Mercy
Directed by Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg
Daniel: Yeah, right. Like this'll ever be over.
The All Valley Sports Arena welcomes the 50th Anniversary of the All Valley Karate Championships in a montage set to "I Want It All" by Queen. Outside the venue, the Cobra Kai await the arrival of their sensei. Bert, the smallest member of the team, mentions having seen Johnny at the mini-mart the night before, ranting drunkenly about Daniel and Robby while urinating on his new car. As they prepare to enter the tournament without him, a sober Johnny arrives to impart his final lesson to the group: "No Mercy."
At the LaRusso house, Daniel and Sam brood over the events of the previous night. Amanda tries to rouse them, pointing out that LaRusso Auto Group is one of the tournament's major sponsors and must be represented. Realizing that everyone she knows will be there, Sam convinces her dad to go to the tournament. There, Daniel is met with a hero's welcome and takes a moment to admire his own 1984 championship banner before escorting his family to their front row seats.
As the tournament opens, all the participating dojos are introduced to the audience. Cobra Kai enters in their trademark black and gold uniforms, marching in a line while chanting their dojo's name. Last to be introduced is Robby Keene, having signed himself up for the tournament unaffiliated.
On instruction from Johnny, Miguel scores his first point in a tournament match with a Crane Kick, much to Daniel's chagrin. Robby wins his first match with Daniel quietly rooting him on. Aisha and Hawk also score early victories, with Hawk removing his gi and showing off his tattoo in a Victory Pose, exciting Moon. Miguel, Robby, and Hawk all advance to the semi-finals, but Aisha is defeated by the reigning All Valley champion Xander Stone with a leg sweep. Stone offers to help her up, but Aisha furiously tells him to "eat shit" and storms off the mat. Sam goes to console her after the loss and they ultimately reconcile, with Aisha telling her that the tournament could use another female fighter.
Before the semi-finals get underway, Stone takes the microphone from the announcer and makes a slacktivist speech before calling for a moment of silence in the arena. Annoyed, Johnny orders Miguel to "kick that pansy bitch in the face." With his mother and grandmother cheering him on, Miguel defeats Stone in impressive fashion to advance to the finals.
When Robby faces off against Hawk, Daniel is reluctant to support his old student, but when he notices Robby is unfocused, he encourages him to find balance. After a brief bout of meditation, Robby resumes the fight and quickly scores a point, which Hawk boasts will be his last. After Robby makes fun of his haircut, Hawk attacks Robby from behind and injures his left shoulder, resulting in Hawk's disqualification. Johnny races to his son's side, but Robby angrily refuses his aid before being led off the mat by the official. Johnny then scolds Hawk for the unethical act, but Hawk argues, "What was I supposed to do, be a pussy?"
In the locker room, Daniel speaks with Robby who apologizes for his deception and admits he just wanted to get back at his dad. In turn, Daniel tells Robby he understands, lets him in on the truth about Johnny and encourages him to let go of his anger. He explains that his father is not a monster, but just a man who is battling a lot of demons. When Robby doubts he can go on with his injury, Daniel begins rubbing his hands together as if to use Mr. Miyagi's pain suppression technique, but ends up calling for a medic instead who pops Robby's shoulder back into place. Daniel tells him he doesn't have to fight in his condition, but Robby wants to face his father. Back in the arena, Miguel tries to apologize to Sam for hitting her, but she rejects him and his Cobra Kai philosophy. Rather than watch the final match, she asks her mom to take her home.
Robby and Miguel square off in the finals with Daniel officially coaching Robby under the Miyagi-Do banner. Fighting defensively, Robby manages to score a point against Miguel, but Miguel answers back and earns two quick points by exploiting Robby's injured shoulder. Daniel calls for a time-out to help Robby focus, after which he scores his second point with the double-footed kick. Robby offers his hand to help Miguel up, but Miguel callously yanks on his injured arm drawing a chorus of boos from the crowd. A second time-out is called, at which point Johnny tells Miguel that he doesn't have to fight dirty to win, but Miguel insists there is nothing dirty about winning, using Johnny's own lessons against him. When the match resumes, Miguel targets Robby's shoulder once more to win the tournament for Cobra Kai.
Miguel dedicates the win to his sensei, but Johnny is in no mood to celebrate. He goes after his son to apologize, which Robby accepts. After congratulating Johnny on his victory, Daniel leaves the arena with his student. Miguel looks for Sam in the crowd, but Demetri tells him she left a while ago. Back at home, Sam walks through her father's dojo and reminisces about their time together before launching into an aerial attack routine, implying that she will resume training.
On the drive home, Robby is sullen about his second place finish, but Daniel assures him that he is the true winner, as he fought with honor. Robby expresses concern that Cobra Kai is going to become the premier dojo in the Valley, but Daniel replies, "Over my dead body", taking Robby to Mr. Miyagi's old house which he plans to convert into the new Miyagi-Do school of karate.
Back at Cobra Kai, Johnny contemplates his hollow victory alone in his office when he hears someone enter the dojo. Expecting to see Miguel, he is stunned to find his old sensei John Kreese, who congratulates him for revitalizing Cobra Kai and tells him the real story has only just begun.
Tropes:
- Armor-Piercing Response: Johnny is on the receiving end of this from two of his students, their responses leaving him stunned and speechless:
- He chews out on Hawk for making an illegal move which lead to his disqualification. Hawk, however, walks off unfazed.Johnny: What the hell are you thinking, man?
Hawk: What was I supposed to do, be a pussy? - During the finals, he tries to talk Miguel out of exploiting Robby's shoulder injury... but Miguel retorts that winning is not dirty business, according to Johnny himself.Johnny: Look, I know we want to win, but it's got to be the right way. We don't have to fight dirty.
Miguel: Dirty? There's nothing dirty about winning, Sensei. You taught me that.
- He chews out on Hawk for making an illegal move which lead to his disqualification. Hawk, however, walks off unfazed.
- Attack the Injury: The final match, where Combat Pragmatist Miguel goes after Robby's damaged shoulder to get the win.
- Awesome, but Impractical: The reason Cobra Kai is able to sweep most of the rounds despite being fairly new to the tournament is because their competition kept showboating by doing flips over their competitors or just trying to be flashy. This naturally proves to be even less efficient than Cobra Kai's Attack! Attack! Attack! approach.
- Berserk Button: As Robby finds out the hard way, talking smack about Hawk's mohawk is asking for a violent beatdown — by the rules or otherwise.
- Bittersweet Ending: Cobra Kai wins the All Valley tournament on its 50th anniversary, but things simply did not turn out as expected:
- Johnny isn't happy about the result, since Miguel defeated his own son by exploiting an injury and essentially became the same kind of fighter he used to be, right in front of him. On the bright side, when he goes to Robby to apologize for what his students did to him, Robby accepts the apology, showing that there's still hope they can fix their relationship.
- Miguel wins the tournament like he wanted, but ends up realizing that he drove away Sam over his rabid "No Mercy" attitude. Sam didn't get to witness Miguel's victory because she left before the match started - and she wouldn't have been cheering for him, anyway.
- Sam is appalled by Miguel's transition from bully victim to bully and effectively ends their relationship. However, she does get to patch things up with Aisha after watching her do well at the tournament (she got defeated when her opponent ironically swept her leg) and decides to take up karate again as she goes to her family's dojo to practice.
- While Robby lost the final round to Miguel, he still managed to score two points against him, coming one point away from victory, all while suffering from a Game-Breaking Injury to his shoulder and while retaining his honor by offering Miguel a hand up. He also lets go of his anger towards his dad and appears willing to reconcile with him while continuing with tutelage with Daniel.
- Daniel was also probably sincere about congratulating Johnny and is still proud of Robby for doing his best, deciding to show him his idea of turning Mr. Miyagi's home into their own dojo in the hopes of gaining more students.
- Post-tournament, the return of Kreese in Cobra Kai's dojo, showing his own plans for their return.
- Disproportionate Retribution: During a timeout, Hawk cheap kicks Robby on the back in a fit of rage because the latter talked smack about his mohawk.
- Don't You Dare Pity Me!: Subverted. Aisha, who lost to Stone in the quarterfinals, initially brushes off Sam's compliments, but the two quickly make up after Sam apologizes to her for associating herself with the likes of Yasmine in the first place.
- Drowning My Sorrows: The final scene, as Johnny, now alone in the dojo, stares at the trophy.
- Game-Breaking Injury: When Hawk kicks Robby In the Back.
- Graceful Loser:
- For all his Soapbox Sadie antics, Stone gracefully accepts his defeat in the semi-finals, exchanging a congratulatory handshake with Miguel.
- Daniel has no reservations about Robby losing to Miguel in the finals, and congratulates Johnny for Cobra Kai's victory in the tournament.
- Even Robby is able to let the whole thing slide afterward.
- Healing Hands: Amusingly subverted. Daniel vigorously rubs his palms together and appears as if he's going to replicate Miyagi's magic hands technique... but gives up midway and calls for a medic instead.
- Hidden Depths: Having spent almost the entire season being nothing but a self-absorbed little shit, Anthony exhibits none of his usual rudeness at the tournament. To the contrary, he is thrilled at the live display of martial arts, and expresses disappointment when Sam forces him to leave before the finals. However, if his few appearances in Season 2 mean anything, the jury is out on whether this is actually going to mean Character Development that sticks.
- History Repeats: Much like how Daniel made it to the semi-finals back in his day, only to be crippled by an illegal attack to the knee from his opponent Bobby, Hawk cheap kicks Robby on the back in a fit of rage while the latter wasn't looking, because he talked smack about Hawk's hair. The biggest difference here is that Bobby was openly remorseful of his actions, while Hawk is not, even after Johnny calls him out.
- Honor Before Reason: Part of the reason why Miguel was able to aggravate Robby's shoulder injury (and thus why Miguel wins the match) has to do with the fact that Robby offered to help him up. Considering how ruthless Miguel has proven himself to be, and how much he hates Robby, this was a foolish move on Robby's part.
- Innocently Insensitive: Miguel and Hawk don't know the connection between Johnny and Robby and thus have no reason to hold back or not fight dirty when facing him. Though considering how much Miguel hates Robby, he probably would have fought just as violently even if knew about the connection.
- Insistent Terminology: It's "Eli Moskowitz", not "Just Hawk".
- Instant Humiliation: Just Add YouTube!: Sam's description of the viral video of the wedgie at the canyon. That gets Aisha, who pulled a Melvin on Yasmine in the previous episode, to lighten up a bit.
- It's Personal: Miguel treats most of his tournament opponents as just that and even shakes hands with Xander Stone after beating him. Once he faces Robby, however, he fights much more viciously and even attacks his injured shoulder because of what happened with Sam. While Miguel is able to successfully utilize Robby's injury and win, his emotional rage towards Robby causes him to get sloppy at certain points during the fight, and it nearly costs him the match.
- Karma Houdini: Amanda is clearly aware that Sam did not take Robby directly home last episode (as she got into an altercation with Miguel and broke up with him before taking Robby back to the LaRusso house), but does not seem to be the least bit upset.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Kreese announces that the story is just beginning.
- Little "No": Johnny mouths a silent one as Miguel finishes Robby off with one more kick to the shoulder.
- Medal of Dishonor: Johnny's perception of the trophy.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Johnny gets hit hard with this one, in the form of the Armor Piercing Responses he got from Miguel and Hawk. He's turned his charges into the exact same asses that he and the original Cobra Kai gang once were — if not worse.
- Oh, Crap!: Kreese is alive. And He's Back!
- Only One Name: Hawk entered the tournament using only his nickname, much to the MC's confusion. Demetri thinks this action in particular is completely ridiculous.
- Overshadowed by Awesome: Inverted. Daniel is announced as the two time winner despite standing next to Johnny Lawrence who is not only a two time victor as well, but arguably has the more impressive victories with Daniel winning due to a rule that let him only fight in the final round in 1985 and Johnny not losing a single point with his second victory.
- Pyrrhic Victory: Several examples.
- Robby makes it to the finals but only because his opponent was disqualified for giving him a Game-Breaking Injury that ultimately cost him the tournament.
- Johnny and the Cobra Kai Dojo ends up winning the tournament, but at the cost of Cobra Kai and its students going down a dark path.
- Miguel wins the All Valley Tournament for Cobra Kai but at the cost of losing his relationship with Sam and making significant milestones in his Protagonist Journey to Villain.
- Race Fetish: Hilariously, the nerdy white boy Bert seems to be into black girls when he buys a nude magazine in the convenience store next to the dojo. Even the clerk (who doesn't care about selling alcohol to minors) gives him a "Really?" look.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: The tournament referee immediately disqualifies Hawk for illegally attacking Robby. A refreshing change from the 1985 tournament, when Barnes was permitted to all but murder Daniel with only a point deduction.
- Rejected Apology: Sam doesn't accept Miguel's apology for the beach incident because it's clear he's only sorry about the fact that he accidentally hit her instead of Robby. When Sam points out he shouldn't have resorted to violence at all, Miguel is unrepentant and even declares he's going all out on Robby during the finals.
- Revenge Before Reason: This trope is arguably why Robby came so close to beating Miguel despite the experience/skill gap between them and Robby's Game-Breaking Injury. During the final match, Miguel was still smarting from Sam rejecting him, and projecting his intense rage onto Robby. Miguel during certain points in the match is so focused on hurting Robby that he leaves himself open to getting hit. It is only when he focuses on winning the match and not getting hit, combined with his training edge and Robby's injured shoulder, that he is able to win.
- Rousing Speech: Johnny gives one to his students before the tourney starts.Johnny: You've all learned to strike first; to be aggressive, to not be losers. I've taught you to strike hard; put every ounce of your power behind everything you do. I haven't taught you the third rule of Cobra Kai: No mercy. The older you get, the more you're gonna learn that life isn't fair. You wake up one morning feeling great, then life throws a spinning heel kick to your balls. Takes a big steaming shit in your mouth. You get an F on a test, you get suspended, fall in love with a girl and then some other dude comes and steals her away. Car gets set on fire. Just when you think things are goin good, everything falls apart, that's how it goes. Life shows no mercy, so neither do we. We do whatever it takes to keep our heads above water. We do whatever it takes to keep moving forward! We do whatever it takes to win! Remember who you are: You're badass! You don't give a shit! Kick ass! You're Cobra Kai!
Miguel: COBRA KAI!!!
*Cobra Kai students cheer*
Johnny: Alright guys, let's go down there and kick the shit out of everybody! - Second Place Is for Winners: Robby is sullen about finishing second, but Daniel tells Robby that he's the real winner because he fought with honor, unlike the Cobra Kai.
- Seen It All: Bert has seen his sensei drunk so many times that seeing him drunkenly piss on his own car crying about someone wanting to be someone's father didn't register as that weird.
- Sequel Hook: At least three plotlines are set up for season two:
- Sam enters Daniel's dojo and starts to practice the moves he taught her when she was younger.
- Daniel takes Robby to show him Mr. Miyagi's home and tells him they will turn it into their own dojo and recruit more students to fight back against Cobra Kai's influence in the valley.
- Kreese, who turns out to be alive, enters the Cobra Kai dojo late at night to praise Johnny for bringing it back to the top and tells him that it's just the beginning.
- Shirtless Scene: Robby while the medic is treating his shoulder.
- Soapbox Sadie: The winner of the previous tournament, Xander Stone, inexplicably bursts into a long-winded PC progressive speech full of platitudes and clichés, like a Miss Universe contest where the answer from the winner is always "I wish for world peace (and rainbows and sunshine)!". Johnny tells Miguel to kick his ass, which the latter wholeheartedly agrees with.
- Sore Loser:
- Aisha resentfully tells Stone to go "eat shit" after she is defeated by him.
- Stone's mother throws a fit and calls bullshit on Miguel's final move that won him the semi-finals.That is bullshit! Bullshit!
- Hawk calls bullshit after he is disqualified from the semi-finals for making an illegal move by kicking Robby in the back and injuring him in the process.Referee: That's enough! Illegal contact. You're disqualified.
Hawk: Bullshit! - After getting hit by a double kick from Robby, Miguel rejects his offer to help him up by yanking his outstretched arm to the ground and injuring his shoulder further.
- So Proud of You: Several examples.
- Miguel's family expresses this throughout the tournament.Carmen: You were amazing.
- Daniel tells this to Robby because despite getting second place, he fought with honor."You should be proud of yourself. I know I am."
- Kreese's praise to Johnny for winning the tournament and restoring Cobra Kai has strong shades of this.
- Miguel's family expresses this throughout the tournament.
- Stage Mom: Invoked by Amanda. Patricia Stone later proves her point through her dress and behavior at the competition.
- Stupid Evil: Hawk decides to hit Robby when his back was turned which gets himself disqualified just because Robby made fun of his mohawk. Even if Hawk wanted to hit Robby, he could have just waited a few seconds considering that they were in a karate tournament and he would have had his opportunity to do so. Additionally, Hawk and Robby at this point were relatively even in skills and had a good chance of winning against Robby legitimately.
- Suicide is Shameful: Discussed between Hawk, Aisha, Miguel, and Bert wondering why their sensei is running late. Aisha stated that Johnny wouldn't kill himself since it's "too pussy" of a move.
- Trash Talk: Most notably between Robby and Hawk after Robby gets in a point. Comes to a head when Robby insults Hawk's haircut (see Sore Loser for the outcome).
- Was It Really Worth It?: What Johnny is thinking after the All Valley Tournament. Cobra Kai won, but at the cost of his students becoming the bullies he and his friends were and injuring his own son.
- Wham Line:
- Miguel shows he has fully embraced the Cobra Kai way of thinking in his attempt to patch things up with Sam."You have to strike first. You don't wait for the enemy to attack."
- Kreese remarks that Cobra Kai's return to glory after their victory in the All Valley Tournament is just the tip of the iceberg."They thought we were done. But now they see... that the real story's only just begun."
- Miguel shows he has fully embraced the Cobra Kai way of thinking in his attempt to patch things up with Sam.
- What Were You Thinking? Johnny rightfully calls out Hawk for kicking Robby In the Back.
- Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: All Johnny can do is look at his former mentor, Kreese, in complete silence after the latter compliments him for restoring Cobra Kai back to its former glory.
