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Cobra Kaimay be the most aggressively nostalgic show on television right now.
Both spend a lot of time reflecting on or reveling in moments from their youth.
Dramatic fight scenes, corny dialogue, and an abundance of generic 80s pop music abound.
Yet, in contrast to all that, the underlying message ofCobra Kaiis this: Nostalgia can be toxic.
Sometimes its good to visit the past so you know where you are today, she tells Johnny.
But you cant live in the past.
The way that Johnny Lawrence is portrayed exemplifies this problem.
He uses inappropriate language, calling people pussies on the regular.
(Until recently, he had somehow never heard of Wi-Fi.)
But it also doesntun-endorse Johnnys attitudes and behavior, either.
Kreese, of course, still advises his charges to show no mercy.
Daniel advocates for compassion and only acting in self-defense.
Johnny has become the middle ground between the two.
Eagles dont get shit on, he tells the group of mentees before him.
Theyre the ones that do the shitting.
But then he adds: Being a badass doesnt mean being an asshole.
Your goal isnt to hurt other kids.
For Johnny, one of the consummate 80s teen movie assholes, this messaging technically counts as progress.
But it is also still flawed.
Like Johnny,Cobra Kaiviews the younger generation as capable of being better than their elders.
But also like Johnny,Cobra Kailikes to call them out for being too soft.
Thats not the reason Daniel cites for learning karate.
He believes in what Mr. Miyagi taught him about balance and using violence only when necessary.
Theres your side, she says, pointing to Johnny.
Theres your side, she adds, gesturing toward Daniel.
And theres the truth.
Cobra Kaigoes out of its way to show us everybodys sides.
But its tough to gauge exactly what it thinks the truth is.
If the three of them work together, Kreese says, Well melt this whole snowflake generation.
(The dialogue on this show is not subtle.)
That sounds like something Johnny would say.
But he rejects that idea and Kreese.
