By pitting Johnny Lawrence against Terry Silver inCobra Kaiseason 6 part 2, the series effectively set the stage for a fitting ending to Kreese’s journey. With Daniel LaRusso as the only confirmed Cobra Kai character appearing inThe Karate Kid: Legends, the expectation is that the show’s final five episodes will be the end of the road for everyone else in the series. And out of all thecharacters inCobra Kai’scastwhose stories will need to be properly wrapped up, none have been harder to predict than Kreese.
As one of the biggest villains in the franchise and the source of a lot of pain for so many in the series, Kreese doesn’t immediately come across as someone with a happy future ahead of them. There are times when it feels like Kreese’s downfall is inevitable by the show’s end; however, there have also been glimpses of a possible redemption arc, such as the moment where Kreese spoke up against Silver on Tory’s behalf in the season 4 finale. Since then, he’s fully embraced his villainous ways again, making it more difficult to project a path for him. But thanks toone ofCobra Kaiseason 6’s fights, there might be a clue about what his ending may entail.
Johnny Was Probably Trying To Save Kreese When He Fought Terry Silver
Cobra Kai Never Explained Why Johnny Was Following Kreese
In theCobra Kaiseason 6 part 2 finale, Johnny abruptly halted his fight withLewis Tan’s Sensei Wolfto pursue Kreese. After catching up with Kreese and finding him on the losing end of a fight with Terry Silver, Johnny intervened and beat him in a rematch. Johnny’s explanation for his intervention to Silver - “I owed you one” - indicated that he just wanted to avenge his loss from their season 4 fight, but that’s unlikely to be the whole story. After all,it wasn’t Silver that Johnny was following.Johnny’s decision to go after Kreese suggests that he had other motives.
Johnny was well aware of the heightening tensions between the two former best friends, so it makes sense that he assumed that Kreese was headed for trouble.
Johnny was well aware of the heightening tensions between the two former best friends, so it makes sense that he assumed that Kreese was headed for trouble. What’s more, he knows firsthand that Terry Silver is an extremely dangerous martial artist and might have expected him to have Kreese at his mercy. And considering that Johnny does indeed save Kreese from further beating, it’s not a stretch to assert that as much as he seems to despise Kreese, he was willing to go out of his way to keep him safe. Whether he’d freely admit that, though, is another matter altogether.
Johnny’s Heroic Act Could Help Repair His Relationship With Kreese
Johnny May Recognize That He Cares About Kreese After All
If it’s true that Johnny was trying to save him, this could be the first real step toward some healing in their relationship. If everything Johnny says about Kreese is to be believed, then there’s no relationship to be repaired. According to Johnny, he doesn’t care about Kreese at all anymore, and places no value on the lessons he was taught at Cobra Kai as a teenager. However, it’s possible that Johnny’s open disdain for Kreese hides genuine affection for his mentor, and the show’sJohnny vs. Terry Silver fightcould be evidence of this.
Chozen’s Karate Kid Uncle Would Hate His New Cobra Kai Romance
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 sparked a new romance between Chozen and Master Kim Da-Eun, but Sato would not approve if he were alive.
Granted, Johnny has good reasons for disliking Kreese, with the incident in the parking lot at the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament offering a great example of why their relationship is in the state that it is. Kreese then sabotaged his own efforts to regain Johnny’s trust through his handling of the dojo situation in season 2. This sort of history could be why Johnny may be hesitant to admit that he still cares about Kreese at least on some level. As for why he still would, it’s worth noting that the morality of his actions aside, Kreese did act as a father figure to him when he needed one and had an important hand in the man Johnny is today.
Saving Kreese from Terry Silver could be what helps Johnny come to this realization about his own feelings toward Kreese. If that happens, his anger toward Kreese could soften in their next interactions, allowing the series to build toward a resolution to their rivalry. That’s certainly on the table, given that for most of the series, it was Johnny and not Kreese who was holding a grudge.
Kreese’s Redemption Is More Likely After Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 2’s Ending
There’s Still Time For Kreese To Choose A Different Path
This could go both ways, given that Kreese too could perceive what Johnny did as a rescue. Most likely, Kreese is not someone who would take kindly to being saved by anyone, but Johnny being the one to do it could mean something to him. Johnny saying that he wanted to “erase” every mark Kreese made on his life appeared to push the character toward eliminating his “weakness” and becoming a villain again, so knowing that Johnny doesn’t truly hate him could be what it takes to change his current course in the series.
New Karate Kid Movie Is About To Repeat A 38-Year-Old Johnny Lawrence Mistake That Cobra Kai Had Already Fixed
The new Karate Kid movie is exciting, but it is hard not to notice how it repeats a 38-year-old Johnny Lawrence mistake Cobra Kai had already fixed.
Kreese’s fondness for Johnny being identified as his greatest “weakness” inCobra Kaispeaks to the idea that he could be the catalyst for the villain’s redemption. If he really has such sway over Kreese, it’s not hard to imagine Johnny being the reason Kreese tries to change his ways.
Kwon’s death inCobra Kaiseason 6 part 2could provide an extra push in that direction for Kreese. Seeing what Cobra Kai’s way of life has done to one of his students could leave him questioning his teachings, and in turn, the idea that he’s been a positive influence on his students. Some much-needed self-reflection and being on better terms with Johnny could be the combination that ultimately redeems Kreese.
Kreese’s Story Could Flip Cobra Kai Season 6’s Johnny Twist
Kreese Could Save Johnny During A Pivotal Moment
If redemption is indeed the plan for Kreese’s ending, episode 10 does create an interesting blueprint for how that arc could be paid off. In a reverse of what happened with the three characters during the brawl, Kreese could save Johnny in the heat of battle. Since his relationship with Johnny at the core of Kreese’s story in the series, Kreese stepping up to put his life on the line for Johnny - or even going as far as to make the ultimate sacrifice - would be a fitting ending for his character.
Because the series hasn’t painted a clear picture of what the story forCobra Kaiseason 6 part 3 will be, it’s hard to say what the circumstances would be of such a scenario, but more challenging fights for the main characters are assured. Whether the next opponent is Terry Silver, Kim Sun-Yung, or someone else entirely, there are good odds that an opportunity will present itself where Kreese can take Johnny’s side in a moment of need.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
