We need to talk about the final episode of Cobra Kai. If you’re not all caught up you need to get your butt out of our dojo! Pronto. Obvious spoilers ahead.

WHAT? Just when you thought YouTube Red’s Karate Kid revival delivered its final narrative strike, erstwhile Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) appeared from the shadows. This is surprising for a variety of reasons, but at the top of the list is that the man behind the infamous “Strike first, strike hard, no mercy” philosophy was thought to be dead.

Earlier today, YouTube Red officially renewed Cobra Kai for Season 2, so we definitely haven’t seen the last of the epic Johnny Lawrence vs. Daniel LaRusso rivalry. So what can we expect from Cobra Kai Season 2? We have a few theories about next season, including a possible Lawrence/LaRusso alliance.

Let’s breakdown all the possibilities for Cobra Kai Season 2.

Because He’s Back In Blackkkkk

So… um… guess who’s decidedly not dead? Earlier in the season, Johnny notes that deplorable Cobra Kai patriarch John Kreese is dead. In the final scene, we learn that’s not the case as the film’s original antagonist surprises Lawrence at his dojo.

“Everyone closed the book on us,” Kreese tells Johnny. “They thought we were done. But now they see, the real story’s just begun.”

What exactly does that mean for Season 2? The most compelling part of Cobra Kai has been the internal struggle of Johnny Lawrence. The series has done a tremendous job of adding nuance to the character and molding Johnny into a sympathetic figure. We watched the emotionally wayward sensei take strong strides towards redemption, especially during the last few episodes, but how will the return of his old mentor affect his moral compass? How will it affect the future of Cobra Kai? I mean, Kreese did attempt to kill Johnny during the beginning of Karate Kid 2… so, yeah, there’s that.

“In season two you’ll learn far more about the lingering status of that relationship,” co-creator Jon Hurwitz told Slash Film. “You’ll know what Johnny knows and what the world knows going forward, but at the end of this season it’s just a surprise that he shows up. It’s just the beginning of the story basically.”

Cobra Kai Vs. Miyagi-Do Karate

Who will take over karate in the Valley? Johnny’s Cobra Kai vs. Daniel’s Miyagi-Do will probably drive most of the story in Season 2. Miguel’s All Valley Karate Tournament win means that the Cobra Kai will once again rise to prominence, but they’re going to have formidable competition. The finale teased Daniel’s plan to turn Mr. Miyagi’s old place into a dojo.

“When the fight comes to you, you have to be ready to fight back,” Daniel tells Robby. “And to do that, we’re gonna need more students. Welcome to Miyagi-Do Karate.”

It’ll be interesting to see who Daniel and Robby recruit. Sam’s a no-brainer (which we’ll get to), and I’m sure there’ll be a host of new students (Kyler?), but one person to keep an eye on is Miguel and Hawk’s pal Demitri. He spoke about wanting to join Cobra Kai after Miguel’s victory, but it makes a ton of sense from a storytelling perspective to have him join Team Miyagi.

Move over, Hilary Swank. We found the next… next Karate Kid. Samantha’s prolific martial arts history was both discussed (with her father) and displayed (on her “non-date” with Miguel) throughout Season 1. In the finale, we see Samantha showing off her moves in the dojo, which almost certainly means she’ll be joining team Miyagi-Do Karate.

Sam’s ascent opens up a slew of narrative possibilities. Sure, there’s the Miguel and Robby of it all, but it also provides the opportunity for organic conflict between Sam and Cobra Kai’s resident female ass-kicker Aisha, who’s in desperate need of a physical foil. The two erstwhile friends seem destined to collide. The Robby/Miguel rivalry will certainly continue, but don’t sleep on a Sam vs. Aisha battle being a major plot point in Season 2.

The Miguel Of It All

Cobra Kai is a show of rivalries — Johnny vs. Daniel, Miguel vs. Robby, Robby vs. Johnny, Hawk vs. Fashion, etc — but the most captivating aspect of the series are the internal struggles. Much like Johnny’s aforementioned inner battle, Season 2 will have to reconcile the mystery of Miguel. Is he the endearing kid from the pilot or the Cobra Kai bully from the finale?

John Kreese’s relationship with Johnny will obviously impact the growth (or lack thereof) of Miguel, but one of the most important themes of Cobra Kai is the indelible effect of the mentor/mentee relationship. What would Johnny’s life had been like if he learned karate from Mr. Miyagi? Would Daniel have found balance under the tutelage of Sensei Kreese?

One of the major questions of Season 2 centers around the Cobra Kai. Will Johnny’s dojo continue their descent into darkness? If so, will Miguel join them?

What About Cousin Louie?!

Just kidding. Nobody cares about that troublemaker. Hopefully he’s in jail or chilling with his new pals from the motorcycle gang.

The Miguel/Samantha/Robby Love Triangle

Miguel and Sam’s relationship suffered a crane kick to the heart during the penultimate episode of the season. Could Robby and (presumably) Sam’s allegiance to Team Miyagi-Do result in some out of dojo romance, or will Sam and Miguel embark upon a Montague and Capulet-esque forbidden love affair?

What About The Rivalry That Started It All? What About Johnny Lawrence Vs. Daniel LaRusso?

“You’re gonna regret this when it’s over,” Johnny tells Daniel during the finale. “Yeah, right. Like this will ever be over,” LaRusso replies.

Sure, in some form or another, a rivalry will always exist between these two — much like Rocky and Apollo, which the show referenced in Episode 9 — but here’s my Season 2 pitch: A reluctant Daniel and Johnny alliance. One of my favorite TV tropes is when rivals are forced to team up to battle a more crucial threat. It makes sense, right? There’s no greater danger to the suddenly vibrant San Fernando Valley youth karate scene than the diabolical John Kreese.

How will it all shakeout? Who knows. Let’s just hope Season 2 doesn’t end with Robby and Miguel fighting to the death in Okinawa.

Cobra Kai Seasons 1 and 2 begin streaming on Netflix on August 28, 2020.

Stream Cobra Kai on YouTube Red