WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 2 of Cobra Kai, streaming now on YouTube.
Most teen/young adult dramas incorporate LGBT themes to reflect our modern, diverse society and ensure the stories being told are inclusive. Of course, sometimes the character arcs and sub-narratives are a bit heavy-handed, as progressive storylines like this are usually taken very seriously, sometimes so seriously it drags down the show or film's narrative.
However, Cobra Kai bucks the trend by handling its same-sex angle with the style the series is built on -- pure, unfettered humor. As a result, what could have been a groan-inducing lecture ends up giving viewers one of the show's most hilarious sequences to date.
As Cobra Kai dojo's second-best student, Hawk (Jacob Bertrand) finds himself garnering more and more attention from girls. His high-school social status is on the rise, as everyone want to be affiliated with the "badass dojo" he represents, but sadly, this sees him turn from a loyal, friendly nerd into an over-aggressive jock with a bad attitude. He's grown pompous, misogynistic and turns into an unapologetic bully.
It's this regressive mentality that causes his hipster girlfriend Moon (Hannah Keppler) to dump him; after all, she's all about peace and love, not war. But when Moon throws a house party in the back half of Season 2, Hawk thinks he can roll up with his suave, cocky demeanor and win her back without changing his personality. However, when he and his Cobra Kai goons attend the shindig, Hawk experiences a rude awakening, as he finds out Moon has moved on. What's more, she has a girlfriend.
At the party, Hawk decides to show he's an alpha by being a ladies magnet, a move he believes will make Moon so jealous, she'll come crawling back to him. He spots a young lady, Piper, and decides to go over with a beer to woo her in what's clearly an homage to '80s movies' high school party tropes. But as Hawk moves in and starts dropping his lines, Moon intervenes. But rather than get jealous of Piper and declare her love for Hawk, she plant's a big kiss on the target of her ex-boyfriend's faux affection.
It's an awkward moment for Hawk, as everyone witnesses his embarrassing situation. Moon introduces Piper officially, stating their relationship is something that's "all new" to her as well. As nascent as the relationship might be, Moon and Piper make a very cute couple, leaving Hawk with his foot in his mouth after touting such a big game. For the remainder of the party, Hawk is being further tortured by everyone offering advice on how to react when your ex decides to leave you for someone of their own gender.
It's the first same-sex arc in The Karate Kid franchise, and it's handled pretty tastefully. The scene normalizes an LGBT romance between high school students, without making too big an issue out of the matter. And, yes, it helps that the sequence cuts one of the nastiest bullies in the Valley down to size.
Starring William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan and Martin Kove, Cobra Kai is currently available on YouTube Premium.