Changes: Stingray

Revision as of 05:41, 8 January 2021

"You know, the thing about stingrays is, they lie in wait for the perfect opportunity to strike!"

―Raymond to Miguel Diaz^[src]

Raymond better known by his nickname Stingray, is a supporting character in Cobra Kai (Season 2). He is one of the newest members of the Cobra Kai Dojo who joined in season 2. He is also the oldest student.

Appearance

He was shown to be somewhat chubby at the start of Season 2, being referred to as "Chubs". Later in the summer after joining Cobra Kai, he seems to have lost some weight. He changed his appearance halfway through the season, "flipping the script" to reinvent himself as Stingray, similar to Hawk whom he idolizes.

Biography

Raymond was born on September 1, 1985. Considering he lives alone with his mother, it can be assumed he didn't know his father or at least had a bad relationship with him. He always wanted to learn Karate but couldn't because his mother apparently wouldn't let him. He was clearly in no rush to grow up and seems to have spent much of his life adulthood in dead end jobs.

Cobra Kai

Season 2

Raymond first appears in the first episode of Season 2 as an employee of a hardware store where Johnny, Daniel, Robby come to buy tools. He is a fan of LaRusso Auto, Karate and 80's heavy metal like Metallica.

He later joins Cobra Kai and adopts John Kreese's ruthless teaching. He ends up winning the Coyote Creek event, as well. He later on quits his job to work as a security guard in West Valley High School in the season finale and demonstrates his competency to the principal by dispatching several members of Miyagi-Do from fighting during the school brawl in the season 2 finale.

Following the school brawl he joins Hawk, Tory, Mitch and some other Cobra Kai students in turning against Johnny and becoming loyal to Kreese in the episode "No Mercy".

Season 3

Raymond was arrested in the aftermath of the West Valley High School brawl between Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai the next day after siding with Kreese and the dojo against Johnny and does not appear in Season 3. During a PTA meeting addressing the incident, the school board confirms that Raymond never officially worked for them and that his probation requires him not to be within 500 feet of anyone underage or a minor. While not mentioned again, Raymond was forced to quit his involvement with Cobra Kai in order to comply with his probation terms.

Fighting Style

After adopting Kreese's ruthless teachings, Raymond becomes an aggressive fighter which is evidenced in the school brawl where he aggressively attacks several Miyagi-Do students he even use his stomach to attack the students to protect Hawk.

Personality

Raymond can pretty much be summed up as being an even bigger mess than most view Johnny is. Raymond presents himself as (what he believes) a happy, jovial likable fellow. Unfortunately, this doesn't work as he is a man deep in his 30's trying to still be a youthful, energetic person.

Raymond instantly takes a liking to Johnny, even though both Johnny and Daniel find him very irritating and off putting. He ends up joining Cobra Kai because he is a big fan of karate. He can come across as overexcited and even immature. Ultimately, this may come across as annoying or funny.

Raymond's cluelessness as an adult and great incompetence as a man in general becomes very apparent in the last two episodes of season 2, as was seen at Moon's party where he idiotically taped bottles to his hands and then tried to run from the police.

Raymond also has no clue how to conduct himself professionally, as was shown when applied for a job at the high school. Raymond doesn't seem to have friends his age minus his girlfriend, as he is never seen hanging out with people his age, possibly meaning he is unpopular.