Ralph Macchio Teases Daniel's "Kick in the Gut" and How It Affects 'Cobra Kai' Future
This story contains light spoilers from Cobra Kai season 6 part 1.
With the final season of Cobra Kai in our midst, it's hard to say goodbye to our favorite TV dojo. But the story isn't exactly over yet, and Ralph Macchio has some thoughts about where his iconic character will go in the long run.
The hit Netflix series is airing season 6 part 2 in November, and back in July, the actor sat down with Good Housekeeping to talk about Daniel LaRusso's surprising storyline in the last installment. When the season first premiered back in July, fans watched Daniel learn his mentor Mr. Miyagi wasn't always the good-mannered karate master he knew from when he was a kid. What's more, this all came out right as he and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) needed to help their students get ready for the international Sekai Taikai tournament in Barcelona, leading Daniel to go in a tailspin no one expected.
So, how will this affect Daniel as his and Johnny's team fight for the biggest form of recognition in their lives? According to Ralph, his character will have a lot to work through in the next set of episodes.
"For Daniel, when we discover and introduce this box of Miyagi's secrets, clues of a life that may have not added up to him... that's a big part of the arc," he said. "Daniel winds up wondering and not understanding why he wasn't told of things, and the hurt and pain of that. But also, the deeper he tries to unearth it, the more tangents he goes off on and potentially loses his focus on his students and his family."
Although it's unclear as to how Daniel will have to face these newly unearthed mysteries about his former karate teacher, there is one thing The Outsiders alum is excited about in regards to this emotional storyline.
As Ralph explained, he's excited to see how Daniel's heartbreaking revelation about Mr. Miyagi affects how he approaches being a sensei. Given how Daniel and Johnny's philosophies for teaching are so different and they're trying to win the most important competition in their careers, Ralph is ready for viewers to see how Daniel reacts to it all.
"Daniel's dynamic with Johnny and all of the students really comes to this pinnacle in the final chapter," he said. "There's that evolution and growth going forward. He needs to fight some real kicks in the gut, and find a place within his heart and soul to get through it."
"The legacy of [Cobra Kai] is blurring the lines of good over evil — overcoming the obstacles and finding your inner self," he added. "Things will eventually make sense as to why [Mr. Miyagi] motivates Daniel in this specific story, and I'm looking forward to that."
Well, we need to get our karate gis on and prepare ourselves for what's sure to be an epic ride on Cobra Kai!
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