Cobra Kai season 3 enhanced a number of character arcs, with Robby getting arguably the worst story in this season, but with the right ending. As a major character in the story, it was expected that he would have more screen time and character building in the third season, but that seems to be coming in next season thanks to the setup by season 3’s finale.
Dealing with the final events of season 2 is difficult for all of the characters in Cobra Kai, but Robby has it the worst because he was the catalyst for all the fallout in the third season. He begins the season as a fugitive and ends, basically, as a traitor to his former sensei, Daniel LaRusso of Miyagi-Do after doing a short stint in juvie. While he feels it’s the fault of his former mentor, Robby shuns forming bonds with his father and refuses to accept apologies and help from Daniel. Essentially, Robby spends the first half of season 3 emotionally isolating himself from everyone who truly wants the best for him.
Robby’s season 3 story is the worst Cobra Kai storyline for two reasons. First, it is the shortest story and has the least amount of real character development. His screen time is less than a majority of the lead characters, as Cobra Kai season 3 focuses more on the adults, the anxiety that Samantha LaRusso deals with, and angst and internal struggles of Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz. Robby’s story gets lost in these more developed storylines. His character was not given the time to take a deep look at the internal changes he is dealing with throughout season 3.
Secondly, Robby’s story is regressive as he once again becomes the Robby that fans were introduced to at the beginning of Cobra Kai season 1. At first, he tries to keep his head down during his stint in juvenile detention, but finds out very quickly that pacifism and simple self-defense will not work against the harassment he faces. When his father fails to show up for an appointed visit, he is left emotionally open for Kreese to step in as a role model and teacher. Just like Daniel in The Karate Kid III, Robby opts for the Cobra Kai method of striking first in order to solve his problems. This works for him in JDC, but at what cost? His prison environment is not the real world.
The last viewers see of Robby, his fall to Cobra Kai is so complete that even Johnny Lawrence, the former Cobra Kai golden boy, is disappointed to see his son has joined with his old mentor turned rival. While it makes sense to see Robby fight Johnny due to a lifetime of anger and feelings of abandonment, it’s hard to imagine that Robby, who is generally intelligent, can’t see through Kreese’s manipulation. When he is defeated by his father in what could be considered an act of parental abuse (even if it was an accident), Robby’s conversion to Kreese’s version of Cobra Kai is utterly complete, making Robby’s story one of season 3’s darkest.
Much of season 3 mirrors The Karate Kid II. With the final defeat of Kreese by Daniel at the end of the season, it seems that season 4 will follow the story set forth by The Karate Kid III, when Daniel himself became a Cobra Kai student of the manipulative Terry Silver. It looks as though Robby will follow this storyline in a new way; his season 4 story should include a lot more character development than before. Hopefully, Robby will see the light and begin to find some internal peace, as Daniel did. However, because this is the world of Karate Kid, he will only be able to make this change with the help of Miyagi-Do karate (and it’s new partner, Eagle-Fang Karate). Robby can still be redeemed and have an inspirational turnaround in Cobra Kaiseason 4.
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