What [SPOILER]'s death could mean for the finale

Key insights

• In Cobra Kai Season 6, a tournament-wide brawl occurs at the Sekai Taikai, resulting in the tragic death of a character.
• The cancellation of the Sekai Taikai could serve as a reboot for Cobra Kai and focus on character reflections.
• Kwon's death could be related to Miyagi's past and may reveal more about his karate philosophy.

If there is one thing Cobra Kai Love, it's a total karate brawl. Season 2 culminated in a school-wide brawl that left Miguel seriously injured. In Season 3, Cobra Kai students stormed the Lawrusso Residence and Eli stepped forward and defended Demetri. Season 5 featured an amazing reunion of all of Daniel's former rivals, who banded together to take on Terry Silver and his team of evil sensei. Cobra Kai uses these entertaining and rewatchable films not only to showcase action, but also to mark turning points in the series. Season 6, Part 2 ushered in the biggest brawl of all, with a tournament-wide battle breaking out at Sekai Taikai. Its tragic ending, which results in the death of a character, is the most important ending to each of these battles.

Cobra KaiIn true sports anime fashion, is all about karate, from teenage rivalries to tournaments to philosophies, teaching the soul of the entire San Fernando Valley. Daniel's wife Amanda has pointed out throughout the series that the karate wars have gone too far. In the past, feelings have been hurt, homes destroyed and bones broken. However, Kwon Jae-Sung, the hot-headed star of the revitalized Cobra Kai dojo, is the series' first karate victim.

During the brawl at Sekai Taikai, Kwon John finds Kreese's Eunjangdo. He tries to use it to fight Axel Kovačević, one of the captains of the ferocious Iron Dragons, but accidentally fatally stabs himself. With Kwon's life cut short, the characters are now more affected than ever Cobra Kai will have to re-evaluate their attitude towards karate and towards each other.

The Sekai Takai could be canceled

There was great tension during the game between Axel and Robby. Axel, frustrated with Robby's defensive strategy, asked if he would fight and pushed him over to where some of the Cobra Kai fighters were standing. Kwon elbowed Robby in the side, causing Miguel to defend him. Axel, who had a crush on Sam, jumped in, hoping for a chance to fight Miguel. Sekai Takai host Gunther Braun was looking to end the fight when he was knocked out by Tiger Strikes Sensei Ivanov.

The Tiger Strike team was disqualified for doping and returned to seek revenge. Without Gunter, no one could stop the chaos that ensued. Students fought against students. Senseis fought against senseis. Kwon wanted to attack Axel but plunged the knife into his own body, resulting in his death. Gunther woke up just in time to see what had happened and asked for the cameras to be turned off.

While it has emerged this season that a strange death can occur at these tournaments, there is a possibility that there has never been a televised death before. Furthermore, the lack of sportsmanship at an international tournament designed to celebrate the skills of participants around the world would undoubtedly lead families and news outlets to question the ethics of the Sekai Taikai.

Although it may seem anti-climatic, the cancellation of Sekai Taikai could serve as a new beginning Cobra Kai. Instead of the competition, the remaining episodes could focus on the characters saying goodbye and reflecting on what learning karate means to them. It was never about trophies. It was always about the bonds formed between these characters.

Old enemies can make amends

At the core is Cobra Kai and the Karate kid Films are about the relationships between fathers and sons. Daniel, whose father died before the events of the first Karate kid film, found a positive father figure in Mr. Miyagi. In Cobra KaiJohnny explains that his father abandoned him when he was in kindergarten and that his mother married Sid Weinberg, who had no interest in being a real stepfather. Under the strict tutelage of John Kreese, Johnny became who he is. While Daniel thrived thanks in large part to Mr. Miyagi, Johnny wasn't so lucky and lived as a down-on-his-luck handyman at the start of the series.

While Daniel and Johnny have grown into both father figures and fathers to their biological children over the course of the series, their relationships with their mentors still have a profound impact on them. In Season 6, Part 2, Johnny gives the Miyagi-Do students a less-than-stellar pep talk that stems from him projecting his own past. Despite all his growth, he still worries that his students will end up like him, and out of fear he uses the same harsh rhetoric as Kreese.

Cobra Kai may have some great antagonists, including the wonderfully evil Terry Silver, but John Kreese has always been the series' ultimate enemy. Kreese himself struggles with his affection for Johnny, calling it a “weakness” and trying to eradicate it. Despite this, Johnny proves to be the bigger man when he defends Kreese from Silver. This act could finally start a reconciliation between these two men. Despite their best efforts, they mean a lot to each other and are just as much family as Daniel and Mr. Miyagi.

Kwon's death will be a reminder of Miyagi's past

Kwon's death was foreshadowed by the revelation earlier this season that Mr. Miyagi, the series' most popular mentor, had once killed another competitor in the Sekai Taikai. (This isn't uncommon in the martial arts genre.) Daniel is understandably shaken by this, but just looking at the competition sheet might not tell the whole story.

After all, Axel didn't intend to kill Kwon; Kwon accidentally stabbed himself. It could be that Miyagi's situation was similar. Or perhaps Miyagi killed a competitor in an accident, causing him to change his karate philosophy and decide to teach Daniel a defense-oriented approach. Perhaps the only reason he agreed to train Daniel for a tournament in the first tournament Karate kid film was because it recognized that Kreese's relentless approach was similar to one he had once shared. Even though Daniel wasn't able to get any answers in this part of the season, there's a good chance he'll get some answers before the finale.

It's hard to say goodbye Cobra Kai. It's a rare sequel series that not only dominates the ratings but has also been praised by critics. Not only does it indulge in nostalgia, it builds on it with great action and a big heart. Now that the show has thrown down its biggest dramatic gauntlet, the stakes are higher than ever. However, given the love these creators and actors have for their characters, it will undoubtedly end with a bang.