A Unique Prop Almost Changed the Story
The long-running Cobra Kai series has officially reached its final chapter, but one of its creators recently revealed that an alternate ending was considered for a key character. The show’s last season was split into three parts, with the final episodes arriving on Netflix on February 13. In the second-to-last episode, Strike Last, viewers saw a dramatic confrontation between John Kreese (played by Martin Kove) and Terry Silver (played by Thomas Ian Griffith) on a luxurious yacht. Their fight ended in an explosive fire, seemingly killing them both.
However, co-creator Jon Hurwitz later shared on social media that there was an early idea to hint at Kreese’s survival. He posted an image of a prop magazine referencing Terry Silver’s mysterious disappearance. Originally, the show’s final montage was supposed to include a shot of this magazine. The team even considered showing Kreese’s hand reaching in to pick it up, subtly suggesting he had survived.
Hurwitz explained:
“In the final montage set to ‘Sweet Child of Mine,’ we initially planned to extend the camera’s movement down the newsstand. It would have revealed another magazine questioning Terry Silver’s disappearance in the Valley. We even filmed a scene where Martin Kove’s hand reached in to grab the magazine. This was partly just for fun, since we always joke about Kreese faking his own death. But once we saw how dramatic the yacht explosion looked, we scrapped the idea completely.”
Although this would have been an intriguing twist, the creators ultimately chose a more conclusive ending.
A Triumphant Ending Without Future Threats
Jon Hurwitz and the rest of the creative team decided that Cobra Kai should end on a victorious and meaningful note. Instead of leaving open the possibility of future threats from Kreese or Silver, they opted for a story that felt final. He elaborated:
“At the end of the day, we wanted a satisfying and credible ending. Bringing Kreese back from that explosion would have felt unrealistic. More importantly, we wanted Johnny, Daniel, and the others to move forward in a world free from Silver and Kreese’s interference. We wanted a happily-ever-after scenario—at least until a future spinoff introduces fresh challenges rather than revisiting the same enemies.”
Although Cobra Kai fans often repeat the phrase “Cobra Kai Never Dies,” and the show never confirmed Silver and Kreese’s bodies, the intent was clear. The series wanted to leave behind decades of conflict and allow its characters to experience peace.
What If Kreese Had Survived?
His Sacrifice Proved His Redemption
From the very beginning, Cobra Kai has embraced redemption arcs. The series focused on Johnny Lawrence’s (William Zabka) journey to become a better person and rebuild his relationship with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). Throughout its six seasons, many former enemies made peace. This theme was most evident in Season 6, Part 3, when John Kreese acknowledged the harm he had caused his students.
As one of the show’s long-time villains, Kreese had been an unrelenting force of manipulation and control. However, in the end, he sacrificed himself to protect Johnny and his family from Silver’s revenge. By doing this, he proved that his change of heart was real—not just another scheme. If he had survived, many fans might have welcomed the idea, but his sacrifice gave his character a meaningful and powerful conclusion.
Would Kreese’s Survival Have Created More Problems?
Had the final scene included Kreese reaching for the magazine, it would have raised several new questions. Kreese had faked his death before, but if he survived, viewers would naturally wonder if Terry Silver did as well. Unlike Kreese, Silver had no redemption arc, and he would not have accepted Johnny’s victory without a fight.
Although Kreese’s survival might not have ruined the show’s triumphant tone, the possibility of Silver’s return would have created unresolved tension. Cobra Kai was designed to mirror the Karate Kid movies, which always had satisfying endings. Letting Kreese or Silver live could have left loose threads that distracted from the series’ conclusion.
Ultimately, while the idea of keeping Kreese alive was entertained, the creators chose to give fans a definitive ending—one where the battles of the past were finally put to rest.
