The new trailer for Tory becoming the first female All Valley Champion that cinched Cobra Kai's victory, but Nichols was heartbroken to discover that her win was tainted because Silver paid off the referee.
Tory has been a die-hard Cobra Kai since she ed the black and yellow dojo in season 2, and her main enemy has been Samantha LaRusso (Mary Mo). However, Tory's dedication to Cobra Kai was tested by the arrival of Terry Silver, who eventually usurped control of the dojo from John Kreese (Martin Kove). Tory, who comes from a troubled home, found a mentor in Kreese, who showed the girl special attention. But as other of Cobra Kai like Hawk (Jacob Bertrand) and even Nichols' boyfriend, Robby Keene (Tanner Buchanan), quit the dojo, Tory remained true to Cobra Kai and became their top female fighter AKA the Queen Cobra. Yet Tory is at a crossroads when Cobra Kai season 5 begins, especially after Kreese was arrested (and framed by Silver) for the attempted murder of Stingray (Paul Walter Ha) and Tory learned Terry's cheating turned her into a fraud as All Valley Champion.
Cobra Kai season 5's trailer revealed a great deal about the show's storylines, but it didn't touch upon what Tory will do about Silver and his cheating. Without Kreese's , Tory doesn't have many options against Silver, a billionaire mastermind who intimidates Nichols. Nor can Tory easily leave Cobra Kai, especially since she's their prized pupil as All Valley Champion. Considering her mutual animosity with Sam LaRusso, Tory can't just quit Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do, and that point is moot anyway since Daniel and Johnny closed down both of their dojos. Tory is essentially stuck in Cobra Kai, but she will still be compelled to do something about Terry Silver in season 5. Thus far, Cobra Kai season 5's promotional materials have obfuscated the pending conflict between Tory and Terry.
Cobra Kai's New Female Sensei's Role Could Be To Discipline Tory
What Cobra Kai season 5's trailer does make clear is that Terry Silver plans a massive expansion of the dojo's reach, and he intends to spread the Way of the First far beyond the San Fernando Valley he now controls. In Cobra Kai season 5, Silver is recruiting new, international senseis to train his growing legion of students. The most important of the new senseis, Kim Da-Eun (Alicia Hannah-Kim), is from South Korea and may be linked to the very The Karate Kid Part III.
Tory Nichols vs. Terry Silver is a fascinating conflict in Cobra Kai because it's a rare case of a student having a serious issue with her sensei that could also radically alter the balance of power in the series. Silver must recognize that he needs Tory, especially since Cobra Kai is lacking top fighters after Robby, Hawk, and Miguel Diaz (Xolo Maridueña) all abandoned Cobra Kai. Yet Tory's loyalty is to Kreese and herself, not Terry, and she can't forgive Silver ruining the best moment of her life in winning the All Valley. The fact that Cobra Kai season 5's trailer is downplaying Tory vs. Terry likely means something big will happen that the show doesn't want to spoil.
Cobra Kai Season 5 premieres September 9th on Netflix.