Ralph Macchio on How Mr. Miyagi's "Kick in the Gut" Affects Daniel in 'Cobra Kai' Season 6

The Netflix series picks back up with season 6 part 2 in November, and the actor has thoughts about Daniel's future.

(goodhousekeeping.com)

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!

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a62006216/cobra-kai-season-6-part-2-ralph-macchio-daniel/

-----

My take

Cobra Kai season 6 so far, to put it mildly.... has been a disappointment. Actually, what has been released so far was awful, I was barely able to get through the six or so episodes. I found myself fast-forwarding anything that had Kreese in it. And how can a wanted criminal, (Kreese on the run since he escaped from prison at the end of season 5) just show up in Barcelona? Don't you need a passport to get into Spain? Wouldn't his name show up on a wanted list as he goes through immigration and customs? Ugh....

I don't know. They better do something fast to fix this mess or this last season is going to leave a bad stain on an otherwise pretty good series.

If you're going to train, train here

 

Artwork by William Stevens on Artstation

This was my attempt at doing something outside of my normal scifi genre. Overall i was pleased with how the environment turned out. The Idea was to design an edo era japanese dojo for training and housing samurai. I wanted the Dojo to be hard to reach making the journey to the dojo a right of passage that officialy began the training for the samurai chosen to learn here.

Chad McQueen, "the Karate Kid" Star and Steve McQueen's Son, Dies at 63

(variety.com)

Chad McQueen, son of the legendary actor Steve McQueen who played “Dutch” in “The Karate Kid” film series, died Wednesday in Palm Springs. He was 63.

His wife Jeanie and his children Chase and Madison said in a statement to Variety, “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father, Chad McQueen. His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication,” reads the statement. “His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent but also served as a way to honor his father’s legacy, a testament to the values instilled in him.”

It continues: “He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us, and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfather’s as well. As a family, we need to navigate this difficult time, and we kindly ask for privacy as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.”

McQueen is best known for his role as “Dutch” in “The Karate Kid” (1984) and its sequel, “The Karate Kid Part II” (1986). His portrayal of one of the Cobra Kai members was iconic in ’80s pop culture. His character, in particular, exhibited a merciless attitude and encouraged Johnny Lawrence (played by William “Billy” Zabka) to brutally beat up Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) during the night of the Halloween dance.

His character also mocks and threatens the New Jersey native before the All-Valley Tournament. During the second season of the TV series “Cobra Kai,” it is revealed that Dutch has been serving time in prison. Though there were talks of McQueen potentially appearing in the show, scheduling issues reportedly prevented it.

Although he would continue to appear in other films, such as “New York Cop” (1993) and “Red Line” (1995), his film career was not as extensive as his father’s. Following in his father’s footsteps, however, McQueen had a successful career in auto racing, his true passion. He competed professionally in events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring and founded McQueen Racing, a company that develops high-performance cars and motorcycles, continuing the family legacy of passion for automobiles.

In 2006, McQueen suffered a near-fatal crash while practicing for the Daytona International Speedway’s Rolex 24 event. Though he eventually pulled through, the crash effectively ended his professional racing career, but he has remained involved in motorsports through his company and other ventures.

McQueen was born in Los Angeles on Dec. 28, 1960. He was raised in Malibu.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanie, and his children, Chase, Madison and Steven, a professional actor best known for his role in “The Vampire Diaries.”

https://variety.com/2024/film/obituaries-people-news/chad-mcqueen-dead-steve-mcqueen-the-karate-kid-dutch-1236142675/

I knew this day would come

artwork by Mobo Boehme on artstation

Back to 1984 - Cinemark 40th Anniversary: The Karate Kid

(cinemark.com)

Daniel (Ralph Macchio) moves to Southern California with his mother, Lucille (Randee Heller), but quickly finds himself the target of a group of bullies who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita), an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate and preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.

https://www.cinemark.com/movies/back-to-1984-cinemark-40th-anniversary-the-karate-kid

For one night only, tomorrow night, you can watch the original Karate Kid on the big screen. 

Cinemark is celebrating their 40th anniversary by showing the Karate Kid which is also turns 40 this year. If you have a Cinemark close click the link above and get showtimes. Most theaters look like are only having one showing so look closely. 

See you there!