- "If I can change, and you can change, then everybody can change."
- ―Johnny Lawrence
Taikai is the eighth episode of the fifth season of Cobra Kai.
Synopsis
A coveted spot in an elite international tournament ignites a fight between dojos. Tory’s loyalties are tested. Sam struggles to let Miguel go.
Plot
The Sekai Taikai organizers arrive at the new flagship Cobra Kai dojo. One of them, Gunther, reminds Silver that the selection process is rigorous and that even with the perks Silver can offer, it’s no guarantee he’ll be accepted; it depends on his students. Daniel, Johnny, Chozen, and Amanda show up. When they mention having two All Valley champs, Gunther is confused because Silver lied (surprise surprise). Daniel explains how he and Johnny combine their styles and believe their students deserve a shot, too. Gunther confers with two others and agree to review Daniel and Johnny’s kids.
Later, Sensei Kim is angry because she thinks the rivalry is getting in the way. Silver reassures her it won’t, and Sensei Kim will keep training the Cobra Kais. The students, specifically Devon, are excited about what the tournament could mean for them, but Tory is quiet. She remembers (and we see in flashback) how Kreese wants her to keep staying at Cobra Kai because he just needs a little more time. In the present, Devon notices something is wrong, but Tory says it’s nothing.
The Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang kids are also excited, but Chozen reminds them they need to be able to compete with the best. Johnny tells Miguel he doesn’t need to, not after the last All Valley. Miguel wants to, though. Robby comes over and makes remark about fatherly advice but is only joking. Johnny is glad the two are getting along and are both on the same team.
The Sekai organizers begin their evaluations. At Miyagi-Do, Daniel walks them through the general process with small groups showcasing each respective point. He explains some of the history of Miyagi-Do (complete with unhelpful but well-intentioned commentary by Johnny). They move to the Eagle Fang warehouse to show Johnny’s methods. Sam demonstrates by kick smashing a watermelon that goes all over Gunther. Everyone is in panic mode, but Johnny makes a Rocky 4 reference that Gunther enthusiastically understands.
At the flagship Cobra Kai, Silver uses Kenny to show how quickly his dojo sees progress. He also shows off some fancy tech that helps them see how much power a student is using and to help adjust. Throughout, the Cobra Kais demonstrate other techniques they use in their style.
The demonstrations wrap up and Gunther offers his comments to each dojo. He points out how even though they are different, they are both equally impressive. To decide which dojo qualifies, they will compete directly, with each dojo choosing a male and female fighter. Tory and Kenny are Cobra Kais picks. Later, Tory visits Kreese to tell him and if she wins, it will only help Cobra Kai. She doesn’t know what to do. Instead of being helpful, Kreese backs down and is done stringing Tory along. She needs to do what’s best for her, which Tory doesn’t like and leaves.
All of the Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang kids are at the LaRussos’ for dinner. Johnny talks with Miguel, Robby, and Eli and tells them they're all formidable fighters and Johnny isn’t sure who to pick. In the end, Robby and Miguel both agree that Eli should be the one. Meanwhile at the dojo, Chozen and Daniel finish up extra training with Sam. While they have faith in her versus Tory, she’s gloomier about how she didn’t expect to be back in karate so soon; she feels like she’s back where she started. Daniel and Chozen tell her about their former rivalry. Chozen explains how Daniel won because he knew what he was fighting for, giving Sam something to think about. As she leaves, she spots the octopus necklace on the ground.
Kenny is also training late, and Silver finds him. Kenny is worried because he’s smaller than most the other students. Silver, while ironically quite tall, somehow manages to relate. He teaches Kenny a new move called "the Silver Bullet" that takes out an opponent in one shot.
Johnny, Daniel, and Chozen’s crew arrives at the flagship dojo, and Mitch is once again being sucked in by the bells and whistles of Cobra Kai. Elsewhere in the dojo, Sensei Kim tells Tory to make her match with Sam quick. Kenny spots Robby helping Anthony. Angry, he goes over to confront Robby, who again tries to get through to Kenny. And again, it doesn’t work. All the senseis talk with Gunther. They will start with the boys, with a local and impartial ref. The first to three points wins.
The first match begins and very quickly we see the ref is in no way, shape, or form an impartial one. Tory notices, too, but stays quiet. Eli isn’t faring well against Kenny, who is fighting dirty. Johnny and Daniel check in with him, and he’s ready to unleash the hawk. They start again but Kenny pulls out the Silver bullet and Eli is out for the count. Cobra Kai wins the boys’ match by forfeit.
Before the girls’ match, Daniel tells Sam that Cobra Kai is fighting dirty and dangerous, and Sam doesn’t have to fight. But she wants to. Tory is nowhere to be found, so Sensei Kim taps Devon as the replacement. The match and accompanying bogus calls begin. During a timeout, a frustrated Sam confers with Daniel and Chozen. Daniel knows points won’t always go their way. Miguel adds that Sam’s the better fighter, while Chozen says she can’t leave room for error. Daniel agrees and tells Sam to make every point undeniable. And she does, gaining the win. While her group celebrates, Devon apologizes to Sensei Kim, who reminds Devon it was her fault she lost, and now Tory is gone. So, Sensei Kim will turn Devon into a leader if she’s ready.
The organizers confer and reveal that Cobra Kai is heading to Sekai. However, they liked how unique Daniel and Johnny’s combined styles are, and they have also qualified, too! A bit later, Gunther asks what their dojo name is. Daniel and Johnny name their respective dojos, because even though they work as one, they’re also both. Gunther says no single name is fine for now, but he needs to know soon. (We can think of one name that would work.) Proud of their accomplishment, Daniel tells the kids to go celebrate. Johnny tells Miguel and Robby that no adults will be home, if they want to have a party or something.
So, they party it up, and Robby and Eli seem to be on better ground with each other. Surprised at the outcome, Eli explains that Moon sent invites to other people. Mitch tries to hit on a group of girls that walk in, but one girl seems to only have eyes for Miguel. Sam arrives, octopus necklace in hand, but leaves immediately when she sees Miguel and the girl making out. When she’s outside, Tory shows up. She promises she’s not there to fight and tells Sam that she didn’t actually lose the All Valley.
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
Guest Starring
- Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso
- Joe Seo as Kyler Park
- Oona O'Brien as Devon Lee
- Aedin Mincks as Mitch
- Khalil Everage as Chris
- Owen Morgan as Bert
- Nathaniel Oh as Nathaniel
- Alicia Hannah-Kim as Kim Da-Eun
- Carsten Norgaard as Gunther
- Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi
Co-Starring
- Ezekiel Boston as Medic
- Christopher Conolley as Referee
- Cece Kelly as Holly
- Toru Shimoji as Japanese Board Member
- Joseph Steven Yang as Korean Board Member
Trivia
- "Taikai" means "tournament" in Japanese. The episode takes its title from Sekai Taikai, which translated means "World Tournament".
- This is the first time Sam and Devon fight against each other.
- Kenny almost shows a redemption arc when seeing the results for the "Silver Bullet" until he encourages his sensei to show it again, therefore keeping his corruptness.
Gallery
