Netflix has revealed a slew of first-look images (well, technically it’s a second look) of Cobra Kai season 5, which by now is making the original Karate Kid films feel like the lower-quality spinoffs instead. The Cobra Kai season 5 first-look images also show a major returning character, revealing that Sean Kanan will return as Mike Barnes.
For those not as deep into Karate Kid lore as they should be, Mike Barnes was the teenage antagonist of The Karate Kid Part III. He trained under Terry Silver and Kreese with the plan to basically destroy Daniel LaRusso’s ability to ever walk again. He was, in short, a total asshole. How and why he is returning is unclear, but it was established that it was his actions in the All Valley Tournament that got Cobra Kai banned from competition and eventually led to its closing. Maybe now that Silver is back in charge, he’s recruiting his old student? A scene in season 4 seemed to suggest as much.
Whatever the reason, it will be up to Daniel-san and his new partner / ex-adversary Chozen to handle things as Johnny Lawrence has stepped back from karate after realizing he kind of messed everything up. Obviously, Terry Silver will be causing trouble, and with Kreese behind bars, no one is there to control his evil karate reign. It may all sound incredibly stupid written out like that, but Cobra Kai is incredibly good and does a surprising job of mixing actual stories with campy karate fighting for a series that is really, really good.
In addition to bringing back Sean Kanan as Mike Barnes, Cobra Kai season 5 will introduce new South Korean sensei Kim Da-Eun, played by Alicia Hannah-Kim. The series will see most of the previous seasons’ cast returning as well. That includes Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso), William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence), Courtney Henggeler (Amanda LaRusso), Xolo Maridueña (Miguel Diaz), Tanner Buchanan (Robby Keene), Mary Mouser (Samantha LaRusso), Jacob Bertrand (Hawk), Gianni Decenzo (Demetri), Vanessa Rubio (Carmen), Peyton List (Tory), Martin Kove (John Kreese), Dallas Dupree Young (Kenny), Oona O’Brien (Devon), Griffin Santopietro (Anthony), Yuji Okumoto (Chozen), and Thomas Ian Griffith (Terry Silver).
Check out the Cobra Kai season 5 first-look images below, revealing Sean Kanan as Mike Barnes, Alicia Hannah-Kim as Kim Da-Eun, and glimpses of returning cast ahead of its September 9, 2022 release date on Netflix. And in related news, the game Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising was recently announced.
Cobra Kai. Alicia Hannah-Kim as Kim Da-Eun in Cobra Kai. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Oona O’Brien as Devon, Peyton List as Tory Nichols in Cobra Kai. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022
Cobra Kai. Sean Kanan as Mike Barnes in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2022
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2022
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver, Peyton List as Tory Nichols in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2022
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri, Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso, Jacob Bertrand as Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz, Aedin Mincks as Mitch, Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso, Nathaniel Oh as Nate, Khalil Everage as Chris in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2022
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver, Courtney Henggeler as Amanda Larusso in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2022
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Joe Seo as Kyler, Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2022
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Courtney Henggeler as Amanda Larusso, Vanessa Rubio as Carmen in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2022
Cobra Kai. (L to R) William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2022