Miyagi-Do's Decision At The Sekai Taikai Perfectly Ends Daniel LaRusso's Story In A Way The Karate Kid Movies Couldn't Do

Warning! Spoilers for Cobra Kai season 6, part 3, ahead!

Cobra Kai managed to perfectly bring Daniel LaRusso's story to a satisfying close, but the Netflix series completely ignored the fact that his story would continue in a new Karate Kid movie. Cobra Kai was the first spinoff to return to Daniel's character after the popular 1980s film trilogy. Of course, he wasn't the main character this time, since bad-boy Johnny Lawrence stepped in as protagonist. Still, Daniel's arc was organically carried over from The Karate Kid to Cobra Kai, and the series' final season gave him a heartwarming and impactfully fitting resolution.

Daniel and Johnny were the original rivals of The Karate Kid, and Cobra Kai revolved heavily around their continued relationship. However, Daniel also had a lot of personal development in the spinoff series. Between season 1 and season 6, Daniel's black-and-white perspective on morality that had developed back in his teen years went through a significant evolution. He fixed up his differences not only with Johnny but also with Chozen and Mike Barnes. This evolution resulted in the perfect conclusion for Daniel's story in Cobra Kai season 6—a poetic and formulaic end.

Miyagi-Do Pulling Out Of The Sekai Taikai Ended Daniel's "Impressive Underdog Run"

Daniel's Story Came Full Circle

Custom image of Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid

In Cobra Kai season 6, Daniel and Johnny united under the Miyagi-Do banner to compete in the Sekai Taikai. This dojo was the underdog of the global tournament, much like Daniel was the underdog throughout the Karate Kid movies. The fact that this franchise often sees the underdog come out on top implied that Miyagi-Do would win it all at the end, but Cobra Kai season 6, part 3, pulled off a last minute bait and switch. Daniel pulled Miyagi-Do from the competition and supported Johnny's return to Cobra Kai.

When the Sekai Taikai announcer revealed that Miyagi-Do had resigned, he said it was the end of the dojo's "impressive underdog run." This line was profoundly meaningful, since the word "underdog" is essentially synonymous with Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid franchise. Through the announcer's words, Cobra Kai was subtly telling audiences that this was the end of Daniel's 40-year-long underdog run. Of course, this wasn't through defeat and loss, but Daniel's own gracious acceptance that it was no longer his turn to shine. He was passing the torch to Johnny Lawrence.

Daniel Resigning Was Symbolic Of Passing The Hero Role To Johnny

Daniel Had To Step Out Of His Role For Johnny's Sake

Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) motivates Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) before his match in the Sekai Taikai in Cobra Kai Season 6 Ep 15

Part of what has made Cobra Kai so fun is the way it plays with the character and story tropes of The Karate Kid. In season 1, Johnny ironically stepped into Mr. Miyagi's original role, serving as the old, wise sensei to the bullied underdog character (an archetype filled by Miguel). The Netflix spinoff series continued to poke around with Karate Kid's formula going all the way to season 6, but the Sekai Taikai meant a change in roles. Johnny's big match with Sensei Wolf meant he was stepping into the underdog archetype himself. He was essentially the new Daniel LaRusso.

We could walk away from this character forever satisfied.

Of course, Johnny could only take on the underdog role with his predecessor's blessing. By resigning, Daniel passed the torch to Johnny, allowing him to become the formulaic hero of Cobra Kai's story. Daniel then stepped into the sensei role, further shifting those traditional archetype slots from The Karate Kid. It's genius storytelling, and the perfect way to wrap the character arc that got its start way back in 1984. We could walk away from this character forever satisfied. However, Cobra Kai ignored the fact that there is more Karate Kid to come.

Daniel's Cobra Kai Ending Is A Problem For His Karate Kid: Legends Story

Daniel's Perfect Ending Isn't Really The End

It's difficult to imagine a better ending for Daniel's Karate Kid arc, but this character is already being revived. Only a few short months after Cobra Kai season 6 came to a close, the movie Karate Kid: Legends will hit theaters. This movie will see Daniel LaRusso team up with Jackie Chan's The Karate Kid (2010) character, Mr. Han, to teach a new underdog student. After the success of Cobra Kai, it's certainly exciting to know that we will be getting more from this franchise. However, after such a satisfying ending for Ralph Macchio's character, it feels a bit disjointed that he would be back in the game so soon.

Karate Kid: Legends will hit theaters on May 30, 2025.

Cobra Kai implied a happily ever after for Daniel and Johnny, who will run their dojos independently while supporting each other and their students. There was no hint of what was next for Daniel, and this is because Karate Kid: Legends is entirely independent from Cobra Kai. Macchio is a part of both projects, but the writers and creators have nothing to do with one another. It was ultimately better that Cobra Kai completely ignore the existence of the new Karate Kid movie, since Daniel's arc needed a satisfying resolution. Still, it will be quite a challenge for Karate Kid: Legends to do as good a job.