The Karate Kid fans were equal parts excited and skeptical when Cobra Kai aired in 2018. The series focused on Johnny Lawrence, who was once a villainous high school bully, but the premise sounded too odd, and people had their doubts.
But what followed was a journey of trust and collaboration that took the series to new heights. It all began with one crucial decision that shaped the show into a cultural phenomenon.
William Zabka talks about the pitch for Cobra Kai
William Zabka is the actor who played Johnny Lawrence, whose journey began in the classic The Karate Kid (1984). In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor told how he was approached by the show’s creators, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitzm and Hayden Schlossberg, who had a clear vision of where the character’s arc would lead.
They wanted a redemption story, but Zabka was skeptical about the same. He shared,
They pitched it as a redemption story, but he would be rough around the edges and Johnny opens up Cobra Kai again. My initial response was, “Really? Why would he go back to Cobra Kai?” So they pitched it as a redemption arc, but I didn’t have a full, clear picture of what that would look like.
I was more concerned about how we stepped into it and where Johnny is today. I was very protective that he didn’t go down with the proverbial crane kick at the end of the show and become the biggest heel of all time.
Zabka was afraid of a cliché ending, where Johnny’s character pulls off a crane kick at the end, which is what Daniel used against him in the tournament finale of the first film. But the creators assured him that they were going for something similar to Better Call Saul.
However, Zabka’s concerns didn’t end there, he also wanted to ensure that the original cast was on board, especially Ralph Macchio, the Karate Kid himself. Later on, he spoke about the project with Macchio, and the two agreed to collaborate on Cobra Kai, making us feel all the nostalgia but with a fresh story.
William Zabka on his character’s redemption arc
Cobra Kai is truly a story about redemption, and the series delves into the trauma that Johnny had to endure at the hands of his sensei, John Kreese. In the show, we see Johnny’s attempt to rebuild his life, not through karate, but through relationships with Miguel, Robby, and his former rival, Daniel.
His whole life, even 30 years later, when we pick him up and meet him again, that devastating loss, and not just the loss of the trophy, but losing his teacher, threw him into a downward spiral for all these years.
So that moment in season six is when the little boy in Johnny, who was so betrayed, gets it somehow because it’s all over.
Moreover, Zabka directed the episode Rattled in Cobra Kai, which he describes as his favorite in the show. This experience opened new doors for the actor, and he plans to explore future projects as a filmmaker. The show wasn’t just a redemption arc for Johnny but also for Zabka, who brought new depth and heart to a character that was once only seen as a one-dimensional villain.
Cobra Kai is streaming on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
