By pitting Johnny Lawrence against Terry Silver in Cobra Kai Season 6, Part 2, the series effectively set the stage for a fitting end to Kreese's journey. With Daniel LaRusso as the only confirmed Cobra Kai character appearing in The Karate Kid: Legendsthe expectation is that the final five episodes of the series will be the end of the road for all the others in the series. And of all the characters in Cobra Kai cast whose stories will need to be properly wrapped up, none were harder to predict than Kreese.
As one of the franchise's biggest villains and the source of a lot of pain for many in the series, Kreese doesn't immediately come across as someone with a happy future ahead of him. There are times when it seems like Kreese's downfall is inevitable at the end of the show; however, there have also been glimpses of a possible redemption arc, like the moment Kreese spoke out against Silver on Tory's behalf in the season 4 finale. Since then, he has fully embraced his villainous ways again, making it harder to design a path for him. But thanks to one of Cobra Kai In Season 6's fights, there could be a clue as to what its ending might entail.
Johnny was probably trying to save Kreese when he fought Terry Silver
Cobra Kai Never Explained Why Johnny Was Following Kreese
Node Cobra Kai At the end of Season 6, Part 2, Johnny abruptly interrupted his fight with Lewis Tan's Sensei Wolf to pursue Kreese. After catching up with Kreese and finding him losing a fight with Terry Silver, Johnny intervened and beat him in a rematch. Johnny's explanation for his intervention on Silver – “I owed you one” – indicated that he just wanted to avenge the defeat in the season 4 fight, but it is unlikely that this is the whole story. After all, it wasn't Silver that Johnny was following. Johnny's decision to go after Kreese suggests he had other motives.
Johnny was well aware of the rising tensions between the two former best friends, so it makes sense that he assumed Kreese was facing problems.
Johnny was well aware of the rising tensions between the two former best friends, so it makes sense that he assumed Kreese was facing problems. What's more, he knows firsthand that Terry Silver is an extremely dangerous martial artist and could have expected him to have Kreese at his mercy. And considering that Johnny actually saves Kreese from further beatings, it's no exaggeration to say that as much as he seemed to despise Kreese, he was willing to do anything to keep him safe. Whether he would freely admit this, however, is another question.
Johnny's heroic act could help repair his relationship with Kreese
Johnny may recognize that he cares about Kreese after all
If it's true that Johnny was trying to save him, this could be the first real step toward healing their relationship. If everything Johnny says about Kreese is to be believed, then there is no relationship to repair. According to Johnny, he no longer cares about Kreese and takes the lessons he learned on Cobra Kai as a teenager for granted. However, it's possible that Johnny's open disdain for Kreese hides a genuine affection for his mentor, and the fight between Johnny and Terry Silver on the show could be proof of that.
It's true that Johnny has good reason to dislike Kreese, with the parking lot incident at the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament offering a great example of why their relationship is in the state it is in. Kreese then sabotaged his own efforts to regain Johnny's trust when dealing with the dojo situation in season two. This kind of story could be why Johnny might be hesitant to admit that he still cares about Kreese, at least on some level. As for why he would still do it, it's important to note that, putting aside the morality of his actions, Kreese acted as a father figure to him when he needed it and had a major hand in the man Johnny is today.
Saving Kreese from Terry Silver may be what helps Johnny realize his own feelings for Kreese. If that happens, his anger toward Kreese could subside in their next few interactions, allowing the series to build toward a resolution to their rivalry. That's certainly in question, since for most of the series, it was Johnny and not Kreese who held the grudge.
Kreese's Redemption Is More Likely After Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 2 Finale
There's still time for Kreese to choose a different path
This could go both ways, as Kreese could also perceive what Johnny did as a rescue. Kreese probably isn't someone who would accept being saved by someone, but the fact that Johnny did this could mean something to him. Johnny saying he wanted”to switch off“every mark Kreese left on his life seemed to lead the character to eliminate his”weakness” and become a villain again, then knowing that Johnny doesn't actually hate him could be what it takes to change his current course in the series.
Kreese's fondness for Johnny being identified as his greatest”weakness” in Cobra Kai speaks to the idea that he could be the catalyst for the villain's redemption. If he really has that much influence over Kreese, it's not hard to imagine Johnny being the reason Kreese tries to change his ways.
Kwon's death in Cobra Kai season 6 part 2 could provide an extra push in that direction for Kreese. Seeing what Cobra Kai's way of life has done to one of his students may leave you questioning his teachings and, in turn, the idea that he has been a positive influence on his students. Some much-needed self-reflection and a better relationship with Johnny could be the combination that redeems Kreese.
Kreese's story could become Johnny Twist from Cobra Kai season 6
Kreese could save Johnny during a crucial moment
If redemption is indeed the plan for Kreese's ending, episode 10 sets up an interesting blueprint for how that arc could pay off. Unlike what happened to the three characters during the fight, Kreese managed to save Johnny in the heat of battle. Since his relationship with Johnny is at the center of Kreese's story in the series, Kreese going out of his way to put his life on the line for Johnny – or even going so far as to make the ultimate sacrifice – would be a fitting ending for his character.
Because the series didn't paint a clear picture of what the story was about Cobra Kai will be season 6, part 3, it's hard to say what the circumstances of such a scenario would be, but more challenging fights for the main characters are guaranteed. Whether the next opponent is Terry Silver, Kim Sun-Yung, or someone else entirely, chances are good that an opportunity will present itself where Kreese can side with Johnny in his time of need.