This week Tessa and Princess don their best fighting gear and get down and dirty for Cobra Kai season 5. They go over 80s nostalgia, hot dads, and the importance of rivalries with Peyton List, who plays Tory on the show!
This week Tessa and Princess don their best fighting gear and get down and dirty for Cobra Kai season 5. They go over 80s nostalgia, hot dads, and the importance of rivalries with Peyton List, who plays Tory on the show!
Netflix Geeked - Ep18 - Cobra Kai - MIX_V2.mp3
CLIP: [00:00:01] Geeked.
PRINCESS: [00:00:02] Hello, what's up, my cobras! I am Princess Weekes.
TESSA: [00:00:06] And it is I your sensei Tessa Netting.
PRINCESS: [00:00:10] Amazing. So powerful. We are The Geeked Podcast. Your one stop shop for fandom conversations, pop culture, media, and all the things you love about nerddom.
TESSA: [00:00:21] And each week we skim the surface of what's popular in geek culture, Then Deep dive into the lore of a Netflix world bigger than our own.
PRINCESS: [00:00:28] Today we are delving into the world of dads everywhere, the world of Cobra Kai, your older siblings favorite show that you got bullied into watching and now you're also obsessed with.
TESSA: [00:00:41] And we're also going to be interviewing Peyton List, who plays Tori Nickels and who I know from my good ol days on the Disney Channel. So get ready because we're about to enter the Miyagi verse, baby.
PRINCESS: [00:00:55] Oh, love that. So before we get too down the road, have you reviewed this amazing podcast yet? If not, what are you waiting for? If you can wax on, wax off, you can give this podcast five stars on iTunes.
TESSA: [00:01:10] It's true. We need your validation. And most importantly, we love reading your words about this podcast. We love to shout you out. So type some words in, leave some stars. We appreciate you.
PRINCESS: [00:01:21] Let us love you, loving us. So before we get into it today, Tessa, my darling, tell me, what's got you geeked this week?
TESSA: [00:01:33] So this week I got to talk about the Teletubbies.
PRINCESS: [00:01:39] They're back, baby. They're back.
[00:01:43] The Teletubbies Are coming to Netflix with a new narrator, friggin Tituss Burgess from Kimmy Schmidt. Amazing. Also, I just want to talk about how terrifying the Teletubbies are because of how tall they are. So Po was always my favorite Teletubby because Po is the smallest one and I'm always the smallest human in a room. So usually I just identify with the smallest other creature. So, you know, I'm like, Oh, Po is small. He's like, me, no, Po is six foot six. Tinky Winky is ten feet tall. These Teletubbies are so big.
PRINCESS: [00:02:20] They're scary as shit, man.
TESSA: [00:02:22] I can't believe how tall they are. It blew my mind when I figured it out for the first time, so I just. I had to let the people know if you did not know. Now, you know, the Teletubbies are ginormous, but God bless them. And may they teach the next youth about friendship. And what else do they do? Hang out. Hanging out on the hill?
PRINCESS: [00:02:48] Yeah. Just being like being great to watch high for those who do. Because the Teletubbies has had extra longevity because there are two things that if you grew up in our generation, you knew about the Teletubbies. It's like everyone was like, why is there a baby in the sky? And the other one was, Why is Tinky Winky holding a purse? Tinky Winky is a gay icon.
TESSA: [00:03:11] Oh, Tinky Winky's the best.
PRINCESS: [00:03:13] Truly, truly a trailblazer in non-binary avenues. Harry Styles, who write about that, like like literally organizations were like, we have to get this this Tinky Winky with this purse? With their purse.
TESSA: [00:03:28] Yeah.
PRINCESS: [00:03:28] Yeah. Tinky Winky wore a purse and it looked great on them. So God bless them. Bless them and their new Asian baby sun. Love, that.
TESSA: [00:03:39] It's just incredible. So I can't wait for that. And also, I just wanted to mention real quick, there is a Knives Out teaser and it made me so excited because just it reminded me how incredible this cast is.
PRINCESS: [00:03:52] Absolutely.
TESSA: [00:03:53] So how about you, Princess? What's got you Geeked?
PRINCESS: [00:03:56] Oh, my gosh. So this past week, I managed to go to Pax West. I was invited from my friends, colleagues at Extra turns to be part of a panel. And it was such a fun experience. Like, first of all, I love Seattle. Tossed salad and scrambled eggs. We're coming again. I love that for me. And it was just a really fun venue. There were so many fun games being played and like I've always been reluctant to call myself a gamer because I felt like I didn't know everything. But now that I have a steam deck and I can now play literally almost everything, I embrace all labels and signs.
TESSA: [00:04:36] Yes! You are a gamer. You are.
PRINCESS: [00:04:38] I game and some of the ones that really stood out to me I'm going to kind of list off because they were really fun. So there's this one called Kingdom Eighties and basically it is a 1983, a 1980s themed strategy adventure game. So fun for all of our stranger thing babies. There is another one called Demon School where you literally go to a demon school and it's like a visual novel with, like, turn based tactics, you get to kill your classmates. It's fun. I thought you would like that. There's another game called Writer's Block, which is like it's a roguelike word game where you write as you fight in it. So you have to spell out words to fight a certain appointment. It's so funny. And I thought, Wow. Can't wait for that. And then there was Astro Ghost, which was a single player action RPG. But it had this cool, like, Scottish inspired redhead, female heroine. She had freckles. It was like. Like if Merida got, like, a blowout. It was really cute. I enjoy that. And then the last one I want to mention that's supposed to be coming out is this game called Melatonin. It's a rhythm game about dreams and reality merging together. And it is just kind of like this really soothing kind of interactive game. I got to demo it. It was really fun. It was very beautiful. And you just follow the rhythm throughout the game and you just have these really cool dynamics that are dream inspired. So I highly recommend, thoses.
TESSA: [00:06:18] For these, the Sandman lovers out there. Got some dreams.
PRINCESS: [00:06:21] Everything. Everything interconnects.
TESSA: [00:06:23] Yeah.
PRINCESS: [00:06:24] And it just there's so much fun stuff coming out there that if you are reluctant to get into games because you don't know what's out there. Look on the independent track. And also like if you have a PC or even for some Mac stuff, like having the steam really opened up so many great avenues of what independent gamers are doing. So that's what's got me geeked. I'm super excited about all of that. Yeah. And Never Have I Ever, I binge watched it and it was amazing. I can't wait for the last season to come out here. Oh, it's team Devi and Ben. Yeah, I think that's his name. I like. I like them together. I like enemies to lovers.
TESSA: [00:07:03] Always.
PRINCESS: [00:07:04] Oh, I just remembered we're going on a break. Not like Ross and Rachel. Like, you know, we're, Not like Rory and Logan, but we are going on a two week mini hiatus to, you know, we we watch and we observe a lot of content. So we're going to take a break so that we can discuss even more content. We got Wednesday coming up, School for Good and evil. We've got this new Kid Cudi animated show, which is looking very Kid Cudi like. So, yeah, we are very excited to gp on a little, little siesta and then come back to talk about so many more new things, right, Tessa?
TESSA: [00:07:43] Oh, yeah. We just we just need a little break, you guys. Then we'll be back before you know it. We'll be talking about more of your Netflix faves.
PRINCESS: [00:07:51] Exactly. And by then I'll have caught up on Cobra Kai, so we'll be able to, like, talk about it some more.
TESSA: [00:07:58] So before we get into our conversation about all things Karate Kid and Cobra Kai, I am so excited to share with you the interview that I did with my girl, Peyton List. She is so incredible in this series as Tory Nichols. And we had a great conversation. So. What up Netflix geeks Tessa here. And I am thrilled to be sitting down with the one and only Peyton List who plays Tori Nickels in Cobra Kai. Hi, Peyton! How are you?
PEYTON: [00:08:37] Good. This is so Surreal to be with you right now.
TESSA: [00:08:40] I know this is wild. Before we dove into the Miyagi verse, for those of you who do not know, Peyton and I, we go way back. We were on a Disney Channel show together called Bunk'd, and on that show, I was the mean girl.
PEYTON: [00:08:56] How the roles have changed.
TESSA: [00:09:00] How the tables have turned. So, Peyton, I got to ask you, isn't playing the mean girl, like, the most fun thing ever?
PEYTON: [00:09:10] The most fun. I love it. I love it. I love to be hated.
TESSA: [00:09:14] Yes.
PEYTON: [00:09:14] It's so fun.
TESSA: [00:09:16] Yup. 100%. Because it's like you would never act like this in real life. So this role gives you permission to just go full out with those emotions.
PEYTON: [00:09:27] Exactly. I love it. I wish everyone got to play that in their own life at some point.
TESSA: [00:09:33] Yeah, exactly. And with Tori's character. Was that one of your favorite parts of playing her or were there other things that you connected with her?
PEYTON: [00:09:42] I mean, that was definitely one of my favorite parts. Being able to go into a high school, throw a girl out of the way, giving an announcement and say, I'm coming for you, bitch like, and just start a fight in a high school. I was like, This is I can't believe this. I'm getting paid to do this because I love it so much. And I mean to professionally drag a girl by the hair across hallways or whatever.
TESSA: [00:10:03] Now, you know these skills.
PEYTON: [00:10:05] I know these skills and I have so much fun with it. I mean, there's obviously so many other things that I've connected to with the character and there's so many things that I do love about her. And she's changed so much since that season, and I really didn't expect the writers to go there and give me that storyline. So I'm very grateful for that. I'm grateful that they're not so one sided with the characters and that, you know, they flesh them out.
TESSA: [00:10:27] No, it's beautiful. Especially this season where so much changed for Tori, especially with like Kreese being in jail and then teaming up and doing this whole secret plan together. It was amazing when you were filming, especially because this show is so physical. Did you have a favorite fight to film or a favorite sort of moment when you were filming all these episodes?
PEYTON: [00:10:49] I mean, one of my favorite moments at any time I get to do a fight scene in front of Thomas Ian Griffith, who plays Silver, is probably my favorite moment because he's so intimidating and he has done karate since, you know, forever and he's coached it. And so I think doing that scene where I have to punch the, you know.
TESSA: [00:11:08] Yes!
PEYTON: [00:11:08] That he brings in.
TESSA: [00:11:10] Uh Huh.
PEYTON: [00:11:11] That was for me. I was really genuinely nervous and sweating because whenever he's there, he just brings this intensity and this pressure. And so I think that was one of the most fun scenes for me to do.
TESSA: [00:11:22] He is like the best villain by far. He is my favorite Karate Kid villain because he is oh, he is so tall. He is manipulative. He can get into Danny's head so well. And speaking of villains, there's another new sensei that joins Cobra Kai, the granddaughter of Sensei Kim Sun-Yung. And she is so vicious, an amazing and I want her to choke me. Which Sensei was more terrifying for Tory to deal with, like Silver or her?
PEYTON: [00:11:55] It's funny. As ruthless as Silver is, I think she might be the scariest out of everyone. I mean, yeah, she does. I mean, she has nothing in this to. That's the weirdest part about her. Yeah, she's nothing's personal for her, and she still just wants to destroy these high schoolers. So I think to me, Kim Da-Eun might be the most terrifying of them all. And she's so hot, her cheekbones are insane.
TESSA: [00:12:20] She really Was. It was just like mommy? Like, the whole time.
PEYTON: [00:12:26] I know, I know.
TESSA: [00:12:27] Yeah. All the adults are hot. I don't know. It's just. It's too much for me.
PEYTON: [00:12:32] I'm just sitting next to them, like, sweating.
TESSA: [00:12:35] Makes sense. Speaking of hot older people, which character in Cobra Kai do you think has the biggest daddy issues?
PEYTON: [00:12:44] Oh, God. Oh. Man. That's such a hard question. I mean, I think Robbie's daddy issues might be the worst, and I don't even blame him. I feel really sorry for him.
TESSA: [00:12:56] Right? Like those moments Johnny has with Miguel, I'm like, Sir, your son is right there.
PEYTON: [00:13:03] It's so easy to forget. And when you watch the show, cause Johnny so lovable, but.
TESSA: [00:13:07] I know. Honey.
PEYTON: [00:13:10] I can't even blame the, you know, the relationship with him and Miguel just makes so much sense.
TESSA: [00:13:14] Yeah. Okay, so I know you've probably already been asked, like, which dojo do you want to join and all that. But I want to know, like, which sensei would you want to be taught by the most?
PEYTON: [00:13:27] I would have to go with Johnny Lawrence.
TESSA: [00:13:29] Ooo Interesting answer.
PEYTON: [00:13:31] I think that I've seen each sensei now work, and I think Johnny would be the most motivating to me personally.
TESSA: [00:13:40] The competitive nature, that vibe.
PEYTON: [00:13:43] Yeah.
PEYTON: [00:13:43] You need that push.
PEYTON: [00:13:44] I think so. And then the lessons. And you don't really know where they're going. And then they all come around full circle.
TESSA: [00:13:49] Yeah.
PEYTON: [00:13:49] Because Kreese would just be way too intense for me. I would be out of there and, you know, I wouldn't. I would be like, This guy's deranged. He needs Help.
TESSA: [00:13:58] Yeah. And I don't want to do chores.
PEYTON: [00:14:01] No.
TESSA: [00:14:01] I'm like there's too many chores going on here. It seems like, you know, Danny just needs to get some stuff done, right?
PEYTON: [00:14:10] Clean my Car.
TESSA: [00:14:11] Anyway. So, Sam and Tori, they are one of my favorite rivalries in the show after Johnny and Danny. Of course. Right. What can fans expect from this rivalry in this upcoming season and do you think it'll finally be resolved?
PEYTON: [00:14:26] I mean, it's the first time these two characters have been in a room and had a conversation without it ending terribly or without an ending physically. Really? Yeah. And so that was a huge moment, I think, for both of us. And I just. I think they're going to have to put the rivalry to an end. I just I think things will always be complicated because if they weren't, that would just be weird because there's been so much that has happened. I just can't imagine it being a normal relationship ever.
TESSA: [00:14:58] Yeah, totally. But it's time. You know, we love a good redemption.
PEYTON: [00:15:04] We do. And I do think that the strongest friendships sometimes come from hating someone so intensely to loving them so intensely can happen.
TESSA: [00:15:12] Oh, yeah. Enemies to lovers, enemies to friends. Yeah.
PEYTON: [00:15:17] I think we understand each other a lot more than anyone else would. In a weird way, we're so different, but so similar.
TESSA: [00:15:24] Right. It's true sometimes. Like when you see a quality that you don't like about yourself in another person, it can freak you out. And then you could hate them because you, like, see that in yourself and you, like, freak out.
PEYTON: [00:15:38] Right.
TESSA: [00:15:38] And also to show that TV rivalries are fake and the actors usually like each other very much like us. Tell me one of your favorite things about Mary.
PEYTON: [00:15:46] Mary is just she really looks out for us as like as a team and she looks at us as a team. And because we, we're the only two females fighting on the show for a bit.
TESSA: [00:15:59] Right. Yeah.
PEYTON: [00:16:00] I think, yeah. She just looks at us as, oh, we're fighting for something that's more than just us as individuals. And I really appreciate that. Yeah. She's just she's a fun person, too. She's a fun person to hang out with. To go out with, has a great sense of humor about it all. And she works really hard with the stunts. She's always in there and yeah, she's always working.
TESSA: [00:16:22] I mean, you all seem like a big family. Like, you hang out all the time, you're comfortable around each other.
PEYTON: [00:16:27] Yeah.
TESSA: [00:16:27] And I feel like you kind of have to be because of how physical you guys are with each other. Like, you're literally throwing each other around all the time.
PEYTON: [00:16:35] Yeah, I mean, it'd be terrible if we really hated each other. It really would. Yeah. Yeah. You. Just because you have to be so physically intimate, you just end up becoming that much closer.
TESSA: [00:16:46] Right?
PEYTON: [00:16:47] Yeah. I mean, I. I would never want the show to end because I have such a good time on it.
TESSA: [00:16:51] Oh, that's so nice. I love that. That's amazing. I actually want to touch on your beauty line.
PEYTON: [00:17:00] Oh, yeah.
TESSA: [00:17:00] Yeah. Play Beauty by Peyton List. And you created a Cobra Kai collection, and I actually bought the lipstick last night to support. So what do you think would be Tori's favorite product in your collection?
PEYTON: [00:17:14] Oh, gosh, I think she would use that lipstick. That's what I was going for. Yeah, I was going for the the color that she uses. And I think she would use the shadows, too, because she does she does wear makeup every day in the dojo, which I thought was a funny choice at first. And I was pretty surprised that they allowed that. I think I was just so used to people wanting no makeup.
TESSA: [00:17:32] Right.
PEYTON: [00:17:32] But I enjoyed them keeping Tori feminine and allowing that in that that place.
TESSA: [00:17:40] Yes. 100%. I think it just made her character so much more interesting. And also it showed like, hell, yeah, I'm a girl. Hell yeah, I'll kick your ass like it doesn't matter. I can still wear makeup and look like this.
PEYTON: [00:17:53] Exactly. I thought that was powerful.
TESSA: [00:17:55] Yes, 100%. So since we are the Geeked podcast and so our listeners can learn a little more about you. What is something at the moment that you are like geeking out about like that you are a fan of? It can be music, movies, hobby shows, anything. Like what's one thing that you were loving?
PEYTON: [00:18:15] Okay, well, lately I've been going back and watching eighties movies and I Breakfast Club is on Netflix right now. And so I was going back and watching that movie again and I'm now on a Molly Ringwald bender, and I'm just I'm geeking out over her once again because I love her.
TESSA: [00:18:31] Yeah. Those movies are so stylized and so specific, and I love how this show, like, takes from that. Like, the whole Top Gun montage they did that was so funny.
PEYTON: [00:18:43] Yeah, I completely agree.
TESSA: [00:18:44] It was beautiful. Okay, so next, let's play a little Cobra Kai Rapid Fire, where you're going to tell me yes or no if you personally like these things that are referenced in Cobra Kai. All right. It's easy. Don't worry. The Valley.
PEYTON: [00:18:59] Yes.
TESSA: [00:18:59] Ponytails?
PEYTON: [00:19:00] No.
TESSA: [00:19:01] Eighties music?
PEYTON: [00:19:02] Yes.
TESSA: [00:19:02] Top Gun?
PEYTON: [00:19:03] Yes.
TESSA: [00:19:04] Cars?
PEYTON: [00:19:05] Yes.
TESSA: [00:19:05] Water slides.
PEYTON: [00:19:06] Yes.
TESSA: [00:19:07] White claws?
PEYTON: [00:19:08] Yes.
TESSA: [00:19:09] Swords?
PEYTON: [00:19:10] Yes.
TESSA: [00:19:11] Bonsai trees?
PEYTON: [00:19:12] No.
TESSA: [00:19:13] Martial arts?
PEYTON: [00:19:14] Yes.
TESSA: [00:19:15] Dating your rivals ex-boyfriend?
PEYTON: [00:19:17] Yes.
TESSA: [00:19:18] Hell yeah.
PEYTON: [00:19:19] Man. I'm just really into everything I know.
TESSA: [00:19:22] I was like, Dang, that means you're on the right show.
PEYTON: [00:19:25] I was like, I don't want to admit how much I like White Claw, but yes. I'm a basic girl.
TESSA: [00:19:27] Hey, you know, sometimes that's all you need to get the job done. And finally, Tori from Cobra Kai versus Hazel from Bunk'd, who'd win in a fight to the death.
PEYTON: [00:19:38] Oh, God. Hazel would be scrappy as hell. I just know it. I mean. Okay. I think because of the formal training, Tori would win, but I think Hazel would. If they were on the street, Hazel might throw something in there. So in a technical fight, tori But in a street fight, Hazel.
TESSA: [00:19:56] That makes sense. I feel that's so hard. I think you're right. Peyton, thank you so much for talking to me and taking this time.
PEYTON: [00:20:06] I love this.
TESSA: [00:20:07] Are you kidding me? I love you. I'm so proud of you in this show. I remember right after I watched the show the first time and saw you in it. I texted you and I was like, I am blown away by you in this show. Like you are such a stand out and you just like you just kick ass. You're amazing. You can kick my ass. And that's amazing.
PEYTON: [00:20:28] I love you. That means so much from you because I just think you're the most awesome, talented person ever. So thank you.
TESSA: [00:20:34] Oh, this is so nice.
PEYTON: [00:20:37] All right, you know what? Let's go back to being bitches.
TESSA: [00:20:39] Never mind, we hate each other by. Okay. Let's talk about Cobra Kai. So, Princess, where. Where are you in the Cobra Kai, miyagi verse. Where do you fall?
PRINCESS: [00:20:57] Oh, my gosh. So I've always known about The Karate Kid, and I've always known about Cobra Kai. But for so long, I was just like, Is this really for me? So I never actually sat and watched the movie. So when we got to know that we were doing this thing for Cobra Kai, I was like, Well, let me watch Cobra Kai then I'll go backwards. And I instantly got emotional. I got, like, the whole concept of the bully, of the original being the dual protagonist. With Daniel san, I was just sitting here like, Oh, this is. And he's a jerk. Yeah, he's a complete asshole. I was I was like, Oh, my God, this is perfect. Like, this is great for her. She's watching, like, this terrible blond man slowly be kind to everyone around him. Like, that's this everything she's ever wanted. And I love how thoughtful this show is. I love how irreverent it is, too. And like, how it loves the source material does so much to support Mr. Miyagi. You know that actors presence in the show is so powerful, even though he's long past and it's so respectful because sometimes you can, sometimes you get things like that and you're like, it feels like fetishistic, but it's really, really kind and really, really good. And I'm just. I'm completely invested in all of this.
TESSA: [00:22:15] Yay! Oh, my gosh. That makes me so happy because Cobra Kai, such a good show. I was so instantly obsessed with it. So Joe and I, like, knew that we had to watch this. I watched The Karate Kid movies like With Him and he loves them. So it was one of those things where he's like, We need to watch the show together. And I was like, Hell yeah, let's do it. I'm down. And this show is so perfect. And to give a little context, Cobra Kai this is a sequel TV series to the original Karate Kid films. It's set like 30 years later. So now that O.G. Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso, he's a dad now in his fifties, living in the valley, selling cars and teaching the karate that he learned back in the day from Mr. Miyagi to his daughter Samantha, and then his old karate nemesis, Johnny Lawrence, brings back Cobra Kai, which reignites their old karate feud. And then, like suddenly, every old nemesis that Daniel LaRusso has ever had in his life also comes back like John Kreese, who ran the original Cobra Kai, and then takes over Cobra Kai from Johnny. When Miguel gets injured.
CLIP: [00:23:26] You know where to find me.
TESSA: [00:23:29] And then Johnny opens his new dojo.
CLIP: [00:23:31] Welcome to Eagle Fang Karate.
TESSA: [00:23:36] And then Johnny and Danny, like, attempt to combine dojos and team up to take down Kreese. But then Kreese calls up his old war buddy and co-founder of Cobra Kai. Darth Ponytail. Terry Silver.
CLIP: [00:23:48] I spent months terrorizing a teenager over a high school karate tournament. It sounds insane just talking about.
TESSA: [00:23:57] Who is basically like the villain of the Karate Kid three and then Silver frames Kreese. So Kreese gets thrown in jail, takes over Cobra Kai and now it's ponytail time. So Silver wants to franchise Cobra Kai take over the world with karate and the only person who can stop him is the karate dads.
CLIP: [00:24:17] How is this ever going to work?
TESSA: [00:24:18] Also, I should add, the kids in this show are just all up in their parents karate drama. Like they are all getting into like karate gang fights, which in dojos they all have daddy issues. They're all dating my exes. Like this is like a karate eighties soap opera action series, and it is excellent. The stakes in season five are so ridiculous. They're like, Oh, all valid champion. Now we're going. We're taking over the world. We're not going to be the best karate dojo in the valley. We're going to be the best karate dojo in the world. It got serious this season. I'm like, what is going on? This is this is nuts. So it just keeps ramping up. So I can't wait for you to watch more and more of this show because it just gets more and more like insane. And the stakes are just still so perfect, though, because it still ties into everything like and it's still like the values are there. That's another thing that like because with the original Karate Kid, films like this show feels like those movies. So if you like this show, you should 100% watch those movies because like, not only do you know the characters now as well, so that'll make it funny, but also it's just like there's always this like lesson at the end. And also there's like these fights, like these dramatic fights and these, like, dramatic music. And it's all just like high school.
PRINCESS: [00:25:47] The music is my favorite.
TESSA: [00:25:48] The music is o good, so good.
PRINCESS: [00:25:51] And the perfect age of this, because I feel like when you're an elder millennial, you're like in the perfect place where you listen to new music, but you also know a lot of music that like your dad likes. And so to me, it's like when Johnny is like let's listen to some Guns N Roses. I'm sitting here and he's like, what's Guns N Roses. I also felt his pain. Like, I was like, I'm like, I'm half this man's age, but I'm also just like what? I don't understant, how do you not know what guns and roses is right?
TESSA: [00:26:17] I mean, like Cobra Kai is basically like an eighties Gen-X fantasy series and it's so fantastic because it's like listen.
PRINCESS: [00:26:29] With a touch of boomers. It's like a little smoothering of boomers.
TESSA: [00:26:32] This is a little sprinkle, but it's like, Listen, your dad is cool as hell. Your dad gets into fights, kicks ass, and everybody wants to be your dad. Like the eighties are cool, karate is cool, but most importantly, dads are cool and you will be as cool as your dad. And I'm just like, This is amazing. I just love.
PRINCESS: [00:26:58] It. It truly is representation for for young white dads. And I will say both Ralph Macchio and the actor who plays, both very good looking men.
TESSA: [00:27:09] Oh, my God, obsessed.
PRINCESS: [00:27:11] In their Sixties. I was just like, okay, especially William Zabka.
TESSA: [00:27:16] Oh, yeah, forget it. I mean, they're both hot dads.
PRINCESS: [00:27:19] Very good looking. I was like I was like, this is.
TESSA: [00:27:21] Would Smash both of them.
PRINCESS: [00:27:23] Yeah, it was just, every time he was, like, quiet. I was like, yes, sensei. I was like, it was so it was so good.
TESSA: [00:27:29] Not saying yes, I'd say, adds too much. Can't think of that.
PRINCESS: [00:27:33] Terrible.
CLIP: [00:27:34] Quiet.
TESSA: [00:27:34] So it's funny because like there's so much eighties media being made, right, you know, like there's Cobra Kai. We have stranger things, we have Top Gun and in season five, there's this whole like Top Gun montage that is so hilarious. And they just so they like I feel like with this season especially, they were really hitting on specific eighties movies and having more fun with it, almost like with Stranger Things, where you can like point out the specific references and stuff. So I was having a lot of fun with that. But the casting, like Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence are so perfect and there's such valley guys like I cannot tell you how they would just perfectly fit in. Like with some with two guys that you would see in the valley, one that's like a dad that like owns this car dealership and is like a nice guy, but like gets like really flustered and frustrated and then you're like this deadbeat dude that's just like chillin in the valley, like, trying to make things work, trying to, like, put things together and is always at a bar and always is wearing like a t shirt. And but it's like those people exist. I've seen those people walking around, so they're just like.
PRINCESS: [00:28:49] Like, I've seen those dads.
TESSA: [00:28:49] Yes those dads are there. So they just like. Perfectly bring them to life, because it's one of those things where as kids like their roles were so iconic, like because The Karate Kid is a movie that a lot of people like resonated with, like people are obsessed with that movie. And so this series, they could have made like these characters not as fun and not as like, like a like an L.A. stereotype because because there is a little bit of that in there. But it's just one of those things where it could have been more dry or more like Daniel could have been like, Oh, I'm going to be just like Mr. Miyagi, so I'm going to be this like intense karate guy, but he's like a fun, goofy, like, dad, and he, like, gets worried and anxious and has all of these sort of, like, real feelings. And I feel like they're finally adding feelings to Dad's dad characters. And I'm like bless.
PRINCESS: [00:29:44] Absolutely. I mean, I was dead when I saw Johnny out here wearing like a Canadian tuxedo, like when he was like, try to, like, hey, kicks get chicks. I was just like I was like, sir, you're walking around here wearing a headband, tight denim jeans. This, like like it was like Arrested Development: the outfit. Yes. I was just like, sir, this is a Wendys. You cannot be out here like this. And he and he just looked so ridiculous. But I also was just like, I love him. I love him so much. I love their dynamic and I love how the way my friend put it, he's like, Daniel should be the happiest kid on earth, but he's so traumatized. He's got PTSD from high school just out here. Like in the second episode, what he sees the Cobra Kai studio and has like PTSD flashbacks to high school, just like or like when when Miguel's walking around in the skeleton costume, when he is like to me as someone who like, still has high school nightmares to this day, it felt super relatable. But also just like it's also super embarrassing to think, Yeah I would still there are people from his I who would like run away like that.
TESSA: [00:30:52] For sure. And it's one of those things where like these dads cannot let their old glory go and like Daniel Russo's wife, like, I feel her so hard because so many times she's like the only one making any sense. And she's like, like, what is with all this karate nonsense? She's like, who are these people? Like, what is going on? Why are we like a part of this? And he's like, You don't understand, honey. This is like a big deal. Like, this matters. And she's like, it's just karate. And I'm just like. Bless, like, tell your husband, Like, honey, that was a long time ago. Like, you're a dad. Like, you know, you have other things now. Like, you don't have to think about all that. But then in this season especially, I feel bringing back Terry Silver was such a good freaking idea because he's such a good villain. Like, Oh my God, because I don't know. Kreese was one of those guys where it's like he's like a Nam veteran. He's like a tough guy here. And also it was like complicated with him and Johnny. So it's kind of like a weird I know he was always weird for me where it's like, I can't like I don't want, I don't know, you're not evil enough, but also you're not like, I don't see a redemption here ever happening. So I could never get like that on board of being like hell, yeah. This is a great villain. Terry Silver is a great villain. Not only is he tall as hell, wears all black has like this freakin ponytail, but he can just get into Daniel's head like nobody else. It was almost like Chris was like Johnny's Darth Vader. And so Silver's Danny's. It's like Silver is Danny is Darth Vader. So this season, especially like Johnny and Danny kind of switched like they're kind of characters almost because Johnny is now like trying to be this family man. Like he has a new baby on the way. By the way. He and Miguel's mom friggin, that was like one of my favorite lines in the show. She's like, I'm pregnant, and he just goes, Bad ass. And I'm like, Joe, if you don't say that when I get pregnant.
PRINCESS: [00:33:05] Like, we're done, we're done. I was like, That makes me so happy. I love because I love his relationship with Miguel. So to know that they're going to end up having a better. I'm like, That's great. I know. And I just I just really appreciate that they are showing what happens to people who peak in high school, you know?
TESSA: [00:33:23] Right. That's such a good point.
PRINCESS: [00:33:25] Right. It's like, yeah, this is what happens when you don't have any personality or skills except for one thing. And you're a jerk to everybody. You have no friends, you suck as a parent, and now you have to go backwards and learn.
TESSA: [00:33:40] But he can turn his life around, too, though.
PRINCESS: [00:33:43] No. And I'm glad it it true that for him to turn his life around, he has to go back to the root of the issue, which is that like when when he learned karate, he learned it to just be an asshole.
TESSA: [00:33:53] Right.
PRINCESS: [00:33:54] So it's like he has to learn it for a greater reason. He has to return to high school mentality to grow up.
TESSA: [00:34:00] I also want to bring up Tori because we are going to be talking to and first of all, it's so wild to see her be a villain because when we were in a Disney Channel show called Bunk'd together, I was the villain to her. She was amazing. She was the good girl and I was the villain. And now she's the villain and oh my God, she could completely kick my villain's ass like, damn, I am terrified of her. Like, she is so good. She's so good in this role and she shines so much, especially in this season because there's a lot of pressure on her and she's going through a lot because she won the the girls all valley and she's Cobra Kai's champion. But then she found out that Cobra Kai cheated. You know that freaking Terry Silver like talked to the ref and you know, is paying and making money and cheating. So and a big part of karate is like the honor behind winning. And she's really feeling that like the whole season. And so she wants to leave Cobra Kai. She wants to get back at Silver. So then she goes, starts talking to Kreese, going to jail, talking to Kreese, and is trying to like, you know, send little messages to LaRusso and everybody else. So she's like caught up in all these different feelings because not only does she feel like they're treating her like a champion, and Kreese is like you got to say in there, we need you like behind enemy lines, you like. And she's like, well, also, Tori had a really interesting arc this season and she and Sam, like at the end, they work together and that's like, that's what the Karate Kid is. That's like what the whole thing is. And that's also what the whole egg exercise was about. Like, you all got to work together in order for it to work. In order to beat it, you got to like, you know, put aside your differences, like face the common enemy. Same thing with like Johnny and Danny, Sam and Tory, all of these feuds, it's like, listen, sometimes you got to put that aside and work together.
PRINCESS: [00:36:08] I love it. Oh, man. Well, my one more thing is, you know, I think that bonsai trees are neat and if I had to go get a car, I would love a little bonsai tree with it. So, Danny, thank you for respecting your your adoptive daddy's grandpa culture in such a cool, respectful way. When he was explaining how sushi works and everything, I was like, This is so cute. I love it. He's like a transracial adoptee. It was very sweet and I enjoyed that.
TESSA: [00:36:46] He is very wholesome. He is. Love him so much. My one more thing would be that you know what? Feuds are fun. I love a good fued. I love a good enemies to friends. I love a good rivalry. Oh, also, you know, my one more thing is the fights in this are great. The fights are excellent. The karate fights are so fun and over the top and the kids are getting better and better, y'all. It's amazing. So you go watch the show for the fights alone because they're like, so good. Like, I could never. Like the stuff that they're doing. They must be practicing all the time. That's way too much. Cannot do that. Bow down.
PRINCESS: [00:37:32] All right, you know the drill. If you like us, follow us. You can find us at the Geeked Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. And for those of you who absolutely cannot get enough, you know, leave us a five star review, we would love to hear from you. In fact, we're going to hear from one of you now.
TESSA: [00:37:53] Yeah, the review that we are reading this week is from Caitlin Ceder, who says, "my favorite podcast, No Contest. And she says, I'm usually not a podcast person, but I am absolutely a geeky person and Geeked has converted me super happy. I found out about the podcast from following the incredible Princess Weekes." I agree she's the most incredible. "As soon as a new Netflix show comes out, I'm excited for Princess and Tessa to get into it, and I love hearing about what y'all are geeking out about and I cannot wait for more."
PRINCESS: [00:38:26] Caitlin, that was beautiful. Thank you so much. You're incredible because you put this review out there and thank you for following us and being a part of this geeked journey. I'm- made my whole day. Thank you so much.
TESSA: [00:38:42] But anyway, the Geeked Podcast is hosted by me, Tessa Netting.
PRINCESS: [00:38:45] And me Princess Weekes.
TESSA: [00:38:47] You can find me on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube all over the Internet at Tessa Netting.
PRINCESS: [00:38:52] And you can find me on YouTube at Princess Weekes and on Twitter as Weekes Princess. This is the Netflix geek and Spoke Media production. Kelly Kolff is our producer and Reyes Mendoza is our associate producer. DaLaura Patton is our coordinating producer and special thanks to Carson McCain, especially on this particular episode. Thanks, Carson.
TESSA: [00:39:13] Hey, we love you. Sound Design and Engineering by Evan Arnett, who also composed and performed our original theme.
PRINCESS: [00:39:21] To stay updated on All Things Geeked be sure to follow us at Netflix Geeked on Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok.
TESSA: [00:39:29] Our executive producers are Keisha TK Dutes, Brigham Mosley, Alia Tavakolian and Keith Reynolds.
PRINCESS: [00:39:35] Thank you so much for listening. We love You. Stay snakey.
TESSA: [00:39:41] Snakey! Hey, we love a good cobra.
CLIP: [00:39:48] Geeked.