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The cast and creators of Netflix’s Cobra Kai reunited on March 22 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for a bittersweet farewell, celebrating the beloved martial arts dramedy’s six-season run. Hosted as part of a joint PaleyFest and FYC event, the night brought fans face-to-face with the stars who helped turn the Karate Kid legacy into a pop culture phenomenon all over again.
Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso), Xolo Maridueña (Miguel), Tanner Buchanan (Robby), Mary Mouser (Samantha), Gianni Decenzo (Demetri), and series creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg were all in attendance, along with fight coordinator Don Lee. Collider’s Perri Nemiroff moderated the panel following a special screening of the series finale, “Ex-Degenerate.”
“It’s been a long journey,” Macchio told the crowd, reflecting on the show’s evolution. “What I get from these young actors, I never expected that. I’ve been acting since 1979, and I learned so much making this show. You need to fall to rise again. And, boy, am I blessed to be on this stage with all these people.”
Macchio admitted that seeing the finale for the first time gave him peace. “It lands exactly where it should,” he said, noting how rare it is to stick the landing on a series that juggled nostalgia and modern storytelling so well.
Cast members shared their own heartfelt stories from the journey. Decenzo recalled realizing Cobra Kai was a hit when it jumped to Netflix in 2021. “Even with a messy quarantine haircut and a mask, people recognized me,” he laughed. Buchanan, meanwhile, recounted asking producers to make a particularly violent moment for his character seem accidental—proof of the cast’s investment in the emotional integrity of their arcs.
Mouser spoke about the responsibility of carrying the Karate Kid torch: “There was always a fear of messing it up. But from day one, Ralph and Billy made us feel like family.” Maridueña added, “I was just a 16-year-old kid starting out, and what mattered most was hearing from fans that the show brought families closer.”
Although William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence) couldn’t attend, he sent a video message in true sensei form, demanding fans “turn off your phones” before the screening.
All 65 episodes of Cobra Kai are now streaming on Netflix. The show earned nine Emmy nominations and a permanent place in the hearts of multiple generations.
