And the production staff is still trying to put Kreese in a sympathetic, understandable light in the past. While showing him in the present as a complete SOB. I get that they're trying to show us how Kreese became the way he is in the present. But I for one don't care. We've already got the production staff showing us Johnny in a redeemable light. And Daniel's background. And the background of the various other teenagers who wander in and out, like Tory and Hawk.
We've already got Johnny to show us that there are no bad students, just bad teachers. And even Daniel, who we see less as a paragon and more as a flawed human being like most people. The production staff wants to go unto the third generation, and show us how Kreese became a bad teacher and turned Johnny into a bad teacher. It's a bit too much with everything else going on.
Besides, Kove does better as the bad-guy Kreese in the present. Thank god they didn't try to CGI-deage him for the flashbacks
The rest of the episode is... okay. We see Amanda get to be smug. Again. And fail. Again. Because Kreese is beyond her understanding. Although the point of her bringing in the police and discovering that Kreese has already filed a restraining order against her (while making some unprovable assertion like she hit him, which is true but how because we know that, but how would the police?) is amusing. But it brings in an unnecessary element of "realism" for convenience. Where are the police when Robby crippled Miguel. And Tory cutting Sam. And the high school brawl in general.
Not to mention the home invasion down the road in episode 10. Maybe we'll see that pay off in season 4, with the LaRussos filing charges. That's what I mean about bringing in the police. Once the production staff does, they either have to keep them involving or leave a big huge plot element.
So Kreese assaults two of Armand's nephews. I suppose Hawk can get away with beating the recruit in the CK dojo if no one files charge. But what's the point of showing Tory and Kyler disgusted by Hawk's actions, if they're not going to do anything.
So "King Cobra" pretty much marks time. We know nothing is going to come of any of this, police-wise, because it would shut down the entire plot if the two dojo student groups ended up in jail. Or went to juvie trial like Robby. Where is he, anywhere? Ditto for Sam: I assume Mary Mouser wasn't available this week, but would she quietly leave town in the middle of her fellow students and friends being attacked? But the production staff just sends her away, when I'd like to see more of the conflict between Sam and Amanda.
Overall, "King Cobra" was good for setting up how bad-ass the Cobra Kai students are. And giving us some unnecessary and IMO background on how Kreese became the way he was. And William Zabka is entertaining as always, here trying to impress Ali by having Miguel take some "artsy" photos of Johnny to send to Ali. Although that plot feels like it's treading water, too. Wouldn't they talk about how they broke up back in the 80s? Instead we get more tech-hijinks with Johnny. And Zabka is amusing in them, have no doubt. As is Xolo Mariduena as his partner: I like his reaction shots. But other than seeing Johnny as a low-tech nerd, these scenes aren't _doing_ anything. We're three seasons in: how clueless does Johnny have to be to not have grasped tech?
And I'm liking Louse and Amoush back together.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
We've already got Johnny to show us that there are no bad students, just bad teachers. And even Daniel, who we see less as a paragon and more as a flawed human being like most people. The production staff wants to go unto the third generation, and show us how Kreese became a bad teacher and turned Johnny into a bad teacher. It's a bit too much with everything else going on.
Besides, Kove does better as the bad-guy Kreese in the present. Thank god they didn't try to CGI-deage him for the flashbacks
The rest of the episode is... okay. We see Amanda get to be smug. Again. And fail. Again. Because Kreese is beyond her understanding. Although the point of her bringing in the police and discovering that Kreese has already filed a restraining order against her (while making some unprovable assertion like she hit him, which is true but how because we know that, but how would the police?) is amusing. But it brings in an unnecessary element of "realism" for convenience. Where are the police when Robby crippled Miguel. And Tory cutting Sam. And the high school brawl in general.
Not to mention the home invasion down the road in episode 10. Maybe we'll see that pay off in season 4, with the LaRussos filing charges. That's what I mean about bringing in the police. Once the production staff does, they either have to keep them involving or leave a big huge plot element.
So Kreese assaults two of Armand's nephews. I suppose Hawk can get away with beating the recruit in the CK dojo if no one files charge. But what's the point of showing Tory and Kyler disgusted by Hawk's actions, if they're not going to do anything.
So "King Cobra" pretty much marks time. We know nothing is going to come of any of this, police-wise, because it would shut down the entire plot if the two dojo student groups ended up in jail. Or went to juvie trial like Robby. Where is he, anywhere? Ditto for Sam: I assume Mary Mouser wasn't available this week, but would she quietly leave town in the middle of her fellow students and friends being attacked? But the production staff just sends her away, when I'd like to see more of the conflict between Sam and Amanda.
Overall, "King Cobra" was good for setting up how bad-ass the Cobra Kai students are. And giving us some unnecessary and IMO background on how Kreese became the way he was. And William Zabka is entertaining as always, here trying to impress Ali by having Miguel take some "artsy" photos of Johnny to send to Ali. Although that plot feels like it's treading water, too. Wouldn't they talk about how they broke up back in the 80s? Instead we get more tech-hijinks with Johnny. And Zabka is amusing in them, have no doubt. As is Xolo Mariduena as his partner: I like his reaction shots. But other than seeing Johnny as a low-tech nerd, these scenes aren't _doing_ anything. We're three seasons in: how clueless does Johnny have to be to not have grasped tech?
And I'm liking Louse and Amoush back together.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?