Cobra Kai marks the conclusion of a journey that commenced in 1984. This journey began when a young boy from New Jersey named Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) relocated to the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, and learned karate to protect himself from his classmates at a dojo known as Cobra Kai. The story has unfolded across five (and soon to be six) movies in theaters and six seasons of storytelling on streaming platforms. As a result, closure is anticipated for many characters, but the fate of one character, in particular, is more ambiguous than one might expect.

Earlier this month, io9 engaged in a conversation with Cobra Kai‘s creators Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald, and Jon Hurwitz regarding the show’s final episodes, which have recently been released on Netflix. The discussion encompassed a wide range of topics that viewers are eager to learn about, and the answers will be shared soon. However, one particular aspect of the conversation warranted immediate attention due to its significant implications. This aspect pertains to a major, spoiler-filled moment in the final episodes, so readers are advised to refrain from proceeding until they have watched these episodes.

In the penultimate episode of the show, Sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) makes amends with Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) for the trauma he has inflicted upon him over the years. Furthermore, in a final act of sacrifice, Kreese confronts his former associate Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffin) to prevent him from interfering in Johnny’s crucial match at the Seikai Taikai. Kreese discovers that Silver is planning to sabotage Johnny, leading to a confrontation between the two characters. The fight culminates in the explosion of Silver’s yacht, resulting in the apparent demise of both Kreese and Silver.

However, it appears that this is not entirely the case. A scene was filmed that suggested Kreese did not perish in the explosion, but it was ultimately deleted from the final cut.

In the series finale, a montage concludes with a shot of a Sports Illustrated magazine featuring Johnny and Daniel on the cover. Although the scene ends there, additional footage was captured. According to Hurwitz, “We filmed beyond that point, where the camera panned over to reveal another magazine with Terry Silver on the cover, posing the question, ‘Where is this missing billionaire?’ We even had Marty Kove make a brief appearance, picking up the magazine, just in case. We were aware that it might be too absurd.” Schlossberg added, “We didn’t want to explicitly convey that he’s alive, so we opted to maintain ambiguity, allowing the audience to interpret it as they see fit.”

Yet, as Schlossberg pointed out, John Kreese has a history of evading death on multiple occasions. “There have been numerous instances in the past where John Kreese was presumed dead, only to return later. We never actually witness any bodies, and the explosion was depicted from a distant shot. If you’ve watched the show Landman, you’ll know that explosions can sometimes blow a body away, shielding it from the flames… so, I like to think that Kreese and Silver might still be alive.”

Would you have found it plausible for Kreese to survive the explosion? In your opinion, did he survive? Share your thoughts below. All episodes of Cobra Kai are now available for streaming, and more in-depth discussions will follow soon.

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