I can't stop thinking about the beach scene...
They try to sell Johnny as this big bully, but bullies are assholes on purpose, willingly choosing their usually much weaker victims. When we meet Johnny Lawrence for the first time, he is a boy with plans to change his future for the better. He'll make it work. That's what he tells us about him. He even refuses the drink Tommy offers him.
He gets upset because he wanted to fix things with the love of his life too, but Daniel interrupts and the situation escalates so quickly but I believe Johnny when he says: "All I wanted to do is talk to you." to Ali.
She promised she would talk to him but instead, turns the radio on again. Of course he's angry and more upset.
When he returns to Daniel, he is much less aggressive and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he remembers that he wanted to change for the better and maybe even wanted to help him up because when Daniel jumps up and punches him in the face, he is still not in fight mode.
While Daniel is still in hyper defense/attack mode while he asks him to call it even now that he punched him, Kreese and his training takes over and Johnny says it like a mantra, "no mercy, man.. no mercy", before he beats the shit out of Daniel.
(The choice of clothes is also very interesting. Usually you would visibly seperate the villain from the good guy. I would read into this, that we don't have a clear villain. Just two boys who are very much alike.)
When Ali "attacks" Johnny and says "Why do always have to fight" he says "Bullshit" and calls the boys back to leave. He didn't want to fight. He wanted to make it all work. His inner conflict is so visible, it hurts.
The lighting is also very flattering.
