Cobra Kai's sixth season is divided into three distinct parts on Netflix.
Stepping back six years to when io9 originally sang the praises of the Cobra Kai YouTube series—yep, that's right, YouTube—now comes the final season, with a whopping 15 episodes sprawling across three time periods. Here's a taste of our sit-down with the show's creators Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald, and Hayden Schlossberg as they spill the beans about the supersized season, the show's first-ever world karate tournament, and that tantalizing tease from the first trailer hinting at more backstory for Mr. Miyagi.
Germain Lussier, io9: With the first five seasons, each having 10 episodes, this year we're looking at a 15-episode season split into three parts. So where did the idea for the split come from and how did it alter your usual storytelling methods?
Jon Hurwitz: This idea surfaced after completing season five, during discussions with Sony and Netflix about the future. We knew we wanted a comprehensive end, but 10 episodes felt too short, and 20 episodes too much. We settled on 15 and thought, "We'll split it into three chunks of five episodes each, much like our typical 10-episode seasons." Each part could thus be thought of as an act in a larger story.
io9: We got a sneak peek at learning more about Mr. Miyagi, but without revealing specifics, did you always plan to delve deeper into his past, and how much extra attention did you pay to crafting this story?
Josh Heald: We've wanted to explore more of Mr. Miyagi for a while, and it became a priority as we progressed further into the series. We've used Miyagi to pull on emotional strings in the past, but in later seasons, we shifted our focus from Miyagi as an idea to Miyagi as a man. Discovering new facets of his past allowed us to present a more rounded and human portrayal. Our main goal was to tell a story about an adult character uncovering hidden truths about a family member. That's a relatable experience for many people, as parents and grandparents sometimes conceal their less favorable actions or qualities.
io9: The season focuses on preparations for the Saikai Taikai, a tournament you guys created from scratch. Can you elaborate on the logistics and planning involved in bringing this tournament to life?
Hayden Schlossberg: The challenge in constructing the Saikai Taikai was finding the right balance between our desired storylines and entertaining fight sequences. We took inspiration from real-world tournaments, but ensure that our teenage kumite maintained a unique flavor. Each part of the tournament was designed to put our characters through their paces and provide thrilling, unforgettable moments.
io9: Now that the final episodes are still months away, how do the creators feel about the journey so far, and do they feel they've accomplished their initial goals without leaving anything on the table?
Heald: We're elated to have delivered on the high expectations we set for ourselves, wrapping up the storylines that mattered to us. The supersized season allowed us to craft big, ambitious moments without feeling rushed. While some storylines drew to a satisfying conclusion, others may have ended abruptly, but that was intentional, leaving something for viewers to theorize and contemplate. Although this marks the end of Cobra Kai as we know it, there's a wealth of universe-building lore that could fuel additional stories down the line.
io9: Rumor has it that some scenes were shot in the San Fernando Valley. Can you confirm this and explain why it was important to shoot in the Valley?
Schlossberg: We've always tried to incorporate new locations while staying true to the original Karate Kid. For the finale, we wanted to capture scenes in an area we hadn't visited earlier. The valley holds special significance for the series, as it serves as the backdrop for the story. Shooting there allowed us to bring the Cobra Kai era to a close with an authentic, iconic touch.
- Io9 reveals that the final season of Cobra Kai, originally praised in 2015, will have 15 episodes, split into three parts, a departure from the usual 10-episode seasons.
- Creator Jon Hurwitz describes the idea for the split, stating it was a compromise between Sony and Netflix, aiming for a comprehensive end without feeling too short or bloated.
- Josh Heald divulges that the creators have always wanted to delve deeper into Mr. Miyagi's past, focusing on presenting a more rounded and human portrayal of the character.
- Hayden Schlossberg discusses the logistics and planning involved in creating the Saikai Taikai tournament, emphasizing the balance between storylines and entertaining fight sequences, inspired by real-world tournaments yet maintaining a unique flavor.
