The story
More than three decades after his humiliating defeat at the 1984 All-Valley Karate Tournament, Johnny Lawrence is skint, hard-drinking and going nowhere, while old nemesis Daniel LaRusso has built a thriving car-dealership business. When Johnny rescues a bullied teenager next door with a few well-placed moves, he reopens the notorious Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting the old feud and dragging a new generation of fighters into it.
Why it matters
Launched as part of YouTube's push into paid scripted drama, Cobra Kai is a prime example of a streaming original outgrowing its first home. After moving to Netflix, its first two seasons became the platform's most-watched series, and its third season earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Notable facts
- It was greenlit in August 2017 by the subscription service YouTube Red (later YouTube Premium). (source)
- Its first episode, posted free on YouTube alongside episode two, was viewed 5.4 million times in its first 24 hours. (source)
- With YouTube not interested in a fourth season, the producers moved the show to Netflix in June 2020, taking the third season with them. (source)
- Once on Netflix, its first two seasons became the platform's most-watched series. (source)