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Let's Talk - Cobra Kai
A humorously nostalgic podcast covering all things in The Karate Kid & Cobra Kai universe. Hosts: Jason Connell, award-winning documentary producer & martial arts guru, & Sal Rodriguez, comedian & toy expert/collector.
Let's Talk - Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai - S05E08 - Taikai
Let's Talk - Cobra Kai
Episode 128: Cobra Kai - S05E08 - Taikai
Jason Connell and Sal Rodriguez break down Season 05 - Episode 08 (Taikai) of the Cobra Kai series and much more.
Synopsis: A coveted spot in an elite international tournament ignites a fight between dojos. Tory's loyalties are tested. Sam struggles to let Miguel go.
Original Episode: S05E08
Recorded: 12-06-22
Studio: Just Curious Media
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Whoa, just carry. Welcome to Just curious media. This is let's talk Cobra Kai. I'm Jason Connell.
Sal Rodriguez:And I'm Sal Rodriguez. Alright, so
Jason Connell:we are back for another episode.
Sal Rodriguez:Yes. And the rating goes up with this one.
Jason Connell:It does. Absolutely. And it's a really fun episode. Season Five, Episode Eight. Cannot wait to break it down of Cobra Kai. But first, a shout out to all of our fans who continue to leave five star reviews on Apple podcast. We are going I've said this a few times already to do more fan appreciation episodes after the season. And I cannot wait to share some of these with everybody including yourself. You haven't read them because they're fantastic. No, you know, Jason, I was gonna ask I sent them to you. So
Sal Rodriguez:you send most of them to me. But I was going to ask you before we started recording, I was going to ask you what you foresee as our first episode outside of the season once the season's wrapped up? What do you see as our first special episode and I'm kind of feeling pressured now to do a a fan episode a fan appreciation episode after all this.
Jason Connell:Well, we could start there. I mean, that is a wonderful place. It's a good reset for us. We haven't done one for a while. So that may be a wonderful place to start because we could book into it before we got into this season. We had the three Patreon superfans on so what a wonderful way to book in this so I think Sal we have said it. It is going to be a fan appreciation episode.
Sal Rodriguez:Me and my big mouth it is official.
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Sal Rodriguez:it's funny in that in a commercial for for manscaped with the guy from SNL his mother gives him a mascot. And what's funny in the sketches like they don't really address the or he doesn't address the fact that his mother's giving them personal grooming so I think it's hilarious that his his mother gives him Yeah, exactly. A hip mom. Yeah, of course you're gonna give my mom gave me boxers one year when I was like already a grown man. And I was like, like, this is like why is my mom doing this? Like I'm a grown man. Why she given me boxers lets you are they GI Joe boxers. They were kind of boxer briefs but kind of short. Short boxer briefs.
Jason Connell:That's funny. Give your mother the manscape coupon which is Cobra Kai and maybe just maybe you'll get some
Sal Rodriguez:nice Pete Davidson's mother and my mother a cut from the same cloth I think love it.
Jason Connell:So we have to thank Netflix for bringing us Cobra Kai and putting it on the global scale. I must say they can Netflix. And every episode of this season was released on September 9 2022. This is season five, Episode Eight, tai chi, and a very fitting name for this episode. Stay tuned.
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, yeah, very interesting episode because it all relates to Tai Chi Tai Chi.
Jason Connell:The rating for this episode, as you alluded to is higher from last week and it is 8.5 on IMDb. Yes, very good rating. The synopsis for this episode is a coveted spot in an elite international tournament ignites a fight between dojos Tori's loyalties are tested. Sam struggles to let Miguel go. Oh, juicy. I gotta say. Well, Sal, it is time to break this down on our scene by scene breakdown. Are you ready?
Sal Rodriguez:I'm ready. And you know what I would ask anyone who's listening or watching to do what I did with this episode. I really felt like I had to pay attention
Jason Connell:to the first time ever. I mean,
Sal Rodriguez:a little more than normal. I mean, you know, I may have a little touch of the add I may have a touch of the add
Jason Connell:weight of Cinnamon, cinnamon Asia, you're in trouble cinnamon
Sal Rodriguez:Asia and a little add and a little vodka whiskey there. And hello. But I I really felt like I had to just like really like hang on to everything in this episode. And in the end, I was very pleased that I did so and I would I would ask other people to do so.
Jason Connell:Yeah. Well, when I went through for notes, it took me a while it's dense. There's a lot of great dialogue. There was so much to unpack. Hacking. So yeah, it's almost like it becomes the length of breaking down a movie as we get later into the Season and Season Five at that. We're taking everything from season one and just pulling it with us and grabbing new stuff the whole time. So it is a lot and I'm excited that we're coming up on episode eight man. We're two away from the finale but right here and now let's jump in to Tai Chi. I'm ready. So we opened it Cobra Kai and a limo arrives was distinguished members of Sekai Tai Chi, led by Gunther Braun, who is a Danish actor in real life played by well, he is Carsten Norgaard. And you may recall him from D to Mighty Ducks to he played wolf, the dentist stansson, who was the Icelandic coach that battles are famous ducks, and I didn't recognize him from that. I did see that movie many, many, many years ago. So I looked it up as like, of course, because this guy is great. He is fantastic. And is the only one that speaks for the Tai Chi ever.
Sal Rodriguez:That's true. He is the man in charge, it seems, or at least the man in charge of the delegation,
Jason Connell:right? Yes. So So just as creased shared with Johnny and Daniel in the previous episode. He indeed did share Silver's plan and it is coming to fruition here. It wasn't just BS. This is a true thing. The Sekai tai chi, and it's amazing to see it unfold before our very eyes.
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, because we have already heard about this now, even though this did happen in the past, but happened in the past of Cobra Kai. Not in the past a karate kid,
Jason Connell:right? Yeah. But then Silva goes on to say what?
Sal Rodriguez:Karate gave my life structure, function, purpose. And it's doing the same for my students. I only want to spread its lessons further. Give every kid the chance to learn and grow through karate, just like I did.
Jason Connell:So he's sharing this to Gunther and the rest of the committee because he's just feeding the silver ramblings the BS his ideology, and trying to win them over because he probably flipped the bill to get them here much like he did with Kim and her crew because you know, no expense spared for silver. But just as several makes this claim that Cobra Kai is the best dojo in the valley, which we hear a lot lately. We've heard that a few times on recent episodes, but who arrives
Sal Rodriguez:I was surprised I thought Terry was gonna go along on his sales pitch. And yeah, all of a sudden inside the Cobra Kai Dojo walks, Daniel who introduces himself as to time all Valley champ Gianni who introduces himself as to time all Valley champ chosen introduces himself as master Sensei and they bow and Amanda. Yes, and Amanda says karate adjacent yet with a very awkward bow. Right.
Jason Connell:So good, Amanda. I love it. Yeah,
Sal Rodriguez:well play that.
Jason Connell:And that only she didn't get the bows from the committee but whatever. Really funny. And then Gunther and Tai Chi decide to have each Dojo Cobra Kai and Miyagi dough slash Eagle thing. Do an exhibition to see if they are worthy. And so Johnny wants to do what with Silver's ponytail, after all said and done.
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, Johnny says, A show that ponytail up your ass. Which I thought was an interesting choice. Like I could imagine saying like, I'll cut that ponytail off or something or burn that ponytail off. Shove it up.
Jason Connell:Yeah, I also noticed there's the images that term throughout the episode. Not No, not that but asses. He's gone. He's telling the kids to move on me. I was like yeah, well look at Johnny go. He's really unleashing this episode with that term. So yeah, so I don't know where Silver's not happy. Cobra Kai is you know not bested but they took a little Limelight away from them having Miyagi illegal fam show up and, and yeah, hey, let's get rained on rain on their parade right and Tai Chi doesn't know the difference. And they make a strong case. We got some champs in the room. We have a master sensei from Okinawa. Let's hear these guys out. Maybe they know what they're talking about. So then we see silver and Kim meet in the office and she's not pleased now because this is old rivalries getting in the way of her family's destiny. What Silva sold her on to come over here and give this thing a shot. But she acquiesces and agrees to continue to train the students because I thought for a second she's out like that's it. You and Daniel, have your fun. You and Johnny as well. Now we're not in the office anymore. We're actually in the dojo and Tory and Devon train in South Devon wants to be what
Sal Rodriguez:I She wants to go viral. She wants to go instafamous
Jason Connell:that's a good line instafamous because there's all this talk going on in the dojo about commercials and this and that with the trannys.
Sal Rodriguez:Yes. Brands brand sponsorship. Yeah.
Jason Connell:Devin sharp. She's on these things. instafamous she even mentions Yeah, branded partnership could cover her college. So she's thinking of these things outside the box a little bit younger. And Tori's like, I never even thought about college. It's like she's like, an old soul caring for her sick mother taking care of her younger brother, although we never see that. More. We assume that everyone a bit younger. But she's stuck in this other reality.
Sal Rodriguez:Jason Nachi mentioned where it's toward his younger brother. He's never around, right? Wouldn't he now be what? How old was in the beginning? Yeah, he was very young. He was like a toddler, wasn't he? He should be in Cobra Kai. By now he's about what he bought kidneys. He
Jason Connell:could be a black belt by now. But then Tory has a flashback to crease in prison because all this is going through her mind. Right? No one else knows that she's doing this double life. And she's wanting to learn about how long she has to stay on Cobra Kai, how long does this lie have to continue? And so she's taking that and all that's happening. And then she snaps back to it because Devins like anything wrong. And then they go back to training and I gotta say, Devon's kicks. Very impressive. Getting some nice height, strength. Good flexibility. So you can tell that Devin stepping up and she's a black belt now. So these kicks should look that good. But something I noticed. Any thoughts?
Sal Rodriguez:No. I'm often impressed by nice kicks. Yeah, at my fitness peak, I'm able to kick someone my height, no higher, no higher. No higher my height in the face. Okay.
Jason Connell:And you often do that. Yeah, first meetings. So now we're at Miyagi dough. And there's lots of Sekai, Tai Chi talk and misses from the students I should say, from the students because the word is out. And they're talking about like, wow, like just see like last Tai Chi, how high and hard the kicks were. And the winters last year, they went did a car commercial in Taiwan. So you know how kids are there to say this is spinning around the room, of course outside. And so when Chris hears of this and someone asked him what he would do with commercial money that he would have made from such a thing. What does he say?
Sal Rodriguez:Buy a yacht with a hot tub. Fill it with smarties and hotties. Jason I know what hobbies are. What are Smarties?
Jason Connell:Candies? Spark candies? Yeah.
Sal Rodriguez:Why would you fill a hot tub with candies?
Jason Connell:Because you could? I don't know. Everybody's laughing. Everyone's having a good time. And Daniel interrupts he's like, okay, that's too soon for that. And then he shares that he Johnny and chosen are going to prepare them for the presentation the next day. This isn't like weeks of training. It is the next day. They need to be on point.
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, well, that will I found kind of kind of strange. Like, these officials make it the next day. They couldn't give them a couple of days, I guess you know, they gotta get back home because Carrie
Jason Connell:can only put them up for a day or so. Exactly. But then Daniel goes on to share what?
Sal Rodriguez:Remember Cobra Kai is going to do everything they can to get a spot. And if they win this time, kids all over the world are going to have to deal with the same crap you guys have gone through?
Jason Connell:Yeah, it's a lot to think about there. And then Johnny and Miguel have a quick chat. And Johnny tells Miguel that he's not going to make him compete this time. He did that in all Valley. He learns his lesson. He's not going to do that. But Miguel is pumped. He's in. He's feeling good. He's not worried about Sam their friends. All's good on that front. And then Robert worried about his dad and his dad anymore. Yeah, run it out to Mexico. And then Robbie joins in. And he's kind of messing with Johnny, you know, like, oh, is this what fatherly loves sounds like and so Johnny's getting defensive, but he's just putting them on. Robbie's cool, they're at peace. And I love to see these two bond or these three bonds out. I just I love it.
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, because when you have people that are strong, alone, imagine when they unite, you know, strength and numbers.
Jason Connell:Absolutely. I just think how strong Cobra Kai is now with both of these guys, let alone the all Valley champ across the room. Right the other part of the dojo but Hawk Eli, but these two are fantastic. So this dojo has gotten so so much stronger, and we'll get back to that. So now we have a great montage with the members of
Sal Rodriguez:Sakai tai chi, and they're
Jason Connell:checking out each dojos presentation and we hear a unchained by Van Halen,
Sal Rodriguez:which Van Halen it had David Lee Roth? David Lee Roth, okay, really
Jason Connell:great.
Sal Rodriguez:That means it's older, older while they
Jason Connell:came back, so
Sal Rodriguez:I don't he came back after Hagar. Well, I
Jason Connell:think maybe just for touring.
Sal Rodriguez:I think he did. You're right. He came back for a little bit, but
Jason Connell:definitely old school, Van Halen that we grew up with. Sure. And then Daniel goes on to say, because now he's talking to Gunther and the whole Tai Chi group. Our students start with basic movements, we use chores to create muscle memory. And once they have that down, they can master their defense. I love that he's calling it this. I mean, this is like, Thank you, Mr. Miyagi. This is down from the Miyagi verse. Well done.
Sal Rodriguez:Jason, I'm laughing because I'm just imagine, everybody from this delegation is they're gonna go back home, they have all their kids.
Jason Connell:What else do you teach them? What else do you teach them? Yeah, exactly. Do the dishes Okay, now. So to set this up, then he has chosen and Johnny show some of these moves, but it's great. So chosen is now standing with a bunch of students, and they're all waiting for his command, which is,
Sal Rodriguez:show me send the floor. And then they all do only Miyagi,
Jason Connell:think about it. Think about sanding the floor, and I'd circle left circle. Amazing, but it's not that slow. This is much faster, a lot of attitude and a lot of students. It's not just one on one. And then Daniel goes on to say, only after they mastered their defense, do we teach offense. And now we see Johnny, with some of our players, I believe it's Robbie Hawk, and Miguel, maybe some others but what happens here?
Sal Rodriguez:He bounces off Daniels line when he says we teach offense and Johnny says, but with a badass twist. Show them the Screaming Eagle.
Jason Connell:And they do this move for their corporate Eagle into it. But you know, they're showing a jump kick and a punch and it has a lot of attitude and bravado. And you know, Tai Chi's like, All right, yeah, these guys.
Sal Rodriguez:Jason let me share this with you because we're talking about it. I just saw a video yesterday, just yesterday, of a coyote fighting an eagle. Whoa, you know, they have these nature battles, which I usually don't like to see. I don't want to watch it. Yeah, but I happen to catch this. An eagle kicked the coyotes ass and then overtook them. It was it was pretty horrific. But yeah, eagles are badass.
Jason Connell:And that's interesting because a coyote usually fights in numbers.
Sal Rodriguez:No, this one was trying to go one on one. I don't know why he tried. I don't know why he tried. He was hungry,
Jason Connell:silly. So now we cut to Cobra Kai. While the song is still going on. The montage is still happening. Tai Chi is now at Cobra Kai and Silva shows Gunther the way of the fist. With Kenny doing what?
Sal Rodriguez:Oh, Kenny is kicking ass on the board breaking right? There's a guy in each corner. Absolutely. And he Oh, and then doesn't he trip the guy. He sweeps the leg, gets the guy his back and then breaks the floor. I wonder if that guy was expecting that. I hope he was
Jason Connell:he was putting on a board breaking clinic. It was it was really good. Very impressive. Kenny. Less than a year, one year at Cobra Kai, and he's the top dog, which is amazing for Kenny, for sure. But I'm looking over at the Miyagi dough, and Eagle Fang students. The males are really strong over there in that realm. I would say Ken he's like this new guy and he got Kyler but keen. Diaz Mosca what's really good over there. Just
Sal Rodriguez:I was wondering like, like, who's the number two in Cobra Kai? So you got Kenny now I love
Jason Connell:taking the Pilar there. Kyle is he hanging on?
Sal Rodriguez:He's like way down here. But he's number two. Yeah. Which oftentimes you may see in in any given arena. The number two is not that close behind one as it as it began.
Jason Connell:I'm just showing you the lineage is not as strong there on the male front anyway.
Sal Rodriguez:So I would say no, now, pressure on Kenny
Jason Connell:lot of pressure, not a pressure. He's too young to know better. So now Daniel gives a history lesson on the Miyagi, Okinawan karate, which dates back 400 years and south. Johnny takes over a bit.
Sal Rodriguez:Oh, Johnny tells the great story which we've all heard before. About shrimp. Oh, sensei. Fishing love Saki bombs.
Jason Connell:Now, Daniels like
Sal Rodriguez:Wait also, isn't it? Isn't it Shimpo sensei? It's shrimp. Shrimp. Shrimp. Oh Sensei, which sounds like it'd be a great dish somewhere.
Jason Connell:Absolutely. Well, this is a great transition from Miyagi dough to Cobra Kai but Daniel starts with to solve the problem of the present we must always
Sal Rodriguez:And then they cut to silver who says, look to the future? Is that what Daniel was gonna say? Or was Dan you're gonna say we must always look to the past.
Jason Connell:I'm not sure but I like it. Yeah. Silver's very future thinking. Daniel is very reflective. So good call there, Sal. But, but it's still a nice segue really nice. And now we see because we're staying in Cobra Kai. We're seeing state of the art equipment as Kyler kicks a smart bag, which is straight out of Ivan Drago is training scenes from Rocky four. And Sal, have you ever seen are trained on such a smart back?
Sal Rodriguez:You know, the only thing I've done is those like at the carnival they have those now smart punching. Yeah, yeah, you get to see. But no, you know, I've seen these bags I've seen I think our discovery channel does these these special shows? Yeah, they'll have fighters come on. Boxers come on MMA guys come on, and kick and punch and then it measures their pounds per square inch. Just like yeah, and rocky for right. Yeah. And I always thought Oh, so you know, we've talked about this before. I love tech when it comes to fitness. I love the integration of tech and if you can use it. Yeah, I'm a big fan. So I know I would love to kick one of these bags but have not. Okay, so have you use one of these?
Jason Connell:No, no, I have to go to Drago type gym or a Cobra Kai near me. And if that's not enough, rocky for for you now Red Eagle thing let us not forget about the old school Eagle Fang dojo, and Sal. Yeah, that's right. It's low tech city here. But what do we see?
Sal Rodriguez:There's a watermelon
Jason Connell:or motivate up a chair.
Sal Rodriguez:It's like saw or something. Yeah, like or like Texas Chainsaw and Sam kicks us watermelon. And then it breaks all over Gunther and right at first we're thinking that he's gonna be like, You guys suck. Yeah, I'm out.
Jason Connell:The hell is this? No, but
Sal Rodriguez:no, he was he was okay with Yeah,
Jason Connell:this leads to Johnny actually referencing rocky four and saying that sometimes you have to train outside the box to get to another level. Some people use the latest high tech junk to get there. And some people need to run up a mountain in the snow and yell
Sal Rodriguez:and Gunther I did not see this. Gunther yells out drag. Oh, oh. And he says rocky Baba is my hero. His victory over Russia effectively restored my fractured homeland. So you can speculate where Gunther is from maybe some were part of the former Soviet Union. Maybe? Yeah, maybe. But yeah, so his. It's funny. Yeah, his hero was rocky Baba, not Ivan Drago.
Jason Connell:Johnny is floored to hear this he has a blood brother here amongst him. And it's great. This is so funny. When I saw this for the first time I just thought I cannot believe the show went here bravo to you show. But then we cut to Daniel who's just like, can't believe it. Like he thought for a second that watermelon. It's over or out and then these two bond, thickest thieves. So really funny. And now we see Gunther and company speaking to each dojo, and they've decided that each Dojo should fight each other in direct competition. And so what's the format for these fights? Exactly.
Sal Rodriguez:Each Dojo must select two fighters one female one male. And this fight is happens the following afternoon in separate three point matches the following afternoon at three how much preparation are you getting? Nothing?
Jason Connell:Well, I don't know if it's at three, but it's definitely
Sal Rodriguez:I thought it was actually reason.
Jason Connell:Whatever it is,
Sal Rodriguez:why don't I hear three o'clock I thought I heard three like three o'clock highs when I'm thinking
Jason Connell:exact Great show. Great movie, I should say. Yeah, this is the format that we know there are different formats this day and age. It's a clock and you just have a running clock goes to like two three minutes and you get as many points as you can. But this is the classic Karate Kid three points, which is also an all Valley on Cobra Kai. So this is essentially what all Valley did. You know, they had the female group they had the male so you pick one of your fighters, one male, one female. Each will fight in a match for three points. As I just said, though, the Cobra Kai are undermanned. When it comes to the male side, female side it's pretty obvious it's a toss up. It's Tory and Sam that's their strongest and they're both great. But on the other side, I'd say advantage Miyagi dough Eagle Fang, but we'll get into the selection later in this episode, which I kind of questioned, but whatever it is what it is. And then they will decide Tai Chi that is, if any of the winners will be invited to Tai Chi just in this competition. So it's not a done deal. They want to see this happen and then they still hold the rights to give invitation to either both are none. And that's interesting.
Sal Rodriguez:It's almost a formality because they didn't even go there expecting to do this, this delegation from Sakai to chi was not expecting no to put on a tournament. So they threw it all together then last met themselves. They're probably
Jason Connell:very reluctant to come in the first place. But of course Silva wooed them, I'm sure he flew them over and a private jet. All that some states and we're nice day somewhere nice. anything it takes.
Sal Rodriguez:I like how some of the members or at least one of the members of the delegate were like a clipboard. Yeah. Like what is he? What is he writing? Like? Nice kick,
Jason Connell:like Yeah, nice. You write him a nice hair.
Sal Rodriguez:Nice Mohawk nice hair on his Hawk guy.
Jason Connell:Now it does pain me. So to have them say that. This Tai Chi is much bigger than all Valley. I get it. It is but it's just, I don't like when something chips away at the armor of this sacred thing to us, like all sudden, finishes the valve? Well, it doesn't it doesn't. It does in some context to say hey, there's always been this other thing over here behind your ear. And we didn't tell you about it until now. And it's the Tai Chi Oh, okay. But I get it because the stage and you kind of its grandeur, but yeah, I just thinking of that didn't sit well with me. But that's just me. Well, I'm just don't
Sal Rodriguez:know if if anybody follows professional bodybuilding as I used to, not somebody I used to as well. Yeah. Okay. So you have the Mr. Olympia, right? Every buddy wants Mr. Olympia, you want to be Mr. Olympia. But along the way you got you know, Mr. Universe, you got Mr. USA, you have the Arnold Classic. So you have these other lesser promotions that are very important and fantastic to put on your resume. But there's not the Olympia. Right. Yeah. So they're all in the shadow of the Olympia. So now it's almost like the valley itself will be now in the shadow of sick high Tai Chi think.
Jason Connell:In some respects yet. We don't know how often this is. Is this like the Olympics or the World Cup? Is that every four years like give me more? How long has it been going on? Yeah, we have no background. We don't know enough. And that's the show invented this device. Because they can do another all Valley I get it. And it's a smart device. But it came out of nowhere. And it was it was a way to do something new as opposed to just having, you know, home invasions. I get it. I totally get it. But yeah, let me know. Like, like it's every 10 years or something even less often. Yeah.
Sal Rodriguez:But now I wonder based on what we're talking about, if we ever will indeed see another all Valley at this point. Now. I'm, I'm not expecting it now after this, right? Because again, this puts now the prominence and the emphasis on Sekai Tai Chi, not all Valley.
Jason Connell:And we've had five seasons of Cobra Kai and only had two all valleys but there's not one this season. So let's just say the first four there was two. So we're not due for one for what? until season six. We may never have a new all Valley. Our Tai Chi is yeah, this does raise the stakes. So whatever season six is, it's a whole new high. For sure. In fact, it's on TV.
Sal Rodriguez:Let's just say this. Jason, I think at this point, every fan of Cobra Kai Place your bets if we will ever see another valley again.
Jason Connell:And how many dojos are left in the valley?
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, after being swallowed up by Cobra caught Yeah, this is not looking good for the valley. It's not why I hold on to my precious all Valley Karate Kid action figures to peck more than ever now.
Jason Connell:I was gonna say hang on to all your gear. If you guys went to all Valley and have some of the shirts, keep them. If you have the old programs and ticket stubs. Keep them. Yeah, I love it. I've got a little trophy. Oh, it's down in my near my gym that you gave me the all Valley tiny mini. I have that guy hanging out of that. So now we're at Cobra Kai and silver picks because he's picking his students to go in this fight nickels, and pain. And that puts some pressure on Kenny so to speak. And he even tells him so silver actually puts more pressure on him and he says the fate of this dojo rest in your fist. He was like, I know he's young. And it's maybe the moments not too big for him. But it's like this isn't helping. Go over and tell him. Hey, you know what? It's all on you, buddy. But Kenny has only been in karate for less than a year. So I would say he's a prodigy. Much like Daniel. I'm assuming we would say that about
Sal Rodriguez:I would I would say that. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Yeah. But now
Jason Connell:he's got to save the dojo. So I don't know your thoughts on this. But I think it's a lot. I think it would have downplayed that and he knows he has a ringer and Tory, but not to say that she's going to beat Sam because that's a coin flip. But he's got as good as it gets on the female side.
Sal Rodriguez:No, I agree. I mean, this is a lot of pressure on Kenny. I wouldn't have done this to Kenny. Yeah, I would have tried to groom some more guys. You know, it's like they haven't groomed enough guys at all.
Jason Connell:Exactly. For as many places have gobbled up. They don't have Xander stone, you know type.
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, exactly. How about that if you're going to be scooping up a superstar and
Jason Connell:this person was a runner up and all Valley two years ago. Yeah, they haven't got any the cream of the crop. That's what they should be doing. Yeah. But we've established Kenny as a character. So I get it. We've just pushed him forward.
Sal Rodriguez:He's got the rage right now.
Jason Connell:He's got he's got that he's
Sal Rodriguez:got that rage the Cobra Kai laughs right.
Jason Connell:That's exactly right. So now we're in prison, and Tory visits crease. And she's asking him what she should do, because now there's a tournament with more on the line. And I didn't see this coming. But crease advises her to look after herself and forget about their plan to take down silver. Now, so these are new marching orders, for sure.
Sal Rodriguez:Well, one thing I want to increase to say was, because I think what Chris is trying to tell her is forget about what I want. Forget about what silver was forget about what the Russos want. What do you want? Yeah, right. I think that's what he was trying to say. But it didn't come out right now. So I think, you know, yeah, that's how she took it. But I took it as him saying, Do what's best for you. That's what I thought he was saying.
Jason Connell:Yeah, he also knows their plan isn't going to get him out of prison anytime soon. So he's, he's thinking about himself. He's pivoting. And I don't want to look ahead because we both seen it. But that's kind of what's going on. And I think he cares about Tori, to a point as much as crease can care. As much as he's able to care. This crease that happened in the mid 80s. Not the kid but I think he cares 1980 Who cares? But
Sal Rodriguez:83 or before 84 afternoon, but you know, Chris has never had a daughter that we know about. Right? Yeah, it's possible. Tory's? Like the granddaughter he never had the daughter he never had. Yeah, here I go giving Chris some sympathy and benefit of the doubt again, wow,
Jason Connell:wow. But toy feels cheated for trust increase or anyone else for that matter. And she storms out, as Tory tends to do.
Sal Rodriguez:And by the way, adjacent I just want to mention you every time they go back to crease in jail. I keep thinking of the show. I'm watching on Netflix. Oh world's toughest prisons. I see this show on Netflix. They go all over the world. The host of the show served 12 years in prison. And then it got himself off and his name cleared. But he did serve 12 years and now this guy is a host of the world's toughest prisons show goes all over the world to all these prisons. So I'll say after watching that show and watching crease easily like in a cushy prison. Oh, stuff. It's telling me this stuff you see in like South Africa or Costa Rica you
Jason Connell:can imagine MAN Yeah, no, it's it's like club met. Not much going on it toward kids.
Sal Rodriguez:No jello at those other prisons. They got no no jello at the Bangladeshi prison. They got no jello there.
Jason Connell:I bet they do not. So now we're at La Russo's house and the students are having a sausage pizza and they're razzing each other because it's pretty funny. It is funny because before we get into the next part of this scene, Mitch is commenting on the fact that there's no it's true. They are light on women. Cobra Kai has more because they've gobbled up all these other dojos but Miyagi dough Eagle Fang are definitely light on women. And so Mitch is making a comment
Sal Rodriguez:they got one woman right Sam Sam said that one exactly. So no, I liked it. This was mentioned because you could almost say it's the elephant in the room in a way that there is only one woman in only one girl officially remember they're minors. Right officially, only one girl in the whole dojo, which is odd and I don't know why they haven't tried to recruit any other girls. Oh, they had well they had last night Devon Yeah, they had Devon. They had Piper for what? 10 minutes while they tried
Jason Connell:to get Piper and then she bailed. Okay, so they have tried, Johnny tried. But it is funny because Burton them are giving him crap. Like, Hey, isn't this enough sausage for you penis breath. And so yeah, it's all it's hygienic. Since he was like, they're like the immature of the dojo. They're like the middle schoolers if you will. Yes. But they're not but really funny. But then this goes into this other part of the scene which is in the living room. And I love this scene as Johnny addresses Robbie, Miguel and Eli are is it Hawk again? No, wait that fish that Hawk yet officially uncaged his Hawk later in this episode, so hold that and Johnny says what to them because they're all sitting you know, waiting because they also have to pick their mail. And here's your top three dogs. And Johnny gives this speech which is fantastic.
Sal Rodriguez:All right boys, we have a choice to make, and it's not going to be easy. You're all badass fighters but only one of you can get on the mat tomorrow. All right hawks, the current all Valley champ could have gone either way. Diaz is last year's champ that could have gone either way too. Even though hockey did Robbie in the semis. Hawk didn't have to fight in the semis this year because Diaz looked at to Mexico. Point being you're all deserving. Alright, LORUSSO chosen and I are having a hard time deciding which one of you should go up against Cobra Kai. Maybe we should just flip a coin.
Jason Connell:And then he goes on to like, hey, how would that work? There's three of us will flip a coin.
Sal Rodriguez:What you'd have to do is you have to have what Hawk against Miguel flip the coin? Yeah, whoever wins that what you'd have to do? Yeah,
Jason Connell:but Johnny's lost on it. He wants to flip three coins and thinking. But that aside, Robin Miguel step up, because they've already decided that it should be Hawk, Eli, because he was last year's all Valley champion. As Robbie said, he beat me fair and square, although Robbie could have won. So he's been runner up twice. And so it's interesting, I love that they do it in the hawk takes to it now, Eli's happy and honored by this. But if this is Tai Chi, the world of Cobra Kai is coming. Cobra Kai is the opportunity to take over and this is the chance to defeat it defuse it before it happens. I'm not going to play nice. I'm going to pick the best person to win that match. So Sal, I'm gonna throw it to you first. Who do you pick? Who would you pick? If the choice was yours?
Sal Rodriguez:Well, I think we have to go by track record, which includes the last fight between Miguel and Robbie, unofficial fight if you had to choose because this is sort of a make or break fight, right? Yeah, go with Miguel. You gotta go with Miguel.
Jason Connell:Okay, so I pick Robbie. He's been real. He's been in that place twice, losing in the semis, right or no becoming second losing to the eventual winner. And he has a lot of experience. And I think that he sees what's at stake and can raise to the level. Miguel had the injury, Miguel also sometimes doubts himself and gets distracted. So I would pick Robbie in this instance for a winner take all now, as I said recently, him and Miguel fight 10 times I do believe it would be five five. I think if either one of them were fighting hawk or Eli 10 times they would beat him more often than not.
Sal Rodriguez:Well, hang on. Didn't probably bail at one point. Right. Didn't he leave? It wasn't he didn't leave it all Valley. Leave it? Right. Exactly. Okay, so Miguel bailed out of the all Valley when he went to Mexico. And then we had no Samantha never bailed. Tori now has bailed by. slowdown. Oh, gosh, she
Jason Connell:hasn't No, she hasn't. No, she has nothing
Sal Rodriguez:erase, erase do undo. The point is the point is, are you saying like Robbie is not only a good fighter, and most likely to be able to win, but also reliable? Is that what you mean? Like he's sort of more.
Jason Connell:I'm not saying Miguel is not I just think he's been more distracted lately. That's all that's like he could be in that fight for everything. And then he can look at Sam a certain way. So he's not like a prize fighters like really focused and can't have sex. And I just think Rob is more dialed in. And he's more aligned with everything right now. Like, this is what's going on. We gotta win. Yeah, I just think he's in that place. Now that could pivot. We've seen crazy Robbie. And Miguel is more centered. But right here right now. I'm picking Robbie, let's go win this fight. But they didn't do it for a reason. And we'll get into that later. And it was the right choice for the show what they wanted to achieve. But I would have picked him and of course, I'd pick Sam. There's no other choice. Let's see just up by default, Mitch in a wig and making ladybugs.
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, so coin toss first. There you go. No.
Jason Connell:So now we're at Miyagi dough, because this was at La Russo's house, as I established, and it's nighttime. And Samantha is training with Daniel and chosen and Sal, she is focused. Speaking of focus, she is locked in.
Sal Rodriguez:Nobody's in a relationship right now. Right. I think that counts for a lot. That's true. You know, when I've studied a lot of fighters, whether it be boxers or MMA guys, and you look at some of these guys records, and you see when they start losing, and then you read about their personal life, and you see they were having marital problems at the time. You can track a lot of that. I would say if you're going to be fighting in competition, it's probably best to be single, or have the most perfect relationship that does not distract you or cause you any heartache. So right now, right, nobody's ending the relationship, right? There's no young love right now at the very moment. I think that's good. I love love guys. I love love, but I also want to win. Well, I want five Just to be focused I really do,
Jason Connell:as do I, but Sam is concerned and she wants to keep training but they insist she rest because this is the next day and yeah exactly they don't have time to recover if you hit one thing wrong and and chosen then shares what he was fighting against in his man with Daniel, this was huge.
Sal Rodriguez:While I almost cried, it was great, I almost cried my way over something to my eye.
Jason Connell:And he says Daniel was fighting for, for friends for village for Miyagi son, and really chosen wasn't he was fighting against everything, his own image what his uncle thought about him. So there you go, if you're fighting for some sort of cause bigger than you, it says it all and I love that insight. And I know you do too, because it nearly brought you to tears and I was really choked up and of course, I'm already loving chosen when he drops his wisdom, even more so. And when Sam walks away, Sabri, she takes us in, she understands and they rap, but she walks away on a high and ready a focused fighter. What did she find?
Sal Rodriguez:What did she go down a tire shoe is what she does. And she looks on the ground. And she finds the little Pulpo, the little octopus necklace that Miguel had thrown down on the ground when Sam said she needed space, right or needed some time to reflect or whatever she told him. And he left in tears. He threw the necklace down. Yep. And now she finds it the little Pulpo octopus necklace, which harkens back to their beautiful date at golf and stuff where they want the octopus plushie.
Jason Connell:But she immediately knows she put it together. Oh, Miguel brought this and he probably threw it down in that moment at all just probably registered, which doesn't help a fighter focus now. Does not. But it happened. You
Sal Rodriguez:know what, though? Let me go back for a second of what you said about Miguel. Because you know what? Miguel should have taken the necklace back to the store and gotten his money back. Right. Instead, he did something very emotional, which I can understand. I've been there. Yeah. But he should have done something, you know, using his head a little more or less of his heart. And taking the necklace back. So yeah, I go back to what we said last couple scenes. Yeah, Robbie should have been chosen. And that's no offense to hawk by the way.
Jason Connell:Okay, you're changing your vote.
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, I'm saying I agree with you. I think that they should have chosen Robbie to represent Miyagi. And not Miguel. And no, no disrespect to hawk. But yeah, I think it should have been Robbie or Miguel and now I changed my answer to rob. Fair enough.
Jason Connell:I thought you might see it that way. Okay, so now we're at Cobra Kai, same night, because Kenny has the pre fight jitters. And he's also training late but alone solo. But then Silva joins him and shares that, that he used to be called What Sal back in the day.
Sal Rodriguez:Back in Vietnam, he was called twig. While we say back in Vietnam. He didn't say that.
Jason Connell:We remember that. We also saw Yeah, this
Sal Rodriguez:is true. Because what is what is the other guy say to him? Get some muscle on this tree branches and we'll talk right. Like what if to call me twig?
Jason Connell:That's great. And then he also says what?
Sal Rodriguez:LORUSSO Lawrence D is keen. They've all had their time in the sun. Now it's your turn. manipulation. He
Jason Connell:puts the pressure on Kenny now here he is pumping him up. This is what he should have been doing. He's hearing this like, oh my gosh, wow. All right, I'm buying this. And then just like in the Karate Kid, Part Three. When we learn the quick silver method, classic. We now learn about silver bullet. And not Coors Light. Mind you sell. Or the 1985 horror movie starring Gary Busey and Corey Haim which I love by the way, Silver Bullet Great. Is
Sal Rodriguez:that about a werewolf? Yes. Written by Stephen King.
Jason Connell:I watched it every Halloween or at least the last few I got to see it. But no. So please enlighten us on what exactly a silver bullet is.
Sal Rodriguez:I feel like we're just why are we just learning about this you know, as fans, but what the silver bullet is, is this very hard striker that has sort of this sort of a almost looks like a ceremonial preparation. Yeah. And what it does is it is a very hard strike between your opponent's ribs, their ribcage, which will be like the sternum Right? Which will take their breath away. And not like in a good way like take my breath Oh,
Jason Connell:Berlin tomcod. And
Sal Rodriguez:yeah, not like that. Not that yeah, not long in a bad way. Annabelle.
Jason Connell:And then Silva says what about this method,
Sal Rodriguez:the shortest distance to victory and a fight is to take Got your opponent with one shot? It's true. Yeah. And if you pay off the judges, you can do whatever the hell you want.
Jason Connell:Because kid is a little bit reluctant, which is nice to see. He's got a little bit of a conscience. He's like, wait, they already scored a point. Why would you hurt them? And that's when silver drops this line about one shot in in a fight. And so you know, Kenny's just picking everything up. He's a sponge like, Okay, wow, yeah, the Dojo is relying on my fist. It's my time to shine. Here's a way to win. All of its going in and he is definitely being manipulated. That is for sure. The Cobra Kai way. So now we stay at Cobra Kai, but it's the next day it's presentation day. And Miyagi done first. I was a little bit like wait a second, but we'll get to that Miyagi dough Eagle Fang students are arriving. And I love that Burton thinks they've entered eight. This is hilarious, a cobra starship? Because it does look so futuristic. And there's Cobra Kai stuff everywhere. And Mitch is liking the girl ratio here. So
Sal Rodriguez:yeah, how about that at his dojo? You got one girl who's kind of almost officially spoken for. Yes. And yet you go to this other dojo and there's like cute girls hanging out at the smoothie bar.
Jason Connell:Exactly. It's so funny. But I do think it's a little unfair. And I say a little I mean a lot to let Cobra Kai have a home court advantage. But they do have regulation mats. So what do you got?
Sal Rodriguez:Well, this would have been an exterior scene, right? If they shot it on Miyagi dough. That's the truth is it should have been in a neutral dojo. Right. It should have been on all Valley. How about there the valley location? How about Zeno? Right? Yeah, yeah, you're right. It is sort of a homecourt advantage. But we'll see how it all pans out.
Jason Connell:So now we see shots of Sam and Tory, as well as Anthony Anna ghee. And thank goodness, he's got a white belt on. Because if he had a black belt, I'm telling that's it. That would have been it for me.
Sal Rodriguez:If Miyagi were alive today. Anthony Lusa would have a black belt.
Jason Connell:No, no, we argue would be so proud of Anthony for joining the dojo. And then Kim tells Tori to make this a quick fight. Okay, fair enough. Kenny arrives. And sizes up Hawk crossed the dojo who's now got what color Mohawk?
Sal Rodriguez:He's got a green Mohawk. We've never seen this before. Right? Oh, it's money.
Jason Connell:Okay, I can sell money over there. And then sell. He sees Robbie talking to Anthony. And what happens?
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, um, while he's upset that Robbie was essentially training his bully, right. Anthony Russo was Kenny's bully. And now Robbie is training him as if I'm a
Jason Connell:real threat to him. He's bullied him more than he ever bullied him
Sal Rodriguez:anymore. And Robbie tries to reason with him about the dark side of Cobra Kai. Right. He's trying to give them these warnings repeatedly. But Kenny's not having it at all. No,
Jason Connell:no, he's getting ready to fight. So Kenny walks away. And then Hawk kind of overhears this, because now they're starting to buddy buddy up, right? They're getting along great. And toxic. Robbie telling him he'll take care of Kenny but Robbie asked him this is not a good time here for this either. Not to go too hard on him because, you know, it's Cobra Kai talking. It's silver talking not Kenny. And Eli gets that. But never. And I mean, never underestimate your opponent.
Sal Rodriguez:No, you know what, I didn't catch that. And now I'm kind of wondering. Yeah, he shouldn't have said that to him. Not that I could have knocked their hook because it affected him.
Jason Connell:Let him go in there with all the bravado and let him go in there. And when handedly I'm not saying that's what happened. But it didn't help. It didn't help. He lowers his guard just a little bit in some happens. And that that's
Sal Rodriguez:essentially saying, you're telling the fighter. Don't go all out. Don't go 100% Don't leave it all out there on the mat. You're, you're telling them to kind of diminish yourself. Yeah. Right. Yeah.
Jason Connell:undervaluing Kenny like Yeah, listen, he doesn't mean when he says he said that to he's young. And they don't know he has been training. He is a prodigy. And so you have to take it serious again. I think all three of them are stronger. But hey, a fighter three points. That's it. It doesn't mean the best fighter always wins. I mean, let's go back to the Karate Kid. I think Johnny Lawrence was the better fighter, but he was bested by Daniel Lawrence in that tournament. I mean, I think Dutch may be a better fighter, but he was overconfident and got beat by Daniel. So that day Daniel was the better fighter but it doesn't mean you'd win in a street fight. So you have to be very careful. And those types of things, especially when the breaths are so now Gunther and Tai Chi arrive and they're running the presentation. And much like the last all Valley, the boys go first, which is cool. I like this. And it's Hawk verse Kenny. And Kenny scores a quick point off a roundhouse one. No, right here, so boom. So think about this Hawk spy like anyway, say, what was this? So then Hawk hits Kenny with a reverse spinning back hill, and it's a wicked kicks out, hits him in the face. But just like in Sam and Tori's match and all Valley, what happens?
Sal Rodriguez:All of a sudden, the ref calls Kenny out of bounds. And he says, no point.
Jason Connell:No point, right? Yeah, no point. And to clearly a point. So I'm thinking, Wait,
Sal Rodriguez:the ref calls Hawk out of bounds. Oh, wait, did he call kill me? He was out of bounds. Okay, so you get kicked, but you're out of bounds. The other person doesn't get to score what he
Jason Connell:was saying he was out of bounds first. Like out of bounds and the kick happen, which it didn't happen that way that didn't happen and all valley with the other rough. So Right. Then I thought, wait a second, did silver get to this guy because Tai Chi just said, we bring in these reps and you figure everything's on the up and up here.
Sal Rodriguez:But where did they get these reps? They just put an ad on Craigslist. They could get
Jason Connell:whoever they want. But silver could still get to them after the fact. Like, hey, here's a graph. Give me your second set. Ref.
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, what's your Venmo?
Jason Connell:Yeah, what's your Venmo? No point, no point. So then, then you're flustered. And you can let that get to you in sports, when you get a bad call happens all the time. So from my playing, like, wait, you cannot let it take you out of the game because you will not get back in it. I'm not saying that's what happened. But again, these things are not helping hawk. And did I not mention that? He is officially Hawk again?
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, yeah, he declared it. I don't know. Did we hear that?
Jason Connell:Like when we see the eagle Fang van, driving around,
Sal Rodriguez:yeah, you hear the hawk, but by the way, whatever. I want the hawk action figure and they have not released to my knowledge, any Hawk action figures and
Jason Connell:ladder time, matter of time. And then he could pop on the ELI here as well.
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, just put it take it on and off.
Jason Connell:You know, we were missing this episode. Dimitri, yeah.
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah, Dimitri has kind of been a little Mia the last couple episodes, it seems like as we assume he's geeking out. You know, selling something
Jason Connell:out. I wonder if he was filming a movie that can happen a lot of times if you don't have that much that
Sal Rodriguez:can happen with talent. Yes, that's true. I hope so. Yeah, I think
Jason Connell:something coming up. And I'm sure all of them will be if not already. So once again, we kind of get the sense Silvers paid off the rep. I don't think Tai Chi is in on it. I don't think Gunther that he seems like
Sal Rodriguez:they're hinting at it. Because right the rep and Terry's gonna make eye contact, all suspicious or
Jason Connell:he's looking at Silver and she's figured it out because she's been here before. And then the fight continues. And then Kenny pulls a page out of Johnny's playbook from the Karate Kid and does what
Sal Rodriguez:he somehow gets Hawk in this position where he's able to drop in an elbow and by the way, in MMA they call this a six o'clock 12 o'clock elbow or 12 o'clock sick pluck elbow, which is an up and down elbow. Yep. He delivers an elbow to the back of the knee. It looks like the back of the thigh.
Jason Connell:Well, yeah, cuz Hawk kicks roundhouse kick, he catches it, he catches it like in the Karate Kid, and when it's caught, drops it and so it would probably be the side of the knee. But oh, it looks painful. It can even be the calf or whatever it is. It's a lot of power coming from that elbow. And not just that the whole weight all the way down to the floor. I mean, you could well let me
Sal Rodriguez:just tell you this Jason, the 12 o'clock, six o'clock elbow, as I just explained, and as we're seeing here, is not allowed in the UFC. You can deliver other elbows but you cannot do a six o'clock 12 o'clock elbow. I think the athletic commissions officially call it too dangerous.
Jason Connell:I think it's too dangerous for this. Kids here. So no DQ or a point reduction. None of that, like we saw in the Karate Kid, Part Three where you had Mike Barnes to do something just over the top and take away a point. Okay, he made a point take away a point which I have issues with that too. That's ludicrous in itself that allowed you to get a point to happen. You know, I always had issue with Daniel just being in the finals, but that side problem is a major problem. You could get someone killed. So hot continues and of course it's Silver Bullet Time Kenny just learned this. And Kenny connects with the silver bullet, knocking the wind out of hock and scoring a point to Oh, but hot can't breathe and sound not even 15 seconds later, the refs call in the match. Like, what happened to the 15 Minute karate kid. And I think it was even like 30 minutes and all Valley. It's over. The ref was like, Yeah, it's like a fast countin boxing one to 10 and that's it. It was like, What the heck happened?
Sal Rodriguez:Jason I think it's because the the medic actually came on to the mat, whereas in other series or movies, they were escorted off the mat and they didn't need a rep on the mat. Right? Did they have some sort of medical personnel on the mat before
Jason Connell:and the Karate Kid there was an older gentleman played a doctor he came running on the mat at first. Okay, so this has happened before and even in the credit card, part three, one Daniel laid in agony, Mr. Miyagi goes and gives me those inspiring words. I don't think had anything to do with a medic. I think that rep was in a hurry to call the fight and thinking oh, yeah, it's a 15 seconds and this Tai Chi presentation. It's shortened abbreviated. What Kenny gives him the victory. He is the winner. And he also gives Hawk a new nickname. And Sal, what is that? For hawk? Adding insult to injury? He is now faux hawk at the Cobra Kai dojo.
Sal Rodriguez:Oh FAU X mini like fake right? Yeah, fake Hawk, fake hawk. You're a full hook.
Jason Connell:Really, really tough Kenny, kick a man while he's down? Again, Had that been Robbie? But I digress.
Sal Rodriguez:Well hang on a second. Jason. You don't think Robbie would have went easy on Kenny if he would have been chosen to represent Miyagi dough?
Jason Connell:Well, Robbie's mindset before this match brings question to mind. Yes, but I think that he could best Kenny a train Kenny. It's almost like fighting your older brother. I think he has a mental edge or Hawk doesn't have. I think some of that would have come into play. And he did best in the valley. He did best him there. And I'm not saying the silver bullet couldn't affect Robbie. But maybe you wouldn't let it come to that. So anyway, that's a whole other story because we move on. And Tory pulls a Miguel and vanishes from the dojo. Because she's seen enough. She knows the ref is in on something. And she doesn't like it. And she doesn't want to fight that fight again. She's got too much. And Chris said, Do what's best for you. Well, what's best for her in this scenario is not to relive that. So Kim appoints Devon to fight in her place. Another prodigy, I guess you would say she's now black. There
Sal Rodriguez:was another young lady next to Devin who was not addressed or referenced. So it's funny when when sensei Kim's like, we have another one and then you see Devin but you see the other girl also but not acknowledged. So yeah, Devin is the number two.
Jason Connell:But Dare I ask again? Where is Piper? Can we have that shirt?
Sal Rodriguez:Yeah. Well, she was sending out.
Jason Connell:Yeah, exactly. Social media, but she is not at the dojo.
Sal Rodriguez:She's in the shadows.
Jason Connell:So the fight is on. Between Devin and Sam and Devon's a bit intimidated by Sam or Samantha, this rock star and martial arts, but she's up for the challenge. Devin wants to be top dog. So here's a chance. And Sam does a spinning sidekick and hits Devin beautifully. But Sal, the ref claims it hit her shoulder
Sal Rodriguez:no point is that a thing? You're not allowed to hit shoulders? Yeah,
Jason Connell:it wasn't anywhere in like I guess in this zone so well she hit her in the zone but he's claiming his shoulder which I did not say
Sal Rodriguez:no. And the show itself is hinting at this ref being paid off again like the previous all Valley ref it's teasing us Yeah, we don't know if that's the case. Well
Jason Connell:when he called the short count on talk I thought oh this is not your thought again. And then this hit was an obvious hit so no point
Sal Rodriguez:and so so by this point are you thinking that the ref is in deep value? You are absolutely yeah. Oh, he was so obvious.
Jason Connell:That did it alone early on the luck was like are they playing that back? Are they really doing this?
Sal Rodriguez:So obvious? Well, let me be clear, obvious to us. Obvious to Terry obvious to the ref and obvious to Tory probably obvious to nobody else.
Jason Connell:I'm surprised that of all the fighting that Tai Chi seen they're not picking up on it like lame. I
Sal Rodriguez:think they'd be a little more educated. Yeah. In fact, they're like this roof is pretty good. I'm glad we You found them advance Yeah, how
Jason Connell:much we're paying him. Not enough. Not enough. Well, Sam's also getting frustrated. Now she's not gotten the point that she deserved. And so Devin, then kick Sam, who blocks it. And the ref awards her a point one Oh, so she kicks it's a block point. And so now Sam is very flustered. She calls timeout, because it's clear and obvious now, Sal that the fix is in.
Sal Rodriguez:You think obvious to everybody?
Jason Connell:Oh, yeah. This is it. Something's not right. And they're playing out in fair. So Sam talks with the team. And Miguel share some inspiring words that they're all with her, you know, got her back. And so she needed to hear that. And she's excited by that like she lights up. But then chosen and Daniel chime in. And they say what to her.
Sal Rodriguez:Chosen says I started to go into Sato. Chosen says referee is moron must not leave room for error. And then Daniel comes right in. He's right. You make every point undeniable. So in other words, a publicly everybody can see. Don't leave it to the judges in fighting. I hear that all the time. Don't leave things in the hands of the judges. You don't want that to happen.
Jason Connell:Exactly. Yeah. And that makes perfect sense. So you're not going to score a glancing blow or even a blow that he could dismiss or someone's close to out of bounds. You've got to make it decisive. And I like it and she's good enough to do so. So now we're back to the fight. And Sam does a spinning Leg Sweep and then punches Devin in the stomach point one one. The ref almost feels guilty but he's got to call it a point is like you know
Sal Rodriguez:yeah, look at this. Because it's undeniable. undeniable. And then Sam undeniable. Oh, bam, bam found out by own
Jason Connell:Sam then does a roundhouse a Devon stomach point to one. Then they have a great exchange. And Sam's technique is flawless sell and leads to a front kick to Devon stomach that throws her way back. Point three one winner. Sour she needed this. Sam needed this after all Valley. And of course Miyagi dough Eagle Fang and kids all over the world needed this to Bravo Sam. She won hands down. And the wrath paid off or not. could not deny this victory.
Sal Rodriguez:No. And of course I'm sure there will be nothing in his Venmo after after tonight.
Jason Connell:Let's see we've already paid half of it. Who knows? So Devon goes over and apologizes to Kim, who blames Tory her leader for bailing and says it's time to make her a leader. Oh, wow. Sounds not sure how Cobra Kai stacks up against the competition with all these fighters defecting? Sure they have Kenny and Devin, but now they've lost Tory. And they've lost so many more along the way. The lineage is not good, except for which we talked about earlier, gobbling up all these other studios, you know these dojos these other places, but we shall see. We shall see. So now the Tai Chi me the SE chi Tai Chi meet and the votes are ran and got there comes up and addresses everyone.
Sal Rodriguez:We have reached an agreement. As expected, we were impressed with the skills, precision and discipline of the new Sakai Tai Chi qualifier, Cobra Kai. As for our other dojo, we admired your unusual mix of styles and underdog spirit. And we think you could be a unique addition to the competition. Therefore, we decided that your dojo has also qualified
Jason Connell:Yeah, there was a long pause after Cobra Kai so they were able to celebrate and rub it in their face Miyagi in your face. And they're like yeah, we're the best but after that, then he picked it up and explain that you know, you
Sal Rodriguez:know Kyler was talking some jazz if you tell it was talking some jazz,
Jason Connell:but they got theirs because they were also qualified. And both dojos are celebrating. Although, I gotta say Silver's clearly annoyed and probably out 5k Again for the ref fee. Unless he doesn't. Yeah. But Sal Gunther then ask Miyagi dough Eagle Fang for their name. And Johnny steps up
Sal Rodriguez:and says, Miyagi dough.
Jason Connell:And then Daniel steps up, to be honest. It's not just one or the other. We represent two opposing philosophies coming together and finding common ground when none seemed possible.
Sal Rodriguez:And Johnny says That's right. I can change. You can change. Everybody can change. Of course, I was trying to sound a little more rocky bubble. Oh, I was. Johnny didn't say it that way what the way Rocky Balboa was. If I could change, you could change, everybody can change.
Jason Connell:Johnny says that. He says, This guy gets it talking together, which he said earlier about the references this guy gets it and of course got there. He's so good size like I do. But he's still going to need a name. They have to choose one name. And we'll get into that, of course, but because we could kind of speculate, but of course, this speech is from Rocky for Rocky Balboa is patriotic speech to everybody after he beats the Russian and US and Russia were at odds then and now. So some things never change was the Cold War era. And everyone's like cheering him and the fight is in Russia. It was not in the US. And they're applauding him.
Sal Rodriguez:Because it was a unifying speech that the whole idea was, I guess the gist of rocky speech in that moment was that we can all strive to be better. All of us. Not just America is not just Russia is not just boxers, all of us can strive to be better people.
Jason Connell:Absolutely. So you beat Ivan Drago and you can unite the world. So very good. But they have time to decide on the name. We don't have to decide now. But let me know. So between you and me. Any guesses on the name?
Sal Rodriguez:You know, Jason, I really think that I think we kind of get a chuckle when we mentioned Eagle Fang. I think everybody does. I don't think Eagle Fang should really be taken seriously as the as the name of a dojo it was so come and go. And yeah, it was it was during an intermediary period. You know, on the other hand, I don't think Johnny Lawrence has any ties officially obviously to Cobra Kai can invoke the name anymore. So I think the time has come and this moment would call for it. Where you do have a unification of Daniel and Johnny so you have a unification of Miyagi dough, but not Eagle Fang and not Cobra Kai. I think something with the name laurenson it I think it's time to invoke some sort of Lawrence karate title that then could unify with Miyagi dough, so it'd be like Lawrence, karate Miyagi dough type of thing, but I don't think it should be Eagle thing.
Jason Connell:LORUSSO Lawrence. Yeah, well, then
Sal Rodriguez:LORUSSO, then Daniel would have to drop the Miyagi dough. I don't know if he wants to do that.
Jason Connell:No, I think it could be Miyagi dough, and then it could be a LORUSSO and Lawrence Inc. or something.
Sal Rodriguez:I was even thinking like a law firm.
Jason Connell:They're the governing body of Miyagi and I do agree with you in some respects, or in most respects, I don't think Eagle fan can be the name Miyagi dough has so much rich history. But I was thinking for a second that you could have the logo, and maybe there's just a small part of an eagle represented on the logo, the Miyagi dough logo, just a little bit of a tip of the cap to it, but I liked the Lawrence and LORUSSO play, but I'm anxious to see but I don't think you can ever lose. Miyagi dough. It is definitely your rock, probably. And I wouldn't want that to happen. So I like it. Eagle fan could just become a move. Like it was yeah,
Sal Rodriguez:like the crate
Jason Connell:or the drunken monkey. But I agree. Well, Daniel, thanks everybody, and tells them it's time to celebrate there's work ahead, but tonight celebrate. And then Johnny tells Miguel and Robbie that he's taking Carmen and Rosa out to dinner and a late movie so they can do what
Sal Rodriguez:why it was almost like a wink wink you can host some friends you can have a celebration party. Yeah, but the Johnny even for see me they kind of they took over the whole building if it wasn't just his unit.
Jason Connell:Yeah, he let's throw this party the celebration that Daniel just mentioned, but I don't think he meant to this extreme because now we're at receipt apartments. And there are a ton of people thanks to Moon who also was not there. I didn't say we're inviting people from east valley. Now they go to Valley High School, but they went slumming.
Sal Rodriguez:They went slumming all over North Hollywood.
Jason Connell:Moon just like social media. She does attend the East Valley. Guys come over here. Anyway, this place is booming. And I'm sure the neighbors aren't loving it. But whatever.
Sal Rodriguez:No. Like that neighbor. Remember when that neighbor came out? I'm sure he was annoyed by this party. Tell him that that would be me probably annoyed by this party is
Jason Connell:who unless you were invited. And then maybe you'd be cool. I'll stop by for a few minutes. And then MIT shows that he's got zero game with the ladies, which is hilarious and Hawk sets up Miguel, his buddy with a New Girl Most Likely from his family. So But this leads to a scene right ate out of a teen movie or any such movie aren't even real life. But this scene we've seen it before, and we'll probably see it again. But Sal, please describe what happens.
Sal Rodriguez:Well, the camera moves over to the alleyway and we see Sam arriving in a vehicle most likely in Uber. She says thank not drive car. Yeah, yeah, she's not driving. She gets dropped off, goes inside. And by the way, she's looking great looking cute. Looks like she's ready to have a great time. walks in. Right in the corner of the room. We see Miguel kissing the new girl who was being served beer by Mitch or awkwardly sort of beer by Mitch. They're having a little makeout session which young people do the days.
Jason Connell:They're not your relationships out there. No,
Sal Rodriguez:they're not. They are not Elaine fascia. In fact, she runs off in tears, which, by the way, I was little taken aback that she would have tears. I could understand kind of stopping off maybe, but in tears. I mean, she was
Jason Connell:she had what in her hand. Oh, she had the Pulpo
Sal Rodriguez:necklace in her hand. Yeah. So she was trying to I guess, start up again, rekindle. Yeah, Jason, this is not just a scene out of a movie or Cobra Kai, it's out of sight out of mind. My life when I was about 18 to 21 used to go to the there was a lot of 18 and overnight clubs, and I used to really have a great time at those places. Do they have those in Tulsa? 18 and over clubs? Oh, yeah. Okay, so great. So what happened was I knew about this girl I don't know her name was Elizabeth or something. I knew she was going to be at the club that night. I went and got some flowers like I used to do probably wrote a poem something silly like that to do you resign to the club? Ice. Next episode, I walk into this club, small club. Look into the corner of the room. There is Elizabeth smooching with some guy. Now she didn't know what was coming. She did not know I was coming. But there she was switching some guy. I had these flowers in my hand. I might have thrown them on the ground. Like the popo necklace. I might have done that. Yeah, but I did a stomp off was very sad. We were not dating. I did like her. Did she know I was coming? I might have told her I might come. Anyway, the point is Samantha Russo. I've been there.
Jason Connell:It's tough. It's tough. It's very sad to see you know, because this is a triumphant night she is supposed to celebrate tonight and now our hearts broken again. Not good. While she's dialing up Uber again on her phone. So it seems who arrives
Sal Rodriguez:who arrives not in an Uber? Right? We didn't say she must just walk or cut the bus caught the metro. Tory comes up out of nowhere unexpectedly. And then Samantha gears up ready to fight. She's in tears thinking she's going to fight Torian and Ally now. Yeah, but no, Tory says I didn't come to fight. I came to talk. You didn't lose the all Valley Wow. But
Jason Connell:wow,
Sal Rodriguez:I gotta hand it to Tory,
Jason Connell:she couldn't live with it. She got out fighting her again. Because even if she fought her again fairly and she did, there would have been an unfair ref and she couldn't control that. So it was best for her not to do it or she could have went over and called out the ref or said I demand a new ref but she did what she had to do for herself. And she came to now tell Sam about all Valley and yeah, give it to Tory she's really turned a corner I used to be like so anti Tory and my heart is open and Tory and I care for her and I like her growth and I care for everybody it's just bad timing sometimes you just want to hang on to the hi I love the episodes that they end with these little cliffhangers but I just wanted to breathe a little bit after that. And then here comes the sink so naturally you go to next episode. That's what you do.
Sal Rodriguez:It ends on cement That's it.
Jason Connell:That's it You know so if it wasn't for note to this podcast I would definitely just move right on like I did on the first viewing. But anyway, great episode setting up what's to come episode. Clinton and yeah,
Unknown:fantastically. This was episode eight, eight. We got two more two more man. Oh my
Sal Rodriguez:god, I'm already starting my grieving and mourning process right now two more episodes Wow.
Jason Connell:or 80% in and so very close to the end. But what an episode so much fun Sal. I really enjoyed it a lot to cover a lot to unpack as you get like 789 10 they do get longer to I notice there's great speeches and it's hard to like omit things and we incorporate a lot of that in the episode to try to make it as enjoyable as possible. So thank you for going on this journey with me on this episode and I hope our fans and viewers have enjoyed it and just to to go.
Sal Rodriguez:I had a great time. Jason, thank you and I'm looking forward to the next two.
Jason Connell:Awesome. So unlock your confidence and always use the right tools for the job with manscaped
Sal Rodriguez:get 20% off and free shipping with the code Cobra Kai at manscape dot com.
Jason Connell:So thank you so much for listening and please be sure to subscribe to the let's talk Cobra Kai podcast as well as the let's talk Cobra Kai YouTube Live Channel. You can also really help us by giving the show a five star rating on Apple podcast.
Sal Rodriguez:And for all your listeners that enjoy sharing your thoughts. You can leave us a review on Apple podcasts, send us a direct message or post a comment on any let's talk Cobra Kai social media platform.
Jason Connell:If you're a dedicated listener or viewer of Let's Talk Cobra Kai, please consider supporting the show on Patreon. We also highly recommend checking out our other podcast and visiting just curious media.com
Sal Rodriguez:No Mercy
