After crane kicking YouTube ratings in the face promptly after its second season hit the mats, YouTube Premium has ordered a third season of its fan-favorite original series COBRA KAI, starring Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, which is based on the nostalgic Karate Kid film series. When COBRA KAI bowed onto YouTube in 2018, the martial arts drama garnered 55 million views for its debut episode and ranked sixth among the most Google searched TV shows for that year. Before performing like gangbusters and giving Karate Kid fans a sequel worth watching, many scoffed at the show's seemingly family-friendly vibe. However, after the show made its way onto the internet video platform, it became a fast favorite across several age groups, satisfying fans of the franchise both young and old.
When Season 2 begins, COBRA KAI finds Johnny's former sensei, John Kreese (Martin Kove), returning to the dojo he'd established all those years ago. Much to his disappointment, Kreese discovers that Johnny has transformed the school into a safehaven for directionless teens who're looking for structure, family, and lessons in the art of self defense. The new episodes also find Macchio's Daniel Larusso establishing the Miyagi-Do dojo, after Cobra Kai’s controversial win at the All Valley Championships. With tempers heating up on both sides, and the honor of their former masters at stake, both Daniel and Johnny become entwined in a bitter rivalry with their respective students at the heart of the battle.
COBRA KAI is written and executive produced by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. While the show takes place several decades after the events of the original series of films, many have told me that COBRA KAI doesn't skip a beat when serving up a fresh kata for those who grew up catching flies with chopsticks and waxing their cars using Miyagi's patented method of "Wax on, wax off."
COBRA KAI Season 3 will bow and come out fighting next year.