As a long-time fan of Cobra Kai and someone who has followed the journey of each character closely, I must admit that I’m deeply disappointed with how Devon’s storyline has unfolded in season 6.
**Warning: Spoilers for Cobra Kai season 6 Part 1 ahead**
The storyline of Cobra Kai is winding down towards its conclusion, with part one of the three-part finale currently streaming on Netflix. It’s become clear that the writers are struggling to find a suitable role for Devon in the narrative.
Before joining the Eagle Fang dojo, which no longer existed at that point, Oona O’Brien, who was once an aggressive debate team member (portrayed by Oona O’Brien), showcased signs of being a potential karate champion. This was noticed by Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and led him to recruit her.
Despite having less training than others, Devon wasn’t intimidated by challenges and quickly adapted. Her eagerness to practice karate made her a formidable opponent against more experienced competitors.
Within only six weeks, she advanced significantly in the All Valley championships and remarkably handled defeats with poise, promising to improve and do better the next time around. She recognized her value and innate abilities, understanding the potential consequences of staying determined.
After that point, her skills were in high demand. She trained with Topanga Karate for a while before it was absorbed by Cobra Kai, and eventually became the apprentice of Kim Da-Eun, surpassing their top fighter, Tory Nichols (Peyton List).
Devon significantly contributed to Tory’s narrative and the persistent motifs of striking harmony in a chaotic universe. Just as Johnny and Daniel complement each other, Devon and Tory shared a parallel journey.
As a cinema devotee, I’ve come across many stories where two seemingly different individuals discover an unexpected connection. Take Devon and Tory for instance. On the surface, their upbringings couldn’t be more disparate – Devon enjoyed the privileges of a comfortable, secure background, while Tory struggled daily to make ends meet, caring for her mum and younger brother. Yet beneath the superficial differences, they shared profound emotional bonds that allowed them to bridge the gap between their worlds.
As Devon opens up about losing her mom to cancer, it’s evident that Tory identifies strongly with her. This connection deepens as both women hide their own struggles, with Tory caring for a sick mother while Devon keeps her pain concealed. Their shared intensity and frustration towards the world is mirrored in each other. Through karate practice, they have discovered an effective outlet for expressing their emotions.
In the sixth season, following the fall of Cobra Kai in the previous one, Devon has switched sides to join the peaceful Miyagi-Do dojo. Sadly, the initial five episodes have significantly altered her character growth from the script.
Devon had a reputation for being a tenacious fighter, never resorting to underhanded tactics. Yet, unexpectedly, she now exhibits signs of being not only aggressive but also insecure and unsportsmanlike in her actions.
After reconciling with Tory and Sam, Lisa’s friendship with the former has significantly diminished. In its place, she has formed a strong bond with her martial arts instructor, Johnny, who is 58 years old. Surprisingly, Johnny hosts girls-only sleepovers in his basement in Devon.
In the show’s storyline, Johnny’s obliviousness to propriety occasionally goes unchallenged. However, it remains odd that Devon’s adult caretakers accept this behavior so easily, even when trying to suspending disbelief.
Devon eagernessately seeks approval and craves a comforting gesture, such as a pat on the head, whenever possible, particularly when trying to earn a spot in the Sekai Taikai competition.
She makes it into the final 12, but she’s disappointed because she believes offhand remarks made by Mike Barnes to others imply that she hasn’t caught his attention.
During the flag tag tournament’s last round, she strives for approval as she snatches each red ribbon from her competitor. Pausing in her actions, she gleams with pride, resembling a child eagerly awaiting recognition for a proudly displayed painting with a coveted gold star.
Almost costing her the competition, she became so engrossed in watching Mike Barnes that she neglected her own actions, making herself an easy target for opponents to take her flags.
Does she admit to this? No, not at all. Instead, she blames Johnny for distracting Barnes with his conversation. Despite making it to the top eight, she remains unhappy.
But her biggest, most irredeemable moment is her laxative stunt on poor Kenny.
Instead of risking the possibility of winning fairly, she deliberately undermines her rival to secure an advantage. Unfortunately, this scheme backfires on Kenny, who struggles with controlling his emotions, resulting in a humiliating incident where he accidentally soils himself in front of the entire dojo.
Instead, she lets Anthony LaRusso bear the blame, getting rid of the proof and fueling an old feud, all without any noble motives on her part.
Currently, she’s arrived in Barcelona, but her achievement feels undeserved, and her true abilities have been revealed as insufficient for a place in this prestigious tournament, known as “the cream of the crop.” This revelation has turned her into an unsympathetic antagonist rather than an object of pity.
It’s disappointing and hard to accept that a female character who was capable of qualifying for the tournament based on her abilities just last season, is eliminated through assassination. This is even more disheartening given the scarcity of strong female characters in martial arts schools.
As a woman who has faced my fair share of discrimination and prejudice in various aspects of life, I find it disheartening to see the stereotype perpetuated in popular media that women are “too emotional” and “take things too personally” to be effective fighters or leaders. This notion is not only an oversimplification but also a harmful one, as it diminishes the capabilities and contributions of countless women who have proven themselves in combat sports and beyond.
In the remaining 10 episodes of Cobra Kai, there’s an opportunity to rescue Devon from her current state and make the recent surprises worthwhile. However, if she suddenly reverts back to her old self without a proper explanation, it might feel like an unexpected and disappointing blow instead.
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2024-07-19 15:04