‘Cobra Kai’: How Mr. Miyagi Will Play a Big Role Season 3
After migrating from YouTube, Cobra Kai continues to rank in Netflix’s top 10. As fans of the ‘80s films remember, Danny and Johnny’s old rivalry ties in to how their teachers trained each of them.
In this new incarnation of The Karate Kid, one character who’s sorely missed but not forgotten is Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi. Star Ralph Macchio said that season 3 of Cobrai Kai will take things back to the past with the beloved sensei.
Mr. Miyagi is acknowledged throughout ‘Cobra Kai’
From its outset, Cobra Kai has remembered Mr. Miyagi through symbols and flashbacks. Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso keeps tokens of his teacher around, including his medals, photos, and the headband and gi he gave him to wear.
The bonsai tree and Mr. Miyagi’s grave were in poignant scenes during season 1, and viewers also saw past interactions between him and Daniel-san in season 2. There was even a throwback to the old house.
Morita’s Miyagi is purposely and thoughtfully woven into the storylines. Besides honoring him by naming the dojo after Mr. Miyagi, Daniel constantly hearkens back to his mentor’s influence when he’s reflecting on his current behavior and decisions.
Macchio said ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 3 to go deeper into the Miyagi connection
Before Netflix landed Cobra Kai, the show took off as a YouTube Original and gave Comic-Con fans something new to rave about. Cast members from the hit show were present for the 2019 SDCC panel and revealed a few secrets about the show.
We know Miguel’s fate is going to be a huge focus in season 3, but so is Mr. Miyagi. Macchio told Entertainment Weekly that the new installment will explore the origins of his sensei’s style of karate and Cobra Kai’s.
He also said that Danny will be heading to Japan. “Some of the stories will dive into the origins of both Miyagi-do karate and Cobra Kai,” he said. “Like what [are] the beginnings of those two forms of martial arts and then we will learn stuff about both that we never knew — including LaRusso getting to go back to Okinawa which will be a little piece of season 3.”
Catch that? LaRusso is supposed to be heading to his teacher’s homeland in the next chapter.
‘The Karate Kid’ sequel traveled back to Japan
In the 1986 follow-up film, Daniel accompanied Mr. Miyagi to Okinawa to visit his ailing father. The majority of the movie takes place in a small village on the island where they both encounter cantankerous foes (in the same family) who want to fight due to an old rivalry.
It’s here that Daniel learns a new karate move that’s represented as the “drum technique,” and he uses it in the film’s final scene to defeat Chozen. With that in mind, it’s possible that Macchio’s adult Danny revisits Japan and is reminded of that moment, technique, and the drama that led to the fighting.
It’s unclear if Cobra Kai’s international filming plans were disrupted by COVID-19, but fans can still hope to see shots of Danny in Okinawa. Stream seasons 1 and 2 of Cobra Kai and all The Karate Kid films on Netflix now.
