Spoilers for the series finale of Cobra Kai are below!
Summary
After six seasons,Cobra Kaihas ended, but the show cut an alternate ending that would have drastically changed the fate of one long-standing character. The sequel series to theKarate Kidfilms followed the continuing rivalry and eventual friendship of Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence, along with their families and martial arts students.
The series brought back several characters from theKarate Kidfilms, with the series following multiple character arcs throughout its run. One character that was brought back was Martin Kove’s John Kreese. Kreese was the original creator of theCobra Kaidojo, first seen in 1984’sThe Karate Kid. Kove would return to the role of Kreese throughout the films, withCobra Kaibringing him back to continue his antagonistic ways as a prominent regular character.The finale Kreese received onCobra Kaiwas initially meant to include more, but it was cut from the show.
What Was John Kreese’s Ending OnCobra Kai?
The final season ofCobra Kaigave Kreesea bit of a redemption arc. The character was known as a villain, implementing the Cobra Kai dojo’s “no mercy” rule. This proved to be the wrong lesson to pass along, especially with his often callous treatment of others. However, following the death of a student,Kreese undergoes self-reflection, seeing the error in his actions.He sets about mending past relationshipswith Johnny and Tory, hoping to keep them on positive paths, even acting as a father figure to the latter.
Through his actions, the Sekai Taikai tournament can continue despite Kwon’s death, which Kreese feels guilty for. He also helps Torypursue her karate dreams, which she is set to continue beyond the show’s closing moments. He also turns control of theCobra Kaidojo over to Johnny, who was initially reluctant to accept Kreese’s apology. Still, he does, seeing there is a sincerity in the troubled figure. Once Kreese feels he has set things right, even with Kim Da-Eun, a character that became integral to his story through the last two seasons, he makes one last move.
Knowing Terry Silver, a villainous cohort he helped introduce into the franchise inThe Karate Kid Part III, was on a mission of vengeance against those who crossed him,Kreese decided to make a sacrifice.While the character’s arc still wouldn’t classify him as a hero, he does aid the leads in a bombastic fashion bykilling Silver and himself in a yacht explosion.While the moment felt like a drastic choice, it was also a natural path for a man whose thinking had proven flawed for years, so even in redemption, he follows his own path.
Kreese’s Alternate Ending Would Have Given Him A Different Outcome
Kreese actor Martin Kove revealed toParadethat his character had a different ending onCobra Kai, which was filmed but never used. His arc would have been the same throughout the season, culminating in the yacht explosion that killed Terry Silver. However,after the explosion, there was a scene that would have shown Kreese alive rather than also dying in the blast. As Kove put it:
It was my hand with the ring—just the shot of the hand—taking the magazine that says, ‘Whatever happened to Terry Silver?'
While it was a simple moment, it would have drastically changed John Kreese’s fate. As it stands now within theworld ofCobra Kai, Kreese died in the same explosion as Terry Silver. The alternate ending would have implied that he survived the yacht explosion somehow, but knowing that he succeeded in dispatching Silver via the magazine headline. It would not have shown more than the actor’s hand, lasting mere seconds. However, the svene was cut from the series finale episode.
Why Was The Alternate Ending Cut FromCobra Kai’sFinale?
Kove revealed thattheCobra Kaishowrunnersultimately said the moment"didn’t feel it was necessary.“He added,“It might have been a little hokey to have the guy live through an explosion.“Kove’s sentiment about unlikely survival is fair, as most audiences may have scoffed at the idea that he could have survived the explosion, especially given his proximity to Silver when the blast occurred. However, the yacht explosion was also one ofCobra Kai’smost significant moments, almost feeling out of place on the show, which could have been amplified had Kreese survived.
Even with Kreese’s redemption arc throughout the final season, mostfans ofCobra Kaiwould likely agree that the character was better off dying in the yacht explosion rather than living in obscurity.While he earned a bit of redemption, it was too little, too late for Kreese, making his death an appropriate outcome. His death also featured hints of altruism, and the character was unlikely to thrive with the guilt he now felt, making the showrunners' choice to omit the moment the best option for the show. While there may be a future for some ofCobra Kai’sbest characters, depending on future plans, John Kreese looks to have had his final moments on the show.
