After getting its start on YouTube Red, Cobra Kai moved to Netflix for Season 3, where it will stay for the series' upcoming 4th and 5th Seasons. Season 4 will be released on the streaming platform on December 31st, 2021, but will this season finally develop a genuine friendship between iconic rivals Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence? Season 3 ended with the two becoming allies as they prepare to face off against John Kreese for the future of karate at the All-Valley tournament.
Since the announcement of Cobra Kai as a follow-up to the Karate Kid franchise, there have been teases and speculations that a friendship between Daniel and Johnny could sprout, but so far the two have remained at odds with each other. However, not all hope is lost. Not only are they now bonded by a common enemy moving forward, but there have already been a few instances where the two have started to build a foundation for a friendship. Even though they seem to be clashing during the trailer, that's probably not the whole story.
One of the biggest pieces of evidence to support the theory that Daniel and Johnny will become friends is that they've already started to see each other differently than they did as teenagers. In Cobra Kai Season 2, Episode 9, "Pulpo," they accidentally end up on a double date and surprisingly get along. Sure, they bicker and continue to have different perspectives on what happened between them all those years ago, but they also start to see each other as adults. They end up having a decent time out together and at the time, it seemed like this was the opening that would launch their friendship. While that wasn't the case, it certainly served to build a foundation between them.
They also spend some time together with Ali Mills, which proves instrumental for them to start putting their past behind them. Their rivalry began over their mutual attraction to Ali and getting the three of them back together as adults is an important part of their journey. The evening at the country club together gives Johnny and Daniel a chance to see just how far they've come and how different they are now than they were then, even if some things have remained the same.
This means that Daniel and Johnny aren't starting Cobra Kai Season 4 from ground zero, which gives hope to the idea that this time, their forced team-up may actually stick. They are both stubborn and strong-willed men and that has made them great at karate. Unfortunately, their stubbornness also holds them back from being able to really let their guard down and make room for this friendship to develop.
It was never going to be an easy road to a friendship between Daniel and Johnny, but perhaps Cobra Kai Season 4 is the opportunity they need to finally make that leap. Being forced to come together in the past has provided opportunities for their friendship to grow, but these were lacking in long-term commitment. Now that they've been united by the goal of defeating Kreese at the All-Valley tournament, it's not something they can get ready for overnight. It's going to force them together longer than they've ever been before and now is the chance for a real friendship breakthrough.
To see if Daniel and Johnny do end up as friends, check out Cobra Kai Season 4, streaming on Netflix on Dec 31.