- "I actually like this attitude on you. It's a shame I won't get to see it again, because if you continue down this path, nothing in your life will ever be the same again. You're playing with fire, Danny Boy."
"And I am gasoline. Boom." - ―Terry Silver and Chozen Toguchi[src]
"Playing With Fire" is the third episode of the fifth season of Cobra Kai.
Synopsis
Another enemy from Daniel’s past resurfaces. After a spa day and some soul-searching, Sam comes to a decision about her future with Miguel.
Plot
Daniel and Chozen finish a game of golf with Daniel's cousin Louie and employee, Anoush. He trash talks Chozen but he plays around with him. Terry Silver arrives and confronts Daniel for sabotaging Cobra Kai. He tells him to stand down and if he continues, nothing will be the same. Anoush was curious to know what happened but Daniel said he wanted to buy drinks for the four of them.
To make amends for his sudden disappearance and trip, Miguel makes breakfast for Carmen and Rosa. He promises the two that he won't perform a dangerous stunt. Johnny arrives and tells Carmen that Robby and Miguel will need time to make amends.
Anthony confronts his sister Sam about the Uncrustables. He also talks about Kenny and how he's getting better. Noticing how she's been, he asks about Miguel and after sending a text to Yasmine and Moon, Sam leaves.
At Miyagi-Do, Chozen and Daniel talk about what Terry is doing next. Chozen says they can call upon old friends and asks if Terry knew any old friends. Remembering the past, Daniel remembers another old enemy in Mike Barnes.
Carmen reveals to Johnny that she might be pregnant but she tells him it's not 100%. Johnny is nervous to react because of his failure as a father. He offers a ride but Carmen says she can drive on her own.
Eli goes with Demetri and Miguel to get a new tattoo. Miguel tells him that Johnny is trying to keep Robby and Miguel from fighting and tells Eli that he's done with Cobra Kai. When Sam texts back, Miguel reads the messages to the binary brothers but are telling Miguel what the messages mean. Yasmine and Moon also read the messages and give Sam options on what to say to Miguel. When she replies, Eli and Demetri tell Miguel is screwed and needs to figure something out.
Daniel and Chozen go to Mike Barnes's house where they tail him to a furniture store. Chozen notices the tools he's using and the purposes of it. Daniel tells Chozen he will follow him alone.
Johnny and Carmen go to the pharmacy to buy pregnancy tests. He vents to Carmen about his failures as a father. When he sees a father taking care of a baby, he gets haunted about his mistakes and before Carmen leaves, she tells him he is not ready.
Yasmine and Moon bring Sam to a spa. Moon shows Sam a sensory deprivation pod where Sam can reflect on herself. At the same time, the binary brothers bring Miguel to a jewelry store. Demetri explains that he went there to buy jewelry for Yasmine. Miguel notices an octopus necklace but can't afford it.
Daniel goes into the furniture store where he overhears a conversation between Mike and his worker. He mistakenly thinks that he's going to hurt him and his students and takes Mike's phone away. Daniel threatens the worker but is confused about what's going on. Mike refreshes Daniel when he shows him the store and tells Daniel that he is the actual owner.
At his apartment, Johnny practices taking care of a baby and cleans up his apartment. Despite a successful training session, he is still haunted over his failure with being a father.
Back at the furniture store, Daniel apologizes to Mike about his misunderstanding. Mike also apologizes for his actions from The Karate Kid Part III and tells him he wants to leave the past behind. He tells him that his defeat banned him from karate and also praises Daniel for his successful life. However, Daniel says that there are things he's experienced that have not been well.
During her reflection, Sam encounters dark versions of Robby, Miguel, Eli, Daniel, Yasmine and Moon. Later, she encounters a dark version of herself and begins to fight with her. After Moon and Yasmine ask about what happened, she is speechless about her experience.
Mike is upset with how Terry Silver is ruining Daniel's life. Daniel tells him he feared that he recruited him to help with Cobra Kai. He asks if there was anything he can do to help but because Mike hasn't seen Terry in years, he can't help him. Daniel is happy that Mike is an old Cobra Kai student who is not aggressive to him. After, Daniel and Mike playfully spar but Chozen steps in and fights him. Daniel then breaks up the fight and tells Mike it was a misunderstanding.
Miguel asks Johnny about his current state with Sam. He tells him that he's meeting with her and is nervous about what to tell her. Johnny says he can relate and tells him that if he accepts his mistakes, he can make things right.
Daniel apologizes to Mike about how Silver has been. Mike remembers Terry's old attorney who did his contract he signed in order to participate in the 1985 All Valley Karate Tournament. Unfortunately, Mike doesn't have the contract but tells him he can try to find the name of the attorney. He leaves a voicemail to talk to him about Terry Silver.
Back at Miyagi-Do, Miguel and Sam meet up with each other. Miguel apologizes for leaving Sam and Sam apologizes for focusing too much on the 51st All-Valley. Sam tearfully explains that she needs a break in order to figure herself out. The two hug each other but when Miguel leaves, he is heartbroken and drops the necklace.
Carmen arrives at Johnny's apartment and is impressed with how he fixed everything up in one day. Johnny tells her that he is ready to take on the challenges on the father. Carmen reveals that she finally took the pregnancy test and it is confirmed that she and Johnny are going to have a baby. The two kiss in celebration of the good news.
At the country club, Daniel is in the sauna where Terry plays his message to his attorney and confronts him. He tells him that he will be seeing him a lot more and tells him not to play with fire. When Mike arrives to the furniture store, he sees it on fire and is shocked in the process.
Cast
Starring
- Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
- William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
- Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso (Credit only)
- 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 (Credit only)
- Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny Payne (Credit only)
- 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
- Annalisa Cochrane as Yasmine
- Hannah Kepple as Moon
- Dan Ahdoot as Anoush
- Bret Ernst as Louie LaRusso, Jr.
- Rose Biacno as Rosa Diaz
- Sean Kanan as Mike Barnes
- Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi
Co-Starring
- Kelley Davis as Cori
- Eliana Ghen as Tiffany
- Zeeky Minnis as Jenna
- Matthew O'Donnell as Dad
- Anoop Surya as Phil
Trivia
- This episode takes its name from when Mike Barnes has his shop lit on fire by Terry Silver.
- The scene where Sam uses the deprivation pod to reflect on herself resembles Stranger Things when Eleven is placed in salt water in order to enter the void to see the future/present events and search for unusual things, like the Demogorgan.
- This marks the first appearance of Mike Barnes for the first time since The Karate Kid Part III.
- His wife's appearance in this episode is an over the phone cameo.
- Despite Robby's appearance in this episode, he was only shown in Sam's reflection.
- This is the only episode of season 5 where Kenny is absent.
- This is the second and final season 5 episode where it shows credit only for Amanda LaRusso.
- Moon, Yasmine, and Sam appear to be hanging out all together again in this episode. The last time they were all together in a scene was in Counterbalance, though Yasmine and Moon were technically already against Sam due to Kyler's fib from the movie night.
- Like Moon, it could be possible that Yasmine eventually learned that Kyler had been trying to make Sam look bad.
- The title was also used in the 12th episode of the 6th season of "Heartland", only with the whole second word being complete lowercase.
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