After much anticipation, Cobra Kai is finally back for its fifth season. The wildly popular Netflix series offers fans its most ambitious season yet, with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) faced with an issue far grander than their personal rivalry: Terry Silver's (Thomas Ian Griffith) plans to make Cobra Kai go global.
What first began as a sequel series to the Karate Kid film franchise has since moved far beyond, especially after the move from YouTube to Netflix in 2020. With Cobra Kai season 5, however, the series comes full circle and draws on several elements from the films to further the narratives of its newer show characters. With so many payoffs and callbacks, viewers can't be blamed for wondering if the story ends here—or for praying that it doesn't.
Screen Rant spoke to Zabka and Macchio about how the rivalry with Terry Silver helps unite Johnny and Danny in Cobra Kai season 5, as well as what they hope for the series moving forward.
Warning: minor spoilers for Cobra Kai season 5!
This show just keeps getting better and better and better. How far can Terry Silver go?
William Zabka: I don't think we've seen the beginning of it yet, actually. I don't want to give anything away, but into season 6, there could be some trouble coming.
Ralph Macchio: Yeah! Are there any boundaries to this guy? I mean, it just lends itself to such great drama. It's so good to have a common enemy in Cobra Kai, with Johnny Lawrence and Daniel Russo and others. It's kind of fun to play all that.
Some of the richest moments for me is when you see that togetherness with these guys that have been at odd ends with each other for decades. And to see some of that fall away, and them be there for each other? It was emotional the first time I saw some of that stuff. Because Billy [Zabka] and I as friends, going through this very unique journey over these decades—and certainly these last five years—has been very unique and kind of powerful in a way, from the character standpoint and why we care for these guys. We love them when they're at each other's throats, but we also really love them when they have each other's back. And that's a big part of the throughline. It's helping with the evolution of this story.
Yeah, I'm always rooting for them to be buddies. We're talking about season 5, and it's the best season yet. Is there an overall plan for the show? Is season 6 in the works at this point? Is there anything you can say about that?
William Zabka: No, there's nothing really we could say about that. Except we're not done, and there's no intentions of it being done. Clearly, we have a lot of real estate left to explore and more story to tell. But we don't want to overstay our welcome. It's going to be the right time for where it closes out. It's gonna be honest, as long as we're telling the truth and the fans are responding and people are being entertained, I think we'll keep marching.
Do you have more old friends you're hoping to call?
William Zabka: From the Karate Kid canon? Yes, and also from other canons as well.
I can't believe this is my spoiler question, but: Billy, how was your White Claw experience?
William Zabka: That's the best one! It was my first White Claw.
Ralph Macchio: Sounds badass!
William Zabka: It sounds badass, I'll tell you that. You have to drink a few of those to even know that it's supposed to be an alcoholic drink.
Rakph Macchio: Where's the buzz, man?
William Zabka: I laughed so hard when I read that's his drink. White Claw sounds badass, and he's drinking it. [Laughs] It was okay! Hey, thumbs up.
Ralph Macchio: It's so much fun, caveman Johnny Lawrence. You get to tap into anything. Like when you're introducing a child for the first time, and he gets to just play it as an adult. It's great fertile ground for humor.
Cobra Kai Season 5 Synopsis
Cobra Kai takes place over 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament with the continuation of the inescapable conflict between Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka).
Following the shocking results of the All Valley Tournament, Season 5 finds Terry Silver expanding the Cobra Kai empire and trying to make his "No Mercy" style of karate the only game in town. With Kreese behind bars and Johnny Lawrence setting karate aside to focus on repairing the damage he’s caused, Daniel LaRusso must call on an old friend for help.
Check out our other interviews with Cobra Kai stars:
- Xolo Maridueña, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Mary Mo & Peyton List
- Thomas Ian Griffith & Yuji Okumoto
- Dallas Dupree Young, Oona O'Brien & Griffin Santopietro
All episodes of Cobra Kai season 5 are now available to stream on Netflix.