Cobra Kai Season 4

Terry’s power-pony is my favorite Karate Kid character.

give me soft comfort fluffy-haired demetri/hawk or idc

I’m kind of surprised they’re even referencing Karate Kid III. Even Macchio thinks it’s a bad movie (I don’t think he’s crazy about II either).

R3 WeHateMovies podcast have a hilarious lampooning critique of KARATE KID PT. III.

When they call Daniel-san “the Wooderson of the Valley” I fucking lose it. And point out that “Miyagi’s only escape [from Daniel] is death at this point.”

R3 if KKIII is stupid and sucks so bad, that’s partly on Macchio himself. By that point in the trilogy he had clout enough to call a few shots...and the only time he used this power was to veto kiss/love scenes for Daniel because it would upset his irl wife😒

It seems form the trailer that they're toning down Silver's batshit lunacy. Which is a shame.

Macchio was right about kk3. Its awful. But silver was the best thing about it.

I heard he asked for the rewrite because the girl was 15 snd he was pushing 30.

[quote] I heard he asked for the rewrite because the girl was 15 snd he was pushing 30.

Really? Thanks, I didn’t know.

The more I hear about Macchio, the less I think he’s a straight man. When it comes to sex and relationships, most Hereros don’t really have morals.

R7 His voice didn't really break till he was in his 30s and he looked pre pre-pubescent throughout his 20s. My money is on some kind of hormone problem.

New Season 4 trailer.

R9 wow, that looks fucking intense.

Johnny training Daniel?🤒Silver and his power-pony back on his mindgames?😱Robbie telling everyone to go fuck themselves?👍

I’m in!

"LOL @ the guy at the end "May God have mercy on us!" I love how over the top everyone is about the under 18s regional Karate championship! Those poor kids.

Love how the guy playing Terry towers over Ralph even when he's deliberately slouching. I really hope he goes full axe crazy. Also looking forward to more Johnny and Daniel interaction.

Looks fun.

[quote] "May God have mercy on us!" I love how over the top everyone is

They’re leaning in so hard that it could easily become Camp. And I’m here for that.

[quote] Love how the guy playing Terry towers over Ralph even when he's deliberately slouching.

Daniel’s relationship with Terry is fascinating and terrifying in a psychosexual way, almost, so I’m really curious to see how far CK4 will push it and how honest it will be about it. Deep potential for some dark crazy powerful content, there.

Ralph still hasn’t hit puberty in Karate Kid III and by that time he looks more like a lesbian with his weight gained.

R12 I mean... They're unlikely to go too far just cause of the tone of the show but my money is on some terrifying Silver v Daniel dream sequence. Like with Sam and Tory last season.

It's good seeing Thomas Ian Griffith back on screen again. I know he's been working primarily behind the scenes as a writer/producer. And like William Zabka and Ralph Macchio, he has aged well over the years.

Still waiting for the young kids to outshine the olds onscreen, and it hasn’t happened yet. All cute kids and solid actors, but lacking the intangibles and presence of Macchio, Zabka, Kove etc.

Shout out to those insane fanpeople who make such engrossing stories and video edits for Johnny x Daniel storylines. We can’t have it in reality, so it’s the next best thing.

New season dropping Tomorrow. The reviews are great!

Just about ready to start watching.

Xolo's packed on some Covid weight.

R20 so has Sam

I never saw Karate Kid III (and I heard that it wasn't very good) so I'm just going to have go with the flow with this Terry Silver character.

R18 wait Aisha is on the poster?? She coming back?

Is the actor who plays Hawk over 18? My friend was asking

R24 don’t quote me on this but isn’t Jacob in his early20s? Iirc he was born c.2000-1.

Really hoping that the gay couple teased by the writers ends up being Hawk/Eli & Demetri. It would just make so much sense. They have the most intense and gripping character relationship dynamic of anyone else on the show besides Daniel & Johnny. I don’t mind waiting til the final season for them to come to terms with gay feelings, so long as they do.

Then again, given how bullshit and woke shows have to be these days, the LGBT!!!!! content will probably end up being a T (either a background kid, or a new character altogether).

It will be Sam and Tory. Netflix only does lesbian or trans characters.

^*if it’s transbians then I’m actively and vocally boycotting. Fuck that offensive noise.

R25, I can get on board with that storyline.

Billy Zabka has to be the hottest 56 year old in America.

Ok... I love how they justified Terry Silvers manic behaviour in KK3. Pure gold.

R29 literally??? How did he maintain such fucking great shape? Even other martial arts actors of his generation don’t look as good.

And the fact he beat the Eastern European genes—usually the kiss of death for the looks of older men—is incredible...

Thomas Ian Griffith has an amazing body for someone his age.

Every karate class in America is crawling with gay kids and yet this show doesn't have any gay guys in it? What the hell!

Daniel admiring Johnny’s beautiful ass during his Miyagi-Do training session😏we love to see it

Conversely, the Terry/Robby S4 content was not darkly homoerotic enough for me. I wanted another helping of KKIII camp and heavy breathing and bleeding and D/s flirting, but instead I only got :/ and angst.

r35 Which is weird because when Daniel was warning Robby about him he described him exactly like a nonce.

AND Daniel’s reveal scene to Johnny telling him about Silver & Barnes was also kind of a quick lazy copout I thought? Like it was just Daniel monologuing for thirty seconds at the bar, not even looking at Johnny while he breezily told the tale, and showing pretty much no deep or difficult struggle about the whole thing, let alone any insight.

The previous seasons and the original movies make it clear that Silver’s abuse is a trauma that derailed Daniel’s entire life and outlook thereafter, yet in that scene Macchio just plays like it mildly inconveniences Daniel at the utmost. I felt as if the characters at this moment were telling plot but not character, and that’s cheap and flimsy writing/acting.

R36 maybe Robby isn’t really Terry’s type. Bet he likes them more doe-eyed and idealistic and eager, like Daniel was—more fun breaking them, then.

Or these days he’s just too old for power-play scenes with twinks. Maybe he’s calmed down and called off the perving in his dotage.

“I’m sick of blaming you, Dad”

😭😭😭😭😭

R28 thanks! I’d love to see a Demetri/Eli couple endgame too, though I’m realistic about the fact that it’s highly unlikely, maybe even out of the question. Sadly, CK seems all in with the linear pattern of interlocking straight relationships for all its main characters, ignoring the possibilities for lateral growth. Maybe one of them could get in mortal peril in the final season, and after a rescue and tearful reunion they come to terms and kiss? Idk I’m just riffing...

For me, the funny and interesting but also sad thing about Demetri & Eli is that they don’t seem to realise that their closeness is very unusual for friends; that they have achieved a level of intimacy somewhat beyond typical young American male friendship, and one that could easily and naturally progress into a comfortable and healthy romantic attachment now that they have both come out of their shells (so to speak). But they’re both teenaged idiots who think they need to hang on to hot girlfriends to stay afloat in their social shark tank, so of course the possibility of skipping the small shit to get together hasn’t consciously occurred to them (though I’m sure they have flickers of subconscious recognition).

It’s even obvious in their banterous little exchanges in filler scenes, or the way they sit and stand together, or the way they refer to one another. That is natural chemistry, not the forced variety that CK keep shoving down our throats.

Does Robby remind anyone else of Nancy McKeon?

Larusso Jr. is delivering some Mary Beth Lacey realness with that hairdon't.

Kreese seems to have a sexual obsession with Johnny.

I'm assuming they're introducing these Jr. High characters because the older teens are aging out of high school and they want to continue the series.

So who is the gay couple the producers were hinting about?

I thought maybe Daniel and Johnny were going to kiss when they were apologizing to each other. The scene was tender and it affected my tenders.

R46 they should have kissed. Billy & Ralph need to get all that sexual tension out somehow.

Tanner Buchanan thinks Daniel & Johnny should hook it up and date, awww☺️supporting the Karate Dads agenda

Maybe everyone will couple up in season 5:

Daniel & Johnny

Terry & Mike Barnes

Kreese & the crooked ref

Dimitri & Hawk

Miguel & the Asian kid

Sam & Tori

Anthony & Kenny

and they all live happily ever after

I just started watching season 1. What a clever show! I love it!

“Everyone has a weakness, John, and mine… is you.” has the same energy as “I wish I knew how to quit you.”

For the amount of brouhaha over this karate tournament, you'd think it was a state championship or at least an LA city tournament. Not just the valley. 😂

R52 my absolute favorite deepest lore is the way the board that runs the children's intramural karate tournament in the small Valley area is having a Succession-level power struggle in the background of the main plot the whole time.

Some woman (probably mother to one of the kids) on the board literally asks for a vote of no confidence like its the fucking intergalactic Senate in Star Wars.

fellas it gay blindfolding your childhood karate nemesis so you can drag him to an abandoned warehouse where you circle him like a lion fixing to devour a gazelle then put him through strenuous tests involving staring at his ass while he sweats and swoons and flexes plus maybe shouting praise at him and calling him baby?

(ALSO johnny starts out his training with daniel by circling around him exactly like terry silver always did. guess that there is the masculine urge to get a 360 view of daniels timeless princess beauty when all daniel can do is stand there and Be Attentive hmmm🤔)

R53, lol!

And what exactly were the revolutionary changes the Valley Karate Tournament Board made? A skills test and separating the championship title into a Boys and Girls champion?

I do love that they dredged up Carrie Underwood and gave her some work.

This show is so awful, and yet somehow I can't stop watching it.

My 85-year old grandmother with cognitive decline watching the stream with me: “is the older Italian actor....well....yknow.....”

Same wife since the 80s, weird phobic delayed reaction to own onscreen gay kisses. and reported problems with conception. I’m just saying😆

Didn’t he have delayed problem with conception because he didnt hit puberty till he was in his 30’s? I think Ralph said that in an interview that he had late stage puberty.

Thomas Ian Griffin aged quite well. His physique at that height is quite nice if y'all were to ask me. He has a scene in the finale and I am not going to spoil it but it seemed like he broke character and started laughing (he hides his laughing behind his hand in the scene a bit) because of the camp of it all.

Ralph Macchio I truly think had just enough of an underactive pituitary gland to not be a little person. I'm serious. His balls never even dropped low enough for him to have any bass in his voice, unlike that fine ass William Zabka.

R43 and Terry is sexually fixated on Daniel.

Difference is, Johnny’s not into it anymore, but deep down Daniel kind of still is.

R59 yeah I can see what you mean about Ralph tbh. Just from a clinical glance, I have a feeling he has low testosterone, and probably very breakable weak bones & muscles prone to injury as a result. Would be interesting to know if he struggled at all with karate training, for the original movies or for Cobra Kai.

Regardless of sexuality, ime men with lower testosterone or hormone problems have a certain delicateness of voice and gait and personality, I’ve noticed. They also can tend to be more moody or emotionally-demonstrative than typical men.

Chronically-injured and sensitive profootballer Jamie Redknapp fits the profile; he once went on camera during a gameshow bit and did a testosterone count, that came out low.

You can see here how he didn’t hit puberty till he was in his 30’s in the early 90’s and when it did his appearance started to finally change.

R58, I did not know that. Wow, that makes sense.

Still think RM could be a little bit fruity also but🐣go on ahead with your discussion about glands if it makes you feel better

do straight men flutter their eyes like this at other men? male friends of theirs? is that a normal thing that happens? not rhetorical i seriously do not know if it is😅

There are sone funny quotes here about Ralphs age,and also his near total inability to fight, or train.

I cheered when Daniel broke the ipad.

r65 I laughed out loud.

[quote]JOHNSON: I trained Pat and Ralph separately, really hard. They would moan and bitch—they developed a relationship because they had that in common.

[quote]KAMEN: Neither of those guys knew s--- about karate. You don’t see Daniel throwing any flying wheel kicks or any of that stuff. You see him being defensive, deflecting strikes. That’s as far as I could get with him.

[quote]MATTHEWS: We all wondered if Ralph could do it because he looked so frail.

[quote]MACCHIO: Good thing the other person I trained with was Pat Morita, so I always looked good.

[quote]SHUE: I remember being incredibly jealous that Ralph got to learn karate and I didn’t. I made fun of him a little bit, like: I could kick your ass. "

r57

[quote]weird phobic delayed reaction to own onscreen gay kisses.

A: What gay kisses? B: What delayed phobic reaction?

Do tell.

R68, didn't he kiss Eric Stoltz in some early '90s movie?

Does Ralph wear a hairpiece?

R69 Macchio did indeed have a long wet smooch with Stoltz, in a short scene of this shitty early 1990s Woody Allen-esque movie made by a one-and-done director (I saw it once on tv decades ago—3/10 do not recommend, really bad film).

Weirdly Ralph was fine with taking the gay role and doing the kiss initially, but then did press shortly (don’t recall the sources anymore) after the release saying how gross it was and how reluctant he was to do it, and that he hates that people assume he’s gay. Kind of left a bad taste. Maybe it’s just how Italian men of a certain generation are though?

He probably has the same type of condition as this guy who like Ralph grew tall but still has a body and features as a 14 year old. The good news is he did hit puberty 5 years after this video was posted.

So I’m on episode 4 of Season 4.

It seems like the basic premise of the show is that Daniel LeRusso and Johnny Lawrence are 50 something daddies who are competing with each other for attention from twinks Robby and Miguel? Is the creator of this show gay or something?

It’s a soap opera that appeals to straight men except it’s not WWE.

******spoiler alert********

[quote] Daniel LeRusso and Johnny Lawrence are 50 something daddies who are competing with each other for attention from twinks

Proxy. Johnny & Daniel want each other; have done since they were both twins. They just can’t admit it.

R73, in the video I posted you can interpret it as a guy desperate for a father figure or a twink and his daddy.

Love how comfortable the younger guys are with each other.

Tanner & Xolo are close friends. They’d make a really cute and hot young couple. Anyone know if they still live together?

Tanner should fuck some of the Covid fat off Xolo.

Did Netlix pick it up for a fifth season? They're notorious for canceling shit 3 or 4 seasons in. I know they've only had the show for 2 but still...

R80, the show was renewed for a Season 5 before Season 4 premiered.

Martin Kove did porn in the 70s. There was a thread which showed screen caps of his hairy ass.

R82, was it straight or gay porn?

IIRC there were some m/m scenes.

I think this is the thread. IDK if the links still work.

So does DL still link Zabka is closeted? I seem to remember a thread about him a while back. I think he got married in his late 40s and was kind of religious?

R86 dunno. It would make sense if he were gay/bi, but honestly he could also just be the type of straight man who loved fucking around too much to bother cheating. Though usually Christian men don’t care about the sin of infidelity, so🐣

I will say that I did find the CK scene where Johnny couldn’t get it up for Carmen because he was thinking about Daniel & Miguel kind of....hmmmm. I mean, what were the writers trying to say with that? Yeah, whisky dick is a thing, but he could have been written to obsess about anything or anyone else at the time besides his best male frenemy and his twink student...

Excited for Season 5. Looks like we're getting Mike Barnes and Chozen next season. It's also likely we'll see Hillary Swank return. She probably was embarrassed by The Next Karate Kid but funnily enough, this show could end up reviving her career if they did it right. I have faith in the showrunners. Terry's return was done perfectly and Griffith was great. One of the greatest villains of all time.

Julie Pierce (Hilary Swank’s character) hasn’t met or even heard of Daniel LaRusso before, afaik. That would be an interesting first encounter.

Sean Kanan is an ass irl, but the thought of seeing the adult version of the Bad Boy Of Karate Mike Barnes....goosebumps man.

[quote] Maybe it’s just how Italian men of a certain generation are though?

This I can confirm!

I did not know that was Macchio's daughter Julia playing Cousin Vanessa until I read it about it.

I hope we don't hear any metoo stories about Zabka. He must be up to his neck in pussy.

Curious about the Miguel's Dad storyline. Luis Roberto Guzmán is in season 5 according to extras on set and I suspect that's him. Another DILF for the record.

R91, where did his 2 kids got their nose from because Ralph and his wife’s nose isn’t like that.

If she had a smaller nose Julia would look exactly like Ralph.

R94, speaking of Macchio's 26-year-old son, I think he inherited Ralph's late onset puberty.

R92 reckon Billy’s got a lot of illegitimate sprogs running around? Maybe he needs that COBRA KAI money just in case of a paternity suit...

R96 iirc Daniel Macchio has some kind of developmental disability, maybe autism?

I hope Dutch gets out of jail and teams up with Kreese.

Yeah, I was surprised to learn that Martin Kove showed hole which was rare even in those days. Don't think it was in a porn film though. Probably some Z grade production.

Kove got blown by Holly Woodlawn in a porno!

[quote] It's good seeing Thomas Ian Griffith back on screen again. I know he's been working primarily behind the scenes as a writer/producer.

Surprised as he was so terrific in KK3 and in this. It was definitely an interesting interpretation of the same character. I was kind of worried we wouldn't get to see the maniacal version but what he ended up doing later in the season really surprised me in a good way.

We finally got a reason for Silver's maniacal behavior! Cocaine addiction!

Interesting that Martin Kove was originally supposed to be the main bad guy in part 3 but had his role reduced due to a scheduling conflict. We may never have gotten Terry Silver. No disrespect to Kove, but it really did work out as Griffith was the best part of the movie.

I just finished season 1. I am surprised at how much I enjoy this show. It's like Friday Night Lights, in that it is far better than I could have imagined. The writing, characterization and structure of the story is excellent. (It's far more sophisticated than Succession, which beat you over the head with a few themes and which did not really see much development in the characters). I would have thought DL would hate this show since it features minorities in big roles.

I'm guessing next season Johnny heads south of the border to Mexico in pursuit of Miguel. In between that culture clash, we find out Miguel's dad is in the cartel (Carmen alludes that he's a bad dude). What else happens?

Hawk starts a cam show to pay for different hair dyes.

Apparently, many of those posting aren't caught up so beware of spoilers. Anyway, it's clear Barnes will return to mentor Cobra Kai but I doubt Tory or Robbie will return as CK students. I also can't see anyone from Eagle Fang or Miyagi Do defecting at this stage. They'll probably introduce some new characters.

I want Hawk so bad. So, So bad.

😛

Will they be bringing Jaden Smith onto this show? Will he be teaching the characters Kung Fu?

Who does Sam end up with at the end, Miguel or Robby?

Okay, why did Carrie Underwood have to adopt that disgusting sounding ghetto accent? Why can’t she just sing in her regular accent?

Not “DOE-ing,” it’s pronounced “DOING.’ It’s pronounced “truth,” not “tro-uth.”

While Jacob Bertrand is hot as ever(I bet he can FUCK),Xolo does not look good.

R111, the creators made it clear they will not be including Jaydone. While I am happy, I'm kind of surprised since Will is an EP. Maybe since the show is a hit, he will enforce it upon them.

Xolo probably was bulking up but gained some fat in the process. I wonder why since he wasn't shirtless this season.

Apparently in the minority here but I like chunky Xolo. Plenty of teens and young men have puppy fat, including other youngsters on the same show (like Mary Mouser, who looks very cute at her size), so why can’t he? Even if you’re an athletic youth, sometimes your body doesn’t lose the chub until you’re older. It’s just normal biology, why hate it and rail against it?

R116 He’s been cast as a DC superhero (Blue Beetle) so he might be bulking up for that?

I still think he looked cute either way

Xolo just doesn’t look good. His face is too filled out. No definition.

R118 lmao no kidding? Blue Beetle & Booster Gold are the joke heroes of the DC world. Hopefully he can spin the role in a Deadpool direction and maximise the mileage on that.

the way terry grins his way through the confrontation with johnny makes him INSANELY scary. Just the way he carries himself like a man with absolutely nothing to lose, and yet everything he DOES is in the effort of preventing loss?

And that he doesnt understand johnny or why johnny is a threat, just knows he is and that the threat he poses needs elimination. That military mindset resurfacing uggghhhh

meanwhile Terry is putting on a total show (for the one he loves) not realising that this is the one wrong move he could have made in his relationship w/Kreese. Drama!!!!

and Johnny? hes basically approaching this as Just Another Fight bc at this point he is so fatigued and constantly on alert in the Karate War. hes just in permanent ‘protect our kids protect the Valley protect daniel’ mode and blinkered to anything else. someone give this himbo a month off

I prefer skinny xolo but like him either way.

I didn’t even know that was Xolo during the first episode until half way through. Lost any uniqueness to his face.

We still have Hawk to drool over.

That’s a bit over the top. He’s still recognizable.

R124 I mean I wouldn’t say no to his load I’m not crazy. :)

Zabka deserves an Emmy!

What does Ralph think of this article? He is the star and Ralph gets paid way more than Zabka.

R127 doubt he cares. He’s getting his bag, Billy is his friend, and Ralph has had more success and limelight in the past. I’m sure he’s made up for Zabka, and backing the push for an Emmy nod.

Zabka is the star because he's the first character we meet in the series and we get his side of The Karate Kid.

Zabka has been phenomenal in this series and has consistently nailed the dark humor. However, this past season he's been especially good with the dramatic scenes as well. That scene between him and Miguel broke my heart.

MARY!

Daniel LaRusso has so many Neanderthal Alpha males fighting over him! Johnny Lawrence, John Kreese, Terry Silver, and soon Mike Barnes...

Come to think of it, he kind of has a thing for a tougher man or an older man, doesn’t he? Explains why he spent his College years living and hanging out with an Elder veteran black-belt instead of dating girls or going to school with peers.

It's hard to believe Ralph Macchio is 60 years old. He still looks more than 10 years younger. He's older than Thomas Ian Griffith who is supposed to be the same age as Martin Kove.

R132, I spot virgin twink first. Yes go there.

Love that they kept the continuity of Johnny & Anthony hating each other on-sight. Hope that dynamic never changes, it’s perfect. And it kind of gives “bitter kid hates his soon-to-be divorced dad’s new partner.”😏

The fact that Johnny had no idea who Anthony was on seeing him after his growth spurt was even more hilarious.

Still don’t really like or care about the Anthony character beyond that, though. Even with a storyline and a new appearance, I just see him as a one-scene punchline.

I loved that the ringleader of the middle school bullies was 4ft tall and looked like Shirley Temple.

He taught you karate and you couldn't help him with his English? Hahaha I love Johnny

The hockey goon assumed Daniel & Johnny were a couple and he’s right😔

just watch the look Johnny gives Daniel after he mentions ‘deescalation’...so soft and besotted. And then the flirty impresses look and voice Johnny throws to Daniel after the hockey players get pasted...

R135: "LaPusso." This show [bold]so[/bold] gets the taunting immaturity of Jr. High/high school boy dynamics right.

When Robbie rips off his shirt he throws it to Tory. Hawk throws his to Demetri!😏

Hawk can throw his to me.

R138 the hockey goon didn’t assume they were a couple, he mockingly referred to Johnny as “his lover boy”, in a being gay is the worst thing a guy can be/let’s emasculate him manner, that straight guys do constantly with each other

Are we that desperate for representation on this show?

Jeez…

Ralph’s daughter looks a whole lot like Liza to me.

On a side note depressing how is it that when you Google image “Liza” not a single picture of her comes up until way, way down the page. It’s all pictures of a YouTuber named Liza Koshy. Time marches on and all but our Liza is a legend replaced by a YouTuber. I’m OLD.

R140 love that for Eli & Dem they’re endgame Im calling it now

and yeah R142 we are that desperate bc on every other fuckin show its Ts or Enbys or really badly and weakly and offensively-written fauxbians. give us complex and real gays & lesbians or gtfo

Ok but Hawk still looks really unhappy and disgusted whenever Yasmine hits on Demetri?

Demetri forgives Yasmine completely for her past—yes, she bullied them both badly and she used to be a bitch, but both boys explicitly acknowledge that she’s superhot and Demetri is lucky/punching above his weight to land her. It’s a typical straight nerdbro thing to act like a united front and a posse who have each other’s back when it comes to landing girls. so why then is Hawk’s expression always one of reluctance and distaste, when according to guy codes of friendship he’s meant to be totally supporting his buddy in their joint quest to get smokeshow girlfriends? It’s very....hmmmmm....gay of him✌️

It seems they've gotten a little free throwing the word "fuck" around this season. It seems like a show that would appeal to families, so that's kind of weird to me. I guess I'm old and back in the day you wouldn't have heard that in family entertainment.

R146 yeah, you’re correct that a Lott of the formerly verboten words have lost their potency with time—my Silent Gen grandma and my Gen Alpha nephew both say “fuck” in everyday life without turning a hair. Plus while the CK script is fairly liberal with cussing overall, that is situation normal for streaming shows these days.

It makes a lot of sense for the mostly young and mostly poor characters of the Valleu to use such language in their everyday lives that we’re watching. It would be a little odd to hear a stream of blue language from the prim middle-class Larussos, or from prim & professional adult characters such as the All-Valley council, for instance, but for the schoolkids (many of them underprivileged) or the many down-and-out characters like Johnny I think it does work to add realism. Also, Silver & Kreese being ‘Nam vets gives them a swear pass too.

cobra kai, at its very core, is about a passel gay people who are never ever coming out of the closet and don’t even know they’re gay and likely never will come to terms, but damn if the subtext isn’t still meaty

Is that why Will Smith is an EP?

R144 you’ll never see a masculine gay male character on this show, the fanbase is way too anti gay male judging from social media

They will bitch and complain and say they’re being “woke” if they have a gay male character, lots of snowflakes out there

These are the same “men” who push for Tori and Samantha to make out , but isn’t that promoting homosexuality?, so once again it’s that same trope , “2 girls is hot, 2 guys is repulsive and unmanly “

Not much has changed

R150 is sadly right. Misogyny and homophobia run so strong in the current regressive culture, and the tide doesn’t look to be turning yet.

If this were a 1990s show, we’d have a gay couple on the horizon.

I thought DL was anti-woke? yes, putting two masculine male characters (though is Demetri masculine?)would send this fan base insane. Sometimes woke ain’t so bad, eh?

[quote] I thought DL was anti-woke?

R152 ah, see, trolls lack nuance....

So there was no actual LGBTQ representation that the producers hinted on or will it be the new asian character who describes herself as she/her and they will put her queerness in the upcoming seasons?

R154 you guys got a hot bisexual girl named Moon, who could make out with more girls on the show

Isn’t that enough, you silly fags!

R155 Moon is sweet and the actress is fine and well-intentioned I’m sure, but the character is a great negative example of how pure positive checkbox representation is in fact a backhanded insult—because when you break it down, Moon really has no character except ‘Be Nice and Likeable and Reasonable and Hot’.

She’s the ultimate cookie-cutter straight guy fantasy of the perfect lab-cultivated girlfriend—hot but organically-so (notice she shows a lot of skin but under floaty caftan-like garments), femme but not feminist, popular and a ‘girls’ girl’ but not a powerful bitch or so focused on her friends that she neglects her man, smart but not ambitious or obnoxious, chill and down to clown but also not a raging stoner slut, caring and conscientious but not deep or studious, passive but not useless, and above all happily bisexual with a preference for and loyalty to men over women m.

Helps to remember when watching her that the ideal Western female personality diode is high in agreeableness, high in conscientiousness (quirky organisation), medium-high in neuroticism (endearing worrier), high in extroversion (bubbly), and high in openness (adventurous). These women are rare in the wild, particularly in the bi & lesbian community, but for some reason every man in our hemisphere still feels highly entitled to such a woman as his personal fuckdoll property.

Meanwhile, the more important hetero female characters of the Cobra Kai cast—who, please note, usually act as ciphers for their damaged male mentors or partners—get to rage, cuss, rebel, talk back, fuck around, chase goals, get heavy and be selfish evil insular chaotic agents within the plot....if their male controllers allow it and it suits their egoic image. Only with a nod from an old dude or a trauma permission slip can women go apeshit.

This is why the characters Aisha (the homely but high-achieving intellectual with a lot of righteous anger all her own) & Yasmine (the mean Queen-bitch who runs the school) were so important, and why the fact they’ve now been written out altogether (Aisha) or underwritten/rewritten merely to accessorise a male character (Yasmine, for Demetri) is such a slap in the face to females watching this show. Amanda could also have been (and could still be) a sorely-needed representational character, standing for glamourous Alpha women who grow to resent the burdens and ridiculous demands of their husbands and kids—Amanda’s scene with Tory in this new season had given me some hope (at least it scrapes a pass on the Bechdel), but I won’t get excited until I see more proof of decent writing that goes somewhere.

All this to say, Cobra Kai kind of sucks if you aren’t a straight or bi male.

Anything short of Hawk being gay is unacceptable.

R157 and it’s so clear that he is gay.

His initial terror over being mistreated for his physical deformity is very real and sad, and did need to be a story, but I feel that his anger and loneliness and sorrow go much deeper than a literal scar. To place all the onus on such a difference is too shallow of a reading of a boy with that much wounding.

Even when, early on in the series (season 2, I think?), it is made clear that no-one is judging or teasing Hawk/Eli for his looks anymore, his anger and his fear do not abate. Even now in season 4, he still finds himself in some ways a little frustrated and left out in the cold in certain social situations; here especially I’m thinking of the awkwardness and forced unnatural feel of his relationship with Moon.

The only thing in Eli’s life reset back to a healthy normal for him post Cobra-brainwashing was his bond with Demetri, the boy who is inarguably his life partner (Gianni Decenzo has outright said in an interview or two that he believes the two are “soulmates”, either platonic or romantic). This foregrounds that homoromantic (which it is, whether it ever becomes sexual or not) relationship as the most important one in the character arc of Eli/Hawk.

Therefore, I find that he’s gay, Your Honour *mic drop*

R158 again, they will never make a male character gay or bisexual on this show

The fans would have epic , snowflake style meltdowns , they all love Johnny because he’s a breath of fresh air in this “woke” PC culture, they think it’s hilarious when Johnny says, “Don’t be a pussy!”

This is what happens when gay men stupidly align themselves with every liberal cause, especially the trans, that don’t affect them and they purposely cultivate a feminine image

You can’t have it both ways

Thanks R159, I entirely understand, and almost entirely agree with your assessment. This comment of yours especially makes a lot of sense, and I wish more people took it on board when consuming contemporary media:

[quote] This is what happens when gays stupidly align themselves with every liberal cause, especially the trans, that don’t affect them.

It’s not audacious to say that gay rights and also womens’ rights are being hijacked, coopted, diminished and derided before our very eyes—yes, even evident on silly little kids’ tv shows. It’s proof of how pernicious the problem really is when it turns up in productions like Cobra Kai.

Our current culture being what it is and advertising/sponsorship/censorship being what it is behind the curtain, gays can’t have anything else by way of representation or storyline or space, because it’s not our time anymore and we “already got everything”, right...?🙄

That being said, I’m sure you can understand the disappointment of others over that saddening reality, and can allow for their enthusiasm in coming up with alternative fantasy timelines and explanations and headcanons to assuage that disappointment. It’s not a crime to speculate for fun, or for some kind of catharsis, or even just for the sake of a big fannish “fuck you” to homophobic producers—actually, it’s healthy and normal to push back on what is being shoved down all our throats, and to shout for our stolen space.

If a fan is writing manifestos about canon straight/washed characters as gay, it’s not because they’re looking for someone else to wade in and comment “ok but that’s dumb and unrealistic, that would never happen on this show, get over it, stop giving this attention”, because, like....we *know* it’s probably futile? And anyway this for us is just a pasttime? We can perceive the crushing weight of oppression in social reality, and also simultaneously try to relieve the stress of that load with enjoyment. Life is too short, bro.

R160 the irony is in real life at least one of those kids that joined Cobra Kai in season 1 that were being bullied at school would have been gay

And that’s a conservative estimate

However, just having one gay character is now being “woke” and shoving it down people’s throats

Things were better when I was a teen in the late 90s

[quote] If this were a 1990s show, we’d have a gay couple on the horizon.

When straight men were in charge of all of television? No we would not.

[quote] the irony is in real life at least one of those kids that joined Cobra Kai in season 1 that were being bullied at school would have been gay. And that’s a conservative estimate.

R161 yes exactly!! Self-defense classes at my school in the 2000s were oversubscribed with gay kids wanting to learn how to deter bullies. All the theatre kids spent gym class learning how to kickbox, pretty knarly actually👍

Ymmv, but looking back to the start of the series, I think the obviously coded-gay Cobras/Miyagi-Dos are Aisha, little Bert, Eli & Demetri, Chris, & Robby (he’s got a crush on Shawn from Juvie yet he feels obligated by the crushing pressures of compulsory-heterosexuality to prefer Tory don’t even fight me on this).

Anyone who says that people “don’t appreciate male friendships” when they ship mlm pairings have CLEARLY never seen me gushing at great length and sobbing on the floor about the absolute masterpiece that is Demetri and Miguel’s platonic bond

Also, if anyone is wondering where I am, from now on I will be living mentally and emotionally in the “Henceforth, Miguel Diaz shall be known as the rainmaker!” “EL DIABLO DE LA LLUVIA!” *Miguel grinning* scene. What do you get when you combine Miguel’s wholesomeness, Hawk’s hamminess, and Demetri’s wordy dramatics??? The best scene in television history, that’s fucking what.

GODS I missed the OG loser nerd trio. Have I mentioned how much I love Miguel’s two best friends being proud as hell of his sprinkler prank??? Like he sat at their pathetic little lunch table one (1) time and they both decided to hype this man up and be his personal cheer squad until the end of time. I get it though, it was a pretty epic sprinkler prank.

And did you notice??? Demetri and Hawk??? ARE MATCHING??? gaaaAAYY

Anyways, in summary, THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWNNNNN🎶

MY GIRL MOON 🙏“I can’t do the whole physical aggression thing”

Remind me again then why she and ELI MOSKOWITZ aka THE HAWK are meant to be compatible at all??? He loves violence and gaming and science while she loves vibes and crystals and art??? So what even would they talk about???

REGARDLESS can’t help but admire Moon’s staunch determination to be a vocal pacifist and conscientious objector in a high school redzone singlehandedly spearheading the local karate wars

”I love it when you talk nerdy.”

Based on the look on Hawk’s face after Demetri told Yasmine, “you are both the first, and my favorite person to say that”? Eli has def said that to Demetri before, and so was offended as hell when Demetri apparently forgot.

While for the whole of season 1 Yasmine was talking shit with the cool kids across the cafeteria, Eli was in fact the only person who felt anything BUT irritation and disdain when Demetri talked nerdy. For a good 10+ years.

Like the pure disrespect of this.

Great season.

Jacob Bertrand has dreamy eyes. I know MARY

R167, I thought this season was a major improvement over Season 3.

R168 Jacob’s eyes are a little crossed, but it’s somehow sort of cute anyway.

Saw some people online throwing shade at Tory’s prom dress but those people are wrong and leopard print fucks actually

So did Robbie and Tory fuck after prom? It hinted at it. And fuck Robbie looked gorgeous on prom night. He made me wet and I’m a guy.

Looks like Xolo’s had a dick pic leak

Go to LPSG if you wanna see

R173 fuck he’s got a really nice cock. Packing.

Latin men are always packing!

Fantastic season 4 - way better than 3. The emotional scenes with Miguel and Johnny are so good in every season. I was crushed for Miguel. The fighting was great. Robby looks fantastic. They finally got his hair right after 3 seasons. I love watching Tori fight. Though Xolo gained some lbs, he is just such a sweet character and beautiful cock. Fantastic cast - a breath of fresh air from a year of disappointments. After AJLT & Gossip Girl, this show was a breath fresh air. Note Silver's Ferrari had tags from June 2019. I love that they are still pre covid.

[quote] Robby looks fantastic. They finally got his hair right after 3 seasons.

LOL, only on DL.

R177 Huh

Robbie was gorgeous. That body is amazing. He’d be an amazing fuck.

I have the same question- did he fuck Tory after prom?

this is one of my favorite Robby scene, you can see the switch in his eyes after Kreese talked to him, from that moment on he became like a Sith killing a younglin.

went into S4 hoping Demetri would be the only one to get the ‘Eli’ name-use pass and I was right

Also, the way??? Eli used to get so mad when people didn’t call him Hawk??? And now when Demetri calls him Eli he looks almost…relieved??? Like it’s the constant reassurance that he doesn’t need to put on a coolness façade for Demetri that hits

Demetri 🗣 “no I absolutely refuse to call you by your new Cool Guy Name because this implies that Eli Moskowitz wasn’t the coolest man on Planet Earth before, and that’s some bullshit”

Hawk: “you said you deleted these”

there is MORE THAN ONE. show us the demeli videos josh jon hayden you cowards

Jacob must get so much pussy.

R182 I think he gets lots of ass and pussy.

Jacob is really cute but tbh he also reminds me of a sad dog. I think it’s those downturned eyes, they give scolded puppy vibes.

Daniel should have just sucked Johnny off back in the day - they'd have been such friends.

R185 if your ‘rivalry’ lasts more than 30 years and involves manful self-sacrifice and sharing trauma/intimate knowledge/food and opening a school to mentor twinks together as well as destabilises your entire career & marriage & family because you can’t stay away from each other then you’re really fucking gay for each other

Jacob’s eyes are a great feature. Love those puppy dog eyes.

Why does no one talk about Johnny not acting/ dressing his age like they do women? He acts and dresses like he’s still in his early 20s. Now, I don’t care but so many here love to chastise women for doing it. I think he looks hot while not acting his age.

Everyone dresses in jeans and t-shirts in LA.

R189 Weak argument

r188 isnt that the whole point? That hes an immature man-child?

R191 yes and the fact that he’s broke as a joke, and also emotionally stuck by trauma at points in his youth (in particular his highschool years) and young adulthood. He struggles to move forward in his life and apparently his wardrobe reflects this.

R172/R178 why do you want to know if Robby & Tory fucked? Do you think it’s going to be a major plot point or twist, like a pregnancy scare or a herpes breakout in the dojo or something?

R193 actually I think it’s likely a pregnancy

I love that Terry Silver put his entire Pacific Palisades lifestyle on hold to get sucked into San Fernando Valley teens' karate drama.

^ LOL yes. I have just started watching the season 4 finale and the announcer is so over the top. It's a fucking karate contest among teenagers! There is literally nothing at stake. I do enjoy this show even if it has become a bit silly.

Ok, I finally finished season 4. Can someone explain why Stingray names Kreese as his attacker instead of Silver? I was confused by that.

Bump! Can no one explain why Stingray blamed Kreese? I am so confused, and not really interested in wading into Reddit to figure out the answer.

R198 sorry to have kept you waiting 2 months, but I just caught up on S4 and can answer this:

Stingray blamed Kreese to the cops because he had made a deal with Terry Silver to blame Kreese to the cops. This will get Kreese out of the way, so that Silver could take over the dojo and start franchising it all over the Valley. He let Silver beat him up so that he could be a part of Cobra Kai again. Stingray is really creepy for wanting to hang around a bunch of high school kids and they've made his immaturity and arrested development progressively less the butt of the joke so I do think the show is going to make him an out and out villain and predator next season.

Daniel-san should just fuck Mike Barnes (or more likely bottom for him) and be done wiith it.