The opening sequence, with the intermingling and cut dialogues of Daniel, Johnny, and Kreese talking to their students is both nicely done for the most part, and delineates Daniel and Kreese.
But I'm still not getting what is going on with Johnny. He tells his students not to strike first, but then later outside of juvie, Daniel tells Johnny that "striking first" is Johnny's problem. But Johnny said earlier not to strike first. Granted, Daniel wasn't there, but shouldn't Johnny speak up and say that's not what he believes anymore. I suppose you could rationalize that he doesn't want to tell his old rival that he changed his mind, was wrong, et al. But it still rings hollow.
And speaking of the juvie scene, Robby finally shows up. Yay! I would have rather seen him and the afterward of his fight with Shawn, then more of the interdojo rivalry. It'd be more interesting than Sam's PTSD, one would hope. Or the flashbacks trying to make Kreese sympathetic.
Robby still has a chip on his shoulder, sees Miguel and Sam together, figures they betrayed him, and turns to Kreese. Although with Miguel soon becoming part of Miyagi-Do, and Kreese building his forces, you wonder who there is for Johnny. But he does get a moment of triumph, when Carmen links up with him. Of course, he's still pining for Ali, and she shows up in the last two episodes. So it doesn't sound like Johnny will get to keep what he's been kind of fighting for and finally got.
Everybody else just kinda tools along, as the focus is on the threat to the All-Valley Tournament. And Roberts says that they have to sign waivers indemnifying the city from lawsuits if the participants were harmed. Shouldn't the city have been doing that all along? If they hadn't, no wonder they were gun-shy about having a new tournament.
There are a few "take that's" about modern culture. Before the hearing for the tournament begins, there's a guy complaining about manhole covers being renamed "personhole" covers. As I've said before, I like the production staff's little pokes at SJWs and their ideology, rather than embracing it wholeheartedly and making it the near-entire focus of a season (Hi!, 'Supergirl'). And Matt Lewis as Ron steals the show when he shows up at Miyagi-Do, and compliments Amanda on her Crystal Lite lemonade. He makes me want to go back and check his other two appearances on the show.
Speaking of which, I like how 'Cobra Kai' brings back actors for recurring roles: it gives the show a nice "lived-in" sense of continuity. I doubt most people remembered Ron, but it's nice to see him back. Among others. Ditto for Yasmine coming back, and getting involved with Demetri. She wasn't even in season 2 (because she was in Europe, according to the in-story explanation). But here she is, back again and involved with one of the credited main stars.
So "The Good..." moves a couple of plot points forward, like the Johnny/Carmen/Ali and Miguel/Sam/Robby triangles. You get the impression the championship is going to play a big part in the season finale, but... it isn't. Later down the road you kinda wonder why the production staff spent so much time on it, when all it really does is bring Miguel and Sam back together.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
But I'm still not getting what is going on with Johnny. He tells his students not to strike first, but then later outside of juvie, Daniel tells Johnny that "striking first" is Johnny's problem. But Johnny said earlier not to strike first. Granted, Daniel wasn't there, but shouldn't Johnny speak up and say that's not what he believes anymore. I suppose you could rationalize that he doesn't want to tell his old rival that he changed his mind, was wrong, et al. But it still rings hollow.
And speaking of the juvie scene, Robby finally shows up. Yay! I would have rather seen him and the afterward of his fight with Shawn, then more of the interdojo rivalry. It'd be more interesting than Sam's PTSD, one would hope. Or the flashbacks trying to make Kreese sympathetic.
Robby still has a chip on his shoulder, sees Miguel and Sam together, figures they betrayed him, and turns to Kreese. Although with Miguel soon becoming part of Miyagi-Do, and Kreese building his forces, you wonder who there is for Johnny. But he does get a moment of triumph, when Carmen links up with him. Of course, he's still pining for Ali, and she shows up in the last two episodes. So it doesn't sound like Johnny will get to keep what he's been kind of fighting for and finally got.
Everybody else just kinda tools along, as the focus is on the threat to the All-Valley Tournament. And Roberts says that they have to sign waivers indemnifying the city from lawsuits if the participants were harmed. Shouldn't the city have been doing that all along? If they hadn't, no wonder they were gun-shy about having a new tournament.
There are a few "take that's" about modern culture. Before the hearing for the tournament begins, there's a guy complaining about manhole covers being renamed "personhole" covers. As I've said before, I like the production staff's little pokes at SJWs and their ideology, rather than embracing it wholeheartedly and making it the near-entire focus of a season (Hi!, 'Supergirl'). And Matt Lewis as Ron steals the show when he shows up at Miyagi-Do, and compliments Amanda on her Crystal Lite lemonade. He makes me want to go back and check his other two appearances on the show.
Speaking of which, I like how 'Cobra Kai' brings back actors for recurring roles: it gives the show a nice "lived-in" sense of continuity. I doubt most people remembered Ron, but it's nice to see him back. Among others. Ditto for Yasmine coming back, and getting involved with Demetri. She wasn't even in season 2 (because she was in Europe, according to the in-story explanation). But here she is, back again and involved with one of the credited main stars.
So "The Good..." moves a couple of plot points forward, like the Johnny/Carmen/Ali and Miguel/Sam/Robby triangles. You get the impression the championship is going to play a big part in the season finale, but... it isn't. Later down the road you kinda wonder why the production staff spent so much time on it, when all it really does is bring Miguel and Sam back together.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?