AfterCobra Kai’s six-season run, Netflix already seems to have found the perfect replacement show for the teenage action drama series. Serving as a direct extension of the originalKarate Kidmovies,Cobra Kaiproved that the long-dead franchise still had untapped potential. By marking the return of several legacy characters from the originalKarate Kidflicks and introducing a new set of compelling young characters,Cobra Kaicreated the perfect balance between telling refreshing storytelling and instilling nostalgia in the long-term followers of the franchise.
Considering howCobra Kaiconsistently performed well both critically and commercially on Netflix, it seems likely to return in some capacity in the future. The streaming giant will likely expand its universe with potential spin-offs and follow-ups. However, whileCobra Kai’s futureremains uncertain, viewers can check out another similar show on the same streaming platform that seems reminiscent of theKarate Kiduniverse in more ways than one.
After Cobra Kai, Weak Hero Is The Perfect Series For Viewers Craving Teenage Action Drama
From High School Rivalries To Street Fights, Weak Hero Features It All
Unlike the originalKarate Kidmovies,Cobra Kaihas never been about the battle between good and evil. Instead, it has focused on taking a more well-rounded approach to its characters by showing how even the villains deserve empathy and a shot at redemption.Weak Hero, which is based on a manhwa of the same name, achieves something similar. While walking through the day-to-day snags of its teenage characters, likeCobra Kai,Weak Heroadds many layers to their story beats to highlight the emotional struggles they face inside and outside school.
UnlikeCobra Kai,Weak Hero does not feature too many training montages and is rarely about the father-child relationship between a sensei and student.
In bothCobra KaiandWeak Hero,the main characters initially face a lot of bullying at school until, one day, they reach the end of their wits and fight back. This triggers a chain reaction of events in both shows, leading to a series of rivalries that eventually garner the attention of even bigger external evil forces. UnlikeCobra Kai,Weak Hero does not feature too many training montages and is rarely about the father-child relationship between a sensei and a student.
However, it still walks through many white-knuckling high school fights and relatable coming-of-age themes that make it reminiscent ofCobra Kai. While a key difference betweenCobra KaiandWeak Herois that the latter mostly focuses on a set of male characters,both shows find common ground in their exploration of a spectrum of teenage emotions as they walk through their characters' friendships, losses, traumas, and growth.
How Weak Hero Compares To Cobra Kai
Weak Hero Is Arguably Better In Some Ways
Because of its underlying narrative connections with theKarate Kidmovies,Cobra Kaicarries immense nostalgia.Cobra Kaialso benefits from its diverse cast, which includes characters from multiple generations and cultural backgrounds. In comparison,Weak Heroprimarily focuses on a young set of high school characters and only introduces adults as some of its overarching antagonists. Even from a storytelling standpoint,Cobra Kaikeeps shifting its focus from one character to another.
Weak Hero, in contrast, primarily revolves around Yeon Si-eun and his journey towards recovery from childhood trauma as he makes new friends and enemies in school. WhileCobra Kai’s action has its own charm,Weak Hero’s fight scenes are arguably far better because of how brutal and immersive they feel. The street brawls inWeak Heroalso have incredible choreography, even though they often stretch the suspension of disbelief a little too far.
Yoo Soo-min, Kim Jin-seok, and Park Dan-hee
Weak Heroby Seopass and Kim Jin-seok (Razen)
94%
16
Streaming On
Netflix
Given how characters in both shows get severely injured and hospitalized, the stakes are equally high in both. However, whileCobra Kai’s fight scenesoften have a layer of campiness to them,Weak Herokeeps things slick and sharp. In more ways than one,both series have a live-action anime qualitythat plays a crucial role in elevating their drama and action sequences.
Cobra Kai Has Ended Its Run, But Weak Hero Could Return With At Least One More Season
Weak Hero Class 2’s Ending Sets The Stage For Another Season
Cobra Kai’s universe may expand with potential spin-offs in the future, but the main series has ended for good.Weak Heroalso exhausts all source material content in season 2, which would suggest that it has ended its run. However, instead of closing on a conclusive note, theNetflix Korean showleaves viewers with a cliffhanger that hintsthe series will return with at least one more installment. Although no official announcements have been made yet, theCobra Kai"replacement" series has been performing incredibly well, which could lead to its renewal on Netflix.
Weak Hero
Weak Hero Class 1 is a drama film released in 2022, focusing on a gifted yet introverted student who faces bullies and adversaries with the help of newfound friends. As he navigates a perilous environment, the challenges reveal the increasing dangers of his world.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
