One day Cobra Kai is going to cease being so good that we’ll must cease utilizing the next joke. But that day shouldn’t be right this moment. Season 5 is now on Netflix and the Karate Kid sequel present stays the perfect…round! Nothing’s ever gonna hold it down!

Truly, Cobra Kai season 5 is like the end result of all the pieces Cobra Kai has been about. The younger characters are lastly coming into their very own, whereas the older characters are coping with the previous in methods they by no means thought attainable. Case in level, after teaming up with Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) final 12 months, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) now should additionally recruit his previous rival Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) to assist deliver down the last word dangerous man, Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffin) who’s so dangerous, he even framed his greatest good friend, John Kreese (Martin Kove).

Yup, Cobra Kai season 5 is quite a bit and when you’ve completed the season, you’re positively going to need to learn io9’s interview with its creators and producers, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald. We talked in regards to the epic, unforgettable season 5 finale, how and why all of the shock cameos got here to be, what among the large teases would possibly imply for season six, and, a lot rather more (which, sure, contains that shock Ferris Bueller spinoff). Check it out however, beware, huge spoilers abound.

Germain Lussier, io9: I like this season a lot. It’s so nice. Especially as a result of I bought to see Johnny, Chozen, and Mike struggle along with Daniel. I used to be like, “Oh my God, this is everything a Karate Kid fan has ever dreamed of.” It’s Karate Kid: Endgame. Was bringing all these characters collectively the dream in the beginning? Or did you ever even suppose that might grow to be a actuality?

Jon Hurwitz: We are at all times hoping for these sorts of team-ups. The concept of getting Daniel’s nemesis from Karate Kid one, Karate Kid two, and Karate Kid three, all sharing display screen time collectively is one thing that we’ve been trying ahead to. One of our favourite scenes of the season is the very starting of the finale the place you might have all these guys and Daniel, who’ve all been wronged by Terry Silver, and all perceive the stakes of what’s happening. They’re drunk they usually’re not of their proper headspace. And for Daniel to type of nonetheless attempt to be the voice of cause, however these three villains of his previous aren’t listening to it they usually go off and depart them in the course of nowhere they usually’re able to go tackle Terry Silver in a very, you realize, ill-advised form of method, was one thing that we thought was wild and stunning and enjoyable. And simply all through the season, as we had the assorted characters sharing display screen time collectively, whether or not it’s Johnny and Chozen as a duo exhibiting up at a dojo and selecting a struggle with a sensei, or the 2 of them type of speaking about Daniel with out Daniel round and clearly Chozen and Barnes and all these totally different mixtures, it was actually like we bought all of our toys, all of our motion figures and have been like, “We’re bringing them all out right now. Let’s just go have some fun and play.” And that’s what the season was in a nutshell.

io9: It was so nice it actually might have been a sequence finale. I imply, clearly, this season teases different locations season six can go and we’ll get to that but when, six years in the past, you mentioned “It’s going to end with all those guys together,” I might’ve been like, “Oh, my God, perfect.” I do know you’ve mentioned you might have an concept of the place it’s going to finish, however was this type of final showdown ever thought-about for a sequence finale?

Josh Heald: That [idea] was by no means, by no means thought-about to be the sequence finale. We definitely felt there have been story issues taking place right here that…may have sequence finale vibes about it, however we additionally know the place we’re going and that is all a prelude to an eventual climax. But yeah, it’s laborious to not be in these moments on set or within the script even, and, and really feel, “Okay. This is Avengers. It’s reached that Endgame moment where you have all these people coming onto the battlefield to fight this singular villain.” But there’s one other villain on the market and, you realize, and he did simply escape from jail with nothing to lose and with vengeance on his thoughts. And that’s the enjoyable. You have 95% of our characters residing on this world the place evil has been destroyed. But that one chess piece can come again and may simply decimate that complete board. So there’s plenty of enjoyable to return.

io9: Yeah. I need to return to Mr. Kreese in a second right here, however you talked about bringing in new toys, so I’ve to ask about Sean Kanan and Robin Lively. Talk to me in regards to the selections to deliver again their characters from Karate Kid III, Mike Barnes and Jessica Andrews, and the way they every match into this story?

Hayden Schlossberg: We simply go the place the story takes us. When we deliver characters from the unique films, we attempt to give them function and never simply be like, “Hey, remember this person” and that’s it. And that’s the magic of the present. You have these characters are available they usually serve a perform on this modern-day story. So it’s bringing again nostalgic vibes whereas engrossing you in a serialized story.

So, Mike Barnes, it simply made sense to deliver him on this season as quickly as Terry Silver is now in command of increasing and he’s going to be on the lookout for senseis. Every fan of the unique films could be like, “Well, is he going to seek out Barnes? What’s happening here?” Barnes goes to be on the thoughts of the viewers. And we figured it will be on the thoughts of Daniel, too. So it will make sense organically to deliver him in. And you then go into like, “Well, where is he now?” And with all of the characters on the present, we play with their relationship to the previous and the way they’ve adjusted from previous incidents, and all people does issues otherwise. And we discover that via the totally different characters. And we like the concept that Mike, not like some individuals, form of discovered his path and form of moved on in a method that the opposite characters hadn’t. But will get sucked into this story.

With Robin Lively, that was one thing the place, Amanda wanted any person to inform her what Daniel truly went via. And we’ve been speaking for years about like, “How did Daniel and Amanda meet?” We didn’t actually clarify that on the present. And we liked the concept that Jessica and he or she are cousins. And it is sensible that she got here out to L.A. and Jessica could be like, “Oh, there’s a guy you should meet him. He’s a good guy.” Because Jessica and Daniel weren’t boyfriend/girlfriend in that film. So it simply all form of made sense. And when issues occur organically like that they usually’re supplying you with stuff and telling the story, that’s once we get actually excited. And there’s extra to return with that. It’s simply all the pieces needs to be specified by the proper method.

io9: Oh wow, very fascinating. Okay. Another stunning second for a few causes is when Kreese goes via remedy and we get the younger CGI Johnny Lawrence, form of like Luke Skywalker on The Mandalorian. It needed to be costly so I’m curious why the selection and what did Netflix must say about it?

Hurwitz: I can’t inform you how costly it was or not, however I’ll say that once we got here up with that sequence, we wished Kreese to face his previous and his current. And the concept of him seeing a younger Johnny, the Johnny that we knew from Karate Kid and to do a deepfake was one thing that excited us within the author’s room. So we appeared into it. I don’t suppose it broke our financial institution, nevertheless it was one of many issues there was loads of forwards and backwards on like “How can we make it look better and better and better?” And there have been loads of drafts of that when it comes right down to it. But we love the end result and we predict we’ve got a couple of scenes this season – whether or not it was that scene or Samantha LaRusso preventing herself – scenes that have been various kinds of filmmaking exploration that we haven’t had on the present up to now that we thought have been enjoyable additions for this 12 months.

io9: Yes, completely. Now, Josh, you talked about Kreese a bit bit. The assumption is he’s going to be a foul man subsequent 12 months, and also you form of confirmed that, however I discovered it fascinating that the second he escapes jail can be the second he’s exonerated. Terry Silver has been arrested. So will that be an element shifting forward or is it only a coincidence?

Heald: Everything’s at all times an element on this present. We not often depart hanging chads. We haven’t actually had our full Sopranos, Pine Barrens second but the place [people say] “Why haven’t they done anything with that big hanging thing?” So, it’s not likely an accident [but] Kreese clearly has dedicated a number of crimes by advantage of what he did to depart jail. So, even when there’s an exoneration, he’s nonetheless in large, large hassle and that makes him a harmful, harmful creature.

And, it’s a distinct Kreese. Every model of Kreese we’ve seen till now nonetheless held out some type of love for Johnny. Some type of hope that Johnny would come again into the fold. And Johnny actually has delivered a message in no unsure phrases in season 5 the place he and Kreese stand and that devastation is actual. Everything that Kreese is doing to govern his escape, there may be some fact behind it. When he’s tearfully speaking about how he thinks of Johnny as a son and he feels thrown away and unloved and rejected, and that being the last word ache? That’s one thing he’s residing with. And what does Kreese do with ache? Well, we’ve seen him cope with it earlier than again in Vietnam. We’ve seen him cope with it for 40 years. So it’s going to be fascinating to see the place we go from right here.

io9: If you don’t depart something hanging, this season could be the proper place to depart Terry Silver. Is this the tip of Terry Silver or ought to we simply wait and see?

Schlossberg: It’s left the place his attorneys are going to be caught up with plenty of authorized hassle so we’ll see. I might say proper now he’s a chess piece that’s been taken off the board within the karate wars. And but, he does have the cash for an excellent legal professional. So we’ll see how issues unfold sooner or later. But it’s unlucky to me as a result of I like Terry Silver and I’m rooting for his success. And in some methods, season 5 is a dream season as a result of he will get to essentially be in cost and be on high of the mountain. And so he’s taken down on the finish and it’s very entertaining, and I like it, however he’s nonetheless alive. He’s nonetheless wealthy. And who is aware of if he has extra to say.

io9: Okay. Fair sufficient. Another factor you in all probability can’t communicate to an excessive amount of is that this season, you spend loads of time organising this mega worldwide karate event. Is it protected to imagine that’s going to be a giant a part of season six and, if that’s the case, might this be the last word event ending the place the present lastly earns the proper to make use of the track “You’re the Best (Around)?”

Hurwitz: Well, you’ve requested quite a bit there. All we are able to say is that we didn’t introduce the concept of this event for no cause. Johnny, Daniel and Chozen and their college students have gained entry into this event and Cobra Kai has gained entry, no matter meaning. So we all know that the event is looming. I feel simply trying ahead normally, like our youngsters are getting older. They’re going to be on the trail of finally graduating highschool and going out into the world. So we’ll see how this event will impression that have. And we’ll see the place we go from there.

As for “You’re the Best (Around),” we’ll see if it reveals up on the present in any respect. It’s a very vital track on this universe. It’s one thing that we used on the legacy trailer once we moved the present to Netflix in a very cool method. And if we’re going to apply it to the present, we wish it to be impactful and significant and provides all these goosebumps that you simply’d need.

Schlossberg: It might simply be that the characters go [to the tournament] and simply watch it, and it’s a enjoyable factor. So who is aware of if it’ll repay. We’ll see.

io9: You guys are superb at making unconventional, good decisions however I don’t suppose that will qualify. [All laughs] Okay, by the tip of season 5, many of the characters are on the identical web page. Cobra Kai, we’re a bit up within the air about what they’re doing, nevertheless it seems like many of the adults and the youngsters are form of on the identical group on the finish. So which characters do you are feeling nonetheless have essentially the most studying to do because the present strikes forward?

Heald: That’s an amazing query. I feel we’ve left our characters in a spot the place they nonetheless all have loads of studying to do. I imply, they’ve had form of one episode the place so lots of them have both come collectively or had their eyes open for the primary time. But there may be loads of aftermath to discover. A personality like Kenny, for instance, has been via a lot up to now two seasons by way of shifting to city and beginning a brand new college and getting bullied after which discovering power after which changing into a bully and going all in. And now seeing that his emperor has no garments and realizing, “Oh, my God, I’ve been following this false prophet” and what’s actual and what’s not. And I don’t suppose it’s a lightweight swap and I feel we allude to that on the finish of season 5 when Robby tries to speak with him and he’s not prepared but.

So I feel that’s one instance of 1 relationship that has loads of meat on the bone by way of what occurs after one thing that has usually labored for you is revealed to be dangerous and also you look your self within the eye and see, “Wait a minute. Am I the bad guy?” And it’s just like what Johnny went via on the finish of season one when he’s trying on the first-place trophy that Miguel gained and pondering, “Why don’t I feel great about this?” And I feel we love that form of battle, whether or not it’s a love triangle, whether or not it’s two karate types looking for frequent floor, whether or not it’s preventing in a global event and attempting to defeat your closing demons, whether or not it’s coping with a madman on the unfastened. I feel there are such a lot of branches of this tree which can be left to climb on and we need to climb all of them.

io9: One department I’m glad you didn’t chop off, however I assumed you have been going to is, I assumed Chozen was useless. I assumed Terry was going to kill him. I’m glad he’s didn’t however was that ever a thought? Like, “Oh, should we really raise the stakes here and kill a main character like that?”

Schlossberg: We simply knew that we have been going to have this sword-on-sword struggle and that we’d earn it by episode 50 and it will be loopy and it’d be actually enjoyable. And once you deliver swords right into a struggle, they’ve to attach. Otherwise, it’s not an excellent struggle. So you do take into consideration the results of it. And you need to have your cake and eat it too, generally. I’m an enormous Terry fan and I need Terry to win. But I additionally am an enormous Miyagi fan and Chozen represents Miyagi. So you need them each to win in a sure method. And that’s what I really feel like popping out of it. Chozen was taken down, like lower up, after which lastly was in a position to up finish Terry and get him into a spot the place he form of gained the struggle, however he will get distracted and Terry’s in a position to make the most of that in traditional Cobra Kai method and wins in his personal method. And so that you get each vibes. Then it’s like “Did Chozen die?” and you’ve got the selection there of doing that. And I feel we simply have extra story to inform with these characters.

In some methods, simply by way of storytelling, the specter of dying is the visceral feeling that you simply actually need to get in these scenes. When a personality dies, it’s form of unhappy afterwards. You’re like, “Am I never going to see that character again? “So we want the audience to feel all the emotions and go through a roller coaster and at the end, still get to play with our action figures.

io9: Right, exactly. Wrapping things up, now that you’ve brought back so many characters – we even got Young Sato this season which was awesome – minus the obvious one that everyone asks you about, Hilary Swank, do you guys still have surprises left in store for fans who are like super obsessed with Karate Kid minutia like me?

Hurwitz: I’d say absolutely. I’d say that we think about all the characters that are in this world and we enjoy all of the characters in the world. As we think about it, it always starts from a place of the present-day story of what’s going on. And while we haven’t written a sixth season yet, we’ve certainly had some discussions as to the kinds of things we want to do there and the kinds of characters that may make sense to show up in a logical way. So, can’t make any specific promises but our thought is that as we move forward, there may be, you know, some other familiar faces from the past that pop-up.

io9: Awesome. And real quick, last thing, this Ferris Bueller spinoff. It kind of came out of nowhere and the news went everywhere. It sounds a little like Cobra Kai where you take something very popular and give it a nice new spin. Can you tell me a little bit about where the idea came from and what people can expect?

Heald: I can say this idea will not try to challenge anybody’s opinion or feeling about Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. We love Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which is why we’re stepping into this world. But we are also obsessed with side characters and journeys that happen off-screen. And the second that you scratch the itch of “What did those guys do with the car?” It results in an entire different bunch of questions. Who are they? What’s vital of their lives? What’s their day like? Where do they go? Was it a distinct a part of Chicago that we didn’t discover? And it’s such a special occasion, by way of what that lovely day was in Chicago. The overlap of that world alone is sufficient to get our inventive juices going. And we’re tremendous thrilled to be collaborating with Bill Posley on it, who’s one among our Cobra Kai writers, and he has such an amazing tackle it that we don’t need to spoil and we’re going to let him do his factor within the script part for now. But that’s one which we’re tremendous excited to go make.

Cobra Kai season 5 is now on Netflix.

Want extra io9 information? Check out when to anticipate the newest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on movie and TV, and all the pieces it is advisable find out about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.