
Overview
Everyone remembers Danny LaRusso from the classic Karate Kid movies — the underdog who kicked his way into victory with Mr. Miyagi’s infamous methods. But do you remember Johnny Lawrence? The high school bully from the ruthless rival dojo, Cobra Kai. In this 2018 Netflix original series, we find Danny LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence decades later when their old rivalry reignites. This time, Danny is the popular one, with a successful business and a doting family, while Johnny is struggling to get his life together. The show begins with Johnny reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, and what follows is a hilarious and emotionally complex series with a perfect mix of nostalgia for all those who grew up with the original Karate Kid films.
So is Cobra Kai safe for kids? We did a deep dive into this popular series to find out.
Harmful Content ❗️
Parents should know that Cobra Kai is not a show written for kids. Despite the movies being generally appropriate for a younger audience, this show is much more edgy. Johnny is frequently seen drinking and getting drunk — even drinking and driving. He also makes multiple off-color, politically incorrect comments, and the audience is meant to view him as rude and ignorant.
Language
Frequent adult profanities such as F-bombs, “p*ssy,” “b*tch,” and more.
Sex
There are discussions and references to sex and sexual acts. Teens date each other and are seen kissing. There are occasional innuendos. The show has no nudity or explicit sexual scenes.
Violence
There are frequent karate fights, some of which are mild, while others are more prolonged and intense. The audience sees lots of hitting, kicking, and people getting thrown to the ground. These fights are not gory or overly bloody. There are also scenes of bullying in which kids from school beat each other up.
Positive Value 💫
At first, Johnny is portrayed as rude, reckless, and a poor role model. He takes after his previous sensei’s teaching philosophy, which is “strike first, strike hard, no mercy.” He attempts to instill this into his students and encourages them to use fighting to solve their problems. But the real message of the show is redemption. The audience sees Johnny wrestle with the mistakes of his past and the shame that leads him to live and think the way he does. But Johnny, along with other characters, experiences redemption and growth, proving that it’s never too late to change for the better.
So, should I let my kid watch it?
Due to the adult content, we feel this show is better suited to kids around 15 and up. Every child is different when it comes to maturity, so be sure you take your own child into account when deciding if this show is safe for them to watch.