Cobra Kai season 3 has pretty expansive cast of characters, including some who haven’t appeared on the show since the end of season 1. Season 2 had its own unique storylines to focus on, but it’s nice to see a few favorites make their return in the third installment. Bringing back some familiar faces who’ve been absent for a while definitely worked in the series’ favor, as the returning characters helped show how much other members of the core cast have grown and changed.
A big part of Cobra Kai’s appeal is its storytelling over multiple generations and character groups. Johnny, Daniel and Kreese’s rivalry, the teenage struggles of Miguel and crew, Robby’s hard knocks life, and LaRusso Auto all tell independent yet interconnected stories, mirroring some themes and threads across all of them. Season 3 incorporated yet another plotline with Daniel’s voyage back to Okinawa, where he uncovered new secrets of Miyagi-Do karate thanks to some old friends.
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With so many different narratives going on at once, and the individual episodes and seasons of Cobra Kai being relatively short, some season 1 characters didn’t make it back for season 2, and some others, like Aisha, aren’t in season 3. Fortunately, the new seasons brings back some of season 1’s lost characters, giving anyone who’s ever appeared on the show a possibility to return at any time. Here are all the season 1 Cobra Kai characters who missed season 2 but are back for season 3.
Kyler
Kyler makes his Cobra Kai return in season 3 as one of Kreese’s new recruits. He joins the dojo after earning a victory over Mitch, largely due to his preexisting combat skill as a wrestler. In season 1, Kyler was one of the primary antagonists, leading the bullying against Miguel that sends him to Johnny in the first place. He’s also Sam’s first boyfriend in the show, though she quickly discovers he’s a jerk. Ultimately, Kyler gets his due when Miguel decimates him in a cafeteria brawl for the whole school to see.
In season 3, Kyler’s role is largely the same. He’s still a shallow, mean-spirited bully, clearly more gifted in brains than brawn. His presence mostly serves as juxtaposition for Hawk, helping the latter realize the mistakes he’s made and seek redemption in the season finale. Kyler will likely only come back stronger as part of Kreese’s dojo in season 4.
Yasmine
Another season 1 bully, Yasmine returns in season 3 after some time away from the valley. Her season 1 arc mostly consisted of being mean to Aisha Robinson and Sam, resulting in well-deserved front-wedgie from the former. Yasmine has some notable character growth in season 3, as her own experience as a school joke gives her some empathy and regret for how she’s treated people. She strikes up a love-hate relationship with Demetri that will likely carry forward into next season.
Louie
Among the adult characters returning from season 1 is Daniel’s cousin Louie LaRusso. Louie was far from a saint in the show’s first season, taking it upon himself to put Johnny in his place by wrecking his beloved Camaro. That aggressive, bullheaded behavior earns Louie a swift firing from LaRusso Auto, but he’s brought back into the fold in season 3 to help the struggling dealership recover. While Louie doesn’t get a ton of screen time in season 3, he does seem to have made some respectable steps as a person. He works hard as part of the team and, generally, stays out of trouble.
Brucks
Another bully from season 1, Brucks was part of Kyler’s gang and one of Miguel’s early tormentors. He’s recruited to the Cobra Kai dojo alongside Kyler in season 3, though he doesn’t last long in the dojo. Hawk takes it upon himself to teach Brucks a lesson, easily defeating him in a one-on-one and brutally beating him in vengeance for all the bullying hawk suffered at his hand. In all likelihood, this is one character who probably won’t be returning to the series again.
Counselor Blatt
In the wake of season 2’s climactic school hall brawl, the administration takes more active steps to discourage violence among students. Counselor Blatt is the leader of this out-of-touch anti-bullying campaign, which seems to care more about preventing lawsuits than actually helping kids. She’s a minor character here as she was before, generally used for comic relief.
Sid
Desperate to raise money for Miguel’s surgery, Johnny chooses to face his past again and confront one of season 1’s most reprehensible characters – his stepfather Sid. Sid only appears in one scene in season 3, where he denies Johnny’s request for money and insults him in his lavishly decorated house. On his way out, Johnny steals a sculpture displayed in the foyer, apparently hawking it for a substantial amount of cash to support Miguel’s operation. It’s the absolute least Sid deserved for the reprehensible way he treated Johnny as a child.
Tom Cole
Daniel and Amanda’s car-dealing rival Tom Cole makes his return in season 3 after an extended absence. He doesn’t have much onscreen time, but he unintentionally becomes one of the season’s most important plot devices. By working out an exclusive deal with the Larusso’s Japanese car distribution partner, Cole pushes Daniel back to Japan, where he reunites with Kumiko and Chozen from The Karate Kid Part II. The techniques Daniel learns in Okinawa turn out to be incredibly valuable, as he uses them to vanquish Kreese in the finale (at least, temporarily).
Ron and Daryl
Lastly, two administrators for the All-Valley Under-18 Karate Tournament make their return in season 3 as well – Ron and Daryl. Ron has the larger part, appearing in one seen at the Miyagi-Do dojo to inform Daniel and Amanda that the tournament has been cancelled by the city. He basically just delivers exposition and drinks lemonade, but it’s still nice to see him come back. Daryl has a smaller cameo, voicing the fight announcer in Miguel’s coma dreams. Ron, Daryl and the rest of season 1’s tournament board will likely play a larger role in season 4, as the next All-Valley is officially back on and could be the ultimately Cobra Kai climax.
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