"Cobra Kai" Is The Best New Show On Netflix, So Here's Why You Need To Watch

    Strike first, strike hard, no mercy. 🐍

    Lauren Garafano
    by Lauren Garafano

    BuzzFeed Staff

    This past weekend, Seasons 1 and 2 of Cobra Kai dropped on Netflix. As a person who loves TV, lemme just say that this show is everything I could ever want in a television series.

    But in case you haven't watched it yet, here are 15 reasons why you definitely should:

    1. Cobra Kai follows the events 34 years after The Karate Kid, so it's not a ~reboot~. It's actually more of a sequel series.

    2. And don't worry if you haven't seen The Karate Kid, because this show is totally capable of being enjoyed as a standalone series.

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    As someone who didn't grow up with The Karate Kid, I can confirm the show is just as great without having seen the original movie. You don't need to be afraid of missing something important, because there are a BUNCH of flashbacks too. But if you have seen the movie, the series is just that much more enjoyable.

    3. Both Ralph Macchio and William Zabka helped develop the series, and reprise their iconic roles as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, respectively.

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    Macchio told Rolling Stone that it was important to make sure the series honored Mr. Miyagi's legacy, especially since Pat Morita, who played Miyagi, the movie’s director John Avildsen, and producer Jerry Weintraub all died before the show’s creation.

    4. Aside from Macchio and Zabka, the show features a whole bunch of equally talented up-and-coming actors who you can't help but love.

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    Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Jacob Bertrand, and Xolo Maridueña are just a few of the show's incredible actors.

    5. You'll also see a few more familiar Karate Kid characters, in addition to Daniel and Johnny.

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    Martin Kove and Rob Garrison make appearances, along with some others.

    6. The series is a perfect mixture of genres with aspects of comedy and teen drama...

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    7. ...plus a just-right-sized sprinkle of action.

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    And there's nothing too NSFW, so it's perfect for the whole family.

    8. Also, the nostalgia and the current mainstream combo is *chef's kiss*.

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    Like I said before, it's based on the iconic hit '80s movie, so you best believe there'll be a lot of nostalgic references. From the iconic band tees and retro cars to Johnny's inability to understand how to use a computer, older fans will be able to LOL just as much as the younger fans.

    9. The series originally debuted on YouTube Premium in 2018, but since being moved to Netflix, the show has gone from being a super niche web series to ranking No. 1 in a matter of days.

    10. It's a super easy binge-watch with two 10-episode seasons, and each episode is about 30 minutes long.

    11. The fight scenes are absolutely bonkers.

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    You will literally never be able to stop watching them because they're just that good.

    12. You'll come for the Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do rivalry, but you'll stay for the nuanced, well-written characters.

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    Cobra Kai does an incredible job of humanizing everyone. There are no clear villains or heroes in this story, which makes it even more entertaining. The Cobra Kai–Miyagi-Do rivalry is just the catalyst for all the action that comes.

    13. Basically, everyone in the entire cast is a total badass.

    14. Not to spoil the end for you, but Season 2 leaves you on a H-U-G-E cliffhanger.

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    This show is practically begging you to keep watching. It's storytelling at its finest, folks.

    15. And finally, the best news: Season 3 is coming in 2021.