Cobra Kai Stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka Reflect on the Karate Kid Legacy - Netflix Tudum

  • News

    Cobra Kai Has Come to an End, But Its Legacy Will Last Forever

    The cast and creators pay tribute to the show’s six-season run.

    By Tudum Staff
    Feb. 24, 2025

Ralph Macchio and William Zabka have learned quite a few important lessons over the course of their 40-plus year journeys as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence in the Karate Kid films and on Cobra Kai, which recently concluded its six-season run.

Premiering in 2018, the action-dramedy revives Daniel and Johnny’s rivalry, which dates back to The Karate Kid when Daniel defeated Johnny at the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. As Daniel and Johnny formed their own dojos and recruited young martial artists like Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña), Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan), and Samantha LaRusso (Mary Mouser), it seemed impossible that these two men would ever get along — let alone fight for the same side. And yet, by the end of Cobra Kai, they become brothers-in-arms, and true friends. 

“With the finale of Cobra Kai hitting and [coming] full circle with those two main characters, it really is a lesson in ‘never say never,’ ” Macchio tells Tudum. “What I would say to my younger self in 1983 when I started filming The Karate Kid film [is], ‘Be careful what you think you know, because I thought I had it figured out at that young age. If you would've told me that I’d be 40 years later working as Daniel LaRusso with William Zabka, and Johnny Lawrence would become one of my best friends, I would just say, ‘What? Please, that’s never happening.’ ” 

Macchio hopes fans are also heartened by the unexpected evolution of Daniel and Johnny’s relationship. “Maybe [there’s] a lesson for everyone who has a foe or a person that rubs them the wrong way —  that there might be a chance or other character traits about that person or relationship that may yield fruit in the future, such as with Daniel and Johnny,” he says. 

As for Zabka, when he thinks about what makes up the “secret sauce” of the series, he always comes back to the fact that it’s something that connects with multiple generations. “Kids, their parents, grandparents,” he says, “that doesn't happen every day. I think the themes of mentorship, fatherhood, redemption, second chances — all those are universal themes that resound with everybody.”

For creators Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald, and Hayden Schlossberg, Cobra Kai was born out of the idea that anything is possible if you work to make it your reality. “For this show, I hope its legacy is how we feel about it, which is that you can follow your dreams and do anything,” says Heald. “Because the fact is that we were able to come in as outsiders to the Karate Kid universe and be able to play within it and make this robust story. We were underdogs from not having made anything in martial arts or with this much action or drama.” 

Zabka agrees, and loves how the show possesses a “positive energy” as its legacy. He says, “What I love is seeing kids who are inspired to better themselves. At the end of the day, when you watch Rocky or Karate Kid, the legacy's going to ripple on, and we're going to see little karate kids grow up and they're going to be the new Josh, John, and Hayden. They're going to create the next story in the Miyagi-verse.”

Watch the video above to see the rest of the cast reflect on Cobra Kai’s epic journey. 

Related Tags

All About Cobra Kai

  • Cobra Kai Season 6, Part 3 Ending: How the Series Finale Comes Full-Circle
    Dive into the emotional conclusion with the showrunners and star Ralph Macchio.
  • This isn’t goodbye — Cobra Kai never dies.
  • Watching Cobra Kai helps me feel less alone in my struggles to raise good kids.
  • Throw your name in the ring to be one of nine lucky winners. 

Shop Cobra Kai

Go to Netflix Shop

Based on What You’ve Watched

  • Tobias Santelmann and Joel Kinnaman star in the Nordic noir series.
  • Skyscraper Live thrills, and Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is a riveting survival tale.
  • Here’s everything to know about the action film from Gareth Evans. 
  • The Worst Ever franchise is back with deadly tales of the people next door.
  • Tobias Santelmann and Joel Kinnaman star in the twisty noir thriller.
  • Viewers also pressed play on Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials and His & Hers.
  • Director Gareth Evans takes us inside the action film’s brutal final moments. 

Discover More News

  • Championship belts will be defended, and “The Ruler” faces “The Beast.”
  • Watch Marcello Hernández, Mason Gooding, and others navigate a chaotic weekend.
  • A suburb is scandalized by a violent stalking plot. Who was really behind it?
  • The Western starring Minka Kelly and Josh Duhamel is back.
  • Alice Oseman, Kit Connor, and Joe Locke explain the finale film — and beyond.
  • KJ Apa and Diane Guerrero also join the cast of the drama.
  • As fortunes are made and lost, The Prediction Games probes if reality itself has become ripe for manipulation.
  • Ahead of Season 3, the Bellarie family has secured another drama-filled chapter.

Discover More Comedy

  • Antonia Gentry, Brianne Howey, Felix Mallard and Sara Waisglass talk ‘picking up the pieces’ of last season’s mess.
  • Plus The Bombing of Pan Am 103, The Exorcism, Scream, Gear Heads, and more.
  • The Call Me by Your Name actor transforms in these award-winning movies.
  • Stream Spider-Man, Ex Machina, Home Improvement, and more before the month ends.
  • Mason Gooding, Marcello Hernández, Ben Marshall, and Kam Patterson also star.
  • Smiles, chuckles, giggles, and full-on LOLs ahead.
  • Adam Sandler produces the coming-of-age film, which breaks a leg on Aug. 14.

Related Videos

  • While this might be goodbye, Cobra Kai never dies!
  • The action comedy’s last five episodes are almost here. 
  • Mind-blowing combat never looked so good.
  • The fight of their lives goes global.
  • Let’s see if his gum-gum moves can handle some Miyagi-Do techniques.
  • These frat bros didn’t stand a chance. 

Latest News

  • So Who Was Lilithistruth from A Toxic Love Story? Michelle Reveals True Story
    Woman with long dark hair in a light blue t-shirt sitting at a wooden desk in a dimly lit, wood-paneled room, looking forward with a serious expression.

Popular Now

  • Stream Voicemails for Isabelle, Office Romance, a new season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and more.
  • Plus: Swapped hits a major milestone, and The Hawk swings to a strong debut.