Anti-Hero Love

A Judge’s gavel slammed or a referee’s red flag waived and your fate has been sealed. No turning back. You are either going to prison or are sentenced to the life of a has-been. One fate surely seems worse than the other. But prisons are not just bars and a cell. They are also man-made. And can be unmade.

Here are two men, Andy and Johnny. Andy is a banker, hard to know. Not much of a communicator. He loves his wife, but finds it hard to show her. One day, he discovers that she’s having an affair. Unfortunately, those pent up emotions erupt in anger. They fight, he says horrible things, and later that very same night, she’s murdered by another man.

Johnny is a King you would say of his High School. The top pupil at his Karate Dojo. He loves his girlfriend, Ali, but treats her as a possession. One night, a fight of theirs erupts in anger and another boy, Daniel, steps in. They fight and Johnny beats up Daniel.

Andy is sentenced to Prison for a crime he did not commit. Johnny, we learn, is under the influence of a sadistic Sensei. The culmination of these differences and power plays between Johnny and his Sensei, Kreese, is when they clash over injuring Daniel. At heart, Johnny is not a cruel person. He has just been led astray. Daniel wins the Tournament. Johnny is humiliated. Never socially growing past 1984.

But both Andy and Johnny are sentenced. Andy for hard time and Johnny for a life of living in the past. The years pass. Andy makes a solid friend in Red, another inmate. Johnny chooses to only keep ties with his former Karate friends.

Each man, however, finds a pupil. For Andy, it’s Elvis-style Tommy Williams. Tommy seems tough, but is eager to learn. Andy takes him under his wing. Helps him to get his GED. After Tommy is brutally killed, Andy has had enough. He goes through with his escape plan.

For Johnny, it’s Miguel Diaz. Johnny saw Miguel being bullied, helps him, and reluctantly takes him on as a student. This young man brings out the innate leadership qualities of Johnny. After Miguel is injured and the inner fighting continues, Johnny has had enough. Johnny finally makes peace with archenemy Daniel to start a mutual Dojo. That’s a shift in the Universe as worthy as Andy breaking that sewer pipe to gain freedom.

Each man needed to do time to find their redemption. To learn patience, anger management, and to become a Teacher/Sensei. Learning to help others is where they truly shine and grow. There is no need to go it alone, one needs friends and or allies at times.

Yes, I’m saying: if you love the Shawshank Redemption, then you’ll love Cobra Kai!

I struggled a bit when I first started this Challenge, I will not lie! There are so many worthy shows currently out there. I selected Cobra Kai because I remember seeing the Karate Kid in the theatre as a child. I was pretty skeptical when I first heard of this series. I was blown away by the fact that they made Johnny the Protagonist. Shaping the plot lines to see his point of view and feelings were and are very special to me as a Generation Xer. I absolutely love that new generations are being introduced to something that had such an impact on me as a child. I’m very much looking forward to the new seasons!