Latest Cobra Kai Trailer Makes Daniel LaRusso Look Kind Of Awful

Though a previous teaser for the upcoming YouTube Red series Cobra Kai showed that original Karate Kid villain Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) grew up to become quite a jerk, the latest trailer for the show reveals why that might be the case–and it’s Daniel’s (Ralph Macchio) fault.

In the latest trailer, it’s revealed that life has worked out pretty well for the former student of Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). He has a wife, a beautiful home, and what looks like a job selling luxury cars. Life has been less kind for his former nemesis, who is now reopening the Cobra Kai Dojo. “The guy thinks he can bring Cobra Kai back to the valley? Not on my watch,” Daniel tells his wife.

While that may seem to paint Daniel as some kind of hero, things take a major turn quickly as a scruffy and unkempt Johnny is put down by the former karate champion and his friend. “This is the guy whose ass you kicked?” the friend asks. Daniel quickly shoots back, “If you want to get technical, I kicked his face.”

Whatever is happening in that scene, it’s clear that Johnny has seen better days, while Daniel is still gloating about something that happened over 30 years ago. Is that the kind of thing that makes you want to root for the titular Karate Kid?

With each tease, the premise of Cobra Kai becomes a bit more mysterious. Johnny may be relaunching the dojo that made him such a punk as a teenager–and carrying on many of its less-than-commendable traditions–but Daniel is no saint in this scenario.

Still, it’s hard not to feel a little excitement when Daniel suits up in his old Miyagi Dojo uniform once more and throw a kick. While it was previously revealed that he will be serving as a trainer to Johnny’s son, clearly there’s still some fight left in him. Perhaps Cobra Kai will build to another showdown between him and Johnny when it premieres on YouTube Red in the spring.