William Zabka on Cobra Kai Season 6 and the Enduring Legacy of The Karate Kid

As the popular Netflix series Cobra Kai nears its conclusion with the second part of its sixth season, William Zabka, who plays the iconic character Johnny Lawrence, has been reflecting on the show’s impact and the lasting legacy of The Karate Kid franchise. In recent interviews, Zabka discussed the series’ final episodes and the significant role his character has played in the narrative.

Zabka, along with co-star Ralph Macchio, who portrays Daniel LaRusso, sat down to talk about the franchise’s enduring appeal. The actors highlighted how the show has managed to humanize its villains, making characters like Johnny just as iconic as Daniel. This depth in character development has been a key factor in the series’ success and the reason why the franchise remains strong over four decades after its inception.

The second part of Cobra Kai Season 6 sees the characters heading to the Sekai Taikai in Barcelona, where they face off against their arch-enemies from the Cobra Kai dojo. This season draws inspiration from classic 80s fight movies such as Bloodsport and Best of the Best, and the fight choreography has been praised for its improvement.

Zabka and the series creators, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, also discussed their approach to wrapping up the show. They emphasized the importance of providing a satisfying conclusion to the series while maintaining the spirit of the original Karate Kid films. With a new movie, Karate Kid: Legends, set to release in 2025, the franchise continues to evolve and captivate audiences.