Kreese's Iconic Lines - John Kreese's memorable lines like "Sweep the leg" and "No mercy" are repeated, bringing back the intensity of his character from the original films.
Bonsai Trees - The bonsai trees at Miyagi-Do are a direct reference to Mr. Miyagi's teachings and his deep connection to bonsai as a form of meditation and art.
Wrecked Cars & Relationships - The tension between Daniel and Johnny is mirrored in scenes involving cars, such as Johnny’s iconic Pontiac Firebird and the car dealership rivalry.
The Skeleton Costume - Miguel's skeleton costume at the Halloween dance is a clear nod to Johnny’s costume from the original "Karate Kid" movie.
Mr. Miyagi’s House - The setting of Miyagi-Do, with its traditional Japanese aesthetic and serene garden, is a nostalgic callback to Mr. Miyagi's home and dojo.
The All Valley Tournament - The All Valley Karate Tournament is central to both the original films and the series, showcasing the competitive spirit that defines "Cobra Kai."
Cobra Kai Dojo - The dojo itself, with its familiar logo and strict training regimen, is a direct continuation of the aggressive philosophy Kreese instilled.
Ali Mills - The return of Ali Mills, played by Elisabeth Shue, not only rekindles old relationships but also brings closure and development to the characters' past conflicts.
The Crane Kick - The iconic crane kick is referenced multiple times, both in training sequences and pivotal fight scenes, symbolizing the influence of Mr. Miyagi’s teachings.
The Shower Curtain Costume - In a playful nod to Daniel's clever Halloween costume from the original movie, the show includes a similar creative disguise.
Chosen's Return - The appearance of Chosen Toguchi from "The Karate Kid Part II" brings a deep cut reference that ties up loose ends from Daniel's past.
Tommy’s Illness - The reunion of Johnny's old Cobra Kai gang and the heartfelt farewell to Tommy mirrors real-life emotions and nostalgia for the actors and fans alike.
These callbacks and Easter eggs not only pay homage to the beloved franchise but also enrich the storyline of "Cobra Kai" by weaving in familiar elements that longtime fans will appreciate. Encouraging viewers to spot more deep-cut references will keep the comments
Bonsai Trees - The bonsai trees at Miyagi-Do are a direct reference to Mr. Miyagi's teachings and his deep connection to bonsai as a form of meditation and art.
Wrecked Cars & Relationships - The tension between Daniel and Johnny is mirrored in scenes involving cars, such as Johnny’s iconic Pontiac Firebird and the car dealership rivalry.
The Skeleton Costume - Miguel's skeleton costume at the Halloween dance is a clear nod to Johnny’s costume from the original "Karate Kid" movie.
Mr. Miyagi’s House - The setting of Miyagi-Do, with its traditional Japanese aesthetic and serene garden, is a nostalgic callback to Mr. Miyagi's home and dojo.
The All Valley Tournament - The All Valley Karate Tournament is central to both the original films and the series, showcasing the competitive spirit that defines "Cobra Kai."
Cobra Kai Dojo - The dojo itself, with its familiar logo and strict training regimen, is a direct continuation of the aggressive philosophy Kreese instilled.
Ali Mills - The return of Ali Mills, played by Elisabeth Shue, not only rekindles old relationships but also brings closure and development to the characters' past conflicts.
The Crane Kick - The iconic crane kick is referenced multiple times, both in training sequences and pivotal fight scenes, symbolizing the influence of Mr. Miyagi’s teachings.
The Shower Curtain Costume - In a playful nod to Daniel's clever Halloween costume from the original movie, the show includes a similar creative disguise.
Chosen's Return - The appearance of Chosen Toguchi from "The Karate Kid Part II" brings a deep cut reference that ties up loose ends from Daniel's past.
Tommy’s Illness - The reunion of Johnny's old Cobra Kai gang and the heartfelt farewell to Tommy mirrors real-life emotions and nostalgia for the actors and fans alike.
These callbacks and Easter eggs not only pay homage to the beloved franchise but also enrich the storyline of "Cobra Kai" by weaving in familiar elements that longtime fans will appreciate. Encouraging viewers to spot more deep-cut references will keep the comments
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Should we get another round?
00:01I don't know.
00:02Last time I went four rounds with LaRusso, I caught a flick to my face.
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top ten Cobra Kai callbacks
00:11slash Easter eggs.
00:13Hey, watch it.
00:16I'm wearing white here.
00:20You think I went that all over me?
00:21For this list, we'll be looking at references and little details from the first three seasons
00:26of the sequel series to the Karate Kid franchise.
00:29Did you catch any deep cut references in Cobra Kai?
00:31Let us know in the comments.
00:34Number 10.
00:35Skeleton Costumes.
00:36Well, I can't let you go out like that.
00:37We have a reputation up home.
00:39What do you suggest?
00:41In addition to karate, Miguel has repeatedly turned to his sensei for wardrobe advice.
00:45At an 80s party, Miguel breaks out Johnny's red leather jacket from the original Karate
00:50Kid.
00:51On another occasion, Johnny helps Miguel prepare for a Halloween party with a classic look.
00:55Johnny, leave him alone, man.
00:56He's had enough.
00:57I'll decide when he's had enough, man.
00:58What is wrong with you, Johnny?
00:59The enemy deserves no mercy.
01:02Miguel trades in his Deadpool slash Spider-Man slash four-man costume for the skeleton ensemble
01:08that Johnny's gang wore the night Mr. Miyagi whooped them.
01:12Of course, that was also the night they beat up Daniel, giving him unpleasant flashbacks
01:16when he sees Miguel in black and white.
01:19Turning the tables, it's Miguel who gets jumped this time.
01:22Nevertheless, the skeleton look catches on with Tory rocking a black and bones hoodie
01:27during Cobra Kai's ambush at the LaRusso residence.
01:29Tory, you don't have to do this.
01:30It's too late.
01:31This ends tonight.
01:32No mercy!
01:33Number 9.
01:34Kreese's Iconic Lines.
01:35You don't show.
01:36And it's open season.
01:37And him.
01:38And you.
01:39John Kreese remains one of the most quotable characters in the Karate Kid lore.
01:55A lot of this has to do with actor Martin Kove's delivery.
01:58Take a line such as, I like that, for example.
02:01Pretty straightforward.
02:02But listen to how Kove says it in the first film.
02:05But I like that.
02:06I like that.
02:07All right.
02:08No one touches the prima donna until the tournament.
02:13Iconic.
02:14The line resurfaces with Kreese's return in season two.
02:16Although this time he says it to Johnny rather than Miyagi, suggesting that the former student
02:21and sensei will soon be on opposing sides.
02:24Still got that hot temper, huh?
02:27But I like that.
02:29I like that.
02:31Kreese later repeats that line to Amanda, who expresses how much she dislikes that with
02:34a feisty slap.
02:36Kreese retaliates by declaring open season on the LaRusso's and Daniel's students.
02:41Another simple yet threatening line made classic by Kreese.
02:44So I suggest you prepare your students for battle.
02:49Because now it's open season on them.
02:54Number 8.
02:55Episode Titles
02:56You couldn't leave well enough alone.
02:57Cut your little twerk.
02:58No, you had to push it.
02:59Now you're going to pay.
03:02Speaking of familiar lines, many quotes from the Karate Kid trilogy have inspired episode
03:07titles.
03:08Some only hardcore fans will immediately recognize.
03:11The pilot is entitled Ace Degenerate, which Johnny was once described as.
03:15Johnny, who are you kidding?
03:16You're silly.
03:17Ace Degenerate.
03:19Ace Degenerate, man.
03:20In that same scene, Johnny is instructed to take a right.
03:23The title of another episode.
03:26Johnny once told Daniel, now you're going to pay, which is used for an episode where
03:29Daniel and Johnny are desperate for money.
03:31The title, Cobra Kai Never Dies, stems from Terry Silver in Karate Kid Part 3.
03:36Cobra Kai never dies.
03:38You bet your ass.
03:40The moment of truth isn't just an episode title, but the survivor song synonymous with
03:44the franchise.
03:46The season 3 finale, December 19, also alludes to the date that Daniel first fought in the
03:51All-Valley Karate Tournament.
03:52New champion!
03:53Daniel!
03:54You're all right, my friend.
03:55Thanks a lot.
03:56Daniel!
03:57Number 7.
03:58Bonsai Trees.
03:59Nothing exists.
04:00Whole world.
04:01Only trees.
04:02You got it?
04:03In the original film, Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel about bonsai trees.
04:16Planting the seeds for a beautiful friendship.
04:18This plays an even more essential role in the third film, with the opening of Mr. Miyagi's
04:23Little Trees.
04:24I thought of a name.
04:25I even thought of a name.
04:26Check it out.
04:27Mr. Miyagi's Little Trees.
04:28Simple.
04:29Direct.
04:30Catchy.
04:31I'm telling you, it doesn't look it now, but this plays a gold mine.
04:33What's more, the trees tie into Daniel's falling out with Miyagi, their eventual reconciliation,
04:39and their relationship's strong roots.
04:41When Daniel takes Robby under his wing in Cobra Kai, the two bond over bonsai trees.
04:46Like Miyagi before him, Daniel teaches Robby to think only the tree.
04:50Think only the tree.
04:54Then you visualize what you want that tree to look like, and you make it happen.
04:59Amanda advises her husband against convincing Robby to open a little tree store like Daniel
05:03and Miyagi did.
05:05Daniel still insists that going into the bonsai business was a worthwhile endeavor.
05:09Just don't try to lure him into opening his own bonsai tree store.
05:11You know how that goes.
05:12No, no, no, no, no.
05:14Mr. Miyagi's Little Trees was a solid business plan we just ran into some bad luck.
05:18Okay?
05:19Never again.
05:20If only it weren't for Mike Barnes and Terry Silver.
05:23Number 6.
05:24Nose Honk Finisher.
05:25Miyagi establishes at the beginning of the second film that he could easily annihilate
05:29Kreese without even throwing a punch.
05:32While Miyagi is given the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow, he instead honks his opponent's
05:38Which is far more humiliating for Kreese.
05:55Daniel finds himself in a similar situation during his climactic fight against Chosen,
06:00following his master's peaceful example.
06:13Having a rematch decades later, Chosen gains the upper hand.
06:17Thankfully, Chosen is far less murdery than he was during the Anything Goes 80s.
06:27To Daniel's surprise, Chosen has also mastered the art of nose squeezing.
06:38Daniel learns a fair deal from Chosen during his return to Japan, but Daniel taught his
06:43former enemy the meaning of mercy.
06:46Number 5.
06:47Punching Methods.
07:02Seeing how Miyagi taught Daniel, it makes sense that the OG Karate Kid would use the
07:06same methods while training the next generation.
07:09Like Miyagi, Daniel shows Robby the secret to punching while wearing catcher's gear.
07:14Daniel helps Robby find balance on a collapsed tree, calling the iconic stump scene to mind.
07:19We also get montages of them training by the water and the inevitable wax-on-wax-off callback.
07:24Johnny, meanwhile, borrows from Kreese's playbook, making Miguel do push-ups on his
07:29knuckles.
07:34Miguel has to clean up Johnny's dojo as well.
07:37Unlike Miyagi, though, Johnny is only about the free labor.
07:44Too bad Johnny didn't adopt the wax-on-wax-off technique, but maybe Miguel picked up some
07:49skills while scrubbing the toilet.
07:51You never know.
07:52Number 4.
07:53Wrecked Cars and Relationships.
07:56In Karate Kid 2, it's revealed that Daniel and Allie broke up at prom.
08:12Daniel is especially sour because Allie dumped him for a college football player and wrecked
08:16his beloved Ford Super Deluxe.
08:18At least, that's what Daniel leads Miyagi to believe.
08:22The Ford resurfaces in Cobra Kai, and so does Allie.
08:25Once again played by Elizabeth Shue.
08:27Reuniting with Daniel, Allie sets the record straight.
08:30Allie claims the football player was only a friend.
08:33She didn't appreciate Daniel being so defensive and decided to egg him on.
08:49Allie also notes that she warned Daniel about the car's brakes, suggesting that he was truly
08:53responsible for the crash.
08:55In typical Cobra Kai fashion, we get a fresh perspective that reveals Daniel's errors.
09:06Number 3.
09:07Bizarro All-Valley Tournament.
09:09History is repeated at the 50th All-Valley Championship, but in some instances, classic
09:14moments play out in reverse.
09:17This time around, Miguel takes down an opponent with the crane, stealing the move that Daniel
09:21used to beat Johnny.
09:23Hawk pulls an illegal move that gets him disqualified and Robby injured.
09:27This is similar to what Bobby Brown did to Daniel.
09:36Where Bobby reluctantly followed Kreese's orders though, Hawk remorselessly acts alone
09:41and Johnny condemns his student.
09:42It appears Daniel may use Miyagi's hand rubbing technique to heal Robby, but he leaves
09:46it to the medical professionals.
09:54Although Robby returns to face Miguel, it's Cobra Kai that emerges victorious this time.
09:59It's like a reflection of the original, but the mirror is turned upside down.
10:16Number 2.
10:17So, is the cartoon canon?
10:26Coming out the same year as Part 3, the Karate Kid animated series only lasted 13 episodes.
10:32The plot followed Daniel and Miyagi traveling around the world to return a magical miniature
10:36shrine to its rightful place in Okinawa.
10:39Throughout the series, the shrine is used to brainwash people and do basically whatever
10:43the plot demands.
10:44We think we owe the Hilary Swank movie an apology because it deserves more credit than
10:48this ridiculous show.
10:56Like most fans, Cobra Kai co-creator John Hurwitz doesn't consider the cartoon canon.
11:01However, they couldn't resist sneaking in an Easter egg.
11:05While visiting Chosen's Dojo, Daniel notices several relics on display.
11:09One of them is the spitting image of the Miyagi-Do shrine.
11:12Does it possess magical properties too?
11:22Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:26Blueberry pie.
11:27A deleted scene gets its due.
11:42Freddy Fernandez Meat Company.
11:43Remember when Daniel met Freddy Fernandez?
11:58Warm beer.
11:59Would you want a warm one when you could have a cold one?
12:13It's more than a toy drum.
12:30Ice blocks.
12:31Miyagi-Do brings the ice but Cobra Kai brings the fire.
12:52Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
12:56about our latest videos.
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13:01If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
13:19Actor Rob Garrison is best known for his performance as Tommy in the original Karate Kid.
13:23While Tommy has a few memorable quotes, nothing stacks up against.
13:32Garrison actually dubbed this unscripted line after shooting, and director John Avilson
13:37knew it would be a classic.
13:39Although the line is darkly comedic, it takes on a tragic irony after watching Cobra Kai.
13:44Johnny reunites with his old buddies, as Tommy is dying from an illness.
13:48After spending the day reminiscing, Tommy passes away in his sleep.
13:52Tommy is last seen in a body bag before it's zipped up.
13:55This twist is only made sadder knowing that Garrison passed away in September 2019, five
14:01months after this episode was released.
14:03It was his last acting role.
14:13Do you agree with our picks?
14:14Check out this other recent clip from WatchMojo, and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell
14:19to be notified about our latest videos.
14:22Thanks for watching.
14:23See you next time.