MovieChat Forums > Cobra Kai (2018) Discussion > Did anyone NOT like this show?

Did anyone NOT like this show?

posted 6 years ago by Jehosaphet (1055)
20 replies | jump to latest

Like another poster was saying, I saw the original Karate Kid movie at about 10 years old, came out of the theaters with my friends and I judy chopping each other...only stopping for the sequel lol
It really grabbed us as kids, and I couldn't wait to see this new series...looked it up on IMDB, holy crap, a 9.2! YES! Called my buddy, "you GOTTA check this out, they really did it!! SWEEP THE LEG JOHNNY!!"

And I start watching it...and...I don't know, its pretty cheezy stuff, isn't it? I made it through the first episode, but not without first going back to IMDB, then here to Moviechat just looking for one single person that didn't like it...

There's nothing cool or edgy about not liking something everyone else does...I judy chop those pretentious bastards in the neck, but...really guys? Are we sure we're not swept up in some kind of nostalgia-induced trance here?
I wanted to like it, I'm glad it was made either way, and I don't think they're screwing it up, they're just...its like this is taking place back in the 80's too, somehow. Like it already dated. Maybe that's on purpose?

Nobody else thinks its a little corny, a little cheesy?

[–] Alex (1495) 6 years ago

I REALLY, REALLY LOVED THE SHOW, IT'S JUST PURE JOY and I was never a diehard fan of the original movies!!!
There were moments that made go WOW and I clapped.
It's like the writers put things there that I didn't even know I needed till I saw them and I was very pleased with the overall result.

I want to commend the writers over and over because getting good quality writing by people who truly care about their product is just so rare, it's like a goddamn gem.

[–] newguy33 (334) 6 years ago

I liked the anti-pc tone of the series, it was refreshing in these days when being a weak p*ssy is a virtue.

[–] wearsalan (5554) 6 years ago

Couldn't agree more

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I thought I would hate it, so I never watched it.

Then I accidentally stumbled upon the 'Critical Drinker' Cobra Kai video. I was convinced that the video can't change my mind, convince me of anything or convert me.

But the video explained things in such detail and.. a sparkle of curiosity made me research this phenomon a bit more. The more I knew about it, the more interested I became.

So I watched the first episode, and holy COW...

Now, I expected it to be bad, awful, preachy, typical SJW crap and all that to the max.

I couldn't believe what I saw.. an .. actual.. story? What? Someone having taken time to create actual, believable and sympathetic characters? Relatable humor and situations? The actual actors from The Karate Kid? 1980s musics? Interesting take on what might have happened after the movies?

Making me root for the 'bad guy', that I see now in completely different light?

How the heck did this show do all that?

I definitely wanted to see more. So one thing lead to another, and now I have seen the whole first season.

It got a bit worse towards the end, and my interest waned somewhat, and too much teen drama was introduced, and all this cell phone nonsense and over-the-top dramatic things started happening - but still, it was an amazing ride.

But I heard there's even more teen drama in second season, so I'll give it a pass.

I kind of expected there to be a better 'clash' and 'resolution' of the whole rivalry and all - you know, setting it up, then exploding into a satisfactory climax, like the movies did.

But that climax never 'came' (no pun intended), and things were just hinted at and stretched out, but we never got to see Daniel vs. Johnny rematch in a more serious real-life situation (instead of a tournament).

We never got their students to clash in a satisfactory fight. We never saw hawk become a total psycho and then end up in a mental instituation and then Johnny finally seeing the error of his ways.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

The movies presented two clear paths; the one leading to destruction and misery (aggression, anger, physical-side-only) and the one leading to inner peace and harmony (balance, being in the moment, spirituality, energy-mind-body-connection and Ki).

The movies teach us a clear, solid lesson about where the wrong path leads, and where the right path leads. Cobra Kai-path is blind and leads to destruction and imbalance. Miyagi path is elevated, all-seeing (because it sees both physical side and etheric/astral/spiritual/energy/Ki/etc.-side) and leads to construction and balance.

This show muddles the waters, so soon it's hard to root for anyone, let alone even see any side anymore, because everyone is the same, everyone is 80% evil and 20% good, and everyone influences both sides a lot.

So it started _very_ promisingly, but then it advanced such small steps towards, not a satisfying, climactic, explosive conclusion, after which everything would be in perfect balance, but towards teen drama and chaotic mediocrety and uncertainty, where nothing seems to matter anymore.

Still, amazing way to take an old thing and repackage it through semi-realistic non-idealistic 'middle-aged has-beens''s world, and showing us the other side's story. Shame about the potential, which this show had plenty of.. it just never -quite- reached it fully. But the best effort I have ever seen.