A lot of feminism these days are weak, bland, or stupid as heck. But Cobra Kai has able to produce two true strong female characters, Samantha “Sam” LaRusso and Tory Nichols.Â
Some people may say Sam is an annoying brat or Tory is a psychotic murderer. But I call that flawed characters more than anything else. Both these two have done terrible shit, but they also mean well too.
Early Lives:
Samantha “Sam” LaRusso:
Samantha aka Sam LaRusso is the daughter of two time all valley champion and successful salesman, Daniel LaRusso. Her mother Amanda LaRusso (Steiner) is a tough chick from the mid-west. She’s also the older sister of Anthony LaRusso. And the granddaughter figure of the wise karate master, Mr. Nariyoshi Miyagi.
Sam was raised in a wealthy house alongside her younger brother, Anthony LaRusso. Being from tough backgrounds, both her parents had spoiled her and brother to near ways of other rich kids.
At a young age, her father and grandfather started teaching Sam karate, which she shows true talent in. She trained for several years. But around the time Mr. Miyagi passed away, Sam dropped karate from her life.
She befriend a girl named Aisha Robinson at a young age, and later in life, befriended two popular girl named Yasmine and Moon causing her to ignore her friend.
Tory Nichols:
Tory Nichols was born to an unfortunate family. Her father was a deadbeat, her mother was a struggling worker, who barely can make enough money. She has a younger brother named Brandon Nichols, and a criminal for a aunt named Kandace Nichols.
Early in her life, her father has abandoned her, her mother, and her brother for whatever reasons. Her mother had been kicked out of a good waitress job for taking used food out of the trash. This incident made Tory believe that the fortunate are selfish and heartless monsters who won’t care for people like them.
Later in her life, her mother fell ill to a unspecified illness. This causes her to be the adult of the household. She started working minimal wage jobs to make money to take care of her mother, raise her brother, and pay the bills. But since she basically is now her mother, she developed a hatred and anger for these things.Â
She also get scammed for her at, who wants her mom to die, so she have her and Brandon for guilt-trip money. She had been threatened with sexual assault by her landlord.
Season 1:
Sam
We see first the young LaRusso through an event. She was one of three girl hit- car accident of future sensei Johnny Lawrence.
The girls, or just one is a part the reason that led Ms. LaRusso’s down her spiral of bad decisions. But reason why she did so was because of her desire to leave the shadow of her famous father. But this influence she made to her person outside her family who was connected to the real her, Aisha, utterly useless .
This desire causes her to date super popular boy, honestly who wouldn’t to be liked, I surely do half the times. But after seeing his true color and avoiding an attack, the boy by humiliating her, made her seem like she’s not something, just like her friend.
But Miguel Diaz, a new kid that Sam barely knew and cared for, stood for her honor and punish this boy. Being a decent person she tries to be and clearly does a good man, Sam is willingly to give Miguel a chance in love.
But tension raises as when she finds out that Miguel is a student of her father’s old enemy, making her and Miguel’s relationship like Romeo and Juliet. But not speaking up about her role in Johnny Lawrence’s car incident, Sam loses her device privilege for some time.
The someone new came into her life, another nice boy, named Robby Keene. They quickly became friends, but since she couldn’t commune with Miguel, her friendship with Robby turned into something that looks more intimate, romantically intimate.
But when she been caught with this romantic looking friendship by her boyfriend, he got mad. He was understandably mad, but Sam never thought her and Robby have anything romantic between them.
Sam still feels guilt for the two people she hurt, she tries her best to fix it, but the damage has been done, Robby has been hurt by Miguel. I don’t know why she went into karate maybe she use it as a coping mech or whatever
Season 2:
Sam:Â
After a while of trying, Sam wasn’t able to get Miguel explain her and Robby’s relationship. But during this time, their friendship developed into something more, the even were able to do the wheel technique together.
When the chance came for her to get back her old friend, Aisha, she got it. But then that quickly diminishes, when she meets her new friend, Tory Nichols, who has mean girl demeanor and stole a bottle of vodka. When she found out her mom’s wallet was missing, Sam already knew someone that would that. She confronted, but got humiliated.Â
Even though, Tory didn’t steal her mom’s wallet, Tory’s demeanor still was enough for Sam distrust her.
But before her chance was diminished by her feelings of Tory, Aisha planted seeds of her and Robby’s relationship which cause her to sees him in the same way she saw Miguel possibly even more. Then found themselves close the felt each other.
But when she went on a date with Robby, she saw the boy she still loved with girl who she can’t the shake of the feelings of trouble off of. And after she antagonized her enough, Sam decided to take revenge on her.
At the party, Sam was probably willing to have a fun time with Robby and co, until she saw Tory with Miguel. Her distrust and along with her jealousy, made her unwilling to let her bully-looking ass intimidate her, so she was willing to challenge her in a drinking contest, knowing she’s more balanced than her. And since she was, she was able to beat her, and gained some glory.
She would’ve probably be into the drinking after beating Tory in it. This happen to where she doesn’t think she needs Robby with her. Then Aisha admitted the truth about what Miguel did by returning the medal of Miyagi.
This action, and along with her undealt feelings for Miguel, She approached him. And with the drugs she was on, she loss herself and kissed Miguel.
But since she still does care about Robby, she felt guilt for kissing Miguel, But she wasn’t able to tell due to fleeing away from the cops, being drunk, and her dad getting her out of Johnny’s apartment.
On the first day of school, Sam tries to tell Robby about what she did, but she couldn’t. Then both things that was on Sam’s mind came out real quick. 1. The Cheating and 2. Her thoughts on Tory. She was hesitant due to her been afraid of what she’d seen in Tory this whole time.Â
But when Tory physically cut her open, she beat her up in order to survive. Soon afterwards, she witnessed the love of her life fall to his death caused by the other boy that she genuinely cared about as well.
Despite the fight being over, she was left with the pain that was caused by the girl that she knew who was dangerous and the guilt of her mistake affecting not just her life, but the lives of the boys she loved.
Tory:
Tory Nichols enters the scene showing her badass credential by challenging Cobra Kai champion, Miguel Diaz. There, she showed herself to be a natural tough fighter.
When she found herself hanging out with the other girl in her dojo, Aisha Robinson, she opened up to her about her best friend Sam, who wasn’t the best to her. And when she met the said friend Sam, she probably already heard so much shit about her.
Then Sam shows her pain in the butt attitude causing her to think that Sam some kind of “saint”. But when Sam accused her for her stealing her mom’s wallet, she really believed she’s an entitled little brat. When she grabbed her, this reinforced the entitlement, and made her pushed Sam down.
After trying to flirt with Miguel, he was trying to win the affection of his ex, When Tory found out it was Sam. She think that she wasn’t worth it due to what she heard from Aisha. And gets the idea for them to date, because she liked him and she could teach this little brat a lesson.
When Tory tells Miguel about her mom and how the fortune people were horrible to her this was a big part of her character. Both Aisha and Miguel had been wronged by a fortune person which she could sympathize with. And Miguel was an immigrant, she could understand that struggle too. This also ties Kreese’s speech how, if one person goes down, the rest of you do, since they could share experience with each other.
While on the date with Miguel, she runs into Sam and her date. She started to mess with the entitled brat. But when it looks like Sam’s trying to play with Miguel’s heart or be selfish, Tory retaliated by knocking her down. Sam got an easy revenge by doing the same thing. This got her a consequence which pleads Tory.
At the party, Sam challenged her to the drinking contest which she was an expert in. When she seemed unphased by vodka this shocked her. This causes Tory to lose her balance and lose. Since the brat won, she was angry.
Later on, Tory witnessed Sam kissing Miguel confirming to her that Sam is really a player.
With all the times that Sam was “better” than her, Tory decided to punish the brat for her actions with the people around her.
But sadly, her anger caused the only person she loved to fall to his death.
Season 3:
Sam:
Months after the school fight, Sam was living the trauma of the fight, and with physical reminder for it. And after months of recovery she believed she was ready to go back.
But when she did got the memories of what happened, she’s shamed for being a victim in an assault for something that wasn’t entirely her fault. She’s also living with the guilt of where this all left both important boys in her life. She try to relentlessly check on Robby to make sure he’s alright.
And when Miguel woke up, she tries to amends with him and help him get helping with raising money for his surgery.
When Cobra Kai was antagonizing her fellow students, since she knows what it’s like to have Cobra Kai antagonize her, she steps in for them. Any kind of antagonizing behaviors they show, Sam will be there to counteract that, even if that gets her in trouble.
And when she did, she decided to antagonize them to show they can’t just do that to them. But when Tory showed up, the face of her fears was coming, causing her to go into flight mode.
But sadly, she let her friend, Demetri get his arm broken, and since she could’ve done something, but didn’t she at least felt guilt for that.Â
This guilt along with her role in everything causes her to have some nightmare of Tory coming over to her safe place, blaming and beating the shit out of her for the role she had, saying it’s all on her. Then attempted to drown her.
When she wakes up she comes to the realization that she isn’t good for her anymore.
Her father tries to help built her up, but she found that useless. But after finding out her father was in her shoes once before with another cobra kai and getting the good of karate back in her, she felt much better with it again.
When she sees Miguel all better, she decided to have a fresh start with him and have redo by on their relationship before the trouble came in. And when they saw unlike couple of Demetri and Yasmine, they saw more of a chance in them.
And after, they worked together to restate the all-valley tournament, they had a moment. This similar moment with her and Robby, but unlike that, she had fully realized her feelings for Miguel and they made a move.
But then Robby came in and made her realize she just betrayed his love too. But hopes of Robby being sensible seemingly low, Sam didn’t reach out to him anymore and focused on her and Miguel.
Miyagi-Do and Eagle-Fang were getting together, Sam able to them together due to her knowing they both hate Cobra Kai now and to stop it.
When Tory confronts her again, the face of her fears was back which causes her to flee. But when she confronted her in her dojo, she had no where to run. With what she learned from her father about fear, Sam was able to face her fear and overcome Tory again.
Tory:
After the fight she started, Tory was expelled from school, was put on probation, doesn’t pay for the dojo, and was low at making money.
Adding more salt to the wound, she has to deal with a sexual predator in the form of her landlord, but the worse part of about it, he has both financial and lawful power over her, leaving her with no way to defend herself without facing more consequences.
Then Kreese came in and made her a lot better by solving two problems, he got rid of landlord and getting her back into the dojo.
When she found out Miyagi-Do, more specifically Sam was at the arcade, she found another chance to try to punish her again for everything she had done especially after the fight. Even when she didn’t show, this made Tory believe that wasn’t bold enough to fight and chickening to her mom reinforced the spoil brat image she seen in Sam.
When Hawk and Tory were talking about getting revenge on Miyagi-Do for getting Miguel involved, Tory showed signs of guilt, but hides it from Hawk who questioned if she had seen him yet.
Later that day, she ran into a wheelchair bounded Miguel while going to work. She told him she’s now working two job.Â
She tried to apologize to him for not showing up, she explained she really didn’t mean for him to be like he is now. But she and the other will get back at the Miyagi-Do for him. She uses the line Kreese said, “if one man goes down, so do the rest too”.
But Miguel points out that he’s the only one that’s down. She tried clarifying herself, but Miguel said he understood. He explained he only cared about her during that time and nothing else. Based him and Sam, Tory questioned if he wanted to use her to make Sam jealous. And admit she witnessed their kiss.Â
She felt justified over that. Miguel stated he understood and implied she needed psychological help, which she didn’t because her mentality doesn’t matter and that only that people were wrong get what they deserved, and that Miguel is Sam’s.
When she sees Sam’s ex Robby again, she wasn’t happy. She blames him along with everyone, including herself too. Then she helped his anger about Miguel and Sam by channeling it into his fighting. But after the finding a cobra test, she was impressed by Robby’s confidence.
With guidance from Kreese, Tory breaks into the LaRusso household to settle her score with Sam. With Miguel with Sam, she’s enable to listen to him. All that mattered to her was settling the score with Sam. Even when she loses, she was still angry that the brat won again. But she was still determine to get back at her.
Season 4:
Sam:
After the intense fight with Tory, a few months ago, Sam, her dad, and co had officially joined force with Miguel, Johnny, and Eagle-Fang.
Although she’s with Miguel, she still cares about Robby and tries talk to with him. Another way she still cared him about is admitting she went the skate park everyday back then for him to show up. She was angry at Robby for what he did. Which causes Robby to bring up her and Miguel. Sam tries to explain her thoughts at the time.
But Robby didn’t care and told her that she made a choice. But she knew Robby is much better than her, and try to use that fact to make him choose to go back to Miyagi-Do. But Robby brings up a major flaw of her’s, she believe she can get whatever she wants.
When she and the Miyagi-do students were being taught by Johnny for the day, Johnny wanted them to free run jump off one building to another.
Sam was understandably afraid, she might fall to her death or cripple herself, plus her dad wouldn’t want that. This led into a mini argument with Johnny about their past mistakes and what’s the difference between were. Sam is still young while Johnny was in his 50sÂ
Johnny showed sympathy to Sam about having by your parents, but he now he’s something he likes.
After mix of that conversation from her dad, she developed the confident to jump across the building, soaring an eagle for the first time, being herself more now.Â
After some time learning Johnny’s style of karate, Sam finally strong again.
With the ideal of Johnny, striking first, Sam gets a little payback at Tory for all the time she hurt her. But to no avail.Â
Then her dad forbid her from using Eagle-Fang, she is the first-step of feelings helpless and restricted to her.
After Hawk got jumped and his hair shaved, she goes to same instinct, to back to up them,
But then soon after, she found Tory getting help from her parents, making her betrayed and more restricted in her life. Brings up how unfair it is that her allowed to do the same while she can’tÂ
With her life getting out of her control, she starts turning to the only person that she could trust, Aisha.
Aisha gave her advice make, to the first move and set her terms. Since Sam was trying to get into get control of her again, she made the move and threated to Tory.
When her pointed out her cycle of love interest and general mess of that, she promised deal with aspect of her life.
Her trying to take control of her life again clouded her judgement on Tory, and it’s 180 to her, Tory seem insincere.
At the junior prom, she was trying to forget it all, forget the drama that happened from the past year. But then the two biggest thought of her life came back, but worse, Tory with Robby.Â
Seeing Tory with Robby triggered her jealousy, trauma, guilt, and lack of control.
During the after party, Tory was acting like she didn’t mess her up real bad. These feelings in Sam overflows and causes her to lash out.
Her and Miguel got into a fight with Robby and Tory which ruined her and Miguel’s night. With all the emotions she feels, she felt hurt that Miguel blamed her for everything going on.
During the all-valley, when Sam was fighting someone that knows her moves she decided to use Eagle-Fang. The best thing to counter that mimicry. But this get reprimanded by Daniel.Â
Sam fought Tory, she was ready to win again. Even she got the approval to do her own thing. She made the Miyagi-Fang style. But somehow, despite all efforts, she loss. She felt like she failed.
Tory:
After losing to the brat again, Tory is angered than ever before. Tory express to Robby a reason she dislike Sam, because she believed Sam could have everything she wanted, because it does happen a lot in their conflict.
When Robby challenges the whole dojo, she wasn’t willing to let him win, but after showing his strength, she let him stay.Â
During work, she met Amanda LaRusso who gives her an ultimatum, to stay away from her daughter or she’ll go to prison for life. Tory tried to say something about it, but couldn’t knowing this couldn’t end well for her, losing everything right there.
But still knowing what she knows about people like Amanda and not wanting to do this during work, she tried to not let her push her around But with the annoyance of a customer asking for his food, she lashed out at him. Due to having a history of lashing out, this was the last straw for her boss to fire her. Since Amanda played a role in this, Tory blames her for making her angry and expresses her anger by admitting all her deep thought on the workplace.
At practice when she got tripped by Robby, it adds on her frustration what happened earlier. When Kreese tried to ask her, she refused at, but knowing what kind of person she knows he is. She admits why she’s angry.
When she found the bag of food that Amanda gave her. She got angry for her potentially fake sympathy, even with her explanation. She uses this fuel to her anger about Sam.
Despite her anger and frustration, Tory found another job as a children entertainer. It might’ve been humiliating especially with Sam around, but she was knew it necessary for her life situation. Then Sam came over and was being girl that she knew she was. But due to everything she done, Tory had decided to stay calm and in character. Even when she brought things that were personal to her. But her belittling Tory was enough for a little payback. Knowing she can’t attack at the place, she gets tame way, by having the children throw glitter on her, getting good payback. But, when Sam kissed Miguel, this triggered her frustration, jealous, and anger that she felt that night. This was enough fpr her quit the job.
But, then Amanda apologizes and explains Sam’s behavior. She was full anger. Amanda tries to tell her to look for help, but she believes she could handle this. But Amanda just tells her to try, Tory didn’t react to that though.
At the movie drive in, Tory was still thinking about everything, when Robby checked on her, she tell about that she been having bad day, but, Robby respect her if she didn’t want to tell.
Some time later, she gets a visit her aunt Kandace,  who was trying scam her. But Tory was seemingly fully aware of her tricks and her games learn them from her.
When Kandace was talking about her mother’s illness and taking custody of Brandon, she greatly offended Tory and caused her try to hit her. But she pull the fact that she has nobody to help her not even her dad, just her. Tory knows that Kandace doesn’t care about them. But she pulls the fact that her record will not make her look worthy for custody over Brandon.
This leaves Tory to realize Amanda is right about needing help and realized what her action cost her.
Later that day, Tory went to the LaRusso wanting help to get back into school, so she could finish and get her G.E.D. With knowing she what did at least wasn’t right for her and her situation Tory promises to stay away from Sam. But Amanda tell her to go to therapy, to have someone outside karate to talk about her issues.
When she went back to school and saw Sam, She hesitant, but she was thankful for helping her get back in.
This is unknown would’ve gone well, made Tory less of everyone around and including.Â
After spending so much time with Robby, something sparked between them. And when junior prom was rolling around, tension between them really came up, Robby suggested that she should go to mess with Sam and Miguel since that was the lesson of the day. And she suggested that they should do it together.
When they got there, they were ready to give Miguel and Sam a performance they will remember. But slowly the thought messing with Sam had started to fade from Tory’s mind. It was replaced with the thought of her actually being with Robby. As dance continues she confess to Robby about how she realized her what she desire, is to have something she could be proud of herself for, that she earned something in her life.
During the afterparty, she was probably having the night of her life. So such she seem to be nice to Sam for a little bit, keeping the promise that she made to Amanda. But since Sam was still the same person, she doesn’t let her boss her around.
Then Sam strikes first, and since Sam is the attacker, Tory has a reason to fight back. Then Miguel comes and carries her, but they fall to the ground. She reminisce for a second about their time together, but since everything that happened, she doesn’t linger on it, and goes back to fighting. When it seem Sam was messing with Robby’s heart now, Tory swept her legs. Since they’re together now, they work together to take on Miguel and Sam. But that didn’t thing, since Robby accidently shoves the couple and Tory into the pool.
With the excitement that happens around them after the fall in, Tory playfully pulls Robby into the pool making there night fun.
After all that, Tory and Robby were enjoying the fun that they had at the party, and their night in general. That combine wit there closeness, they shared a kiss and a night together.
During the all-valley, when Sam showed more offense to Tory while in her other fights, which caught her guard off.
When getting some convo and advice from Amanda and we know that her therapy is really help explain her current self.Â
When she was ready wish to Sam, she was hesitant, not wanting to disrespect Amanda’s wishes, but Kreese assured that her could do it.
When Sam and her fought, she was really trying to hold back her hard side. But after Sam shows her aggressiveness, Tory was conflicted on what to do. Silver tells her to amp it up, which she did, getting her the point. When Sam strikes back with an unfamiliar style that got her the edge. Despite that all, Tory tries her best to hang into the fight. But while doing so, she accidently used an illegal move on Sam, which she knew wasn’t right.Â
When Silver tells her harm Sam more, she knew that isn’t going to be any good in this fight. But Kreese tells her to do whatever she wants. With this in mind, Tory was able to overcome Sam fairly. After her victory, she attempted to make amends with Sam by checking on her, but she got swept away by the glory of winning the all-valley.
When Tory thought she has finally earned something in her life, it was quickly shattered by her stumbling into Silver paying the ref to rig the fights. She walks away in shame knowing she didn’t actually win.
Season 5:
Sam:
Some time after Sam’s big loss, Sam still has feelings of guilt of letting everyone down. She blaming herself getting Miyagi-do shut down. And she’s been replaying her fight with Tory, but since her guilt was so much and since it already happen, she loses every time.
When Miguel called, she rationally explain how what he’s doing is a bad idea. With having Miguel to about happened, she felt in little neglected by him, but Miguel brushes her issues aside, making her feel alone in this.
This sent Sam in a bit numbing mood and Anthony telling about his problem which is karate was leading to her wanting get away from it all more now.Â
After getting text from Miguel, Sam was hesitant after the last time they talked. But with some advice from Moon and Yasmine she was confident enough to suggest them having a talk.
At the Spa, Sam tries out a sensory deprivation tank, while she was in there. She was visualizing every issues in her life in the past couple years. Her being in a shadow of her father, her tournament loss, her public image, guilt on hurting Robby, and her tough relationship with Miguel. This all spiral down into what sounds like Tory, but she was really her, or the her that caused all this.Â
Sam started to battle with the twisted side of herself, but got it cut short by Moon. Sam was shaken up by her experience.
Still being shaken up by her vision, she decided to remove one of her problems, her struggling relationship with Miguel, by breaking up with him.
With her break-up with Miguel, Sam had felt a little relief for problem, but since they’re still friends and their own friends are dating, she still kinda has to see him.
While in Ohio, she found out her brother is being terrorized by Cobra Kai, she decided to step in by teaching him ways to defend himself.
When her dad got hurt physically and mentally, she decided to step back in to help him. When her dad reopened, she was there, ready for the fights.
While learning from Chozen, Sam rekindled her friendship with Robby. When her and Miguel found out, Miguel brought up the fact about her being back in karate. Which she has again remembered what it had meant to her. And hearing him and Robby are closer, this made her guilt on what happened to them dissolve.
When getting ready for the Sekkai Tekkai qualifier match, Sam was little hesitant, but her new sensei, Chozen was able relate about feeling like you needed to be better, he convinced her to fight for the people she cares for.
Then she found an octopus necklace by the dojo and was immediately able to put together that it was Miguel’s. During the match, she was ready to fight Tory, but when she disappeared, She had to fight Devon Lee instead. She was dominating Devon, but the ref was making her lose every time which gets to her head. But after encouragement from her team, she was able to overcome these calls and fairly beat Devon. Sam has finally won and she’s very happy about it.When Sam arrived at the party, she was ready to reconnect with Miguel, her hopes to do so was shattered when she saw him making out with another girl. She flees. She tries to go home, but Tory came and told her the truth.This made Sam angry, since her holding this info cause all the events that happened after the tournament. Next day, Sam is still struggling with this information causing her to be judgmental and hostile.
After just not getting the results she wanted from Stingray, Sam was very frustrated and leaves, but as she’s doing so, Miguel questioned everything that been happening in their lives with her. Especially with what happened last night. Sam admitted how much hell this was that came from a lie, she blames herself for not knowing, she blames Tory for not telling her until now. But Miguel gave a perspective with what effects Cobra Kai can have on its students.
With this perspective in mind, Sam decided to talk to Tory for information. After seeing her living environment, her broken hand, hearing the struggles she went through in the dojo, this made Sam realize Tory herself is a victim of Cobra Kai.
With this in mind, Sam decided to finally shut down Cobra Kai. After it was all over, Sam’s life was nearly completed, she and Miguel finally admitted they loved each other, and they kissed.
Tory:
After finding out what happened, Tory was hesitant to go back to the dojo, but knew she had to.
When she questioned as champion by a potential sensei “Joe”, she reluctantly answered the question yes.Â
Tory’s mind wasn’t fully into the training which doesn’t go unnoticed by Joe. Joe questioned why she isn’t giving an effort into training, possibly not wanting to train anymore. But Tory’s core motive for karate is to be strong. Then she questioned Joe on why he wanted to be a sensei. He told her his motive was honor. This confused her a bit, but he explained his loss of honor and how he realized it was a self thing. Then he told her that she could do the same. Tory realized this could mean about her as a fighter and person.
The he told her, if she break free of her problem, she must face them. Knowing what to do, Tory was able to now focus on training.
Later, she took Sensei Joe’s advice, to confront her “problem” aka Terry Silver, by confronting him about the cheating. But when Terry promised a good future for her, she couldn’t that pass that up.
At home, Tory looks at her trophy knowing she didn’t deserve it, but she went on display it in fear of Silver.
With no one to really confide in, Tory turns the only person she could rely, Kreese. They came with a plan for her to find out what she can and report back to him.
When Robby came back to leave and asked her, she knew wouldn’t work, because she needs to get info on Silver.
But after Daniel got hurt, Tory felt a mix of guilt making him a part of this, lying to everyone, especially Robby, deceiving people with mysterious notes, letting Silver expand his dojos. But when she told this to Kreese, she was very thrown off on how inconsiderate he was.
When Tory and the senseis took over Topanga Karate, she ended up teaching Devon. She was confused by her combative behaviors, but she brought her late mother dying from illness, she was to able to sympathize with her.Â
When the senseis made her fight Devon, she tried to go easy on her, but Sensei Kim made her go harder. But every time she did, she felt sorry for hurting this poor girl who just want to live up to her mother’s words.
When Devon joined Cobra Kai, Tory was worried for what Cobra might do her.
Training with Kim and Devon, Tory tries to set a good example to Devon, but to no avail. When Devon questioned how she defended her, Tory just express showing how that’s a good leader.
When the Sekkai Taikai came around, and finding out the effects of these events, Tory asked for advice on what to do. But Kreese just refuse to help her, the image of what Tory thought had shattered. She realized this betrayal, led to the belief that she has nobody.
When she found out the match was rigged again, Tory isn’t willingly to feel like faker again and leave the dojo.
After both dojo got into the Sekkai Talkai, Tory was finally decided to come clean to Sam about the cheating. But with Sam not giving her a chance, Tory feels like she had nothing but Cobra Kai as a place to go.
When Robby showed up and tried to convince the students to see who Silver as the terrible man he is. Tory struggled to hide with the guilt of not listening to Robby and not showing her agreement of the argument of fear out of getting found out.
After the training for the day, Tory was ask to stay back and punch a solid dummy. With no way out, Tory risk breaking her hand in order to avoid further punishment.
But when Kim was tormenting her with her love for Robby, this anger her and try to hit her, but hit the stone instead. This sent Tory to the ground in fear, pain, and regret.
When Tory was icing her hand, the most unexpected visit happened from the person she wouldn’t expect to see her, Sam. Tory already knows how Sam feels about this, so she tried to push her away, but when Sam told her, she wants to talk. Tory hesitantly let her in. There, she let of all her pain, guilt, regret, fear, feeling of being a fraud, and her disappointment to Sam. But when Sam told her about Stingray, she realized what chances they have.
Despite her feelings and her injured hand, Tory put taking Cobra Kai down above all those things. She tries reason to why the other Cobra on how used they are. She also tried to apologize Devon for deceiving her.Â
After the defeat of Silver, Tory and Robby get back together, Tory wanted to have the good things first, before going into the difficult ones.
Conclusion:
Sam and Tory are very flawed characters, but have very strong redeeming qualities to them. Sam is a drama magnet, but deep down she’s just trying to be a decent person, who struggles with life. Tory is a girl with very deep psychological issues due to her past. But deep down she’s a very strong, caring, hard working, and sweet person.
Characters Analysis: Chozen Toguchi and Mike Barnes
Chozen Toguchi and Mike Barnes
Yuji Okumoto’s Chozen Toguchi and Sean Kanan’s Mike Barnes had great reintroductions into the Cobra Kai series. They both came in as well adjusted adults compared to their younger “psychotic selves.” Enjoy them or not, as people, they have went on powerful journeys.
Chozen Toguchi
Early Life:
As a child, Chozen was left in the care of his uncle after his father’s death due to him being a coward. Chozen has been taught to value honor above all else. Honestly, psychologically engrave into him. Unfortunately Chozen inherited his father’s cowardice leading him to cheat his way in life to avoid the risk of losing that honor. His only known friend back then was Kumiko, they played for years and developed bond over. Possibly he was close to with her due to his home life.
Karate Kid Part II:
Then came in Daniel-San. He got everything Chozen worked for. He has the full honor from Mr. Miyagi that he had to earn from Sato. It was the thing he value the most in life, it made him angry and insecure. Also Daniel getting the girl he was in love with, that sounds familiar. Daniel saving Yuna and helping with Sato while Chozen, who understandably was afraid, backed away from the risk. But due to the person he turned into, Sato considered him to be dishonorable, so he disowned him, taking away his honor, the thing he has been afraid of his entire life. With the one thing that gave him the meaning of life now gone. He now has no reason to consider the consequences of what he did. He only had anger and vengeance toward the person that made him lose his honor. With his honor gone, his humanity was practically remove from him. This made him willing to kill the one person that he loved just to get at the “source”.
After KK2:Â
After Daniel-San showed his honor by sparing Chozen, he lived long enough to see the impact that his actions had made to the people around him. Everyone saw Chozen as the monster that he was to Daniel. This is like with Sato, but hundreds of times worse. Unlike with Sato, Chozen has nothing to blame for this but himself. Having more time to process what he did, he realized how awful his crimes were. He trashed a happy day for the people, made them witness a potential murder, and tried to kill the woman he supposedly loved, all just to get back at someone that barely deserved his wrath. Chozen is back at his childhood self, alone, but this time, he was completely alone. He had no one to really help him learn to be better. His uncle already saw him as dishonorable, Kumiko probably will never forgive him for trying to murder her, and everyone sees him as a monster. How would he live with himself? He came to the conclusion, he can’t live with himself after everything he has done. So he decided for the sake of everyone, he wanted to kill himself. But before he could, the thing he needed his entire life came to him, the love of his uncle. Knowing his uncle still cared about him, this gave him the motive to give himself another chance. This motive later increased, when the love of his life “found him again.”
Mike Barnes
Early LIfe:
Although not much is known about Barnes’ background some people have drawn he has a similar background to the Cobra Kai’s Female Champion, Tory Nichols, from his main trait and motive for what he did.
What we do know, he was a national champion of Karate, being a high blackbelt and earning the name, “Karate’s Bad Boy.”
Karate Kai Part III:
When we’re first introduced to Mike Barnes, he was a national champion, who seemed like the perfect person for Sensei Terry Silver to torment his enemy, Daniel LaRusso. He was promise was 50% of the dojo if he terrorize this other kid for Silver.
Through the movie, he terrorize the hell out of Daniel LaRusso to the point where he and his sensei Mr. Miyagi were drifting a part. He ruined his bonsai tree shop, sold the trees, assaulted him twice, assault his good friend, Jessica Andrews, threaten to kill him and Jessica if Daniel doesn’t sign a contract, and snapped his bonsai trees.
But, when Miyagi attacked, he seemed to hesitate, but willing to fight. But got his ass beat.
During the all valley of 85, Mike was ready to wipe the floor with Daniel, but Silver wanted him to torment Daniel more, so Mike purposefully had to lose a point. After bad-mouthing Mr. Miyagi, this angered LaRusso, causing him to defeat him, which left him angry in the end.
After KK3:
According to him in episode 3 of season 5, Mike stated how insane that there’s a contract that allowed him to hurt another kid, indicating, he knew that he made a deal with the devil. And he was right to have second thoughts since after he failed to complete the task he been given, he loss his credibility as a karate fighter and his financial future ruin. He was kicked to the curve, left to fend for himself. He worked a lot of odd jobs to gained some money for his finance. But one day, he found someone that cared for him a lot. Who taught him the value of creation. Someone to help turn his life around for the better. And later gained the love of his life, the man’s daughter, making him his son in a legal sense.
Comparison to Tory Nichols:
Barnes and Nichols came in as the tough badass fighter with anger issues that for money whatever reasons (poor background). Some people even believe they could be related (not).
Their relationship with Terry has a similar nature. Terry Silver promised a lot of money and a lot of glory just to keep for their skills as fighter as nothing else. While they know full well that Silver is a mad-man.
Nichols’ background could honestly be similar to Barnes’.
In conclusion:
Mike Barnes and Chozen Toguchi had got through some powerful shit. Chozen nearly lossed himself but found the light. While Mike lived with the consequences of his mistake and then found someone who loved him like a son.
Personality: After years of imprisonment, war, and violence, Kenji was a harden young man with trust issues. He believes anyone could be threats to him. When he first met Payback, he was willingly able to betray his own sister to ensure his own safety. But after getting a talk from John, Kenji calms down. After Stormfront’s defeat, he became close with the other members of payback, especially with Queen Maeve and Starlight.Â
When he met his boyfriend, he was hesitant. But eventually he softens up. But he still hid his past and powers from him of fear being seen of as a monster. When he found out about his powers, he broke up him with. Kenji tries to get back with him as much as he could. But eventually after he finds about his past, Kenji him comfortable with sharing he traumatized with him
Kevin Moskowitz/Aquaboy  (Best Friend/Teammate) Â
Kimiko Miyashiro/Black Noir II (Best Friend/Teammate) Â
Kenji Miyashiro/Mindstorm II (Close Friend/Teammate)
Billy Butcher (Frenemies/teammate)
Annie January/Starlight (Close Friend/teammate)
Enemies:
Klara Risinger/Stormfront (Attempted Murder)
Vought International Â
Ingrid Risinger/Sky Flyer (Formerly, Deceased)
Blue Hawk (Arch-Enemy)
Affiliation: Payback 2.0
Occupation:Â
Cross Country Coach
Member of Payback
Powers:
Superhuman Speed
Superhuman Reflexes
Superhuman Agility
Superhuman Strength
Superhuman Durability
Superhuman Metabolism
Superhuman Stamina
Aerokinesis
Accelerated Perception
Regenerative Healing Factor
Abilities:Â
Athleticism
Hand-to-Hand Combatant (Advanced Level)
Charisma
Multilingual: (English, Spanish, Sign Language)
Weakness:
Psychological:
Loyalty
Emotions
Competitiveness
Biological:
Blunt force
Metabolism
Equipment:
Blitz suit
Shades
Personality: After his parent died, A-train was raised by to carry on morals of their family. He’s nice and hark-working who inspires to reach their potential. He also loyal his family and friends. But also he can very to competitive which affect his judgements.
Personality: After years of imprisonment, war, and violence, Kimiko was a harden young woman with trust issues. Anyone that helped her, she turns them away. But when she got saved by Black Noir, she started to gain trust in other people. After getting her brother back and losing Black Noir, Kimiko became a nicer person. She eventually sees Payback as her family.
Vought International (Indirect Father’s murder)
Ingrid Risinger/Sky Flyer (Formerly, Deceased)Â
Affiliation: Payback 2.0 (Occasionally)
Occupation:
LawyerÂ
Member of Payback (Occasionally)
Leader of Payback (Formerly)
Powers:
Superhuman StrengthÂ
Superhuman Durability
Vacuum Adaptation
Superhuman Speed
Superhuman Reflexes
Superhuman AgilityÂ
Superhuman Sight
Superhuman Hearing
Superhuman Smell
Ice Breath
Heat Vision
X-Ray Vision
Flight
Superhuman Resilience
Regenerative Healing Factor
Abilities:
Gifted Intellect
Expert Technician
Expert Lawyer
Expert Taction
Multilingual: English, Spanish, German, Russian, Japanese, Italian, Arabic, Sign Language
Psychologist (Advanced)
CharismaÂ
Athleticism
Weapon ProficiencyÂ
Hand-to-Hand Combatant (Master Level)
Deception
Weakness:
Psychological:
Grief
Anger
Love ones
Lack of Self-Control
Failure
Biological:
Zinc
High Frequency
Blunt Force
Equipment:
Soldeir Boy Suit (modified)
Soldier Boy’s Shield
Black Noir’s knives
TNT spheres
Personality: John is a sane, calm , caring, and generous man. A brilliant mind, who strive to make the world a better place just like his father tried, especially against Vought. With many lives loss, this could make John either depress or insane. But eventually he learns how to overcome these struggles and become a stronger person. He’s also pretty loving to his family and friends. He even offered his protection to Kimiko (a stranger) and her brother Kenji.
Although, they weren’t the most fleshed out characters, I do have a degree of liking of the sparrows academy members. And it’s Nothing to do with their powers.
7. Fei:
I didn’t hate Sparrow No. 3 Fei, but I couldn’t find anything interesting about her beside of her remarks and wardrobe.
6. Marcus:
I actually thought Sparrow No. 1 Marcus was going sparrow timeline ally #1. I wanted him to be one that to the academies to come together in a meaningfully way. We also could get the reverse of Luther, who cares for his family more than their image.
5. Christopher:Â
What the fuck are you? What did Reggie do to you?
4/3. Alphonso/Jayme:
Alphonso and Jayme are basically just Diego 2.0 and Snarky Viktor. If we spend more time with these two, we would’ve loved them more as much as Diego and Viktor in a Klaus and Ben way. Speaking Klaus, why didn’t just manifest to find way they’re drugging Reggie?
2. Sloane:
I like Sloane alot. She felt more like the Klaus of group if she wasn’t just love interest to Luther. I’m hoping to see her again.
1. Ben
Sweet-sweet little Benjamin Hargreeves, when will you ever learn the life that your father made for you was a lie, You aren’t nothing without him, but he might be nothing without you and your siblings. May you find your way back to the side of light, where you were always meant to be.
Setting: This the morning of the day our Umbrella Academy shows up the new reset universe.
Marcus:
No. 2, Mayor Marcus Hargreeves, just finished some paperwork and then gives it to his assistant. Then grabbed the family photo on desk. He sits there and reminisce about their time together. Then it zoomed into Diego.
Diego:
When it zoomed out of , we get No 3./Secret Agent Diego Hargreeves stopping a notorious gang in a restaurant. He was able to throw knives at 9 members running in different directions. Then two of members sneak up behind him and attempted to suffocate him. But he was to hold his breath, and elbowed one in the stomach. Then he kicks the other one. Then when the leader was running away, Diego was able to catch up to him and hold a knife up his face. But then his employer to him told to him retreat. Then a helicopter rope comes in down. Then he latched himself on to it. Then it pulls him away Then there’s a zoom toward the restaurant's door.
Klaus/Fei:
It phases into another restaurant's door, where No. 8 Klaus just got settled down for a lunch date with a guy and his twin sister. The sister questioned where Klaus’ sister is. Then the raven shows up, alerting him to of her arrival. Then his sister, No. 6 Fei showed up. When they sat down, she realized she forgot wallet. She told her raven to get her wallet. Then the raven flew away.
Allison/Alphonso:
As Fei’s raven is flying by, No. 4 Allison gotten her daughter Claire to her favorite uncle’s house. When she rang the doorbell, No.7/ Detective Alphonso Hargreeves, opened the door. Claire hugs him. He tell her that her cousin, Adrianna is waiting and which causes her to run in. Allison thanks Alphonso for watching Claire. They hug it out. Then Allison leave for her filming. Then Alphonso closed the door. It then zoom into the square design of the door.
Jayme/Viktor:
It phases to a pizza box at the pizza parlor. Some guys were angry at the worker for putting pepperoni on their pizza. He tries to explain, but the guys shows their racist colors. The father/the owner tries to defend his son. This causes an altercation between the men. Then the mysterious No. 9 Jayme Hargreeves walked up behind them and slams her guitar case on the ground. When she got their attention, she started to punch and kick them in the face. Then she tries to see if they could get up. But then a bigger guy shows up, and grabs her by the arm. He made sexual remarks while she’s trying to make him let go. Then her brother, No. 13 Viktor shows up punches the man in the face, knocking him. He told him not to mess with his sister. Then he took his wallet and asked how much they owe them. But they give it to them for free. Then as they’re leaving, another zoom in happened to the picture on the wall.
Sloane/Luther:
It phases to a book is that No. 10 Sloane is reading in her car. The driver in her husband, No. 1 Luther. Luther express his wife, I can’t for them to go for their big day. Then they passed by a cab.
Ben:
In the cab, the passenger was the No. 11, Professor Ben Hargreeves, reading a book while heading to teach at his university. Then there’s a zoom on the car window.
Christopher:
It phases out to the human façade of No. 12, District Attorney, Christopher Hargreeves as he’s talking to his client. After getting a deal. He had him leave. Then got a text on his phone from his brother. Then turns back into his real cube appearance as he picks up his phone. He saw a photo of him on the beach. Then a zoom happens on the phone.
FiveÂ
It phases to the No. Five chilling on the beach as he drank smoothing. Then he realized today’s the day. Then instantly teleported back home.
