Warning! This article contains spoilers for Cobra Kai season 6, part 3.

first Karate Kid movie's direct sequels and reboots struggled to find a solid reason to exist, Cobra Kai revived interest in the seemingly dead franchise by reinstating the core element that made the 1984 film successful. It took audiences back to the franchise's roots by featuring the rivalry between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso.

Although the series also added many new characters to the mix, its primary narrative initially revolved around the animosity between Daniel and Johnny and how it influenced their students to turn against one another. This set the stage for many slambang fights between Daniel and Johnny and the students of their respective dojos. Surprisingly, however, Cobra Kai season 6's part 3 does not feature a showdown between the two characters despite being the final installment of the series.

There Was No Reason For Daniel And Johnny To Fight In Cobra Kai’s Final Episodes

The Two Characters Had Already Buried Their Beef

Given how Johnny and Daniel's childhood rivalry paved the way for nearly all Cobra Kai plot points, it is understandable why many viewers expected the two characters to have one showdown in the final arc. Johnny and Daneil's karate prowess has also been extensively debated. While some believe Daniel still has what it takes to beat Johnny, others believe Johnny's "no mercy" Cobra Kai approach might finally work in his favor. However, instead of settling the debate and featuring a final showdown between them, Cobra Kai avoids featuring any conflicts between the two

...By featuring a showdown between the two characters, Cobra Kai would have risked undermining the growth and maturity they have achieved throughout the series.

While the mere prospect of a final karate match between Johnny and Daniel was exciting, the show's creative decision makes sense. In Cobra Kai season 5, Daniel and Johnny had already resolved their differences by teaming up against a common enemy. Even Johnny, who had always been resentful towards Daniel, had become far more mature and self-aware to realize that holding on to the past was not worth it. Although Johnny and Daniel found themselves in each other's crosshairs again while mentoring their students together in season 6's opening arc, both realized that fighting would solve nothing.

Owing to this, by featuring a showdown between the two characters, Cobra Kai would have risked undermining the growth and maturity they have achieved throughout the series. Since they were way past their issues with one another in Cobra Kai season 6's part 3, their rivalry also would have felt forced. This makes it hard not to believe that Cobra Kai made the right choice by focusing more on Johnny's redemption and featuring a fight between him and Sensei Wolf.

Daniel Coaching Johnny For The Sekai Taikai Was Better Than A Karate Kid Rematch

It Redeemed Both Of Them

Instead of fighting one another, Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso train together in Cobra Kai season 6's part 3. This proves to be even better than them fighting each other because it allows the show to recreate the iconic Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa training montage from Rocky III. At the same time, it also shows how, after being enemies for a long time, the two characters have understood that they can only grow by learning from each other's strengths and experiences.

By forgiving each other for everything that has happened in the past and learning to fix their relationship, the two characters also honor one of Mr. Miyagi's most profound Karate Kid quotes, "For man with no forgiveness in heart, life worse punishment than death.” By training together, both Daniel and Johnny prove that they have come a long way from their Cobra Kai season 1 rivalry, which brings the perfect closure to their individual and shared journey in the series.