Daniel’s rivalry with Johnny in The Karate Kid was instigated because LaRusso met Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue), Lawrence’s ex-girlfriend. Johnny and Daniel’s grudge escalated to become more than just about Ali, but she was in LaRusso’s corner when Daniel-san beat Lawrence at the 1984 All Valley Under 18 Karate Championships. In The Karate Kid Part II, Daniel met Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita) and they had a summer romance in Okinawa that was marred by LaRusso’s blood feud with Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto).
The Karate Kid Part III introduced Jessica Andrews (Robyn Lively), an artist next door to the bonsai tree business Daniel and Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki “Pat” Morita) started in the fall of 1985. Jessica didn’t stay for the entirety of The Karate Kid Part III, but she was briefly caught in the middle of Terry Silver’s scheme against LaRusso. Cobra Kai brought all three of Daniel’s Karate Kid movie love interests back, and they all made a positive and memorable impact on the series.
Ali’s Comeback In Cobra Kai Season 3 Delivered The Karate Kid Relationship With Johnny We Never Saw
Ali Broke Up With Daniel Off-Screen In The Karate Kid Part II
Cobra Kai seasons 1 and 2 were filled with speculation about whether Elisabeth Shue would reprise Ali Mills. The revelation that Ali had become a spinal surgeon made it seem like a shoo-in that she would operate on Miguel Diaz (Xolo Mariduena) when Johnny’s student was seriously injured at the end of Cobra Kai season 2. However, Johnny helped Miguel heal, while Ali returned to the San Fernando Valley after separating from her husband.
Ali’s appearance in Cobra Kai brilliantly resolved her relationship with Johnny, and they had a date at Golf N’Stuff almost identical to the one teenage Ali and Daniel had in The Karate Kid. Since they were at odds in the 1984 movie, Cobra Kai finally showed why Johnny didn’t get over Ali and the chemistry they still share. At a Christmas party, Ali also saw that Daniel and Johnny were still at loggerheads decades later; it was Mills who made the two karate rivals see they had more in common than they thought.
Daniel was also able to find closure with Ali.
Ali Mills didn’t return to Cobra Kai after season 3, but it was thanks to her that the seed was planted for Johnny and Daniel to eventually become friends. Daniel was also able to find closure with Ali, who broke up with him off-screen at the start of The Karate Kid Part II. Long time Karate Kid fans also got closure by seeing and confirming how important Ali Mills still is to Johnny, Daniel, and Cobra Kai.
Kumiko’s Return In Cobra Kai Season 3 Finally Resolved Her Relationship With Daniel
Chozen Also Fell For Kumiko
Kumiko’s return in Cobra Kai season 3 was expected when Daniel decided he had to travel to Okinawa to gain perspective about his failures as a sensei, but Kumiko’s reunion with LaRusso was everything The Karate Kid Part II fans hoped for. Kumiko was the crucial link to Mr. Miyagi’s past in Okinawa, and Daniel-san gained a new perspective on his sensei from learning about his love for Kumiko’s aunt, Yukie (Nobu McCarthy). Daniel and Kumiko also still had their old chemistry, although no romance was possible since LaRusso is happily married.
The Karate Kid Part III revealed that Kumiko decided not to move to Los Angeles with Daniel, and she remained in Okinawa to pursue a dance career. LaRusso was able to get closure with Kumiko in Cobra Kai season 3, and he learned that Kumiko befriending Chozen Toguchi redeemed his one-time rival. Chozen then became close friends with Daniel and joined him in the Valley to wage war against Terry Silver.
Jessica Andrews Was A Pleasant Surprise In Cobra Kai Season 5
Jessica Is Family To The LaRussos
When Amanda LaRusso briefly left Daniel because he was obsessed with beating Terry Silver in Cobra Kai season 5, she returned to her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Cobra Kai then dropped the revelation that Jessica Andrews from The Karate Kid Part III is Amanda’s cousin, and she introduced Amanda to Daniel. Jessica is a cool and loving aunt to Samantha (Mary Mouser) and Anthony LaRusso (Griffin Santopietro), and although she is no karate kid, Jessica isn’t above throwing down in a bar fight with some mean girls from high school.
Cobra Kai simply would not have been complete without Ali, Kumiko, and Jessica.
Cobra Kai not only found clever ways to bring back Daniel LaRusso’s three girlfriends from The Karate Kid movies, but each one helped bring LaRusso clarity, maturity, and, in Jessica Andrews’ case, introduced Daniel to the love of his life, which led to his having a family. For fans of The Karate Kid movies, Cobra Kai simply would not have been complete without Ali, Kumiko, and Jessica. Daniel (and Johnny) were made better by Elisabeth Shue, Tamlyn Tomita, and Robyn Lively reprising their roles, and so was Cobra Kai.
