Mercy Part II
Directed by Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg
The episode starts right where the first season left off, with the fallout from the tournament. Johnny confronts Kreese for showing up, uninvited and unwelcome, at the dojo and they fight, which ends in a stalemate after a fire breaks out from Kreese’s lit cigar. Later, Kreese invites Johnny to meet him at a diner to suggest a partnership, but Johnny rejects his offer and warns Kreese to stay away from his students. Also at the dojo, Johnny starts the Cobras back at the beginning; after their dirty victory, he wants them to be strong enough to win a fair fight, rather than depend on cheating and "pussy moves". Nevertheless, their bullying attitudes persist. Miguel speaks with Johnny afterwards to find out why he seems so defensive towards Robby Keene; Johnny withholds the truth from Miguel, but impresses upon him the consequences of fighting (and living) without honor or mercy.
Sam blocks Miguel from social media contact, but tries to reach out to Aisha, who declines her offer to hang out in favor of her fellow Cobra Kai. Meanwhile, Daniel and Robby prepare Mr. Miyagi's house for training, with Daniel more determined than ever to destroy Cobra Kai. Johnny goes to a hardware store to replace a mirror that was broken during his fight with Kreese, where he encounters Raymond, a gratingly enthusiastic manchild. He then runs into Daniel and Robby, who have come to the store for supplies; Daniel leaves Robby and Johnny alone to talk. Robby exchanges harsh words with his father, calling him out for allowing his students to fight cheap. Johnny responds by calling Daniel a "prick", but Robby angrily insists that Daniel is a better man than Johnny will ever be before leaving in disgust. He remarks to Daniel that Johnny still cares more about their rivalry than about his own son.
Back at home, Daniel finds Sam blowing off steam in the dojo. Though she is disheartened by Miguel and her friends becoming Cobra Kai bullies, she refuses to take part in Daniel's plan to fight back, as they are still her friends regardless of their affiliation. Hoping to set a positive example for both Sam and Robby, Daniel rethinks his strategy and declares a new goal: rather than destroy Cobra Kai, he intends to use Miyagi-Do to show prospective students a better way of karate. To that end, Samantha decides to join the dojo.
Kreese revisits Johnny at his dojo in a seemingly innocent attempt to make peace. He apologizes to his old student and presents him with his newly repaired 2nd place trophy from the 1984 All Valley tournament. Johnny is visibly touched by the gift, and calls after Kreese as he departs. Having succeeded in his manipulation, Kreese quietly smirks.
Tropes:
- Anachronic Order: A Hard-Work Montage shows Daniel and Robby cleaning up Miyagi's old place to get it ready for more students. It shows Robby still working with an injured shoulder and eventually removing his sling, implying it takes place over several days or weeks. Halfway through the episode, Sam checks on Aisha's Instagram that shows Cobra Kai celebrating after the tournament and suddenly cut to that scene, back to the night after the Tournament.
- Armor-Piercing Question: Johnny confronts and questions Hawk and Miguel their reasons for using underhanded tactics during the All-Valley Tournament. The two students can only glance at each other, confused, in response.Johnny: Hawk. Did you attack your opponent when his back was turned?
Hawk: (hesitantly) ...Yes, Sensei?
Johnny: Diaz. Did you purposely attack your opponent's injury?
Miguel: (confidently) Yes, Sensei.
Johnny: Think that makes you badass?
[Miguel and Hawk glance at each other in silence]
Johnny: What's the matter, too tough a question? Maybe you need some help. - Call-Back:
- Johnny has a flashback to the end of the '84 karate tournament as he chokes out Kreese, realizing how the roles have been reversed and lets him go.
- When Daniel unveils the vintage cars, Robby asks, "Why do I see a can of wax in my future?" This hearkens back to the famous Wax On, Wax Off scene. Similarly, Robby and Daniel both do chores around the Miyagi estate to prep it for students.
- Robby picks up a toy drum-rattle from a box, and asks about two wall scrolls. Both of these appeared in The Karate Kid II.
- Closet Geek: Hawk's Testosterone Poisoning continues unabated in season 2, as he quickly chastises Demetri for telling everyone about his computer programming skills."Cool it with the nerd shit, huh?"
- Defeat Means Friendship: Or at least an uneasy alliance, while two old men lie on the floor, too hurt to keep fighting.
- Dirty Coward: Defied. Johnny lectures his entire dojo on what Cobra Kai really stands for, and has zero tolerance whatsoever for using underhanded tactics (which he dismissively labels "pussy moves") to defeat opponents unable to fight back."Cobra Kai is about being badass. And the baddest badass is the one who beats his opponent when he's at his strongest. Not when his back is turned. Not when he's injured. That means no more cheating. No more fighting dirty. From here on out, those are pussy moves, and you don't wanna be pussies, do you?"
- Do Wrong, Right: Subverted, as Johnny realized his students are angry and undisciplined with neither Hawk or Miguel responded to his orders during the tournament. The first class following the tournament has Johnny chastise them for cheap shots and exploiting injuries, saying you should seek victory against a strong opponent and not a weak or injured one.
- Dude, Not Funny!: Hawk and Aisha try to comfort Miguel over Sam blocking him on Instagram. Hawk gives him advice through a "counter-punch" metaphor and adds, "Except don't punch her in the face this time." Aisha and Miguel are both less than amused.Hawk: Too soon?
- Get Out!: Cobra Kai gets an influx of prospective new students, but Johnny orders them out and tells them to return the next day.
- Handshake Refusal: How Johnny first indicates that he's less than happy to see Kreese again.
- Heartbroken Badass: The Cobra Kais celebrate their tournament victory with nachos, but their champion Miguel (who has been blocked on social media by Sam) is in no mood to celebrate with them.
- Heel Realization: Johnny reprimands Miguel and Hawk in front of the class for their actions during the tournament, saying they shouldn't use cheap shots in a fight. Later in private, Miguel asks him how this goes against the "No Mercy" rule that has been taught. Johnny admits even he is still learning and has always struggled with the line between honor and mercy, telling Miguel he is sharing those mistakes so he can be better.
- Immediate Sequel: Johnny and Kreese continue their confrontation from the previous season finale.
- Pet the Dog:
- In season 1, Moon was part of Yasmine's clique, who wouldn't have been caught dead talking to Demetri. But in this episode, she laughs good-naturedly at his "binary brothers" chant (even as Hawk is embarrassed).
- Subverted when Kreese returns Johnny's second place 1984 All-Valley Tournament trophy to him, repaired and good as new. At first glance, it's a touching gesture, but Kreese did it purely to get on Johnny's good side and set him up for future manipulation.
- Pink Means Feminine: Sam wears a pink jacket when she joins Miyagi-do.
- Promotion to Opening Titles: Gianni DeCenzo and Jacob Bertrand are billed as part of the main cast, having been guest stars for all of Season 1.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Johnny rips into Miguel and Hawk for their underhanded tactics during the tournament.
- You Have Failed Me: Drop in on your former prize student when his last memory of the two of you is being strangled in the finest tradition of this trope? One can only wonder what possessed Kreese to expect a warm welcome from Johnny.
