Summary
It looked like Terry Silver was going to be the big bad ofCobra Kai, but season 6 has proven me wrong. TheKarate Kidspinoff series has been all about villain redemption, starting with Johnny Lawrence and extending to the other bad guys of the classic ’80s movie franchise. Terry Silver, fromThe Karate Kid Part 3, seemed to be the least likely to find redemption, while there was still a lot of hope for John Kreese, especially inCobra Kaiseason 5. However, the first part of season 6 has seen the original Cobra Kai sensei become a threat like never before.
Part of what made Terry Silver so terrifying inCobra Kaiwas that he seemed to have nothing to lose. The villain had no personal connections or even any humanizing qualities. His only goal was the success of his dojo, and his wealth and influence made him seem unbeatable—an invincible force. This made him a far more effectivevillain thanJohn Kreese inCobra Kai, whose affection for Johnny, while misguided, gave the characters the tiniest sliver of morality. It even seemed that Kreese might be redeemed inCobra Kaiseason 5, but this seems less likely now.
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John Kreese’s Cave Scene Proves He’s Worse Than Terry Silver After All
Kreese’s Brutal Vision Of Johnny Was Pretty Disturbing
InCobra Kaiseason 6, episode 2, “The Prize,” John Kreese traveled to South Korea, where he was reunited with his old master, Kim Sun-Yung. Kreese was eager to get Master Kim’s approval to take his students, who could pass under Cobra Kai’s banner, to the Sekai Taikai, but he first had to prove himself worthy. He was instructed to retrieve an old eunjangdo (knife) from a cave deep in the jungle, where Kreese was ultimately bit by a cobra. This brought on visions thatKreese would have to fight through to prove that there were no emotional obstacles in the way of his goals.
While Silver appeared for a moment in Kreese’s hallucinations, it was Johnny Lawrence who ultimately presented himself and the man’s true enemy and weakness. The pair fought, and in a shocking instant,Kreese had snapped the neck of his beloved student, shedding all the love he had once held for the boy. This ultimately means that John Kreese is a greater threat going forward inCobra Kaiseason 6than he ever has been before—an even greater threat than Terry Silver—and this makes redemption far less likely.
I Thought John Kreese Could Be Redeemed (But I’m Not So Sure Now)
Cobra Kai Season 5 Brought John Kreese Close To Redemption
Cobra Kaiseason 5 led me to believe that John Kreese would eventually be redeemed. Sure, there was the prison break, which revealed that Kreese’s steps toward recognizing his own faults amounted to basically nothing. Still,I hoped that the love he held for Johnny would lead him down a better path. I expected him to pit himself against Johnny at the Sekai Taikai, but there was sure to be a moment of compassion that would allow Kreese to make up for all the horrible things he had done in the past. Now, I’m not so sure.
Of course, he didn’t really murder his student, but the fact that he was willing to do so even in his impaired state indicates that Kreese really has left his sliver of humanity behind.
I wouldn’t have thought it possible for Kreese to kill Johnny since he was the one person who still meant anything to the man. Of course, he didn’treallymurder his student, but the fact that he was willing to do so even in his impaired state indicates that Kreese really has left his sliver of humanity behind. The sight of Johnny wearing the gi ofMiygi-Do at the Sekai Taikaisurely only solidified his resolve. Johnny is now his enemy, just as much as Daniel or Mr. Miyagi ever were. There’s no one left to pull theCobra Kaisensei back from the brink of darkness.
Is there Any Hope Left For Kreese In Cobra Kai Season 6?
Maybe It’s Better If Kreese ISN’T Redeemed
Of course,Cobra Kaihas already proven that it isn’t afraid to break the rules.Chozen’s younger self inThe Karate Kid Part 2, who came close to killing several people because of his rage and jealousy, was ultimately able to find redemption (even becoming one of the most beloved characters ofCobra Kai). It’s certainlypossible that Kreese will rediscover that piece of humanity that he symbolically killed in that cavein season 6, part 1. Perhaps there’s still hope that Johnny and his master will bury the hatchet and reform something of a bond.
While anything is possible in the remaining episodes ofCobra Kaiseason 6,this raises the question of whether John Kreeseshouldbe redeemed. A part of me would love to see this happen, but I can’t help but feel that this might send the wrong message. Kreese wasn’t a misguided teenager when he did his worst acts like Johnny of Chozen. He was a full-grown man who was horribly abusive to children, especially Johnny. Perhaps it’s better that thisCobra Kaicharacter evolves into the greatest threat of the series, bypassing redemption to become a definitive, no-looking-back villain.
Cobra Kaiseason 6, part 2, releases on Netflix on July 10, 2025.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
