The Cast of COBRA KAI Talks Season 5 for Netflix Virtual Junket

This article was originally published on 8/31/22.

It’s almost time to show no mercy, Cobra Kai fans! Season 5 is around the corner, and, folks, it’s a goodie (but more on that when it’s review time). To celebrate all the karate-fueled, drama-laden action, Netflix invited me to attend a virtual press junket with the Cobra Kai cast. This junket was roundtable-style, meaning I participated with multiple journalists in each interview. Thus, I could only ask one or two questions per talent grouping.

So, who joined us in the (virtual) dojo? Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso), William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence), Xolo Maridueña (Miguel Diaz), Mary Mouser (Samantha LaRusso), Peyton List (Tory Nichols), Jacob Bertrand (Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz), Gianni DeCenzo (Demetri Alexopoulos), Dallas Dupree Young (Kenny Payne), Oona O’Brien (Devon), Griffin Santopietro (Anthony LaRusso) and Thomas Ian Griffith (Terry Silver).

DISCLAIMER: The following contains zero spoilers for Cobra Kai Season 5. Read comfortably with that knowledge, my friends.

Dallas Dupree Young, Oona O’Brien and Griffin Santopietro

When Kenny burst into the dojo last season, he was a sweet, innocent summer child. Free of John Kreese and Terry Silver’s poisonous ideologies. Kenny’s transformation into a formidable, unrelenting fighter catalyzes Robby (Tanner Buchanan) to mend fences with Johnny. But will Kenny ever see the light, or will he fall deeper under Silver’s slithering sway?

For this roundtable with Dallas, Oona and Griffin, I had to ask Dallas about Kenny’s seasonal arc regarding his beliefs.

My question:

“Kenny goes into Season 5 really believing what Silver’s teaching him and Cobra Kai’s philosophy. But as with most characters, his faith gets tested. Can you talk about Kenny’s journey belief-wise this season?”

The students of Cobra Kai stand at attention in the dojo.

Dallas’s answer:

“I feel as though Kenny has trusted a lot of different people through his entire arc. The mentor-slash-mentee relationship between him and Robby started off originally. Then, it evolved into the relationship between Terry Silver and him. I feel like Kenny doesn’t really know who to trust at this point, but he still wants to be the best competitor and the best trainee he can be.”

It wouldn’t be Cobra Kai without explosive, intricately choreographed action sequences. Thankfully, Season 5 has plenty of them and then some, including a massive fight scene featuring a significant chunk of the cast. Dallas, Oona and Griffin are all in on it.

My question:

“There’s a really big fight sequence that takes place this season. What was it like getting to shoot that scene and getting to choreograph it with so many people?”

Griffin’s answer:

“It was a lot, but by the end, it was really fun. Everyone was so good that I feel like when you’re watching you don’t really see how little time we had. Everyone made it look great because they’re so naturally good.”

Dallas’s answer:

“It really was a lot of fun getting the chance to work with every single person and character on the show. It was definitely difficult and a lot of intensive work. We didn’t have too much time, but we had each other as our support system.”

Devon practices her kicks in the Cobra Kai dojo with Tory.

Oona’s answer:

“I want to give a big shout-out to the stunt team because they are amazing. They choreograph all the fights. They perform the stunts; they do everything. They teach it to us and really supported us throughout that whole process, and especially that big fight at the end.”

Cobra Kai boasts an impressive cache of stunt performers, including a whopping 143 credits on IMDb — and that’s not including Season 5.

Xolo Maridueña, Mary Mouser, Peyton List, Jacob Bertrand and Gianni DeCenzo

Being in a virtual room with the above five was a hoot and a half. It’s no wonder they all have such easy onscreen chemistry. They’re all good buds in real life. This portion of the junket was a tad chaotic in the best way.

I’m a Miguel fan, and I think Xolo Maridueña in particular is a young actor everyone should be watching. His star is on the rise. With how Miguel’s arc ended last season and what he endures this season (which I won’t reveal because spoilers; just know he goes through the wringer), I wanted to learn more about Xolo’s process.

Miguel Diaz exits a bus on Netflix's Cobra Kai.

My question:

“Miguel embarks on a significant emotional arc this season. Can you talk about how you got into the headspace for that arc?”

Xolo’s answer:

“Getting into the headspace with Miguel felt, in a weird way, easier throughout the seasons. Playing the same character for five years, it’s really easy to fall back into all the nuances and what have you. When I started the show, I was the same age as the character. Now, I’m a year older in the show but five years older in real life. It helps when navigating the feelings you should be feeling in the moment. With so many talented actors on the other side of the scenes, it’s not hard to play around while filming. It’s really fun.”

For my next question, I wanted to hear from Mary and Peyton. I’m trying my damndest to avoid spoilers, but Samantha and Tory’s rivalry takes on new colors and layers in Season 5. It’s fun to watch how their interactions evolve or regress during the course of this series.

My question:

“Samantha and Tory’s relationship undergoes a few changes in Season 5. Can you talk about what it was like exploring those changes together?”

Mary’s answer:

“As an actor, I very much love getting to work with Peyton. Any opportunity. She’s super awesome to work with. It’s been really fun. We haven’t gotten to talk with one another. A lot of the time, we’re either hurling insults or fists at one another, so it’s exciting to get to explore a world where I get to talk to Peyton. Not that it necessarily makes it any easier for them sometimes, but I think it’s fun to get to challenge myself in a different way with her.

At this point, the being angry at each other and the kicking and punching has become the norm. So, it’s exciting to get to conceptualize a world where maybe they could sit down and have a conversation.”

Samantha LaRusso stands on the mat in the dark while Daniel LaRusso lurks behind her in the shadows.

Peyton’s answer:

“When we do have that conversation, I feel like Tory is at her most vulnerable. She’s at an all-time low, and so I think that was a good time for them to have that moment.”

Thomas Ian Griffith

I’d like to preface this portion with a glowing commendation for Thomas Ian Griffith. He’s so sweet! It always seems like those who play villains turn out to be the most affable in real life. He knows so much about Terry Silver and it was fascinating listening to his process.

Unfortunately, I only got one question with Thomas for this go-round, but, nonetheless, I had to gush about his performance this season. Without delving into spoiler territory, Silver wholeheartedly surpasses Kreese as a baddie. Thomas infuses Silver with Shakespearean villainy, never morphing into an over-the-top, mustache-twirling foe, but keeping Silver grounded.

Terry Silver stands at attention, wearing all black while his students stand behind him on Netflix's Cobra Kai Season 5.

My question:

“Silver is like a chameleon in that he can adapt to his surroundings, and he shows people whatever they want to see. What was it like getting into the headspace to play with that?”

Thomas’s answer:

“I think that’s what made the character so appealing for me because he’s smarter. He’s such a smart character. I think, because of his world and background, he can relate to these people. He finds the commonality of the most human element he can talk to. He can walk into other people’s worlds and find his place and know his place.

I think that’s a great quality for a villain because then you go, ‘That felt so sincere,’ and that may bother some people, but that’s the goal. Is it sincere? I believe in that moment it is because that makes him so much more fascinating. Then when he gets burned, he’s going to get that much more upset about it because he was sincere.”

On a similar note to what I said above, I’d love to watch Thomas play a villain in a Shakespeare production. Iago, anyone?

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Ralph Macchio and William Zabka

Yes, I saved the best for last. The Daniel LaRusso and the Johnny Lawrence. Admittedly, I tried not to visibly fangirl on camera. And, much like everyone I interacted with for this junket, Ralph and William proved to be kindness personified.

As with Thomas Ian Griffith, there was only enough time for journalists to ask one question. I’m a Johnny gal, and I’ve been rooting for his redemption since day one. His scene with Robby at the end of Season 4 when the father-son duo begins repairing their relationship is so gratifying. Needless to say, I asked William a question about just that.

Johnny Lawrence and Robby Keene cheer at something off screen while sitting in a restaurant n Netflix's Cobra Kai.

My question:

“We see Johnny and Robby mend fences toward the end of Season 4. Going into Season 5, what was it like to establish this new dimension to their bond with Tanner [Buchanan]?

William’s answer:

“That was great. One of my favorite moments in the whole show so far is the reunion and the moment in the dojo last season of Johnny and Robby coming together, which is a great launch point. That’s the tender truth, but then there’s so much work to be done to get them into some kind of harmony.

Johnny takes him on an adventure and a father-son road trip to Mexico even though he’s really going to try to find Miguel, who’s Robby’s enemy. All that complexity is great.

I loved working with Tanner in a way where we’re trying our best to see eye-to-eye. He gives a lot. His side is really understanding and he’s matured as a character and sees Johnny through a different lens. That opens up the relationship and allows Johnny to be more of the father he’s been trying to be with him for so long. It’s a sweet starting point.

It’s a bumpy takeoff. Then, he has to bring these two kids together that are both his heart. We’ll see how that goes. But it is great working with Tanner, and I love working with him in that dimension and dynamic.”

Okay, so I didn’t ask this next question, but I wanted to include it since it’s a damn good one. Admittedly, it made me a bit weepy. It was asked to both Ralph and William by Gene Ching of Den of Geek.

Johnny Lawrence, Daniel LaRusso and Chozen look ready for a fight while interacting with someone off screen in Cobra Kai Season 5 on Netflix.

Gene’s question:

“What do you think Pat Morita would think of Cobra Kai?”

William’s answer:

“I think he’s watching it and he’s a big fan. I think he’s trying to figure out a way to get on it. This is so right up his alley. He was just great. He was so funny and he personified Miyagi. I think he would be thrilled. We miss him. That’s all I’m saying.”

Ralph’s answer:

“Miyagi’s [in it] throughout the show. He’s so many characters. I think he would be very, very proud and really embrace that. For those reasons, outside of the fact that Cobra Kai is entertaining as hell and awesome, I think he’d be very, very pleased with the care that’s been taken with the original franchise.”

What are you most excited about going into Season 5 of Cobra Kai? Be sure to keep your eyes glued to this space for my review of the season when the press embargo lifts on September 6. Then, prepare to sit and binge when Season 5 takes Netflix by storm on Friday, September 9, 2022.

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Melody McCune

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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.

Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.

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Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.

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The Cast of COBRA KAI Talks Season 5 for Netflix Virtual Junket

Dallas Dupree Young, Oona O’Brien and Griffin Santopietro

Xolo Maridueña, Mary Mouser, Peyton List, Jacob Bertrand and Gianni DeCenzo

Thomas Ian Griffith

Ralph Macchio and William Zabka

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Melody McCune

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