Warning: Spoilers for Cobra Kai season 6 part 1
Summary
After the line that was crossed inCobra Kaiseason 6 part 1, it’s impossible for me to keep rooting for Devon Lee. Though she’s never been as important as Sam or Tory, Devon filled an important void in the show when she joined the fold inCobra Kaiseason 4. As Johnny himself acknowledged, Eagle Fang Karate was lacking in female fighters, so adding Devon to the mix was a great way to fix that. After the tournament, the show completely ignored her connection to Johnny by aligning her with Kim Dae-Eun untilCobra Kai season 5’sending,but season 6 made up for that in a way I appreciated.
Cobra Kai season 6 took a surprising step by putting extra emphasis on Devon’s character and her own inner turmoil as she worked tirelessly to keep up with other members of the dojo. Naturally, there was little doubt about Miguel, Sam, Robby, or Tory making it tothe Sekai Taikai tournament, but as theCobra Kaicharactersthemselves pointed out, there was much less certainty surrounding less important players like Kenny, Anthony, Demetri, Mitch, Chris, and Devon. I thought it would be nice to see Devon become one of the six to make it, but in the end, it was clear to me that she didn’t deserve it.
Devon Ruined Her Redemption Story From Cobra Kai Season 5
I Stopped Rooting For Devon After Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 1
FollowingCobra Kai’s shutdown and Terry Silver’s downfall, Devon has amounted to a worthwhile addition to Johnny and Daniel’s combined dojo. She’s not the strongest fighter they have, but her aggressiveness (as evidenced by her first scene), ambition, and natural talent have enabled her to stand out in her own way. I’ve enjoyed what she’s brought to the show, which is what made the big twist with her character so disappointing. When I saw Kenny returning sick, I had a feeling Devon was responsible, especially given the nature of the flashbacks it offered of her time with Kim. Afterward,Cobra Kaiconfirmed what I suspected:Devon had gone too far and cheated to secure her a team spot.
In a way, what Devon did was even worse than what I would expect from one of Kreese’s students. After all, her transgression had nothing to do with executing a dirty move in combat; rather, she eliminated a potential opponent through treachery and without fighting at all. By cheating to get into the tournament,Devon effectively marred any victories she might accomplish at the Sekai Taikai. No matter what she does, it won’t feel deserved because her spot on the Miyagi-do team was stolen.
Will Devon’s Cheating Be Exposed In Cobra Kai Season 6?
Chances are, the time will soon come when Devon’s efforts to get Kenny out of the way will be exposed. Theoretically, she could come clean herself, but I don’t see that happening without someone urging her in that direction. Instead, I think the chances of her betrayal coming to light will be up to Kenny. As it stands, it’s unclear what happened to him after his opportunity to take part in the tournament was thwarted by Devon. I have a sneaking suspicion that his conspicuous absence will be explained by Kenny joining Cobra Kai too. If both he and Tory are on Kreese’s team, the truth could come out during the tournament.
Devon’s Actions Prove She Won’t (& Shouldn’t) Win The Sekai Taikai
It’s a shame that Miyagi-do’s Sekai Taikai team doesn’t fully consist of members who fully earned their places in the competition, but ultimately, I don’t think it’ll cast a huge shadow on the event at large. I can imagine Devon winning a round or two, but if her actions are any indication, she won’t get far. Characters like Mike Barnes have done well to instill this impression that the Sekai Taikai is a brutally difficult and grueling experience for fighters. It’s because of this thatI don’t believe any fighter who thinks they need to cheat to get a spot is capable of going all the way to the finals.
Obviously, she’ll have to go up against a slew of extremely talented fighters if she has any hope of winning. In those instances, the underhanded tactics she used against Kenny won’t be on the table. Rather, she’ll have to win on her own merits, andCobra Kaihas yet to demonstrate that she can do that.
Did Chozen Just Leave Cobra Kai?
Chozen was a big feature of Cobra Kai season 5’s ending, but he seems to have vanished only a few episodes into season 6 - will he return?
While her decision says a lot about her insecurities, it also highlights the gap between her and some of the other characters. She’s learned quickly in the time that she’s been practicing karate, but there’s no evidence that she’s anywhere close to their level yet. She had good reason for thinking she might lose to Kenny. Not only that, but Devon’s lack of focus - which held her back when Barnes was assessing the students - is yet another sign thatshe’s anything but ready for an event as massive as the Sekai Taikaiand is likely in for a rude awakening inCobra Kaiseason 6 part 2.
