- "Battles aren't reserved for the battlefield."
- ―John Kreese
"Snakes on a Plane" is the eighth episode of the sixth season of Cobra Kai.
Synopsis[]
A personal crisis shakes Miguel and Johnny to the core. Chozen and a rival sensei team up to find their students — but discover something else instead.
Plot[]
At a hospital in California, Amanda informs Johnny of Carmen’s condition, assuring him there’s no cause for immediate alarm. Despite her efforts to stay calm, the worry in her voice is evident. Johnny, unable to hide his own concern, mentions that Miguel had to step away. He suggests Amanda track down Kenny Payne to take Miguel’s place in the upcoming tournament. Johnny assures Amanda that Carmen will pull through—she always does.
Meanwhile, Daniel vents to Chozen about the stress of Johnny’s situation and his own harrowing experience with being kidnapped. Chozen listens attentively but stresses the importance of maintaining composure and showing restraint. Elsewhere, Kreese speaks to Kwon, sharing his belief that fighting transcends tournament boundaries. Kim Da-Eun interrupts, warning him against such provocations, but Kreese counters with a smirk, arguing that battles aren’t restricted to the battlefield.
Later that evening, the Miyagi-Do students gather at a lively bar. Devon, clearly nervous, asks what their plans are now that both Miguel and Johnny are absent. Eli reveals that they intend to recruit Kenny, prompting Devon to grow even more uneasy. At another table, Robby opens up to Sam about his frustrations with the tournament, admitting that his feelings for Tory have been a major distraction. Before they can delve further, Tory, Yoon, and Kwon enter the bar, their presence sparking tension. Zara notices Tory from across the room and shoots her a pointed look.
Back in California, Amanda visits Kenny’s home, attempting to persuade him to join Miyagi-Do in the Sekai Taikai. Kenny, however, rejects her offer, still bitter over what he believes was Anthony’s sabotage during the water-spiking incident. Meanwhile, on a flight to California, Miguel is moved to a seat near the front after Johnny’s attempts to calm his nerves disrupt the passengers and irritates him. Johnny tries to approach Miguel for a heart-to-heart, but a flight attendant intervenes when Miguel declines to talk.
At the bar in Barcelona, Chozen arrives unexpectedly, crossing paths with Kim Da-Eun. The two share a tense but intriguing exchange, realizing they’re there for similar reasons. Kim discreetly informs the bouncer that she’ll need a taxi, while Chozen keeps a watchful eye on her movements. Nearby, Zara confronts Tory, issuing thinly veiled threats before smugly thanking her for paying for her drink.
The bar’s lively energy turns awkward when a girl approaches the binary brothers, flirting openly. Eli declines, citing his relationship with Moon, but Demetri agrees to dance, despite his own romantic commitments to Yasmine. When Eli FaceTime's Moon, he shows her the bar but Yasmine spots Demetri’s betrayal and immediately calls him.
Later, Anthony and Amanda watch a video together of Kenny's incident that prompts a difficult conversation. Amanda presses Anthony about his history of bullying Kenny. Anthony denies spiking Kenny’s water, but Amanda insists he owes Kenny an apology regardless. When Anthony eventually attempts to make amends at Kenny’s house, the meeting devolves into a physical altercation. Amanda steps in, breaking up the fight, and delivers an ultimatum: one of them needs to end this feud, or Miyagi-Do will have to forfeit the tournament.
On the flight, Johnny finally gets a chance to speak with Miguel. Johnny apologizes for his shortcomings as a mentor and expresses his fear for Carmen’s health. Miguel, overcome with emotion, admits how frightening the situation is. Their conversation takes a turn when a belligerent passenger confronts Johnny, leading Miguel to step in and knock the man out.
Meanwhile, Sam encounters Axel during a late-night training session. Impressed by his skills, she praises his dedication, and the two bond over their shared love of karate. The two explore Barcelona, but they have a physical encounter with Kwon, Yoon, and another Cobra Kai student. They run back to the beach and the two praise each other for the moves they used in the fight. However, when Axel attempts to kiss her, Sam pulls away, reminding him that she has a boyfriend. Disappointed, Axel leaves without another word.
At the hotel, tensions continue to rise. Demetri reveals to Eli that Yasmine dumped him over his lapse in judgment. The binary brothers argue, their once-solid bond fraying under the weight of personal drama. Eli, feeling betrayed, vents to Devon, whose own guilt about spiking Kenny’s water during the tournament resurfaces. Inspired by Eli’s words, she decides to come clean to Kenny.
Amanda later apologizes to Kenny for losing her temper earlier. She praises Kenny for his rapid progress in karate and encourages him to join Miyagi-Do. Anthony finally offers a heartfelt apology, but it’s Devon’s unexpected call that changes everything. On the line, she admits to spiking Kenny’s water, exonerating Anthony. The revelation leads to a genuine reconciliation between Kenny and Anthony.
At the bar, Chozen and Kim Da-Eun find themselves in an unexpected confrontation. Their heated exchange turns physical, but the clash ends with an impulsive kiss, leaving both startled and intrigued. Meanwhile, the next morning at the hotel, Robby leaves Zara’s room after a seemingly innocent encounter, unaware that Tory has witnessed the exchange. Hurt and angry, she walks away silently.
In California, Miguel and Johnny arrive at the hospital, only to find Carmen’s bed empty and bloodstained sheets in its place. Miguel panics, breaking down in Johnny’s arms. Moments later, Carmen, Rosa, and a nurse enter the room, assuring them that everything is fine. Carmen reassures Miguel and Johnny, urging them to return to Barcelona so they can go back to Barcelona and win the tournament.
Back in Barcelona, Chozen and Kim Da-Eun share coffee at a quiet café. She warns him to keep their earlier encounter private. Their conversation takes a darker turn when they spot a long-haired man with a Cobra Kai tattoo leaving the café, who was the guy Daniel fought in the previous episode. Kim denies knowing him, but Chozen is suspicious. They call Daniel and Kreese, arranging to meet at a nearby hotel. There, they follow the man to the spa and are stunned to see him greeted by Sensei Wolf. When Daniel demands answers, the truth is revealed: the mastermind behind the kidnapping was none other than Terry Silver.
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
- Vanessa Rubio as Carmen Diaz
- Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver
- Martin Kove as John Kreese
Guest Starring[]
- Lewis Tan as Sensei Wolf
- Oona O'Brien as Devon Lee
- Brandon H. Lee as Kwon Jae-Sung
- Daniel J. Kim as Yoon Do-Jin
- Patrick Luwis as Axel Kovacevic
- Rayna Vallandingham as Zara Malik
- William Christopher Ford as Dennis de Guzman
- Annalisa Cochrane as Yasmine
- Hannah Kepple as Moon
- Rose Bianco as Rosa Diaz
- Alicia Hannah-Kim as Kim Da-Eun
- Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi
- Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso
- Jewelianna Ramon-Ortiz as Maria
Trivia[]
- The name of the episode is a reference to the 2006 film of the same name. The film was best known for being heavily parodied during its prime.
- The scene at the bar, where Robby watches Kwon hugging Tory, leaving him sad and confused, references The Karate Kid film. In the movie, Daniel mistakenly sees Johnny hugging and kissing Ali, which left him angry and confused.
- Johnny referring to Miguel as his 'son' is a callback to when Johnny told Miguel that he wanted to be his father in Minefields.
- This is Moon's first appearance in Season 6.
- This episode marks the return of Terry Silver in the season.
- Kwon telling Axel that he'll see him on the mat foreshadows their fight during the all-dojo brawl in Eunjangdo, which leads to Kwon's accidental death.
- Despite being in love with Kumiko, Chozen ends up making out with Kim Da-Eun.
- It was revealed that Kenny temporarily left Miyagi-Do after the incident in Underdogs.
- Despite their urge to stay in the valley as they just got there, Carmen encourages Miguel and Johnny to return to Barcelona.
- This is the first episode where Johnny actually breaks down while emotional. Miguel also cries in this episode.
- The scene is also a reference to Rocky II.
- Chozen threatening to break a man's neck if he tells Kim where the teenagers are is a callback to the The Karate Kid Part II, in which he also threatens to break the neck of Daniel if he does not break the ice.
- Eli unintentionally causes Yasmine to break up with Demetri in this episode when showing the dancing at the bar.
- This is the only episode that Carmen appears in the second part of season 6.
Gallery[]
