Venkatesh Rao

Japanese subplot is mildly annoying. Mystical miyagi pressure points crap. Johnny on the computer with Windows XP and also inventing his own hard knocks physio crap for Miguel is definitely the most hilarious thing.

But I can see what they’re setting up. Kreese is doing his first strike thing and Daniel needs new Miyagi tricks. Robbie is trying out Kreese’s first-strike thing in juvie. The other kids are in a gang war. This season is going to be a referendum on first-strike philosophy.

Miguel+Johnny are the soul of the season. Will they go Cobra or Miyagi? Good stuff. This show has so much affection for its source material it is pure schmaltz. But it’s a grown-up, self-aware affection that knows what it is doing. Definitely not fan fiction.

Miguel running interference on Johnny being cringe on Facebook is the funniest thing. Nobody could be THAT stuck in the past you’d think but I’ve met real people like that.

Now on to snakes on a plane. This show swings wildly between camp and heart.

Holy crap, Johnny is basically Zapp Brannigan. He names his dojo Eagle Fang karate. Kid: eagles don’t have fangs Johnny: *throws shirt at him* Later: “Swoop down like an eagle and grab ‘em with your claws and sink your fangs into them”

Good writing. Last season I thought Johnny and Daniel had to be allies against Kreese but couldn’t see Johnny switching sides to join Miyagi-do. Instead he starts his own dojo but their students team up and have a “sensei dispute resolution protocol”

Okay that was great. Very classic storytelling with classic plots, but very satisfyingly done. And the season finale is both satisfyingly climactic and a very good set up for S4.