- "Let the games begin."
- ―John Kreese
"Best of the Best" is the fifth episode of the sixth season of Cobra Kai. It is the final episode of Season 6: Part 1.
Synopsis[]
Miyagi-Do's top students square off to be team captains, but a devastating tragedy changes everything. Kreese reveals his final surprise.
Plot[]
At the doctor's office, Tory picks up medicine for her mother, feeling relieved that things are finally starting to fall back into place. She explains to the doctor that she is back on track with her life and taking better care of herself. The doctor commends her for her efforts, expressing admiration for her resilience and how well she’s been managing everything. After leaving the office, Tory unexpectedly runs into Kreese. He tries to persuade her to return to Cobra Kai and offers her a spot in his dojo, but Tory firmly rejects his offer, letting him know that she’s been fitting in well at Miyagi-Do and has no intention of going back to Cobra Kai.
Before Miyagi-Do's training session begins, Sam gathers Hawk, Demetri, and Miguel together to share some exciting news—Aisha has been accepted into UC Santa Cruz. The group cheers for Aisha, and the mood lightens as they celebrate her success. Miguel, however, is feeling down because he hasn’t heard anything back from Stanford yet. Demetri, ever the optimist, reminds the group that he got into MIT, making sure to include a motivational quote from Michael Jordan: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” The lighthearted banter helps cheer Miguel up, and Hawk gives him a reassuring pat on the back.
Meanwhile, Robby and Tory are practicing together, and Robby praises her for standing up to Kreese and rejecting his offer. Tory asks Robby to keep their conversation between the two of them, and Robby reassures her that they will stick together through the tournament and beyond. The two share a tender moment, and their connection grows stronger when they kiss.
Daniel and Johnny arrive at the dojo to discuss the selection of the team captains. Daniel explains that in order to determine the captains, Miguel and Robby will compete for the male captain position, while Sam and Tory will fight for the female captain position. Johnny takes charge of the training session, utilizing his own methods, which causes Daniel to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.
Later, after a trip to the grocery store, Daniel vents to Amanda about Johnny taking over the training sessions. He expresses his frustration, claiming that Johnny hasn’t fully embraced the Miyagi-Do philosophy and feels like he’s taking over the dojo. Amanda tries to reassure Daniel, reminding him that anything is possible with time, but Daniel remains skeptical. He counters that Mr. Miyagi would never have wanted this type of partnership. Johnny, in the meantime, spends time with Carmen, telling her that the training is going well and that the baby is kicking. When Miguel enters the room and shares the news that he’s been deferred from Stanford, Johnny offers him comfort, and they share an emotional moment of support.
Tory arrives home to find her mother collapsed on the ground, unresponsive. Panicked, Tory tries desperately to wake her up, but to no avail. At school the next day, Miguel talks to Sam about his deferred application to Stanford. He tells her that only about 15% of deferred students get accepted the following year, and he’s feeling uncertain about his future. Robby arrives and asks Sam and Miguel if they have seen Tory so they could train at the park together. Miguel tells him that he thought the two were coming to train at the dojo with him and Sam but Robby counters that it's a better idea if the four of them trained separately so they won't expose their moves. Robby then leaves telling El Serpiente he's going down this time and Miguel tells Sam that they'll train together as well.
At LaRusso Auto, Johnny confronts Daniel about being scheduled for a test drive despite the importance of the captain's match. Johnny points out that Daniel may have intentionally scheduled him for the test drive to take him out of the dojo’s training sessions. Daniel is left feeling frustrated as Johnny calls him out on his actions.
Meanwhile, Robby is at the park, trying to reach Tory via text, but she doesn’t respond. Unbeknownst to him, Tory is at the hospital, where the doctor informs her that they’ve discovered her mother has developed a blood clot which was the cause of her death. Furious at the doctor's failure to detect the issue earlier, Tory leaves the hospital, overwhelmed by the weight of the situation.
In the forest, Miguel and Sam are training with Daniel, and Miguel expresses his strong desire to be named male captain of the team. Sam, however, explains to her father that she’s fighting for closure, and Daniel reassures her, praising her for her determination. Meanwhile, Johnny confronts Daniel once again, this time about his decision to train Miguel and Sam, questioning the purpose of the training sessions. Daniel insists that he has a say in how things are run, and as his boss, he tells Johnny that he needs to return to his duties at the dealership. Johnny reluctantly agrees and returns to the dealership, but before he leaves, Johnny tells the team that he’s leaving the car business to start a rival car dealership. However, he’s stopped in his tracks when Amanda steps in, revealing that Daniel has been acting strangely due to the emotional turmoil caused by Mr. Miyagi’s old box of personal belongings.
At Miguel's apartment, Miguel approaches Robby to talk about their rivalry, and the two share a surprisingly civil conversation. Miguel expresses that even if they face off in the tournament, there’s no ill will between them. Robby vents about his own college aspirations but admits that his situation is complicated. Before the conversation gets too heavy, Carmen interrupts, offering burgers, but Robby politely declines. Miguel enters the apartment, and Robby, once again, tries to reach out to Tory, but she doesn't respond.
Tory is at home, reflecting on a memory with her mother, who had once given her a colored cap and encouraged her to always believe in herself. Her mother’s voice echoes in her mind, reminding her that the characters in her drawings had to learn to work together. The memory brings a bittersweet sense of nostalgia, but Tory remains conflicted about her place in the world.
Back at the LaRusso house, Daniel vents to Amanda about Johnny’s lack of commitment to Miyagi-Do and the unprofessional-ism he’s displayed as an employee. Amanda listens patiently, acknowledging Daniel’s frustrations, but she reminds him that they are still partners, and they need to focus on the present. She encourages Daniel to let go of the past and focus on what matters most—his students, Johnny, and the tournament.
Before the captaincy matches begin, Daniel attempts to apologize to Johnny, but Johnny, understanding that Daniel was simply doing his job, assures him that no hard feelings remain. Johnny adds that, even though Daniel is his boss at the dealership, they are partners when it comes to the dojo and he suggests for Daniel to referee Miguel and Robby and he'll referee Sam and Tory to not show any bias. The captaincy matches begin, with Miguel and Robby competing for the male captain role. Miguel scores two quick points, but after seeing Tory on the sidelines, Robby manages to rally and eventually wins the match. Daniel then appoints Robby as the male captain for the Sekai Taikai.
Next, Sam and Tory face off in their own captaincy match. Sam takes the lead, but during the match, the hospital calls, and Amanda answers. Daniel observes Tory’s sudden shift in emotion, and he immediately calls off the fight. Tory reveals that her mother has passed away, and she needs time to grieve. Daniel, Robby, and Amanda try to persuade her to stay with the team, but Tory ultimately decides to leave Miyagi-Do, citing the need to honor her mother’s memory.
Daniel and Johnny argue fiercely about the decision to end the fight. Johnny, angered, accuses Daniel of not understanding Tory’s pain and how she was fighting through her emotions, just as he himself had to when his mother passed away. Daniel counters, asserting that they don’t teach anger in Miyagi-Do and that Tory needed time to mourn. The argument escalates, and Johnny insults Mr. Miyagi, triggering Daniel to punch him in anger. Immediately realizing his mistake, Daniel apologizes, but Johnny, now fully embracing his role as Sensei Lawrence, declares that after they win the Sekai Taikai, their partnership will be over. The two agree that training is officially over, and Hawk will replace Tory on the team.
Daniel addresses the remaining team members, telling them that they will fight for the honor of Miyagi-Do, emphasizing the importance of supporting one another. He gives Robby and Sam their captain headbands, marking a new chapter for the dojo. As Daniel examines the headbands, he’s reminded of the ones he saw in Mr. Miyagi’s old box. He realizes that Mr. Miyagi must have participated in the Sekai Taikai as well, and when he notices blood on the headband, he begins to question everything he thought he knew about his mentor.
The Miyagi-Do team arrives in Barcelona, Spain for the Sekai Taikai, and as they arrive at the venue, they’re shocked to see the new Cobra Kai team. When Tory arrives with them, the rest of the Miyagi-Do students are left in disbelief, realizing that her loyalty to Cobra Kai is far from over. The stage is set for the intense competition that awaits them all.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
- William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
- Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso
- Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz
- Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene
- Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso
- Peyton List as Tory Nichols
- Jacob Bertrand as Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz
- Gianni Decenzo as Demetri Alexopoulos
- Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny Payne (credit only)
- Vanessa Rubio as Carmen Diaz
- Martin Kove as John Kreese
Guest Starring[]
- Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso
- Oona O'Brien as Devon Lee
- Aedin Mincks as Mitch
- Khalil Everage as Chris
- Owen Morgan as Bert
- Brandon H. Lee as Kwon Jae-Sung
- Dan Ahdoot as Anoush
- Bret Ernst as Louie LaRusso Jr.
- Déjà Dee as Dr. Judith
- Alicia Hannah-Kim as Kim Da-Eun
- Nichole Brown as Aisha Robinson (mentioned and flashback)
Co-Starring[]
- Bethany Dezelle as Grace Nichols
- Charlotte Ann Tucker as Young Tory
- Kevin Waterman as Cody/Test Driver
Trivia[]
- The scene where Daniel tells Johnny “It’s not the Miyagi Do-Way” became an internet meme in TikTok using the word “Get Out” at the end of the sentence.
- This is Kreese's first time in America since his prison escape.
- This is the final episode of the first part of the sixth season. The next set of episodes released on November 15, 2024.
- Tory's mom is revealed to be named Grace and finally appears in this episode with some more lines and a full view of her.
- It's revealed Grace was struggling with cancer for the past five years.
- This is the first episode to show a younger version of Tory.
- Tory's brother Brandon does not appear in that flashback, which is set shortly after their father left. It's likely he either had not been born yet or was just a baby.
- In Tory's flashback, she draws three mermaids on a to-go box. Tory had previously dressed as a mermaid for her new job in "Bicephaly".
- This is the second episode of season 6 where Aisha appears via flashback, and she is also mentioned by Sam to be going to UC Santa Cruz for college.
- As of this episode, Daniel LaRusso breaks his tradition of not striking first by punching Johnny.
- Daniel's punch on Johnny is a callback to The Karate Kid.
- This is the first time Robby has beaten Miguel in a match, as he had lost to Miguel in the season one finale.
- Kenny does not appear in this episode, but is mentioned by Devon as he’s still recovering from the events of Underdogs.
- This is Louie and Anoush's first appearances in season 6.
- In the dealership scene where they also appear, there is a man with braids and black hair that looks like the singer and rapper Drake.
- This is the longest episode of the first part of season 6 with a runtime of 44 minutes, second only to Head of the Snake.
- This is the second non-season finale to not play the original Cobra Kai credits theme, after The Fall.
- This episode is named after the film series Best of the Best, one of the films which Johnny shows to Sam, Tory, Robby and Miguel as he is training them for the Sekai Takai. He points out the character of Alex Grady played by Eric Roberts, noting that he lost his shoulder in the first movie, but that it was miraculously healed by the second, and saying that they too can be like Eric Roberts if they believe in themselves. The slogan "Best of the Best" is also featured on the emblem of Sekai Taikai. The episode's plot mirrors that of the first Best of the Best film, in which an underdog team of American martial artists trains to take on the South Korean team in a world championship event.
- This episode shares similarities to the movie Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge; both characters, Tory and Scorpion share the same tragedy in their family.
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