What happens in Season 1 Episode 4 Cobra Kai?
- Joseph Fanning
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
What happens in Episode 4 | Season 1 Episode 4 Cobra Kai
Robby is up to shady stuff: he and some friends are pretending to work at a tech store (borrowing uniforms, etc.), stealing laptops, planning to sell them. ScreenSpy
Robby sees a flyer/poster for the Cobra Kai dojo and realizes the guy on it is his father (Johnny). That hits him. ScreenSpy
Miguel comes home with a broken nose; his mom (Carmen) is upset, and she demands he stops seeing Johnny/going to the dojo. ScreenSpy
Johnny, feeling bitter and resentful, gets drunk, buys spray paint, and vandalizes Daniel LaRusso’s billboard (sprays a crude drawing). ScreenSpy+2Rotten Tomatoes+2
Daniel LaRusso reacts strongly: upset about the defacement, gets the police involved; tries to paint over the billboard. ScreenSpy
Miguel’s mother and grandmother argue: Carmen is worried about Johnny’s influence; his grandmother supports Miguel’s desire to train. ScreenSpy
At school, Miguel is still being bullied (by Kyler, etc.). This tension escalates. ScreenSpy
Johnny tells Miguel he’s closing Cobra Kai for good, at least temporarily. But Miguel persuades his mom to let him train again. Johnny reopens the dojo. FASCINATING INSPIRES+1
On the family side, Robby’s relationship with his father is strained; Robby is embarrassed / resentful. Johnny visits Robby, tells him to get back in school and tries to make amends. But Robby isn’t sure he wants anything to do with Johnny. ScreenSpy
Meanwhile, Sam starts to see more clearly that Kyler and his friends aren’t decent; she breaks up with Kyler. ScreenSpy+1
Themes & what this episode adds | Season 1 Episode 4 Cobra Kai
Conflict and consequence: This episode shows that Johnny’s new Cobra Kai isn’t just about “training for self‑respect” — there are consequences. Bullying, defacement of property, strained family relationships — things escalate.
Parent / child relationships: Robby and Johnny’s relationship is especially messy. Robby wants identity, wants maybe pride, but is ashamed. Also, Miguel and his mother/grandmother dynamic shows the pull between pursuing something you believe in vs parental concern.
Pride & rivalry: Johnny's vandalism of the billboard is emotional and symbolic — it’s about being seen, being respected, hurt pride. Daniel being confronted with that is a push‑pull between his public self and private feelings.
Resilience / determination: Miguel doesn’t give up even when Johnny tells him the dojo is closed. He pushes; eventually Johnny reopens. This resilience is central to Miguel’s character.
Identity & shame: Robby’s embarrassment over Johnny, but also a hint of longing. Miguel’s bruises and broken nose, and how he hides/owns them. Everybody in their own way is trying to reconcile who they are with how others see them.
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