demetri and Eli's distrust might drive Kenny back into Silver's fold, which would be incredibly frustrating; Silver still knows how to push the kid's buttons, capitalizing on his rocky relationship with his teammates. But as the second match kicks off, Robby makes the strategic decision to tag Kenny in over Eli, enabling Kenny to score two points and secure the win. (He even flips Silver off. There's a lot of middle fingers flying at this supposedly revered tournament.) This means Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai are tied, each with one victory and one defeat. Their next match will decide who advances to the captains-only segment of the competition.
This marks the poignant culmination of this particular ensemble's journey as a cohesive unit, with the pre-match locker room atmosphere resonating with a heartwarming sense of unity. All grievances were laid to rest, as Demetri and Eli finally mended fences with heartfelt apologies and embracing warmth. (Though a direct apology to Kenny would have been icing on the cake.) The youthful competitors didn't require any further guidance from their mentors, who had imparted all their wisdom.
At Kim Da-Eun's behest, Tory entered the final bout with a transformed mindset: to embrace her emotions fully and harness them, rather than suppress her anger. My anticipation did not prepare me for the face-off between Tory and Robby—considering the gender-segregated fighting trends in this series, as I previously noted—yet it unfolded into a mesmerizing sequence. Tory aggressively pursued Robby, who predominantly played defense, leaving me yearning for the duel to linger longer. Post-match, their altercation persisted, finally clarifying the truth: Tory had never indulged in Robby's misconceived liaison with Kwon.
It's worth mentioning that the episode showcased the art of karate in its full glory, featuring some of the most exquisite fight choreography throughout the series. The tournament's scoring system might have seemed slightly perplexing at times, but here, the stakes were unmistakably clear. The tagging mechanic allowed for a plethora of innovative team combinations, unfolding in real-time. Kwon managed to tally a point against Sam, while Miguel secured one against a Cobra Kai member. Demetri, Eli, and Kenny employed an ingenious strategy, continuously tagging in and out to exhaust Yoon, preventing him from relief. Their perseverance paid off when Eli delivered a flawless kick, scoring their team's second point—swiftly counterbalanced by Kwon, who tallied against Miguel.
The climactic pairing pitted Robby against Kwon, with the latter steadfastly refusing to tag out after his last score. He craved this victory personally. Be it due to exhaustion, overcommitment, or a genuine skill disparity, he ultimately succumbed to Robby in a prolonged, enthralling contest.
Thus stands the tale: Miyagi-Do advances to the semifinals alongside three other teams, while Cobra Kai bids farewell—or does it? With one episode remaining in the Sekai Taikai saga, Kreese exudes a conviction that this saga isn't over. His incessant gaze upon a knife hints at something sinister in the works. Silver harbors similar malevolent intentions, albeit now for his Iron Dragons rather than Cobra Kai. He "graciously" bestows upon Daniel an ancient Sekai Taikai record, seemingly revealing that Mr. Miyagi fatally injured his opponent during a match, derailing the original karate kid's game on the final day of the world karate tournament. Could the stakes ascend any higher?
