The Best Moments In Cobra Kai Season 5 Ranked

If there's one thing we've come to expect from "Cobra Kai," it's returning characters from the original "The Karate Kid" film trilogy. Season 5 provides yet another touching return with Jessica Andrews (Robyn Lively), Daniel's would-be love interest from the third film. Fed up with all the karate, Amanda LaRusso (Courtney Henggeler) has taken Sam (Mary Mouser) and Anthony (Griffin Santopietro) to her mother's house to gain some much-needed perspective. She goes out to dinner with her cousin — who turns out to be Jessica! Not only is it an exciting return, but we also learn that she's the one who connected Daniel and Amanda in the first place. In "The Karate Kid Part III," Jessica leaves town before the climactic tournament, and we're left to wonder if she and Daniel will remain friends after their disastrous last night of dancing. They've kept in touch, and her return is a sweet coda to a love story that never really got off the ground.

Jessica also gives her cousin some crucial insight into Terry Silver's dangerous tactics. She was around for Silver's original reign of terror and knows full well what he's capable of. Jessica helps Amanda understand what her husband is going through and reminds her that she has strength as well. A group of girls from their past puts this bravery to the test in a drunken bar fight while also revealing Amanda's old nickname, Babe Ruthless, which was inspired by the fact that Amanda once smashed her teacher's car with a baseball bat.

"Cobra Kai" has never shied away from a cheesy '80s reference, and the third episode kicks off with one of the best in all five seasons. Exhausted after a long shift, Carmen (Vanessa Rubio) gets home and notices a problem with her sink's faucet. She calls Johnny for help, and he instantaneously appears at her door in aviators and a flight jacket ready to help her with whatever she needs. This kicks off a musical montage filled with scenes of Johnny playing volleyball, riding a motorcycle, and enjoying a backyard dinner with Carmen, Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), and their new baby. It's set to the Kenny Loggins song "Playing With the Boys," a cheeky nod to the iconic volleyball scene from "Top Gun." Carmen wakes up in bed next to Johnny, pleased with the dream she just had and excited about the life they plan to build together.

The montage itself may be cheesy, but it doesn't overstay its welcome. It's just silly enough to let us know that everyone's in on the joke. Johnny rides around on a motorcycle with a baby in a carrier and carelessly tips over a stroller to kiss the empty carrier. What romantic '80s montage would be complete without a blue-lit bedroom make-out sequence, a hilarious parody of Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis's iconic yet physically uncomfortable love scene from the classic 1986 film? It's usually Johnny who dreams about reliving his glory days in the 1980s, so the fact that this is Carmen's dream proves he's truly found his perfect nostalgia-loving match.

Cobra Kai's original sensei, John Kreese, is one of the 1980s' most iconic villains, terrifying simply because he feels so familiar. He encourages bullying and manipulates a teenage Johnny to illegally injure Daniel during the final match of the All Valley Tournament. The opening scene of "The Karate Kid Part II" is a shocking act of abuse and violence, as a furious Kreese breaks Johnny's second place trophy and chokes his young student in the tournament's parking lot. "Cobra Kai" has endeavored to give Kreese a more sympathetic backstory, and in previous seasons, we've learned about his mother's battle with mental illness, his lost love, and the extreme trauma he suffered while serving in Vietnam. It's tempting to want to forgive the now elderly villain, but his continued manipulation of Cobra Kai students makes it difficult to determine his motives.

Trying to qualify for early release, Kreese undergoes therapy in prison, and it's there that he makes significant steps towards forgiveness. In a difficult session, he confronts memories of everyone he's hurt over the years, including his Army commander, a former flame, recent students, and even a younger version of himself. However, it's his confrontation with a young Johnny that hits especially hard. Johnny reminds him that though he may believe his intentions were noble, he has caused a significant amount of pain, and there's still a long way to go on the road to redemption.

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Initially, "Cobra Kai" was structured as a fish-out-of-water story about Johnny Lawrence struggling to leave the past behind and embrace the possibilities of his future. This has never seemed more possible as Johnny prepares for a baby with Carmen and a new opportunity to correct the mistakes of his past. However, the now beloved anti-hero will always have a bit of a rough edge, and his attempts to support a burgeoning family are bound to come with some growing pains. Having closed his dojo and lost his source of income, Johnny plans to become a ride-share driver, a plan sure to blow up in his face. While no one should expect this brash alpha male to do well with customer service, Johnny's first day on the job is spectacularly bad.

First, he must get a phone plan as well as what he quaintly calls a "car" phone, and he doesn't want to spend more than $50. Luckily, Demetri (Gianni DeCenzo) is on hand to assist and sets him up with a smashed phone that may or may not cut his fingers. Johnny racks up one-star reviews by blasting Billy Idol (not the Billie Eilish that was requested), missing turns, delivering cold food, and even peeing into an empty beer can while driving. It's a funny moment made even more enjoyable because we've all had a driver or two just like him.

In addition to awesome '80s references, exciting cameos, and tongue-in-cheek nostalgia, "Cobra Kai" is known for its elaborate karate battles. Memorable examples include Miguel's Season 1 battle in the cafeteria, the epic brawl through the school hallways that concludes Season 2, and the climactic Christmas fight that essentially destroys the LaRusso house in the Season 3 finale. Each season ends with either a tournament showdown or a major fight involving most if not all the fighters from each dojo showcasing the skills they've learned throughout the season. The show's fifth outing is no exception.

Determined to expose Silver as a dangerous cheater, the Miyagi-Do students break into Cobra Kai's flagship dojo to upload footage showing Silver attacking Stingray and admitting that he bought Tory's tournament win. However, Silver is aware of their plan, having been tipped off by a spy within the Miyagi-Do ranks. Once they've broken in, the Cobra Kai students flank them, preparing to defend their home turf. This confrontation sparks an epic brawl through the dojo as Demetri tries to upload the footage. Kenny and the Cobra Kai team try to stop him. Season-long rivalries come to a head. Tory finally teams up with Devon (Oona O' Brien) against the sadistic Kim Da-Eun (Alicia Hannah) and Sam, Miguel, and Robby all work together against a common enemy. It's an exciting showdown that culminates in a one-on-one battle for the ages.

Cobra Kai's overarching message has always centered on friendship, and these themes weave their way through its dynamic 5th season. Attempting to teach the Miyagi-Do students to work together, Chozen designs a challenging lesson. Each student must protect one egg in any way they choose. One by one, Chozen smashes their eggs until Anthony suggests they store them together. With all their eggs literally in the same basket, the students form a circle around them, internalizing the lesson that they are stronger together than they could ever be apart.

This lesson comes in handy during the dojo brawl when the Miyagi-Do students must protect a tablet while the footage of Silver's confession uploads to the internet. The team surrounds Anthony as he watches the bar slowly rise to 100 percent. While exciting on its own, the scene is even more emotional now that nearly all the characters we've come to know and love are finally fighting on the same side. Robby, Miguel, Hawk (Jacob Bertrand), Demetri, Sam, and even Tory have at last teamed up to serve a common goal. Some of these alliances are more uneasy than others, but it's thrilling to finally have a decisive team to root for.

The Miyagi-do dojo has seen its share of ups and downs over the years. Shuttered after Mr. Miyagi's death and closed again after Daniel and Johnny lose the All Valley Tournament, the dojo at which Daniel first learned karate now bears a sheet over its sign with the doors permanently shut. With Silver taking over the Valley with a slew of Cobra Kai-branded dojos, spreading his patented brand of manipulative bullying, Daniel has no choice but to reopen. After a pep talk from Amanda about fighting the good fight and a long-awaited reconciliation with his first student, Robby, Daniel walks out into the courtyard to see his students waiting for him — Johnny and Chozen at his side.

Season 3 concludes with a similar scene as Johnny and Daniel merge their dojos, determined to take down Cobra Kai under Kreese's leadership. This time, however, feels more triumphant. Johnny and Daniel have formed a solid partnership and finally trust each other after decades of resentment. Daniel also has the added benefit of Chozen, who now seems like part of the LaRusso family. Most importantly, everyone Danial cares about is finally fighting on the same side. They share a common goal and have reconciled at long last. There's no word yet on what the combined dojo's name will be, but one thing is sure. This dojo's members are stronger for everything they've been through.

For five seasons, Johnny has been a lovable but flawed antihero. Part of the appeal of "Cobra Kai" has been watching him break free from the shadow of his loss to Daniel at the All Valley tournament. If the show has a throughline, it's that no one is past redemption, and even the worst bullies are capable of regaining their humanity. We explore this theme with Johnny, but the addition of Chozen offers a masterclass in leaving the past behind. Devastated by the loss of his honor in Okinawa, Chozen has spent the years since trying to become a better person. He dedicates himself to helping his former enemy take down an even bigger threat and becomes a de facto brother to Daniel.

One of the most memorable scenes in all five seasons occurs when Johnny and Chozen bond over their similar histories with Daniel — the frustrations he's caused them over the years as well as their shared admiration for his virtuosity. Not only is it a scene in which two characters we've grown to love reminisce about iconic events that feel like they could be part of our own pasts, but their conversation is a poignant reminder that we all probably have more in common with our enemies than we think. If these two one-time villains can find their way to redemption, maybe the same path is possible for us all.