Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 3 Review – Leave It All On The Mat

I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve been “late to the party” with many classic series—Game of Thrones, Supernatural, NCIS, and even animated series like Pokémon (I jumped in mid-season 1, don’t judge me!). However, with Cobra Kai, I was there from day one. Back in the days of YouTube Red, I couldn’t believe this series was actually being made. A follow-up to The Karate Kid? Really? Did we need this? The answer, of course, was “Yes, we did.”

Now, years later, the story is complete, and as my Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 3 review will reveal, this is easily one of the best series finales you’ll ever see.

So, uh, where to begin? I guess a recap of Part 2 is a good place to start. After the stunning events of the Sekai Taikai in Barcelona, everyone was sent packing in the worst way. Kwon was dead, the tournament’s reputation was tarnished once again, and everyone had to “move on” however they could. But as the first episodes make clear, that’s easier said than done—especially when so much was riding on that tournament.

One of the things I immediately appreciated about Part 3 was not just the focus on the fallout from Kwon’s death in Part 2 but also the range of perspectives on what happened. For example, while Daniel LaRusso appeared to have it all together, he was arguably the most broken of them all. He was so desperate to keep everyone “happy and safe” that it once again threatened his world. Yet, his reaction made sense—he had unresolved feelings about Miyagi and other key figures, and now it had all culminated in a kid getting killed. You can’t just walk away from that unscathed.

In contrast, Johnny felt bad for Kwon but also understood that the tournament had been a life-changing opportunity for those still in it, especially Robbie, Tory, and Sam. They had their futures ripped away because of the brawl. So, when the opportunity to bring it back presented itself, he knew they had to seize it—for all their sakes—even if LaRusso didn’t agree at first.

Perhaps the most surprising reactions came from Terry Silver and John Kreese. Using Silver’s wealth and influence to reinstate the tournament was a brilliant move, but framing it as his “last act” due to his impending death made it even more impactful. For Silver, this was everything—his final shot at victory—and he once again proved he’d do anything to get that last win.

As for Kreese, seeing him genuinely remorseful over Kwon’s death, acknowledging that his choices and influence had led to it, was unexpected. Yes, we’d seen him express regret in the past—like in Season 2—but his nature always took over in the end. Yet here, he finally realized that he had been the bad guy the whole time. And with little time left to make things right, he did what he could. While I’ll talk about his “end” later, it was genuinely moving to see him take those long-awaited steps toward the light—something Johnny and Tory had always wanted for him.

With the Sekai Taikai back on, everything started moving toward it and its aftermath, and I really appreciated how they handled it—especially the final arcs of Daniel and Johnny.

Daniel finally came to terms with the true legacy of Miyagi-Do, and Mr. Miyagi himself, was mostly well-handled. I especially appreciated how, despite everything, Daniel was willing to step out of the spotlight, allowing Miyagi-Do’s legacy to live on through those giving their all—like Robbie, Sam, and yes, Johnny. The motivational speeches he gave them were touching, showing his growth as both a sensei and a friend. After all, everyone processes things differently, and understanding that is key to supporting others. Seeing Daniel apply that lesson to those around him was great to watch. Likewise, his reconciliation with his complicated feelings about Cobra Kai—what it truly meant despite the events of the past few years—added another meaningful layer to his arc. But…

…this is Johnny’s show, and Part 3 emphasized that in the most beautiful ways possible. Yes, with Daniel, Kreese, Silver, and the kids all playing major roles, it’s easy to forget that Johnny is just one piece of the puzzle… but Cobra Kai was always his story. It chronicled his growth from Ace Degenerate to Ex-Degenerate. The final episode’s opening scene drove that home—when he visited his mother’s grave, apologizing for letting her down and mourning the fact that, for much of his life, he never had people truly in his corner.

That theme carried through the Sekai Taikai, where Johnny’s Cobra Kai instincts kept kicking in—not out of selfishness, but because he refused to limp away when he knew there was still more to fight for. It showed in his conversation with an old friend, where he reflected on how his last perfect day was all the way back in 1983. And it showed in his talk with Kreese, where he finally admitted that, despite everything, he had loved him. But because of that chokehold Kreese put on him—physically and emotionally—Johnny spent the next 35 years in agony, knowing the only person he could truly rely on outside of his mother… was a monster.

For Johnny, this tournament wasn’t just about winning—it was about setting things right. For himself, his new wife, his new child, and his family. It was about building something that would truly last forever. He wasn’t being selfish, like in Season 1—he was fighting for something bigger than himself. And he wasn’t going to give that up easily.

Which brings us to…

I’ll admit, there were multiple points during these five episodes where I wondered just how much time would actually be spent on the tournament. After all, there were technically only three fights to get through—and then, it was suddenly down to just two. Yet, leave it to the showrunners to pull off so many surprises that you couldn’t help but smile.

For example, it felt odd that after everything Miguel had done in the first part of the Sekai Taikai, he was sidelined for most of it, simply supporting Robbie. But thanks to Kreese, he got the chance to redon his original gi and become Cobra Kai once again… alongside Sensei Lawrence! Seriously, what a moment. And his fight with Axel? An absolute nail-biter. The back-and-forth was intense, but what truly made it special was Miguel reflecting on his journey—every hardship, every lesson—before summoning the strength to become world champion.

Not to be outdone, Robbie and Tory had their own incredible moments. Robbie choosing to let go of the tournament spoke volumes about his growth. As he put it, karate had already given him everything he ever wanted, but he never needed the win. That’s the exact opposite of Miguel, whose first All-Valley victory was tainted by exploiting an injury. For Miguel, winning this time—on his terms—validated everything he’d endured. Tory, on the other hand, did need the win—not just for herself, but to right her ship and settle past scores. Watching her and Robbie persevere, not only because of their strength but because of their relationship, was deeply rewarding. And seeing them secure sponsorships that will change their lives? That was a true full-circle moment.

And then… Johnny. Johnny Lawrence reclaiming his honor on the mat against Sensei Wolf. I knew we had to see Lewis Tan fight again, and wow, did it deliver. That final battle was everything it needed to be—a culmination of Johnny’s journey, a showcase of how far he’s come. He listened to his friends. He didn’t rush in recklessly. He fought smart. He won with skill, not anger.

For the first time in decades, Johnny Lawrence was a winner again. A hero again.

And most importantly? He now has a story to tell his daughter—about how he never gave up, how he defied the odds, how he did the impossible.

He’s a great dad. And a great dude.

For me, what truly sealed the series finale wasn’t just Johnny’s incredible victory or finally seeing him with a 100% happy life (and Cobra Kai back under his control). It was the fact that almost everyone ended up with a happy ending. Sometimes, life does work out, and while the show wisely hinted that it doesn’t always go that way (which we can all relate to), it was incredibly satisfying to see these characters get their due after everything they had endured.

That said, my Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 3 review wouldn’t be complete without a few penalty warnings—because, yeah, there were some missteps worth noting.

First, there were definitely some filler moments, and at times, they felt like unnecessary padding. Yes, I get that the show leans into its dramatic comedy roots, but some of these scenes were just tacky. The biggest offender? Dimitri reconnecting with his ex-girlfriend and then connecting with his girlfriend… yeah, we could’ve skipped that. A lot of the Dimitri scenes felt redundant. Don’t get me wrong—I’m happy that he and Hawk are still BFFs and heading to CalTech together, but dang, he was so annoying in Part 2!

Another issue? Miyagi and Sam. Sam choosing not to fight Tory in the Sekai Taikai was an honorable move, and I loved how it reinforced the true lesson of Miyagi-Do: “It’s not about fighting, it’s about not having to fight.” That was a beautiful sentiment. However, it did feel like Sam got the short end of the stick. Having her fight Tory first before Tory took on Zara would’ve been a more compelling way to settle their rivalry while still giving Tory her big moment. Maybe that’s just me, but it stood out.

And then… the vision quest. Once again, we got a CGI Miyagi, and… yeah, it still wasn’t great. Sure, it gave Daniel some closure, but the whole thing was kind of undercut when his mother later revealed she knew the real reason behind Miyagi’s past actions. Turns out—surprise!—Miyagi was a hero all along. Sure, he did still kill someone in the Sekai Taikai, but Daniel ultimately accepted it with a simple “senseis are just humans, too.” It wasn’t bad, but it felt a little convoluted and could’ve been handled in a cleaner way.

Finally, while the last episodes did a great job wrapping things up, I do feel they went a bit too big with certain beats and moments. Case in point: up until the Part 2 finale, Cobra Kai had never really leaned into “major deaths” outside of one of the OG Cobra Kai crew passing away in Season 2. That’s what made Kwon’s death so meaningful. And yet, they had Kim killing her father, then Kreese killed Terry Silver’s goon and blew up both him and Silver on a boat!

Was it cool? Absolutely. But it also felt too much—like the show suddenly became an 80s action movie, and it didn’t quite fit with the tone Cobra Kai had built over six seasons. Plus, outside of Wolf, no one even acknowledged that Silver and his goon were gone! When you add that to Dimitri’s “connection” scene, the Sekai Taikai boss KO’ing the Valley tournament board member, and some other over-the-top moments (looking at you, Chozen and Kim!), it was clear that the showrunners were reaching just a little.

Even still, as I wrap up my Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 3 review, I can’t help but smile. The shows I mentioned before—Game of Thrones, Supernatural, and even Pokémon—all had disappointing finales. I was seriously worried that Cobra Kai wouldn’t stick the landing, which would’ve been the ultimate groan-worthy moment after all the obstacles it overcame to become the legendary show it was destined to be.

Thankfully, the showrunners did just about everything right. And to top it off, they even gave LaRusso a perfect segue into the upcoming Karate Kid Legends movie! Synergy at its finest.

I will truly miss Cobra Kai. It was the little show that could—one that proved how honoring the past can create something just as beautiful and, arguably, even more important. But just remember—whether it stays on Netflix, moves elsewhere, or simply lives on in the hearts of its fans…

COBRA KAI NEVER DIES!!!