Cobra Kai 4×05 “Match Point” follows the same pattern this show has followed for four seasons. We get to a point where the characters seem to recognize that Johnny and Daniel should just be friends. They try. They can’t really look past their issues, and things end up much worse than they were before. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
It’s happened so many times that, at this point, it’s not even fun. It’s certainly not new. And though it does feel like, this time, they got closer, probably learned something from each other, and might indeed find a way to work together after all, it’s just so exhausting to still be here. It’s been four seasons, guys. You didn’t even hate each other that much, and it’s been decades.
Get over it.
Of course, there are always reasons why Johnny and Daniel end up fighting, and this episode those reasons can be directly tied to Terry Silver, who is supposedly turning over a new leaf (ha) and who actually apologizes to Daniel in this episode, and even looks like he means it (ha). Seeing Silver again isn’t a particularly good experience for Daniel, and he ends up spiraling in all the things he did wrong, and all the things he absolutely cannot let his kids, his students go through.
All the mistakes he cannot let them make.
The problem is, of course, Daniel cannot tell other people how to live. That’s been his issue with Johnny all along, well that and his sanctimonious attitude and utter lack of respect. Daniel has a good life, and he’s fought hard for the life he’s had. But he was also lucky to be surrounded by good people who cared, and who taught him good things. Johnny didn’t have that fortune. So when Daniel looks and Johnny and judges him for the decisions he’s made, it’s easy to forget that, as many bad choices as Johnny has made – they’re not all on him.
Of course, this is no excuse for Johnny’s behavior sometimes. Childish doesn’t even begin to cover it, but he is certainly not the only one at fault, and often times he’s the one who seems more willing to bend for the good of others. It’s just that he and Daniel are never truly in a meet-in-the-middle mood at the same time. And so they often end up taking one step forward, two steps back.
At least this feels like two steps forward, one back. They probably won’t try to murder each other next time they run into one another, so I’m calling that a win. Just as I’m calling the conversation where Daniel tells Johnny about The Karate Kid III a win. I also wish they hadn’t cut away from it, because I could have used the refresher. Now there’s a movie I have never re-watched, and never truly want to.
Ironically, Daniel and Johnny issues always end up biting their respective kids on the ass. Except, this time, it’s Sam who agrees with Johnny and Miguel who agrees with Daniel. But when push comes to shove, they all follow their own parental figure, and we end up right back where we were.
With two separate dojos trying to take on Cobra Kai, and nowhere near ready to do so. Especially as, ironically, the only people actually working cohesively this season are Kreese, Silver and the rest of Cobra Kai. Not that I expect that to last. Robby is too good a person for Kreese and Silver, Tory has more of a heart than she tries to pretend and oh yes, there can only be one alpha around. Not sure who will win, Kreese or Silver, but I anticipate the days of working together in harmony will come to an end sooner rather than later.
Perhaps that’s the silver lining for Miyagi-do and Eagle Fang. Perhaps if Cobra Kai ends up having some internal issues, they can actually take on Cobra Kai. I kinda hope so, because especially after the way Hawk looked at the end, utterly broken, it’s hard to have sympathy for Cobra Kai in general. Even considering all the redeeming qualities of some of its members. Even considering Kenny.
We still have our favorites, and though it might be sometimes hard to choose between Daniel and Johnny, no one’s choosing Cobra Kai, that’s for sure.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Cobra Kai 4×05 “Match Point”? Share with us in the comments below!
Cobra Kai season 4 is available to stream on Netflix.