cobra kai season 5 rewrite
Alright I’m rewriting everything Johnny & Robby for the entire season.
I’m constraining this to the format of TV (no narrative prose, gotta show things on screen, limited time each episode, etc) and fitting it to the structure of the rest of the season (both plot wise, and matching the general tone and rhythm of the show, keeping the same character in the lead and not skewing screen time towards others). Against my better judgment, I will even be following the show’s lead in trying to move towards a reconciliation between Robby and Johnny despite Robby objectively being better off just cutting him out at this point.
I’m also not tackling anything else but these two. This is already enough work.
Basically: this is not just a fix-it fic. I got plenty of other ideas for fic. This is an attempt to actually achieve what the show thought it achieved, under the exact same constraints.
This is very long. You may prefer it on ao3. 10k+ below the cut:
EPISODE ONE
As before: Robby is tentatively happy to be on a trip with his dad, Johnny is buying dumb gifts like the FBI shirts. Robby finally pushes Johnny to admit why they’re really here, and then is pissed when he learns it’s for Miguel.
Johnny tells that technically true but disingenuous story about heroically looking for Robby after the school fight, and says that bit about how he messed up with Robby and Miguel and doesn’t want to live with his regrets. Everything is the same up until he goes to call Carmen.
We adjust the dialogue here slightly. Johnny tells Carmen he really hopes Miguel is okay, knowing what a dangerous guy Hector is. We see this have an effect on Robby. Then Johnny tells Carmen, no, she should stay in LA because it’s not safe here. Robby’s pensive expression breaks. He frowns—of course his dad doesn’t want Carmen in danger, yet has no problem dragging him along.
“Are you sleeping with Miguel’s mom?” Robby asks when Johnny comes back to the car.
“No,” says Johnny. “We’re dating.”
Robby takes this in. We see it all on his face—bitterness, jealousy, sadness, and mostly disappointment in himself for believing in the first place.
“Let’s just go,” he says.
-
As before: At the bus station later, Johnny gives Robby money for the trip and snacks. Robby doesn’t want to stay and isn’t thrilled to leave. Johnny says he’s going to go ask the surfers about Miguel and sorta apologizes for dragging Robby into it.
Robby watches him walk away with a frown, then pulls out his phone and starts looking something up.
Same scene of Johnny interacting with the surfers and Robby leaping in when Johnny is about to be strangled. But rather than this somehow making everything okay after the fight, Johnny reaches out and Robby pulls back.
Before Johnny can start, Robby rattles off an address (the same one Miguel had earlier). That’s where Johnny can find Miguel, he says. At Johnny’s baffled and impressed look, Robby points out if Miguel can look up his dad, they can do the same thing.
“You seriously never thought of that?” says Robby. He huffs. “Anyway, you should start looking there.” Robby makes to leave.
Johnny stops him. Hey, that was pretty cool the way they fought together, right? Make a great story, right? Robby could still stay and help him find Miguel. “I’m really trying here, kid.”
Robby’s far more collected than he would be in previous seasons, but he’s still not having it. “Sure, you’re ‘trying’ to fix your mistakes and help Miguel by making up some fake father/son trip.
“And all that bullshit about fighting guys at a chop shop for the van,” he continues. “Did you even actually look for me back then?”
Johnny insists the chop shop fight was real and he did. Robby challenges him—if he was out looking with Mr. LaRusso, then why wasn’t he there when Mr. LaRusso came to the rehab center?
“LaRusso was being an asshole and I had to get away from the guy,” Johnny says. (Robby scoffs.) “And all that after he dragged me out there in the first place—”
“He dragged you out there,” repeats Robby.
Johnny falters, tries to say that’s not what he meant—but we the viewers know it is, and Robby isn’t buying it either.
He shakes his head. “This was a mis...” Robby sighs before he can finish the line. “Forget it.”
Robby heads back to the bus, with a parting line of, “Good luck finding Miguel.” Impossible to tell if it’s a genuine sentiment or bitter sarcasm.
-
In our Silver-narrated episode closing montage, rather than unearned clips of Robby and Johnny being buds, we get a clip of Johnny sadly watching the bus pull away. Robby inside, leaning his head against the window, disappointed.
-
Elsewhere in this episode: Daniel shuts down his dojo and conspires with Chozen, Amanda’s unhappy, and Sam feels bad.
tl;dr change: Johnny is held accountable for lying and Robby still gets to have feelings.
Additional thoughts: Changes start slow. We're just taking the events of the episode and framing them differently instead of prioritizing Johnny’s pov above all, leading to a different ending. (Also inserting a moment where Robby finds out Johnny and Carmen are dating, because that seems like a thing that should actually happen on screen.)
EPISODE TWO
Not suffering through stupid car-towing/chili-eating shenanigans means we get time to reassign, but we’re actually going to keep it light on Robby and even Johnny this episode.
-
We don’t see Johnny until Carmen calls to relay Miguel found his dad and point him to the fight arena. Johnny says he’s close and on his way. After he hangs up he reaches for the FBI shirt, and then has a brief sad and guilty moment.
He tries another call, sent straight to voicemail: “Hey, Robby... Figured you’d be getting off the bus about now.” He searches for what to say. “Carmen’s got a great lead on Miguel and your tip put me right in the area... Shit. Just, uh. Let me know you got home safe.” He hangs up, regretful, and grabs the shirt for real this time.
Cut to the Call Ignored message on Robby’s phone. He looks up, having just gotten off the bus back in the Valley. Shannon is there to greet him with a hug.
(Is this a questionable timeline for the bus trip? Absolutely, but I will be giving the timeline of this show exactly as much realism as the writers do.)
-
We jump ahead to Robby unpacking his bag at home. (Based on editing and pacing, this may be immediate or there might be a scene from a different plotline in between.) The set design reinforces that his home life with his mom has improved: the apartment is clean and well kept, and Robby has a real room instead of a couch.
Shannon’s trying to cheer him up, but it’s not working. She says she really thought this trip would be a good thing. Robby doesn’t say much until:
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out the way you wanted,” Shannon says.
Robby shakes his head. “It worked out the way it always works out. It’s all about him and his guilt and Miguel.”
For a moment here, there’s a hint of Robby’s old S1-3 vicious bitterness—before he visibly pulls himself back, takes a deep breath.
“But that’s on him,” he says, clearer and stronger. “I’m done wrecking my own life to get his attention. If he actually cares about more than making himself feel better, he can put some effort in for once.”
Shannon smiles, proud. “For what it’s worth, I hope he does. You deserve that.”
Robby sighs. “As long as it’s not the same tired apologies and bullshit stories...”
We see something occur to him as he finishes speaking.
“Hey, when I came to you when I was on the run...why did you call Mr. LaRusso?”
Shannon wasn’t expecting that, but tells Robby that she had been talking to Daniel ever since he went missing. She recounts him calling the hospitals and homeless shelters and checking in with her nonstop, so of course he was her first call. But they really didn’t mean for the cops to show up like that and she’s so sorry—
Robby cuts off the apology; it’s fine. (Unclear to us if he truly thinks there’s nothing to apologize for or if he’s just trying to smooth things over.)
“You know,” says Shannon. “I’m sure Daniel would be really happy to have you back.”
A beat as Robby considers—then shakes his head and says no. He’s not Cobra Kai anymore, he says, but he’s not so sure he’d be welcome back at Miyagi-Do, especially after he taught the style to another dojo. Anyway, a break from karate might be good for him.
Shannon doesn’t push. Things are somber for a moment, before she says something about being happy to have him back, teases him seeing Tory again. With the tension broken, the scene ends.
-
The rest of the Mexico plot doesn’t really have to change from Robby’s absence. Johnny loudly tries to ask around for Hector at the arena and provokes his paranoia. We can cut the fight with the MMA guy if we need time back since it’s pointless anyway idc. Miguel has a bummer time with his dad, and then reunites with Johnny.
-
Elsewhere in this episode: Chozen infiltrates Cobra Kai and Tory is conflicted.
tl;dr change: Mexico plot is adjusted to account for Robby’s absence, and we’re making the reconciliation more gradual.
Additional thoughts: Rehabilitating Johnny as a dad is a hell of a task, and we’re starting at a very basic level here: (a) he remembers Robby exists even when Robby isn’t around and (b) he shows any amount of concern for his son’s wellbeing. We’re also continuing to hold him narratively accountable for his failings/lies, and we’re emphasizing that it’s Johnny’s responsibility to make this relationship work and not Robby’s. The last ties into Robby’s character development from season four: even if he hasn’t forgiven his dad, he’s doing his best not to hurt himself with the anger.
We’re also adding just a little bit about Robby and Daniel/Miyagi-Do to try to give a slightly better build to his return later in the season.
EPISODE THREE
Slight replacement for the dialogue between Johnny and Carmen over Miguel’s terrible breakfast. Carmen asks him how things are with Robby. Johnny sighs; he doesn’t know. He spoke with him briefly and knows he’s home safe with his mom, but Robby didn’t really say much. Dragging him to Mexico was a mistake. He's been trying to work up the courage to go over there, but he doesn't want to mess it up again.
Carmen tightens her lips, sort of nods, but doesn’t actually say anything.
In the show this scene then turns into the set up for the fucking pregnancy arc. Instead, we’ll just have Carmen gag and have to spit out the food into her napkin before Miguel admits they should eat something else.
-
(replacing the scene where Carmen tells Johnny she’s late)
Later, on Johnny, nervously talking himself up outside an apartment: “Don’t be a pussy.” He knocks on the door.
Robby opens it. Moment of surprise.
“Hey,” he says, guarded.
“Hey, Robby,” says Johnny, and without letting himself chicken out, immediately asks if Robby wants to grab lunch with him.
More tired than anything: “Why, does Miguel need to be rescued from a diner?”
Johnny starts defensive. “No, I’m not—” But then he stops himself. Maybe a musical cue indicating he’s pulling on the Miyagi-Do influence. Johnny apologizes again for dragging Robby into all that; he didn’t want to miss his shot with Robby by leaving him behind, and then he blew it even worse. “I keep telling you I’m sorry and I want to do better, and then I never actually do it. So I’m asking now, no tricks, no Mexican fight clubs—”
“What?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Johnny finishes: “Do you, Robby, want to grab lunch with me, your dad? Just to hang out.”
Moment of real vulnerability on Robby’s face. He hesitantly agrees.
-
Over in the scene with Miguel, Hawk, and Demetri at the tattoo parlor, we need another little dialogue edit. Rather than marvel at Miguel and Robby being in a car together (since they weren’t), Hawk says he still can’t believe Robby went down there.
Miguel concurs, and relays that Johnny said that Robby even helped find him.
“Weird,” says Hawk.
Miguel shrugs. “Yeah, well, at least I didn’t have to actually see the guy.”
We can recycle Demetri’s line here—“Probably a good thing, since I’ve never seen you around him for more than two minutes together without a John Wick-style fight breaking out.”
Miguel snorts.
“Is he really quitting Cobra Kai?” asks Hawk.
“That’s what Johnny said,” says Miguel.
Carry on with the rest of the Miguel/Sam scenes as usual.
-
(replacing the scene where Johnny and Carmen buy a pregnancy test)
We return to Johnny and Robby at lunch, with their plates empty. Nothing is going wrong, but it’s awkward. Clear from Johnny’s demeanor that this is not what he wanted and he’s nervous. Clear from Robby’s face that he’s disappointed but not surprised.
Johnny says something, trying too hard to spin it—pretty great restaurant, huh? Really good burgers, right?
Robby, listless, “Yeah.” Then, only slightly better: “It was great. Thanks for buying.”
“I’m your dad; of course it’s on me.”
Brief moment of skepticism on Robby’s face.
Johnny sees it, tries to joke: “I mean, I figure I owe you a couple meals, right? Or a hundred.”
“Somewhere around there,” says Robby. “Maybe a few thousand.”
“Yeah,” says Johnny. “Guess I missed a lot, huh...” On Robby’s minimal reaction, Johnny pushes: “Come on, I’m trying to make up for it here. All of it.”
“All of it,” Robby repeats dully.
“Yes, all of it,” Johnny insists. “Name it, I'm trying to fix it. I'm trying to change.”
Robby hesitates, looking away. Then he lets it out: “You don’t even—like me.”
Johnny, distraught: “What?”
“You don’t like me,” Robby says, on a roll now. “You want me to make you feel less guilty, but you don’t like me. You’re always upset about something. You always assume the worst, you blame me when anything goes wrong, and then you—you forget all about me when it’s not convenient. And then you say you're changing, and try for three seconds before it all starts over again.”
“That’s not true,” says Johnny weakly. “I don’t...I don’t forget about you.”
Robby, annoyed: “Really?”
“I know I’ve never been there for you,” says Johnny, voice thick. “And you’re right, okay? I put all my shit onto you. But I don’t forget. I never forget about you.”
“Look,” says Robby, sighing. “I wanted things to get better, but... I’m not sure things are fixable between us.”
“No, please, come on, what can I do? Anything you want, kid. I’m not failing you again. I promise.”
“You promise...” Robby sighs, stands. “Sure. I don’t know, dad. Get your life together?” Clear to us he means it flippantly. “Thanks for lunch.” He leaves.
On Johnny. He repeats in a mumble to himself: “Get my life together...”
Equally clear to us that Johnny has taken this as a directive. He nods to himself, regaining energy.
-
We keep Johnny’s next scenes largely in tact, with superficial changes. Instead of baby stuff, he’s googling “how to get your life together for your son”. Cue ridiculous montage. He scrolls through WikiHow like it’s a work of genius. We see him replacing the picture on his wall; getting rid of the beer for the umpteenth time; cleaning the apartment.
He finds an article on connecting with your moody teenager. We see him stripping out the second room and filling it with things that are sorta related to Robby’s interests from the perspective of an out-of-touch dumbass.
This show loves absurd time frames and zero acknowledgment of financial ability, so we see him paint the entire room green, hang up “cool” posters of slightly-too-outdated teen bands and shows on the walls, struggle to put a skateboard-patterned sheet on the bed. We see him stumbling in the room with an armful of books, haphazardly shoving them on a shelf. We see him at LaRusso Auto, accepting a bag from a bemused Amanda. Back home, he opens it up to reveal a small bonsai tree, which he carefully places on the bedside table.
We end with him pulling out the same childhood drawing Robby saw back in season two and putting it up on the fridge.
-
Johnny’s next scene is when Miguel comes to ask for advice. Just minuscule edits here. Like in the show, Miguel ask what the deal is, and Johnny almost answers before deflecting.
Instead of a throwaway line about milk, we have a brief moment where Miguel sees the drawing on the fridge—but he brushes over it, more focused on his current woes.
Same as canon, Miguel relays his struggles with Sam, asks for advice, ending by saying he thinks Sam is still mad and him and he wants to fix it, but isn’t sure since they haven’t talked in a while. In our version, this line strikes even more of a chord with Johnny. We have a beat watching him process and relate to it, and his “I’ve been there” line is a delivered a little weightier.
As canon, he gives his advice, including, “If you own up to your mistakes, you always have a chance of making things right.” He tells Miguel to be honest with Sam, “And don’t give up.”
-
Our new scenes might be a little longer than the ones they replaced. However, we’re getting back time from cutting out Johnny’s last scene entirely (where Carmen confirms she’s pregnant and all hope of a half-decent story died). So it all works out!
-
Elsewhere in this episode: Daniel and Chozen find Barnes. Sam, in a personal crisis, breaks up with Miguel.
tl;dr change: Instead of an awful plot of Johnny trying to change for Carmen and a baby, Johnny’s trying to change for the kid he already has.
Additional thoughts: This is where the bigger changes start. We’re dumping the pregnancy plot to make room for a plot of Johnny actually becoming a better father. Robby doesn’t appear in this episode in the show, but we need to add him to make it work here.
Continuing to hit on the idea that fixing things is Johnny’s responsibility, not Robby’s. Fitting with his development, Robby is less confrontational, but it’s important to me that he’s still reluctant so that Johnny is the one who has to make the effort. Also important: Johnny is reaching out directly (rather than just talking about his guilt to a third party) and doing so in consistent, mundane ways, rather than relying on a dramatic grand gesture.
We’re also laying some subtle groundwork with Carmen here that might not be notable yet, but will hit next episode.
Finally, we need to fit with the often comedic tone of the show rather than be all doom and gloom, and I want to reuse things from the original where possible, so we’re giving Johnny some hope and a drive to improve, in his usual silly way.
EPISODE FOUR
As before, episode starts with Carmen having a cheesy romantic dream sequence about her and Johnny and Miguel being a family (and no Robby to be seen). Carmen wakes up happy in bed with Johnny.
-
Later we kick off the same idea of Johnny looking for a job over the phone, but we change things around when Shannon shows up.
(The plot device of Shannon going to her parents is no longer useful to us, so we’re ignoring it.) Instead of her coming to pick up Robby’s stuff, Johnny has invited her over to show off the remodeled room. Shannon lets Johnny tour her through it and ramble about getting a job (she suggests rideshares), before cutting to the point—why is he showing her this?
“I don’t know. I though maybe...Robby could...stay with me,” says Johnny nervously. “Like a week on/week off sort of thing.”
At Shannon’s look, he corrects, “Or maybe just weekends.”
He corrects again, “Or...one day a month?”
Shannon huffs a laugh. She says she is glad to see him making an effort—surprised, but glad—and is okay with Robby spending some time here “now that it’s no longer a biohazard.”
“Great!” says Johnny. “That’s great!”
“But Johnny,” says Shannon pointedly, “maybe you should ask him about this?”
Right. Yeah. Johnny agrees he will, though this is clearly the part he is most anxious to put off.
-
Most of Robby’s time this episode is in the water park plot. We need a little edit up top:
When Tory asks how Mexico went, Robby sort of huffs, wryly says it was a nonstarter. Tory is sympathetic about his dad. Robby shares that his dad has taken him out to lunch a couple of times and wants to talk to him later, but “I don’t know. We’ll see if it lasts more than a few weeks, right?”
He shakes it off, straightens. “But that’s up to him.”
We continue on with the scene, as Robby suggests Tory quit Cobra Kai. She’s upset, tension between them, carry on.
-
(replacement for the scene where Demetri helps Johnny get a phone)
On his way out of his apartment, Johnny happens to run into Carmen coming home. He tells her about the new job (and mentions having a nerd set up his phone for it, to cover the gap) and Carmen is happy for him. She gets less happy when Johnny continues about how he wants to get his life together for Robby.
Carmen’s discomfort could not be clearer to the audience. Oblivious, Johnny excitedly tells her about setting up the room, how he invited Robby over tonight and is going to ask him about staying here sometimes, etc.
“I didn’t realize you’d have him living here,” Carmen says tightly, and Johnny finally picks up on her demeanor.
Well, yeah, of course he wants Robby here, he says. Not all the time; his mom still has custody. But if Robby is willing to give him a chance, then Johnny will take as much as he can get.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” says Carmen. “I mean, with Miguel right here...”
“He’s my kid,” says Johnny.
“And he hurt mine,” snaps Carmen.
Johnny is taken aback. His confusion makes him defensive: “Wh—What did you think was going to happen? He’s my kid. You thought you’d just never have to see him?”
“I don’t know what I thought!” says Carmen.
She tries to sound calm and logical: “I just don’t know if Robby is a good influence to have around here. He seems violent and dangerous, especially to Miggy.”
Johnny’s only more upset. Neither are in a position to make up right now. His phone chimes, he says he has to go “pick up an uber now,” and storms off.
-
As before, at the water park Kenny goes after Anthony, Hawk intervenes, and Robby points out Cobra Kai’s influence to Tory.
-
Our last replacement scene was notably longer than the original. To compensate, Johnny’s next scene is notably shorter. Instead of a long comedy montage of him being the worst driver ever, we have a short montage of him trying to do well—correctly picking up riders, even if he pronounces names wrong—but letting his roiling emotions get the best of him. He’s brooding too hard and accidentally misses a stop until his passenger calls it out. He’s angrily drumming the steering wheel without realizing it, to another passenger’s annoyance. That sort of thing.
He gets mediocre reviews instead of constant one-stars, is annoyed at himself instead of being immature and shitty about it, and this time we can actually empathize with him.
-
As before, at the water park, Robby is trying to stay out of dojo fights, but also refuses to let Kenny get hurt. He briefly interacts with Miguel (for what is now the first time this season) and Hawk as tensions escalate.
-
We remove the scene of Johnny needing pawn shop guy to give him the “good parents shouldn’t be selfish lazy assholes” advice. We’ll steal back this time later.
-
As before, at the water park, Robby fails to get through to Kenny. The dojos have their stupid competition, marred by cheating. Robby shoves Hawk into the pool to stop him fighting Kenny, and Miguel comes over to push and confront him, before everyone gets kicked out.
-
(replacing the scene of Johnny calling Shannon)
Brief scene of Johnny coming home, exhausted. He stops in the walkway, looking forlornly at Carmen’s apartment.
Then he pulls out his phone. We see his texts with Robby:
Johnny: ‘Hi robby. This is johnny. I learned how to text on the smartphone now. Do you want to come over to my apartment tonight. I want to show you something. Sincerely johnny.’
Robby: ‘Ok’
Johnny is heartened, rereading the message. He gives once last look to Carmen’s apartment, then holds himself up taller and goes into his own.
-
At the water park, Robby and Tory argue as in the show and break up. Maybe add a little touch of continuity to indicate Robby is going over to his dad’s place next.
As he leaves, cut over to Miguel watching him leave with a scowl.
Hawk notices: “Hey, you want us to go over there?”
Miguel takes a deep breath. Says tensely: “No. Better to avoid the fight, right?” But his fists are clenched. End scene.
-
Finally, we use our stolen time to add a scene right at the end of the episode:
After Daniel and Amanda’s fight, cut to Carmen getting her mail in the evening at the complex. The glass door behind her opens—it’s Robby. Carmen recognizes him instantly, expression going hard. She dithers between staying and moving, turns at the wrong moment, and ends up colliding right into him. Mail falls to the ground.
Robby does not recognize her. He’s the picture of courtesy, immediately apologizing, bending to help her pick it up: “I’m so sorry. Let me help you, ma’am,” and so on. Carmen’s certainty falters for a moment.
“You’re Johnny’s son,” says Carmen, once she has her mail back.
Robby looks confused.
“I’m Carmen,” she says. “Diaz.”
Robby’s expression shifts, a muted oh shit.
“You know, we live right there,” Carmen says, pointing to the apartment. “Me and my mama. And my son.”
“I know,” says Robby quietly.
“Your dad wants you to move in with him,” says Carmen. “Or at least be here a lot. Where my son lives.”
Robby says nothing.
“I want Johnny to be happy, but I want Miguel to be a safe much, much more,” says Carmen.
“I don’t...want to hurt Miguel,” says Robby.
Carmen is out in force, ready for an argument with a temperamental delinquent; she clearly doesn’t know how to handle this. Stutters through a “Well...good.” Sticks to her guns, only slightly softer: “I don’t want to make Johnny chose between me and his son, but I have to prioritize mine.”
She excuses herself, having said her piece.
We linger on Robby. After a long moment, he turns around and leaves the way he came.
-
Elsewhere in this episode: Miguel and Sam try to be friends, and Silver pushes Daniel and Amanda apart.
tl;dr change: A totally new Johnny plot—instead of antics getting a job for the baby, a story addressing Carmen’s concerns about Robby.
Additional thoughts: My apologies to Demetri for cutting his one scene out. On the flip side, after nearly cutting Carmen from the last episode, we will now be making up for her screen time.
This started with me thinking that Carmen should get a chance to have complicated feelings about Robby and then it turned out that made for a major plotline. “I’m concerned about my boyfriend’s son being near my son” isn’t really something that can be addressed in one throwaway scene.
We’re also continuing to rehabilitate Johnny by letting the past four seasons turn him into a semi-responsible adult, rather than making him an idiot and jerk for humor. And, of course, we’re having him put in that effort for Robby for once, instead of some new baby. These episodes/seasons are too short to fully show Johnny putting in a consistent effort, so we need that Robby line to establish the lunch last episode wasn’t a one-off.
I admit this new ep is a little awkward structurally. Robby’s real plot this episode is at the water park, but he’s now also a major player in the Johnny/Carmen plot. But I think it still works, since most of his role in the latter doesn’t involve actually appearing, and his endings in the two plots are tonally consistent.
EPISODE FIVE
We’re getting rid of all of Johnny’s bullshit in this episode, which means significantly restructuring the Robby & Miguel plot. However, I am still honor bound to abide by the show’s all-but-stated rule on dramatic fifth episode fights.
-
(replacing the scene where Johnny manipulates Robby and Miguel into meeting at a restaurant)
After the opening scene with Silver and Stingray, we cut to Robby on his skateboard, scraping the ground to slow down. He stops on the street to look up. Camera turns to reveal Miyagi-Do.
Robby frowns at the sheet-covered sign, glances either way down the street, and hops the fence.
As he walks through the front, we get very quick flashes from the first two seasons: Robby meditating, Daniel telling him how to control his anger, Robby relaxed at the dojo. The music is peaceful; this is a serene place. He steps through the dojo and out into the yard—
Where Miguel, Hawk, and Demetri are messing around, fake-sparring. The first two immediately snap to anger on seeing Robby; Demetri holds back.
“What are you doing here?” Hawk demands, stalking over. Miguel is close behind.
“What are you doing here?” says Robby, confused. “I thought the dojo was closed.”
“So you figured you’d just break in, huh?” says Hawk.
Robby rolls his eyes. “That’s rich, coming from you.”
“It is closed,” Demetri chimes in. “They just figured Mr. LaRusso wouldn’t mind if we used the space. Though I said it was a bad idea.”
Hawk shoots him a look—implied, come on, man, loyalty.
“Yeah, he won’t mind if we use the space,” says Miguel to Robby, pointed. “Because we were students here.”
“I was also a—” Robby stops himself, furious but trying so hard to suppress it. “Never mind. Stupid idea...”
Hawk eases off, content to see him backing up.
“Why don’t you just stay away from us, alright?” says Miguel. “And from here. And stay away from my home while you’re at it—You and Johnny can meet somewhere else.”
Robby shakes his head, turning away, mutters, “You sound like your mom.”
Miguel had just started to back off, but now he’s incensed—“What does that mean?”
“Forget it,” Robby says, making his retreat before it can turn into a fight. Miguel is still seething, but Hawk and Demetri entreat him back over.
-
(replacing the scene where Johnny manipulates Robby and Miguel into an “escape room”)
Later, Johnny knocks on Carmen’s door and ask if they can talk. She lets him in and they sit at the table.
Johnny speaks with clear preparation. He says he wants to clear the air. He’s not giving up on Robby, but he gets that she’s protective over her kid, and they should have talked it out instead of fighting. But Robby’s not what she thinks. “He’s not a bad kid. He’s just...” (guilty) “a kid who’s easy to blame.”
Carmen says she knows, and she’s sorry. Johnny gets to be protective too, and she knows that he wants a relationship with his son. She just didn’t want Miguel in any more fights, but she shouldn’t have tried to stop Johnny from having Robby over.
Johnny signs: “Yeah, well, might be a moot point...”
“What do you mean?” asks Carmen.
Johnny explains that he invited Robby over, but got stood up. Robby’s probably mad at him about something or other. “And probably right to be.”
Carmen looks guilty.
“Johnny,” she says. “I have to tell you something. I saw Robby the other night. He was coming to see you...”
“What?” says Johnny. “Is he okay? Do you know why he bailed?”
Carmen’s reluctant to admit it: “He was fine. I just...told him about how I don’t want Miggy to get hurt.”
Johnny puts two and two together. He leaps up. “Did you threaten my kid?”
“I didn’t threaten him!” Carmen pleads, still seated at the table. She reaches for him. “Johnny, please! I don’t want this to ruin us. I know you don’t either.”
“I don’t.” Johnny looks down at her hand, longing. Then he pulls back. “But his whole life I’ve put what I want ahead of what Robby needs. I can’t do that anymore.”
He shakes his head, disgusted and disappointed, and leaves. Carmen starts to cry.
-
Later is the scene where a spiraling Daniel comes to Johnny for help.
Most of this is about Daniel, so we don’t need to change the start. Johnny’s demeanor is a little more worn and down on himself, and we’re changing the bullshit “I got Robby out of there” line to “Robby got himself out of there”.
-
Towards the end of the scene, the conversation turns to Johnny, so we’ll edit more. Johnny telling Daniel he and Amanda are solid and will get through this remains the same, but just takes on a new subtext.
Instead of noting the “escape room” décor and accidentally inspiring Johnny to make the boys fight, we’ll have Daniel say that he noticed the drawing on the fridge.
Johnny says yeah, he’s trying to turn this into a real place for Robby. But he doesn’t know how he’s going to make it work...
Daniel responds that it’s good to see Johnny trying. “I’m pretty sure Robby’s always wanted a relationship with you, even when he’s angry. I don’t know if it’ll be quick, but if you keep putting in the effort, I’m sure he’ll notice.”
Johnny thanks him. Daniel thanks him back, and excuses himself.
After he leaves, Johnny tentatively pulls out his phone and makes a call. Voicemail again, but he presses on. “Hey, Robby. I just talked to Carmen. I didn’t know she was going to say all that... I’m really sorry. I still got something for you if you’re willing to come over, but even if you aren’t I just wanted to say—I’m putting you first. Okay? From now on, I’m putting you first.”
-
(we insert a new scene)
Later, in the Diaz apartment, we see Carmen on the couch, no longer crying but still visibly upset. The door opens, and she hastily attempts to hide it.
Miguel enters. “Hey, mom—Mom? What’s wrong?’
“It’s nothing,” Carmen says. “It’s okay, baby. You don’t have to worry about me. How was the day with your friends?”
Miguel clenches his jaw. “Does this have something to do with Robby?”
Carmen’s surprise gives her away.
“Because if he said something to you,” Miguel continues, firing up, “or he did something—”
“No, no, it’s nothing like that.” Carmen grabs both his hands, pulls him down to sit with her. “He didn’t do anything. It’s just—It’s hard, with Johnny and him. But that’s adult stuff, okay? It’s not your issue.”
End on Miguel’s face, unsatisfied.
-
(replacing the scene where Johnny pushes the boys to fight)
Later, cut to Robby, putting away his phone as he enters the apartment complex again. He glances around, before bee-lining towards Johnny’s door.
Miguel bursts out of the opposite apartment. “Hey!”
Robby spins, braced and ready.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from here?” says Miguel.
“You don’t own the place,” says Robby.
“What did you say to my mom?”
Miguel shoves him. Robby smacks his hands off but doesn’t shove back.
“I didn’t say anything to your mom.”
“What did you say to Johnny, then?” They’re right up in each other’s faces.
Robby scowls. “It’s none of your business what I talk about with my dad.”
“Yeah? What, trying to make him chose?”
“Think I’m the only one here not trying to make him chose.”
“’Cause you know who he’ll pick?” says Miguel.
He’s hit a nerve. Robby pushes him away. A beat, before he hardens his expression. “You think he’s going to pick his fake son and his bitchy girlfriend?”
Too far. Miguel swings. The fight starts.
They battle through the courtyard, into the staircase, as canon. They’re as evenly matched as ever. When there’s a chance to emote between blows, both look more unhappy than they do angry, like this is an unpleasant duty they’ve been forced to carry.
Up on the balcony, they trade blows, quick flashes of the school fight interspersed. Miguel ends up on the railing side. He’s in no immediate danger; he’s fully balanced, braced to block, stance low. But as Robby spins with his fist raised, his eyes go wide.
The momentum carries him forward—Robby opens his fist. He grabs Miguel’s shirt instead, yanks him away from the edge.
Robby catches himself against the railing with both hands.
On Miguel, behind him, startled, desire to fight dissipating as Robby stays there, doesn’t turn around, hunched over.
Loaded silence. They both catch their breath.
“Why’d you do it,” Miguel says. “Last time.”
Long beat.
“I just...wanted to win,” Robby says finally, still staring over the railing. “Not like that,” He hesitantly turns to face Miguel, “but I was angry and I got tunnel vision and...didn’t realize how close we were... I didn’t mean to. I’d take it back in a second if I could.”
Finally he says, “I’m sorry.”
Miguel nods slowly. “I’m...sorry too. For what it’s worth. I know I started that fight... And maybe some others.”
Robby snorts without humor. “Yeah.” After a beat, he adds, exhausted, “I don’t want to fight you anymore.”
“I don’t want to fight you either,” says Miguel.
We linger in the moment. A ceasefire.
Cut ahead a little. The boys exit the stairwell on the ground floor, as Johnny steps outside his apartment. “Hey, I thought I heard—whoa, what the hell?”
He jogs up. Miguel and Robby stand side by side, a little bruised, but without aggression.
“It’s okay, Sensei,” Miguel says.
It takes Johnny a second to process, then he looks to the silent Robby: “You alright?”
Robby nods.
“Okay,” says Johnny slowly. To Miguel, “Well, let’s just hope your mom doesn’t—”
“Miggy!?”
Carmen bolts over to clutch Miguel to her chest, shooting wary looks at the other two. “What happened?”
Robby hunches his shoulders.
“It’s okay, mom,” Miguel says. “I’m fine, I swear.”
“You were fighting?” says Carmen. Her gaze snaps to Robby.
Johnny puts a protective hand on Robby’s shoulder, to Robby’s clear surprise.
“I started it,” says Miguel.
Johnny looks at Robby.
“It’s fine,” Robby says. “Don’t worry about it.”
Both adults are nonplussed, but the kids making a united front confuses them into accepting it: “if you guys are sure...” There’s a look between Johnny and Carmen, briefly united, before they remember they’re at odds. Carmen looks away first.
The parents split off with their respective kids. Robby and Miguel share a nod as they separate. Not quite friendly, but respectful.
As Johnny escorts Robby into their apartment, Robby says, soft, “I got your message.”
Johnny looks hopeful. “Yeah? Well, I, uh, wanted to show you a room...”
-
(And we make up for the time we’ve added by removing the scene from the end of the original episode where everybody is suddenly buddy buddy at the Diaz apartment.)
-
Finally, in our end of episode montage narrated by Tory, the clip of Robby is changed (from him fixing Johnny’s reversed door handle) to him looking at the little bonsai Johnny put in his new room and smiling.
-
Elsewhere in this episode: Amanda learns about Silver from Jessica. Daniel tries to lean on Stringray, but Silver beats him down instead. We find out Tory is working with Kreese.
tl;dr change: Robby and Miguel’s tension escalates and finally breaks without Johnny selfishly pushing them, and also does not translate to instant friendship.
Additional thoughts: Without Johnny pushing it, we need new reasons to bring Robby and Miguel together. I’m trying to carefully walk the line of provoking them enough to start a fight (because, again, abiding by the show’s conventions) without relying on contrived miscommunication, nor adding new drama that would need to be additionally addressed. I hope the way I’ve leaned on the Carmen/Johnny plot and the longstanding tension between them works.
Also, adding an apology from Miguel. Robby’s absolutely done the most harm and should apologize first, but I just desperately need someone besides Robby himself and fucking Kreese to acknowledge that Miguel was a driving force in the rivalry and fight.
In other news, huge changes for Johnny’s character. In the show, this was probably the episode I hated him most, forcing Miguel and Robby together for his own ends, and then being totally narratively validated for it. In the new version, we’re dropping that entirely.
Instead, we’re giving him a big step forward! So far this revised season we’ve seen Johnny care about Robby’s wellbeing and put in true effort (and jfc making him better than past season is such a low bar), and now we’re seeing him actually sacrifice something to prioritize his son. Hopefully, it finally feels earned at the end to have Johnny be paralleled to a parent like Carmen.
Like the show, we’re ending this episode on a positive note for the Johnny/Robby/Miguel plot (to contrast Daniel’s depressing ending). We’re just tempering it to not be so saccharine.
Finally, a little more background building of Robby’s desire to return to Miyagi-Do, though I can’t decide if it feels natural or shoehorned. But with the structure of the next episode, I wanted to make sure we hit that here.
EPISODE SIX
The plots we’ve been fixing on take a back seat this episode, so we’re just touching up a few moments.
-
Johnny is still Johnny, and still decides it’s a great idea to go fight Terry Silver. However, we’re not going to have him be drinking as he and Chozen approach the dojo. When he’s talking about going after Silver, we’ll fit in a quick line where he, with disgust, also mentions Silver trying to get in Robby’s head before prom last season.
-
Much later, when Robby appears as everyone tries to support Daniel, we change the dialogue a bit. As before, Robby shows up just as Daniel is in his crisis of confidence. Rather than “I can’t fail these kids again.” / “You didn’t fail me,” we’ll do: “I don’t know if I can help these kids.” / “You helped me.”
“Sam and my dad told me what was going on...” As in canon, Robby reminds him of the good he did.
Tweak Daniel’s line: “Robby, the things I did, juvie...and what I said to you...I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” says Robby.
“No, it’s not okay, I—”
“Mr. LaRusso.” Robby waits, looks at Daniel, makes his words weighty enough for Daniel to know it’s not a casual brush off but a significant choice: “It’s okay.”
Robby sighs. “I’m sorry. You were right about Cobra Kai and I—”
“No,” says Daniel. “You have nothing to apologize to me for. I’m just...glad you’re out.”
“I am,” says Robby. “But not everyone is...” and we transition back into the existing lines about how he tried mentoring someone but Silver got a hold on the kid, there are others in Cobra Kai he cares about too, and they have to stop Cobra Kai. “But we can’t do it without you. Sensei.”
A minute later, when they go out to join the rest of the kids, we add a beat of hesitation from Robby before Miguel gives him a nod and he joins the lineup.
-
Elsewhere in this episode: Terry gets new senseis, Tory accidentally wins over Devon, and Kreese fails to con a prison therapist.
tl;dr change: Minor edits to improve Johnny and stop blaming Robby.
Additional thoughts: Daniel and Robby’s reconciliation could have been an entire plot of it’s own (and a good one!!!), but I am conforming to the show here. This change is less about the characterization and events, and more about narrative framing—the show seems to argue that actually Robby was in the wrong and no one else needs to apologize to him, which is...bad. So instead of cutting off Daniel’s apology as unimportant, we’re letting him finish it, and having him cut off Robby’s apology. And instead of Robby saying that Daniel did nothing wrong, Robby’s expressing that he forgives him anyway.
EPISODE SEVEN
This episode has Chozen training the kids. Our first scene is the same (Sam talks to Anthony about Kenny, Hawk is furious to see Robby but Miguel tells him it’s fine, Chozen explains the eggs), except that Robby awkwardly stands a little separate from the rest of the students as Chozen speaks.
-
Later, the kids have spread out. As before, Sam talks to Anthony about his lack of experience. Instead of Robby casually joining them, he winds up nearby more by accident.
“Hey,” Sam says, hesitant. “It’s good to have you here...I know it must be weird being back, but it means a lot to my dad.” Robby looks down, smiles slightly to himself. Sam adds, “I wasn’t sure you were going to come.”
Robby fumbles with the words before settling on, “I’m glad he’s feeling better.”
Sam almost says something, then looks pointedly at Anthony. He takes the hint: “Alriiight, I’ll find somewhere else to hide.”
Alone, Sam looks to Robby, preparing a speech. He’s blatantly uncomfortable: “Sam—”
“I never said sorry to you,” she says. “For,” (guilty hesitation) “kissing Miguel at the party. And then not believing in you...”
Robby starts to brush it off out of discomfort, “It’s—” and stops himself. “Thanks,” he says instead.
A pause. Robby looks across the yard. “It is nice to be back,” he admits softly. He gaze lands on Hawk and Miguel. “If, yeah, weird.” To Sam. “And...maybe we can go back to being friends?”
Sam lights up. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
As before, we cut over to Hawk, annoyed at Robby “moving in” on Sam and volunteering to kick his ass for Miguel. We’re just making Miguel more tempered in his response: “No, you don’t need to do that. Robby and I...called a truce. Besides, I am done getting stupid and jealous.”
Chozen calls the game to start.
(The Sam & Robby scene does run a little longer here; we’ll make up for it later.)
-
Later is the sequence of Chozen smashing eggs, which includes the Robby & Hawk scene where Robby apologizes but also pushes back. I’m adding “dislocated my shoulder” to the list of grievances Robby recites to Hawk. And after Demetri goes on his “you’re both ex-assholes” tirade, he looks pointedly at Eli.
“Ugh, fine, I’m sorry too or whatever,” says Hawk, before we continue on.
-
In the scene with Miguel and Sam, just cut Miguel’s line about them not being together helping him and Robby get along. It made no sense in the show and makes even less now.
-
Later, Chozen tells them they failed and to try again. Instead of Anthony realizing the trick right away and the kids having a discussion, they all split up again.
Cut to Miguel, slinking around the side of the building, peering for a hiding spot. He runs into Robby: “Oh. Hey.”
“Hey,” says Robby.
Extremely awkward vibe.
“I’ve, uh, seen you around Johnny’s place,” says Miguel.
Robby, suspicious: “Yeah?”
“I’m just making conversation,” Miguel clarifies quickly. “I’m cool with it. I mean, not that you need me to be cool with it, but I’m. Uh. Yeah.”
“Okay...” says Robby. “I mean. I’m just...coming over for dinner and stuff.”
They’ve gotten distracted—Chozen appears threateningly behind Robby.
“Look out!” shouts Miguel. He pushes Robby out of the way just in time. They stagger back from Chozen.
Chozen’s eyes flick to Miguel. He moves in, Miguel desperately clutching his egg, but Robby lunges to deflect the blow. The boys retreat as Chozen slowly advances, ending up back in the main yard. Chozen straightens up to strike.
“Here!” says Miguel, shoving his egg at Robby. He braces up in front, both hands now free. When Chozen swings at Robby, Miguel manages to defend him.
Cut to across the yard.
Anthony, looking despondent with his egg, sees this. His face lights up in realization. “Hey! Everybody!” he shouts, running for the deck. He grabs the carton and puts his egg back in as he runs over to Robby.
Robby sees him, catches on. Behind him, Miguel is knocked on his ass. Robby passes the two eggs to Anthony just in time to turn and block Chozen’s attack.
The others are reaching them now.
“All together!” says Anthony, holding out the carton for eggs. The students rush in to deposit their eggs, then turn to fight, and we get a similar scene to canon of all the kids successfully teaming up.
When Chozen concedes and the kids celebrate, Robby and Miguel share a genuine smile with each other.
(And we earn our time back.)
-
Elsewhere in this episode: Tory and Kenny’s leadership is put to the test. Daniel and Johnny talk to Kreese.
tl;dr change: More gradual relationship building between Robby and the other teens.
Additional notes: Not a lot of teen-focus this season, so we have to take the opportunity here. We’re giving Robby and Miguel a little more natural bonding, rather than have them be instant friends last episode. On the flip side, I actually think it’s funny and fitting for Robby and Hawk to just need a single begrudging conversation. Also inserting a much needed apology from Sam to Robby.
There’s not really any space this episode to properly develop Johnny and Robby’s relationship, but we left on a high note last time and we’re just settling for dialogue to indicate the work is still going.
EPISODE EIGHT
As before, after the opening scene establishing the challenge to qualify for the Sekai Taikai, we cut to Miguel and Hawk entering Miyagi-Do. New dialogue:
“So have you watched the old Sekai Taikai videos?” asks Miguel.
“Are you kidding?” says Hawk. “I was up all night.”
Instead of entering with them, Robby is already at the dojo in this version. Hawk hesitates, then asks him: “Did you see the video of last year’s final?”
“Yeah,” says Robby. “And that spin kick at the beginning?”
“Dude, that was sick!” Hawk gushes. Miguel grins.
And as before, we carry on with the other students joining in, before the Senseis come over. We keep the following sequence of Johnny approaching Miguel to say he’s not forcing him to compete and Miguel saying he’s pumped. We’ll add:
“And I want to say, I’m sorry if it’s been kind of weird with me and your mom.”
“It’s okay...” says Miguel. “Have you guys...talked at all?”
“Not really,” admits Johnny. “But I want you know, no matter what happens with me and her...I’m always your sensei.”
Miguel smiles. “Thanks, Sensei.”
Instead of Robby coming over himself, Johnny sees him nearby and shifts to include him, raising his voice to both boys. “And we got a hell of a team now. With you two together, we stand a real shot. You ready to kick ass?”
Robby gives a slight nod. Miguel says, “Hell yeah.”
Johnny claps him on the shoulder. He heads off.
With just Robby, Johnny says, quieter, “And maybe you could, I don’t know, ask your mom to stay the night later? Maybe leave some stuff at my place?”
When Robby looks hesitant, Johnny backs off immediately: “It’s your call, though. Whenever you’re ready. I’m just saying the offer’s open and it’s always going to be.” Beat. “Now.”
-
As before, we carry on with the sequence of the dojos showing off to the judges, including the bit with Miguel, Robby, and Hawk all training together, and with Robby and Sam doing the wheel.
-
Later, the scene of everyone at the LaRusso’s, Amanda and Carmen cooking for the dojo kids. We add a short moment of Johnny passing through the kitchen, making awkward eye-contact with Carmen, and continuing on.
This transitions us into the scene with Johnny talking to the three boys on the couch. As before, he says how they’re all great. However, it is kinda very extremely weird that the show has him specifically call out Hawk and Miguel as great fighters and AVT champions and then just say. nothing specifically about his own son. So we’ll add: “Robby, could easily be a champ instead of one of these guys, if it hadn’t been for that injury.”
As before, continue on with Johnny saying they’re having trouble deciding. Instead of suggesting a coin flip, we’ll have a silent beat where he glances at Robby, almost apologetic.
Robby, totally at peace, shakes his head: it’s okay.
And we keep the rest of it. Miguel says, “We actually already made up our minds,” looking at Robby, who nods and smiles back. We get to see the pair of them in agreement, having elected Hawk.
-
From this point on, the relationships between the kids catch up to the show. Things unchanged from this point forward include: Robby telling Kenny it’s better to let go of hate with a significant glance towards Miguel, Hawk listening to Robby’s request to go easy, and the hugs after the competition.
-
As before, Johnny approaches the chummy Miguel and Robby as the kids celebrate the decision. We need a dialogue edit:
“Hey, listen,” says Johnny. “I heard your mom and Rosa are out tonight, so if you guys wanna host that celebration...” He holds up his hands. “I’d get out of your hair too. Gone as soon as I drop you off, promise.”
The boys grin.
-
Cut to the party. Everyone having a great time.
We add a small scene right at the top: Miguel is carrying coats to toss into Johnny’s room. He sees Johnny still inside.
“Hey, weren’t you leaving already?” Miguel says, grinning.
“Yeah, yeah,” says Johnny. He holds up his wallet. “Just grabbing my stuff.”
Miguel nods, leaves the coats. Johnny follows shortly after. As he passes the open bathroom door in the hall, he stops abruptly, backs up to peer inside.
There’s a second toothbrush on the counter.
Those big, victorious chords from the soundtrack start up. Johnny continues out of the hall. He sees Robby across the room, chatting with Hawk; Miguel going over to join. Giant grin on his face, Johnny leaves the apartment to the kids.
(And we continue with the party.)
-
tl;dr change: Small adjustments early on to complete our more gradual arcs with the kids & continuing to cram in progression for Johnny and Robby wherever we can.
Additional notes: god there is not a lot of room to work with in these episodes
EPISODE NINE
As before, finish the Sam/Tory confrontation at the party, with Miguel and Robby breaking it up.
-
(replacing the scene with Johnny and Carmen at the doctor)
After our title card, open on Johnny dropping his trash in the dumpster. Behind him, we see Carmen leaving her apartment, wearing scrubs.
“Good morning, Johnny,” she calls.
Johnny spins, hastily trying to smooth his rumpled clothed. “Hi! I mean, good morning. How are you doing this...morning...”
Carmen chuckles. “I’m good.” She gestures at the courtyard. “I hear there was quite a party last night.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I think the kids had fun.” Johnny hesitates. “Robby slept over.”
“I’m happy for you,” says Carmen. “And I’m...glad to hear the boys are getting along.”
“They are.”
“That’s great.”
“It’s great.”
Awkward beat.
Carmen says, “Well, I should—”
“Yes! Right. Have a good luck at work. A good day at work.”
Carmen smiles. “Have a good day, Johnny.”
Cut to Robby inside, pouring himself cereal. Johnny enters the apartment.
“You’re up,” says Johnny. He eagerly asks how the room was, if he slept okay.
“It was fine,” says Robby, smiling.
“Good, good.” Johnny says that he’s happy to change anything Robby wants, asks about the party, says the Sekai Taikai is gonna be cool, huh? It takes him a minute to work up to: “Hey, I gotta ask you something. How would you feel about, uh, me and Carmen getting back together?
“You don’t have to answer right away!” he adds quickly. Johnny takes Robby’s now-empty bowl to rinse in the sink.
“Does she still hate me?” asks Robby.
“No. No, I told her you’re a good kid.”
Johnny’s back is turned, so we know Robby’s soft smile is real.
“She gets it now.” Johnny puts the bowl in the dishwasher. “But if you don’t want me to see her...” Deep breath. “I meant it when I said you’re my top priority now and I’m—”
“Dad. It’s okay,” Robby says. “As long as she’s not trying to run me out of town...you can date who you want.”
“You sure?”
Robby stands. “Yeah. I’m sure. Just don’t ask me to play house right away, okay?”
Johnny snorts. “You got it.” On Robby, gathering his stuff. “You heading out?”
“Got something to do,” says Robby.
“Right... Maybe you can come back later?”
Robby pauses, looks back across the apartment. “Maybe, um, dinner tomorrow?”
Johnny beams. “That sounds great.”
-
Cut to the hospital. Carmen is walking down a hall, carrying a chart, generally looking professional. Her phones rings; she answers.
“Johnny? I’m at work, is everything okay?”
Intercut between the hospital and Johnny at home.
“Everything’s fine,” he says. “It’s nothing like that. I called because I know things have been weird for us, with Robby, and Miguel, but, Carmen, I need to say, I never stopped—”
“Johnny,” Carmen interrupts, smiling. “I’m a little busy. Maybe we could jump to the end?”
She stops at the end of the hall, calling an elevator.
“Right,” says Johnny. “Carmen. Can I take you out tonight?”
“I would really like that,” says Carmen.
They’re happy and cheesy, quickly say goodbyes. The elevator opens. Carmen’s smile vanishes.
“What floor?” asks Terry Silver, standing in the elevator.
Carmen hesitates, then steps inside, tells him.
Tense silence. Foreboding music. Carmen anxiously watches the floors tick up.
“You look familiar,” says Silver.
“Do I?”
Silver snaps his fingers. “You’re a karate mom. I saw you at the All Valley. Miguel Diaz, right?”
Carmen nods, tense.
“Your son’s quite talented,” says Silver. “You know, I’m a sensei myself, so I know how important the next generation is.”
“I know who you are,” interrupts Carmen. “So don’t bother with the sales pitch. Johnny told me everything.”
“Johnny... I didn’t realize you two were so close.”
The elevator dings.
“That’s me,” says Silver, as the doors slide open. He pauses on the way out. “Ah—Pass my congratulations on to Johnny.”
End on Carmen, watching him leave.
-
(In canon, Johnny tells Daniel and Amanda about Silver in the next scene. We’ll edit to add Carmen and tighten things up. So we cut to:)
LaRusso Auto. Carmen holds onto Johnny’s arm as she says, “...and then he just left.”
As before, discussion between the adults. Daniel says Silver could have been there for any reason. They concur that Silver probably isn’t up to anything right now. Johnny has his arm around Carmen the whole time.
When Amanda says they’ve all earned a night off, she looks at Carmen and Johnny. “And it seems like you two are back on for nights off?”
Carmen agrees. She and Johnny smile at each other.
“Sounds like a good enough excuse to celebrate to me,” says Amanda. “God knows we could use one.”
As before, they all agree to go out. Louie insists on planning, to make it up to Johnny. Johnny and Carmen add “and dancing” at the same moment.
-
The rest of the episode is largely the same.
Carmen drinks with the others. Instead of Chozen mistaking Carmen for Johnny’s wife, he says he’s happy for Johnny reuniting with his girlfriend. Instead of Johnny’s recount of letting one kick ruin his life ending with him saying he needed to look at what was in front of him, he says “I had to stop wishing things were fixed back then. Start looking at what I could fix now.”
Otherwise, no changes! Some of this is still dumb, but that’s not what I’m here to fix.
-
Elsewhere in this episode: Robby speaks to Cobra Kai. Tory is tortured by her senseis. The other kids confront Stingray, and Sam reaches out to Tory.
tl;dr change: We reunite Johnny and Carmen, to fit with the show, but make it clear that Johnny will still put his kid over his relationship if need be.
Additional notes: This about the last of the time we’ll get to round out Johnny and Robby’s arc, and I hope it’s been satisfying. I did consider massively changing the structure of the final two episodes to try to fix everything, but that is not what I signed up for here and we’re staying focused.
Johnny and Carmen, I know, are strapped for time to get back together here, since we’re dovetailing back into the show’s normal events. But considering their issue was very defined, has already been discussed, and is now moot (since Robby and Miguel are good), I think we’re okay keeping it quick.
EPISODE TEN
With our focus in the finale on dramatic fights and resolutions, we only have a few small edits left. The entire beginning is the same. No change until the fighting begins.
-
As before, Robby is hit by the silver bullet; match cut to Johnny being beaten. Silver arrives from his fight with Chozen to deride him. All as before, until Silver mocks Johnny for trying to confront him on his turf, “You never stood a chance.” And we make our change as Silver grabs his hair to pull his head up:
“You’re as much a failure of a fighter as you are a father.”
Continue on as canon.
-
Later, as before we cut back to Johnny while Silver is speaking to his students.
Nothing falls out of Johnny’s pocket when he hits the ground. Instead, we let Silver’s monologue end and start messing with the editing.
“Silver is right,” says one of the villainous senseis. Intercut with the dojo: Silver looking around, pose confident. (Sensei VO) “You are failing.”
On Johnny, bloody and on the ground. He gets a spark in his eyes. In the dojo, the camera pans across the assembled characters.
Focus on Johnny as he slurs, “Said I’d stop doing that...”
In the dojo, we see Hawk, Bert. Miguel.
At Silver’s house, the sensei, disdainful: “What?”
Pan lands on Robby.
Cut to Johnny. “I promised...”
The music starts. Johnny grits his teeth, shoves himself to his feet—and fights back.
(Continue as canon; he has a great rally, then is nearly beaten before Barnes leaps back in. Return to the others.)
-
Daniel gets his cathartic victory. The day is saved.
Finally, when Johnny arrives in the limo, we insert a moment. The first thing he does upon stumbling out is look frantically around until he spots Robby safe with Tory. His shoulders drop, tension releases. He quickly spots Miguel as well. Only then does he go to embrace Carmen.
When Carmen says he needs a doctor and Johnny agrees he was on his way there, instead of saying he just wanted to see her first, he says, “I just needed to see everyone first.”
Carmen says she thought he lost him; Johnny says it’s not that easy. Then: “The thought of losing you, any of you—” He looks aside. Camera cuts to Robby. Back on Johnny's face, soft. “It kicked me into a gear I didn’t know I had. Couldn’t stand the thought of leaving now.”
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Episode wraps up with resolution for the heroes, and a teaser for Kreese. The end.
