Cobra Kai was a masterclass on how to blend nostalgia with fresh storytelling. The themes and plotlines of the story felt both familiar and excitingly new to me. Every time they featured a rivalry or a redemption arc, I’d have goosebumps, and I could never get enough of the karate showdowns.
But even with its near-perfectness, Cobra Kai left one character’s arc frustratingly incomplete, and if you’re already thinking of Kenny Payne, played by Dallas Dupree Young, we’re on the same page! So let’s look at what I felt was lacking in Kenny’s journey.
How Kenny almost went from being a victim to victorious in Cobra Kai
Kenny Payne’s arc in Cobra Kai was a rollercoaster of emotions for fans. We were first introduced to him in season 4, where he was a vulnerable middle schooler. He quickly became the target of bullies, especially Anthony LaRusso and his friends. Kenny did try to stand up for himself, but then he was left with no choice but to take his elder brother’s advice to join Cobra Kai.
He was under the mentorship of Robby Keene and went on to become one of the most promising fingers in the dojo and I felt like he had a hopeful future. But soon, the dojo’s toxic philosophy turned him from a victim to a bully himself, and by season 5, we saw his full descent into aggression.
Although he didn’t win the All-Valley Tournament, I found his skills to be impressive, and he even mastered brutal techniques under the influence of Terry Silver. But what really made me despise him was the way he used these techniques against his former mentor, Robby Keene, in a heartbreaking confrontation, where he was completely immersed in Cobra Kai’s ruthless ideology.
A missed opportunity in Cobra Kai: Kenny’s underwhelming finale
Now, I loved the finale like most Cobra Kai fans, but as time passed, I started thinking about the arcs of all the characters. They truly try to redeem Kenny in season 6, where he learns about Silver’s manipulation and joins Miyagi-Do. He plays a key role in the dojo’s victory at the Sekai Taikai tournament, but his potential as a character wasn’t fully explored.
He was one of the few black characters on the show, one who actively fought, but his presence in the final episodes was minimal. I felt like he had less screen time, and the way the showrunners wrapped things up for him, felt rushed and underdeveloped.
The moment during the qualifiers where Kenny is humiliated by Devon’s move was a controversial point in the show. It felt like a disservice to the character, like he wasn’t utilized enough. It’s sad how I found his triumphs to be average, but his defiance of Terry Silver was still a powerful moment.
You can watch Cobra Kai on Netflix.
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