Cobra Kai

Diese Serie ist eine wunderbare Antwort auf den Film Karate Kid, der meine Kindheit begleitet hat. Zwar um dreißig Jahre nostalgischer, aber mit allen Personen, an die man sich aus dem ersten Film erinnern kann. William Zabka und Ralph Macchio beweisen, dass sie gut schauspielen können und diese Serie ohne Zweifel dominieren können. Dazu gefällt es mir, dass William tschechische Vorfahren hat und so habe ich das Gefühl, dass ich ihn unterstützen muss, wie es nur geht. Schon Mal seine Liebe zum Bier ist mir maximal sympathisch. Cobra Kai ist im gesamten Kontext eine totale Nostalgie. Es gibt hier einige geniale Szenen, die vor allem zu Beginn jeder neuen Folge abgespielt werden. Aber auch das Drehbuch ist sehr interessant, es schlängelt sich durch das Thema durch, sodass Probleme der beiden Dojos entstehen, welche nicht nur unterhalten, sondern auch zwingen weitere Folgen fast bis zur Ohnmacht zu schauen. Die Filmemacher wissen genau, was sie drehen, weil die einzige vernünftige Person hier die Ehefrau Daniela ist, die als einzige versteht, was ich will. Schade jedoch, dass sich Johnny und Daniel immer verkehrt verhalten und eher gefühl- als vernunftgesteuert handeln.  Deren Sensei würde es ihnen sicherlich erklären, aber dann hätten wir wahrscheinlich keinen Grund diesen Film zu schauen. Mir hat es also sehr gut gefallen. Unterhaltsam, extravagant, nostalgisch, beziehungsmäßig genau so, um die Lust am Zuschauen nicht zu verlieren, einfach insgesamt eine gelungene Serie, die sich lohnt. Und es ist nur Frage der Zeit, bis sie zu einer Legende wird. (07.09.2020)

It's not lame-ass karate. It's Cobra Kai! I cannot understand how it can even be good, let alone SO good. After all, this is an unwanted visually inexpensive follow-up (made for YouTube and based on the popular fan conspiracy theory of the original film) of a guilty-pleasure cult movie specific to one generation. Moreover, with the main roles played by people who did not have any acting qualities (let alone charisma) and who, let's be honest, no one would remember today. Surprisingly, not only is it good, it's brilliant. And it starts with the two becoming real actors. Especially Zabka, who is able to express even the most complex emotions purely with his eyes and charisma virtually flows from him. Just as Stranger Things is not good “only because of nostalgia for the eighties", but above all based on its own merits, where nostalgia is just the icing on the cake, which would not save it on its own, Cobra Kai is not good thanks to fans' uncritical love, nostalgic haze or the guilty-pleasure level and, considering it is based on The Karate Kid, it's really not bad. Yes, all those aspects (redemption, nostalgia, the straightforward plot of fight movies, the affectionate sorrows of adolescence à la Beverly Hills 90210, the depressing crisis of middle age, the lack of paternal role models) support the overall qualities, but it is not good in spite of them, but thanks to them. However, the characters and the work with them are by far the best. Each character has his or her own motivation; it is clear what the reasons for each character's actions are (however they cannot be agreed with) and the aspect of “the road to hell is paved with good intentions", which subversively erases the edges of the traditional good guy/ bad guy/(not) nice guy, is definitely used to the best effect here.  Everyone can make mistakes and lose their temper, but at the same time they are trying to “be better". Which is best seen in the yin-yang duality and tension of the central quartet. As a result, the viewer really cares about the characters and, thanks to that, it works in crucial moments, in the emotionally tense, but also frequent comedic moments. Which means on levels that the original series (or most series) never dreamt of. The second season kind of keeps repeating what has already been said, but otherwise it's still excellent, mainly thanks to the characters. Even though it is a bit in the style of a B-movie, it is deliberate and intentional, especially the final mass fight. | S1: 5/5 | S2 : 4/5 | (06.09.2020)

The eighties never died, and Ralph and Zabka are still as likeable as ever. There’s is currently no other TV series that works as tastefully and intelligently with NOSTALGIA as Cobra Kai (particularly the first season).  But even without this aspect, this would still be an extremely well-told, firmly grounded story, which is partly an unabashed celebration of 1980s B-movies and partly a depressing (yet somehow funny) self-reflection of two middle-aged guys. To me, this is the most pleasant surprise among the TV series of recent years and I am glad I persevered in watching it. (15.09.2020)