Top 5 "Cobra Kai" Actresses Who Need to Play a Lifetime Movie Villainess (At Least Once)

During most of the final week of September, I did two things that I really enjoyed. One, I watched and followed the final push for the postseason in baseball, and two, I engaged in a mega Karate Kid/Cobra Kai binge. The reason was obvious: Karate Kid: Legends, the latest installment of the franchise that started back in 1984, hit Netflix on September 27, 2025, barely over four months after it hit theaters. The film brought back Jackie Can as Mr. Han, from the 2010 film, and of course, Ralph Macchio once again reprised his role as Daniel LaRusso.

In time for that film's release, I watched all of the films (the first three with Macchio, The Next Karate Kid, and the 2010 film), then the entire Cobra Kai series, finally watching the new film hours after it hit Netflix. Every time I watch Cobra Kai, new thoughts pop up on my head. One constant thought is my gratitude to this show, because when I first watched this two Septembers ago, I wasn't feeling well, and I actually thought I had COVID for the second time (first time was in November 2022). Cobra Kai got me though that. But I have different thoughts each time, and one thought really invaded my mind: "Some of these women would be great as Lifetime villainesses."

A lot of Cobra Kai's women have a Lifetime film connection. I still can't believe I saw Susan "Homeless Lynn" Gallagher in Give Me Back My Daughter earlier this year. But regarding those who have played the evil women in Lifetime, there are plenty. Annalisa Cochrane (Yasmine) took on the villainous role of Kaley in The Bride He Bought Online, which was Cochrane's first role overall. Diora Baird (Shannon, Johnny Lawrence's ex) actually did the Lifetime villainess thing twice: in 2019's My Sister's Deadly Secret and in 2022's Bound by Blackmail. And I have to count Elizabeth Berkley (Winnie) in the fray, as she played a very cunning villainess in Black Widow.

I would love to see any of them (especially Elizabeth Berkley) do the Lifetime villainess thing again, but similar to past lists like this, the centerpiece is the women who haven't done it before. It was actually easy to compile this list, as three of them are obvious choices to anyoe who has read some of my stories before. So here they are as follows:

5. Vanessa Rubio

This was an easy choice. Vanessa Rubio appeared in every season of the series as Carmen Diaz, the mother of Miguel Diaz (Johnny's first student on the show), and as the show progressed, a romance blossomed between Johnny and Carmen. By Season 5, Carmen was pregnant with Johnny's child, and the birth--as well as Johnny and Carmen's wedding--came during the final part of the series (Season 6, Part 3), a daughter named Laura (named after Johnny's late mother). I couldn't help but look at Rubio in this series and think that she has the look of a lethal villainess, and I could see her appearing on Lifetime in such a role.

Regarding the type of villainess Vanessa Rubio could play, I could see her playing a vengeful, delusionally scorned woman. We see those on Lifetime a lot; they have one brief encouner with the object of their obsession years ago, and they see wedding bells that will never happen. Rubio can definitely pull this off; she has amazing range.

4. Elisabeth Shue

Before you call me crazy, hear me out. This is a bit of a new day on Lifetime. We are seeing big names appearing in Lifetime thrillers lately. Because of that, I have to put Elisabeth Shue--Ali Mills herself--on this list. Shue was one of a number of guest stars from (at least) one of the classic films to appear, in her case, she did the original film. She's amazing, she's legendary, she's iconic, and (to my knowledge) she has yet to do the villainess thing at all. I pray it's not because of casting directors thinking she's "too cute and sweet." Good God.

Elisabeth Shue would be perfect as a type of villainess we almost never see in Lifetime films: the evil mother-in-law. I've been kinda spoiled on these text stories that hit YouTube during the pandemic, and on the animated videos as well, and a load of them feature evil, troublemaking MILs. Shue would be perfect; I could see her playing some rich villainess who would definitely find diabolical ways to plague her offspring's significant other. We need more of that on Lifetime, and Elisabeth Shue would be golden!

3. Rayna Vallandingham

The final two-thirds of Cobra Kai's sixth and final season gave us quite the villainess in the form of Zara Malik, who was played by Rayna Vallandingham and was actually the inspiration for this list. As time passed, and I watched the whole show, I went from just loving to hate Zara, to really loving her. Zara is the embodiment of a heel in wrestling, she reminds me so so much of a number of wrestling villainesses I've seen (especially in recent years). Zara portrays herself as an influencer along with her karate prowess, but the genial demeanor she displays to her followers is a cover for her true heel persona, which includes arrogance, gaslighting, and even seduction (seriously, how Robby fell for it boggles my mind).

This was Vallandingham's first major role, and the news broke that she'll be in the upcoming Street Fighter film as Juli--another villainess. Vallandingham needs to take her penchant for playing villainesses to Lifetime. She could easily play an evil college student who always gets what she wants--and will resort to whatever sinister (and violent) methods possible. We have seen those type of villainesses before on Lifetime, but I truly think Vallandingham would excel in that golden role.

2. Hannah Kepple

When I binged this week, I took an in-depth look at Yasmine and Moon and finally asked myself, "How are these two friends?" They couldn't be anymore different. Yasmine is materialistic, and started out completely stuck up and in bully territory. Even as she chilled out and ended up in a relationship with Demetri, some of the qualities stuck, she just has more charm and is funny with it. Moon is basically a flower child, or what passes as one in this generation. She's sweet as pie, and Hannah Kepple played her very well. With that said, that performance would, ironically, make Kepple a perfect choice to portray a villainess in a Lifetime film, and I have the perfect role for Kepple.

I could easily see Kepple playing a cross between Emily Miller from The Wrong Tutor and Vicky Patterson from Identity Theft of a Cheerleader--both films came out in 2019. Emily was a tutor who became obsessed with her fellow student, and Vicky was an unhinged woman who posed as a student to enroll back in high school. Kepple could play an amalgam of the two; a YA in her 20s who poses as a high school student and obsesses over a student she tutors. Kepple could play those type of villainesses to perfection, I just know it.

1. Alicia Hannah-Kim

Was there ever any doubt who'd top this list?! All Alicia Hannah-Kim did was portray the most villainous female character in the entire franchise. That's all. And all I did was continuously drink in every moment that Kim Da-Eun made her appearance, including that introductory entrance off that plane in Season 5, Episode 6. That's all! I love Kim Da-Eun! Gorgeous, dangerous, lethal, frightening, all in a wonderful, venomous package. In the second half of Season 5, we see Kim Da-Eun's evil in full form, and we do see it a bit in Part 1 of Season 6. However, as much as I loved Kim Da-Eun's darkness, I did enjoy seeing her lighten up as Season 6 progressed. Hooking up with Chozen will do that.

So yeah, Alicia Hannah-Kim played the hell out of this role, and I can definitely see her as quite a sinister and maniacal villainess on Lifetime. AHK could be golden playing a villainous detective using her resources and power to enact a twisted and insane vendetta against either an ex, or a perceived rival. Her character could be similar to Iris Quarrie from 2006's Final Move, but she would somehow be more lethal and more insane than Iris, and AHK would be deliciously perfect in that role!

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So what do you think of my list? Do you agree or disagree? What suggestions would you like to make? Feel free to make any and all suggestions in the comment box below!