SPOILER ALERT: The story below reveals major plot points from Netflix‘s Cobra Kai, Season 6, Part 2
Netflix’s Cobra Kai returned with Season 6’s second batch of episodes, full of action on and off the mats.
In one of the most surprising couplings the series has seen, co-creators Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald, and Hayden Schlossberg creatively saw what most of us never did. Two people who passionately love their jobs and are devoted in such a way that neither has settled down. Their students are their children in that they put all their efforts into teaching them a way of life so they can be the best at what they do.
When I saw this unlikely duo share their first kiss, I wanted to turn my TV off and burn it all down. They are from opposing teams and their connection could complicate issues that are already massively dangerously intertwined like the battle to win on a global stage.
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But then something happened. I went back to the scenes that led up to the kiss and really liked their banter when they’re anxiously searching for their students in Barcelona to ensure they’re okay. Then what followed for this pair made me ship them hard. I’m a lost cause because I desperately need more of them in the future.
If you’ve gotten this far, you want to be spoiled as I’ve done my best to keep it vague. So, don’t come at me in the comments.
In Episode 8 of the show’s sixth and final season, the legendary Chozen (Yuji Okumoto), who first appeared in The Karate Kid II, hooked up with the baddest and first female sensei, Kim Da-Eun (Alicia Hannah-Kim), granddaughter of Kim Sun-Yung (C.S. Lee). Yes, that was a mouthful but the magnitude of this connection must be acknowledged.
In a series with such a large cast, it’s difficult to focus on every character. Even with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) being at the center of the tale, everyone in the ensemble shared screen time fairly. Chozen’s connection to the franchise goes all the way back to 1986. Seeing him share a bromance of sorts with Daniel and Johnny was not only brilliant but a total riot to see play out. Similarly to Kim, who had a team to train and a legacy to uphold, not much was known about Chozen’s love life until the Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita) of it all.
What I’m trying to say is, with only 5 more episodes left of the series, we’re going to need more #Kimzen (a portmanteau for the hottest couple of Season 6). Hurwitz, Heald, and Schlossberg laughed when I suggested a spin-off focused on the lovebirds but you never know.
Every episode from Season 1 to Season 6, Part 2 is available now to stream via Netflix.
Hannah-Kim and the Counterbalance Entertainment trio spoke separately to Deadline about the hookup and what the future might hold for #Kimzen. Hannah-Kim replied via email as she’s currently out of the country.
DEADLINE: How did you feel when you learned Kim and Chozen were going to hook up? Do you agree they were pretty great together?
ALICIA HANNAH-KIM: Hayden told me where we were going with Kim and Chozen on my first day of filming Season 6 and my jaw dropped. I did not see it coming. The ultimate enemies-to-lovers plot twist! I was curious to see how it could work because it had never crossed my mind. The minute Yuji and I saw each other we started laughing and I knew it was going to be super fun to figure out this new dynamic together. I think they’re adorable together. They’re both very guarded people so it’s very sexy when they explode into this kiss mid-fight. The Morning After is classic awkward comedy. Chozen making the typical guy error of downplaying their connection to Daniel and starting their first “couple fight” is so funny because suddenly these two powerful senseis have normal relationship problems.
DEADLINE: What do you think Kim found attractive about Chozen?
HANNAH-KIM: Are you kidding? Chozen has rizz! [Laughs] I think it’s one of those aha moments when you realize how much you have in common with someone. They’re the best enemies to lovers because they are equals. I love how they teamed up to look for the kids. They just naturally kept ending up at the same places on this one wild night in Barcelona. They’re united in this common goal and all the other noise dissipated. They’re in a bar in SPAIN for god’s sake! Very hot circumstances!
DEADLINE: What was it like on set while shooting this unexpected hookup?
HANNAH-KIM: I had the giggles all day and was actually pretty nervous. It’s awkward to suddenly make out with your colleague. We were both chewing a lot of gum before each take. Once it started, it was really easy to get carried away. It’s a really passionate moment for these two but so comedic at the same time. Yuji tried to climb me with his leg in one take and I burst out laughing but our faces were smushed together so it didn’t show. The first take was hilarious because the extras had no idea we were pivoting to a makeout so they were shocked; a lot of open mouths. Our director, Jen Celotta, loved their natural reactions.
DEADLINE: Were the kids egging you guys on?
HANNAH-KIM: We got teased a lot and a bunch of winks and nudges from everyone for weeks!
DEADLINE: How many takes did the first kiss take?
HANNAH-KIM: So. Many. Takes. We made out so much that I was out of breath by the end of it. It’s partly also because it was a fight scene and we had to get that transition from fighting to kissing down perfectly. It was a really lighthearted day at work for me because Kim is usually so intense and furious. It was great to get to show a softer awkward side to her.
DEADLINE: Can you tease any more from this pair in the last part of the season?
HANNAH-KIM: They’re navigating a new path because they’re not sworn enemies anymore. Miyagi and Cobra Kai are opposing dojos. Relationship status: It’s complicated.
DEADLINE: Why did you chooze to bring Kim and Chozen together?
HAYDEN SCHLOSSBERG: It starts with us loving Yuji and Alicia and thinking about where their characters could go this season. We knew our students and senseis would be out in Barcelona, and we wanted some hijinks happening off the mat. You know, you’re in a hotel and a new environment, romance is in the air. And we love the idea because they both have this fierceness and stoic intimidation that makes them the perfect chaperones. We knew they’d ensure the kids were not getting into trouble.
So when they’re out individually looking for the kids, it was fun to have them bump into each other. And you just feel that even though it would make sense for them to want to kill each other, it leads to fun. You know, what happens in Barcelona, stays in Barcelona.
DEADLINE: These are two passionate and devoted senseis whose personal lives have always taken a back seat. It was fun to see Kim the morning after with her hair loose and not in her trademark braid. She was free.
JON HURWITZ: Alicia was really excited about having her hair down. It was fun to see a different side of Kim Da-Eun. It worked well for both of their stories in the season. With Chozen dealing with the heartbreak [over Kumiko] and Kim Da-Eun being under the thumb of her grandfather all these years, there’s a lot of stress and pressure that comes with that. [For Kim] it becomes all-encompassing, her whole life revolves around that. Maybe it’s time she should question if there’s more to life. And that’s something that Tory [Payton List] ends up asking her later.
DEADLINE: That conversation (photo above) clearly makes Kim question her life. I don’t believe she was honest with Tory about her feelings, right?
HURWITZ: Yes, that was important to us. When Tory joined Cobra Kai again, she did it to have a shot on the world stage. She and Kim had a horrible relationship, with Kim pushing her to break her hand in Season 5. So there’s no love lost between the two of them. And we thought it would be interesting to see these two very tough, strong women, connect in certain ways throughout these five episodes. It was really important to us that even though Kim said everything was worth it, we could tell she was questioning it. Tory brought up a question that no one has probably had the guts to ever ask Kim.
This interview was edited and condensed for length and clarity.
The post ‘Cobra Kai’ Bosses & Alicia Hannah-Kim Address Shocking Season 6 Hookup: “I Think They’re Adorable Together” appeared first on Deadline.
