Hear me out. Not I’ve only watched the first four episodes but here are the facts.
What makes a good romance?
When we see or read about two people who just makes sense. Be it the opposites attract theory or they are so similar they can complete each other’s sentences, audiences like seeing compatible people come together.
The character building in Cobra Kai is just so on point. Johnny Lawrence, being played by the original actor who was our villain in the original movie, has not turned into a very functional adult. He quickly loses his job, he’s a dead beat dad, and probably an alcoholic that is just two steps away from homeless. Still, the stoic ass that he was in the movies, his character is struggling to adapt to the new world of social media and a ‘softer’ generation of ‘men’. Unable to reach out to anyone for help after the betrayal of his sensei we are left loving his faults and cheering for him to grow.
Daniel LaRusso our hero from the original movie, also played by the original actor, is Johnny’s opposite. His character is well off. He has a successful used car business, he is a perfect husband, with three kids each with their own flaws but overall are well adjusted to the times. Daniel walks that line of arrogant and insecure extremely well. He wants to be who he was in the original movie but his life has changed, the world has changed, and it has taken him with it leaving him little control over his own life.
Although I am really enjoying all the little details in the show and there are many… I am glued to each episode because I want these two men to come together. Every episode I watch as they get so close to learning more about each other and maybe finding common ground. But every episode something comes between them pushing them further apart.
This is literally the definition of a slow burn romance! They are opposites both needing something to find their place in the world and be happy.
The push and pull is soo well done. Yes, these two men are unlikely to come together sexually, but romance it’s always about sex. The bromance can be just as strong and be just as satisfying to watch.
But what if the bromance never happens? What if they end up on opposite side of the next tournament their yin and yang tragically never completed?
If you enjoy people and romance in anyway, Cobra Kai has a much different presentation, but it will fill you with all your push and pull needs.
