Kreese's redemption may seem outside the realm of possibility, especially after his season 5 prison break, but Cobra Kai season 6 can still redeem him through one character. Before Cobra Kai season 3, John Kreese was portrayed as a one-dimensional villain who cared little about harassing Johnny Lawrence as a kid and showed no qualms about subjecting his new students to the same. However, Cobra Kai season 3 brings out a better side of his characterization by giving viewers a glimpse of his traumatic past in the Vietnam War and his underlying guilt for being too ruthless towards the younger Johnny Lawrence.
When John Kreese starts objecting Terry Silver's decisions and fraudulent methods for gaining an upper hand over their opposition, it seems evident that the war veteran will gradually turn his life around and find the redemption he deserves. However, Cobra Kai season 5's final arc flips this expectation and reinstates him as the show's primary antagonist by depicting how he abandons Tory when she needs him the most, breaks out of prison, and loses the right to deserve LaRusso and Lawrence's forgiveness. As a result, his redemption seems relatively unlikely in Cobra Kai season 6, but Tory could still make him change his ways.
Why Tory Is The Key To Kreese's Cobra Kai Redemption
Although John Kreese betrays Tory in Cobra Kai season 5 by not offering her a helping hand when she asks him for his advice, Kreese still seems protective of her, which may well be telling when it comes to his character arc in season 6. Before Tory met him to ask about their next move forward in the Terry Silver revenge plan, Kreese had likely decided to escape prison. Therefore, he realized that using her as his messenger of the outsider world would be unfair, as it could potentially drag her into his criminal mess. By pushing her away before he executed his final plan, he was looking out for her.
If this rings true in Cobra Kai season 6, it will affirm that Kreese has Tory's best interests in mind. The demons of his past may have distracted him in Cobra Kai season 5, but he has still been more loyal to Tory than anyone else in the show. Even in Cobra Kai season 4's All-Valley, he encourages her to win her own way instead of following Silver's immoral advice. Considering how Karate Kid's Kreese urged Lawrence to cheat and then looked down on him for losing the All-Valley, it seems like Tory has already triggered a change in him and can inspire him to completely flip his Cobra Kai script.
Why Cobra Kai Season 6 Should Redeem Kreese
Redemption is a consistent theme in Cobra Kai. From Johnny to Chozen, nearly every character has gone through a significant catharsis in Cobra Kai's five seasons and experienced redemption of some sort. Since Cobra Kai season 5 brings almost all primary character arcs in full circle by justifying their past blunders and resolving all the bad blood between them, it would make sense for season 6 to give Kreese a similar treatment. Given that he also shows potential for change in Cobra Kai seasons 3 and 4 by rising above his self-fulfilling motives, he deserves a redemptive arc more than someone like Terry Silver, who is just downright evil.
Some of John Kreese's actions and decisions, especially in Cobra Kai season 5 and Karate Kid II, may have permanently tainted his relationship with Lawrence and LaRusso. He may also never be able to clear his criminal records after season 5's closing arc. However, Tory can still help him find some peace and hope for redemption, which would ultimately benefit Cobra Kai season 6 by ending the show's storyline on a positive high note.