Quick Links
ThroughoutCobra Kaiand its predecessors,The Karate Kidseries,Nariyoshi Miyagi(Pat Morita) is portrayed as a gentle, wise, well-meaning mentor to Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and, by extension, his family. However, Season 6 ofCobra Kaireveals that the Mr. Miyagi audiences loved may have kept secrets from his closest confidant. Daniel, his wife Amanda (Courtney Henggeler), and Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) find a trunk of Miyagi’s that contains many items from Miyagi’s past, among them a newspaper clipping from 1947 that paints Miyagi in a very different light, and a bloodied headband from the Sekai Takai tournament. The two items force Daniel to wonder just who Miyagi truly was before they met, and have fans looking forward to answers when the show returns in November on Netflix.
There are, however, two sides to every story, and until Season 6, Part 2 (and Part 3) come out, audiences are left with only one side to think about.
Did Miyagi Really Commit a Crime?
Undoubtedly, the biggest question Daniel faces going forward is the truth behind Miyagi’s alleged crime. The revelation sent shockwaves through Daniel, who fans know can overreact without all the facts from time to time.In a show that isfull of stories of redemptionand duality, this could simply be another way to solidify Miyagi’s legacy as a great man; it could also be a way to show that even the best men sometimes make mistakes. But what if there is more to explore with this story, like everything else in the Miyagi-verse?
Will Cobra Kai Set up the Upcoming Karate Kid Film?
Cobra Kai is ending, but the Karate Kid has a new film after the series concludes. Are the two projects connected and tied together?
Fans know Miyagi fought in World War II, received a Medal of Honor for his efforts, and lost both his wife and unborn son while he was overseas. Taking that information and coupling it with the most recent revelation, there is one answer that diehard fans of the movies and Netflix series might theorize:the man who Miyagi allegedly beat up had his deceased wife’s necklace and was a guard at the internment camp where Mrs. Miyagi died. Not only would that logic solidify the Miyagi character as the ultimate good guy, but it would also give Daniel the chance to find peace with his father figure.
Miyagi and the Sekai Takai
The second shocker comes in the Part 1 finale, when Daniel realizes the logo on the headbands for the Sekai Takai captains is one he’s seen before.He returns to the Miyagi chest of secrets and finds a bloodied Sekai Takai headband, indicating that his mentor might have participated in the tournament many years ago. What does this mean for Miyagi-Do and their senseis as they descend upon Spain? Will Miyagi’s past come back to help or haunt the students adorned in his dojo’s gi? The implications are huge, and yet again, viewers are left with more questions than answers.
Cobra Kai Wasted the Potential of a Great Character
Of all the kids in Cobra Kai who became fierce fighters, only a handful of them had previous training, and one saw his potential seriously wasted.
Miyagi’s involvement in the Sekai Takai could also bring to light his disdain for karate tournaments; inThe Karate Kid, it’s clear by his own admission that the tournament was “first time you, first time me.” Does that mean it was Miyagi’s first time in that type of organized tournament?Maybe there is something more dangerous and sinister to the Sekai Takai than viewers have been led to believe, despiteKarate’s Bad Boy-turned-friend Mike Barnes(Sean Kanan) warnings. Perhaps Master Kim (C.S. Lee) has the answers that Daniel is desperate to find.
What Will Parts Two and Three Reveal About Miyagi?
As Cobra Kai comes to a close with Season 6, there are still a ton of questions that need answering. Who will win the Sekai Takai? Will Tory finally have something good happen to her? Will Miguel and Robby’s friendship survive? Will Hawk and Demetri’s? The list is endless, but the most burning questions revolve around Miyagi and Daniel. The truths surrounding all of these Miyagi mysteries will likely be addressed, but will they destroy Daniel’s image of his mentor or strengthen it? What part will Chozen play in all this, as he also comes from the Miyagi-Do philosophy and was noticeably absent from the last couple of episodes? If everything alleged or alluded to about Miyagi proves to be true, what will that do to the relationship between Daniel and Johnny?
Whatever the answers, the final episodes of the series will do whatCobra Kaihas done well during its run - honor the spirit of the films while bringing exciting stories to life. Anyone who has watched the show knows that the characters all have good and evil in them; as Mr. Miyagi said throughout the movies, it’s all about balance. Mr. Miyagi’s legacy will hopefully remain on the good side of that scale as the franchise looks to the future.
