Cobra Kai season 3 will pick up with a time jump, star William Zabka hinted.
The actor, who plays sensei, Johnny Lawrence, in Cobra Kai, said that his character would experience a growth in the third season. After the devastating events of last season’s final episode, Zabka said that Johnny’s life would “pick up” in the opener, hinting of a time jump.
“He wasn’t doing too well at the end of season 2, and you know, it picks up a little bit later in time,” Zabka said in an interview with Collider. “[In season 3] you’re going to meet the result of what those events would do to someone like Johnny Lawrence.”
Zabka is, of course, referring to his character’s losses in the second season finale. Johnny is no longer the teacher of the dojo, and he lost the friendship of his best student, Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), after that critical fight in school.
The time jump, however, would mean that viewers will not get to see Miguel’s struggle during his recovery. But it will also explain why Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) travels to Japan.
Dojo starts earning, students more violent
But Johnny’s absence from the Cobra Kai dojo will bring in better business. Now that he’s not there to stop Kreese’s plans, the latter can keep doing what he has done in the Karate Kid films.
Actor Martin Kove (Kreese) confirmed that the karate school would increase in students in season 3. The dojo will finally earn a reputation as a good self-defense school under sensei Kreese. However, there will still be a “margin of evil” in Kreese’s characterization.
Kove hinted that his character would not mellow down as his school becomes lucrative. His students will be more violent, and he’ll likely also not put up with the landlord’s demands.
Season 3 is all wrapped up
Netflix plans to release Cobra Kai season 3 in 2021, but COVID-19 did not impact production at all. According to the show’s co-creator Josh Heald, they were able to wrap up with filming and post-production by the end of 2019.
However, details about the upcoming season haven’t spilled or leaked online except for the teaser of Daniel’s visit to Okinawa. Zabka has been doing interviews, but he’s been cryptic about what viewers can expect.
Speaking with PopCulture, Zabka could only say that Cobra Kai season 3 will not disappoint the viewers.
“If you tried to track this from Season 1 from episode one, you couldn’t because there are so many twists and turns and ups and downs, and it continues in Season 3,” the actor said.
Cobra Kai season 1 and 2 are now streaming on Netflix.
Image courtesy of Netflix/YouTube