- "Enough is enough. Daniel, this ends now."
"This is exactly what Silver wanted to happen. He manipulated this whole thing to get us to fight."
"Do you hear yourself? The reason we're fighting is because you can't let things go. You promised things would be different."
"You don't understand what this man is capable of. He won't stop until he's ruined every aspect of my life. That's why I have to take him down."
"You really won't stop?"
"Let me and Chozen handle this. It's the only way to make it end."
"Fine. Handle it. I won't be here for it."
"Where are you going?"
"Away from here. Away from you! I just need space. I'm taking the kids with me." - ―Amanda LaRusso and Daniel LaRusso[src]
"Downward Spiral" is the fourth episode of the fifth season of Cobra Kai.
Synopsis
Johnny and Carmen’s romance flies high while Daniel and Amanda are rattled by Terry’s schemes. The teens’ feuds spill over at the waterpark.
Plot
Carmen comes home from work when Johnny comes over. The two make out and are in a dream about their family and wake up together.
At the LaRusso house, Daniel talks to Chozen and is confused about Silver burning down Mike Barnes's furniture store. Chozen says that snakes always wait for the right time to strike and that Barnes could come to their side. Barnes, however, left town and likely doesn't realize Silver did it. Before he leaves, Daniel has Chozen watch the dealership and his house.
Johnny is on the phone when Shannon Keene comes over to his apartment to claim Robby's stuff. Shannon, impressed with how he's cleaned up his apartment, figures that Carmen is pregnant and is happy for them both. She tells Johnny that he can be a gig driver in order to make money and sets her up with a tech company to give him a phone.
The students of Miyagi-Do, Eagle Fang, and Cobra Kai all happen to be hanging out at the same water park. Sam catches Anthony staring at Yasmine and Moon. Sam talks to Moon about how nice it's been to focus on herself instead of karate or relationships. Moon and Eli kiss, while Miguel and Sam are awkward around each other.
Robby and Tory kiss, and they talk about Robby's trip to Mexico. He tells Tory that she should leave Cobra Kai before Silver gets in her head. She gets upset with the idea and tells him that she can make her own decisions. Meanwhile, Kyler brags that he will become Cobra Kai's next top student now that Robby is gone. Kenny, however, doesn't believe that Robby would leave Cobra Kai. Kenny then notices Anthony at the park.
Daniel and Amanda arrive at the auction where they approach Silver. He lies to Amanda about his and Daniel's friendship and Daniel tells Silver to not ruin Amanda's day. Terry says that nothing else will ruin the day and leaves.
Demetri arrives at Johnny's apartment to offer him different phones. He gives Johnny a broken phone and sets him up with a plan to start his ride-share.
Kenny confronts Anthony at the park. He and his Cobra Kai friends kick Anthony into the water. Eli confronts the group and Tory tells Eli to leave them alone. Robby confronts her and says that Cobra Kai isn't the right place for Kenny.
Nervous, Daniel tells Amanda that he feels unsafe about being at the auction with Silver. She calms him down by telling Daniel to get refreshments. Silver talks to Amanda about how he's not against Daniel and talks to her about his past actions with Daniel and that he changed. He adds that he usurped Cobra Kai from John Kreese and he wants to train students to become better.
Johnny starts his first day as a gig driver with disastrous results as all of his customers complain and give him one star reviews.
Back at the water park, Devon, Bert, and Mitch are frustrated that one of the rides is on Cobra Kai's side of the park. The three go over to the ride anyway. Miguel and Sam talk, but Sam turns down Miguel's offer to go on a ride together. A confrontation ensues between Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Fang until a lifeguard breaks it up. Bert proposes a water slide race to see which dojo will have the park, and Tory and Eli step up to the challenge.
At the auction, Daniel showcases his bonsai trees. Terry Silver buys the trees for $30,000, upsetting Daniel. Silver speaks to the audience, announcing that Cobra Kai will offer free karate lessons to low-income kids. Daniel sternly tells Silver to respect the trees.
Johnny goes to the pawn shop to deliver food to Lyle and vents about his customers' bad reviews. Lyle talks about his pawn shop business and how having a family to support makes the work easier. He still gives Johnny one star for eating his food.
Robby talks to Kenny about his fate in Cobra Kai. He tells him that he is quitting Cobra Kai and tells him the truth about the dojo and how their fight caused Robby to turn into a ruthless individual. Kenny says he won't quit when he's stronger than he's ever been and ends the conversation.
Tory wins the race against Eli, who notices a hole in his floatie. The Miyagi-Fangs call the Cobra Kais cheaters, to Tory's discomfort. Eli confronts Kenny and the two fight. The conflict escalates further when Robby and Miguel come in to defend their friends, after which the lifeguard kicks everybody out.
Daniel confronts Terry about what he was saying about his wife. When he points at him, he blocks it and Terry falls on his bonsai trees. Eva tells him that Terry told her Amanda is very respected. Embarrassed, Amanda leaves the auction. Johnny calls Shannon to apologize for his failures and Shannon lets him pick up Robby at the water park.
Robby and Tory break up saying that he's done helping them get out of Cobra Kai. Miguel and Robby confront each other before Johnny shows up in time to break them up. He tells them that they need to get along, but the two say that they will never be friends.
Amanda argues with Daniel about how he let his rivalry with Terry affect Amanda's chances of being on the charity. She is upset that Daniel can't let go of the past and tells him that she needs space and is taking Sam and Anthony with her.
Cast
Starring
- Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
- William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
- Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso
- Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz
- Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene
- Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso
- Jacob Bertrand as Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz
- Peyton List as Tory Nichols
- Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny Payne
- Vanessa Rubio as Carmen Diaz
- Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver
- Martin Kove as John Kreese (Credit only)
Special Guest Star
Guest Starring
- Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso
- Joe Seo as Kyler Park
- Annalisa Cochrane as Yasmine
- Hannah Kepple as Moon
- Oona O'Brien as Devon Lee
- Aedin Mincks as Mitch
- Owen Morgan as Bert
- Diora Baird as Shannon Keene
- Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi
Co-Starring
- Christian Anderson as College Kid
- Matt Borlenghi as Lyle
- Alexey Del Castillo as Man
- Michaela Cronan as Customer
- Darla Delgado as Eva Garcia
- Isaac Dodds as Young Fan
- Bryan Frank as Business Man
- Brianna Milan as Mikaela
- Brook Sill as Estelle
- Matthew Withers as Lifeguard
Trivia
- The episode's title refers to the deteriorating state of Daniel and Amanda's marriage, as well as the slides at the water park.
- Carmen's dream sequence references the beach volleyball scene from the movie Top Gun, complete with "Playing with the Boys" by Kenny Loggins as the background music. Johnny riding his motorcycle also references Maverick riding his motorcycle in the movie.
- At Johnny's first ride-share gig, Estelle asks if he could play Billie Eilish on his car stereo. Johnny mishears and instead plays Billy Idol's "Mony Mony."
- At the auction of his home, Terry makes Daniel look bad by leaning on the table, dropping all of the plants on the floor, making it look like Daniel pushed Terry.
- Yasmine mentions that Anthony will be starting high school in the fall while at the waterpark, confirming that it’s summer. Amanda also confirmed it was summer in the episode “Long, Long Way From Home when she told Daniel it’s summer.
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