Proving how easy it is to write BASIC compelling arcs for Sam LaRusso (2/2)
This last season's (and others) treatment of Samantha is unforgivable, I did this out of spite whenever I had the time to write, so here goes. (part 1)
main conflicts for season 6 especifically .
TORY TRAUMA —
Tory is finally on Miyagi Do, she and Sam can slowly rebuild from the mess of those two last years. Yet, the mess is just too great for a simple talk and cordial looks to fix. Sam is relieved and happy that Tory escaped Cobra Kai's toxicity and is giving Miyagi Do a chance. This however creates two big anxieties:
The perfect friend. Sam knows how tough it was to get on Tory's good side, she knows how important it is to keep her as a friend, so she overworks herself trying to make this work. She's overly nice, overly attentive, overly self-sacrificing. She lets Tory win when they sparr, she laughs at her jokes even when she doesn't get it, she smiles and plays the gentlewoman all the time, she opens doors, helps to carry things, keeps checking on her to make sure she's alright, and all of this is made out of extreme anxiety.
The other side is her fear. Sam knows what Tory is capable of, she's felt it for too long. Doesn't matter how much psychological development she gets, the trauma is still fresh, still burns on her skin, is still felt on her scalp. Tory is just a lot of scars that are forever marked on her skin, and this she can't change with smiles and a good talk. So, despite her optimism and relief, she still fears, she still watches carefully. She puts herself close to Tory to try to make her happy all the while being unconsciously terrified that the blonde might simply turn around and attack again.
Still, no matter how much it triggers her, she will work hard and quietly to make this new thing work.
SEKAI TAIKAI —
I believe it isn't a stretch to suggest that Sam might've competed in Karate Championships as a child when she still trained with Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. We know Mr Miyagi doesn't like competition, but Daniel wouldn't let that chance pass. So Sam might've collected a few trophies and medals as a kid when competing only meant a big Karate game and she got to fight different new kids. Nothing psychologically damaging or heavy.
That is until the AVT. Then there's Robby's injury, Miguel's change of character, and competition becomes something serious and unjustified. Sure, her first AVT was to save her dojo, but she was probably already uncomfortable with the kind of stakes those championships were holding. It wasn't fair and it wasn't right.
Her defeat on the AVT shattered her confidence and likely set her off into a spiral of insecurities, self-hatred, and deep shame. She failed her dad, she failed Robby, she failed her friends, and in a way, she feels she failed My. Miyagi. Now, they're in for a world championship, despite having very little competition experience in general. Among all the teens, she's likely the only one who went through championships the most, but even that wasn't relevant because she was too young and never competed internationally. Sam isn't stupid, she knows they're about to bite something much greater than they can chew, yet, it's her chance to fix every mistake she made on the AVT and attempt to restore the pride of her dad and her team.
TORY TRAUMA —
Tory is also putting on work to try and convince Sam she's not a threat anymore. Maybe Tory notices how hard Samantha is trying, and even pities her for it. She wants to make this peace last too, she's ready to overcome her unfair distaste for the girl and start some proper healing.
Her small actions help to diminish Sam's fears, they do create a new collection of supportive moments that should slowly help both to experience a much better new chapter.
If we keep the death of Tory's Mother, it would definitely be the hiccup in their development. The moment Sam learns of it and how senselessly Tory was fighting in the Captaincy duel, she's both heartbroken for the girl, but also hyper-aware that her skills have to be sharp, Tory is showing every sign she's about to get back on her bad habits and Sam would suffer for it.
Suddenly Sam isn't just going to the Sekai Taikai thinking only of redeeming herself for her dad and her team, she has an unresolved journey with Tory.
SEKAI TAIKAI —
With the addition of Tory back in Cobra Kai two of her biggest conflicts pile up again. It's a new rendition of the AVT, the very thing she wanted to escape. Her anxiety does get the best of her a couple of times, but Robby is there, her friends are there, her dad is there. She begins to notice their support did not depend only on her wins or her success, they loved her anyhow, now she's more than ready to give a win to them, out of gratitude and just have a good time doing the thing she learned to love again. Hopefully Tory is back on their team by this point and Sam can make a new identity for herself beyond her mistakes from High School.