Summary
Cobra Kaiis ending with season 6, andOne Piecelive-action is surprisingly the perfect replacement for Netflix’sKarate Kidlegacy series. After five seasons of rivalries and tournaments,Cobra Kaiseason 6feels like a natural conclusion to the show. There cannot be higher stakes than a global karate competition, not to mention how all characters are now fighting for the same side.Cobra Kai’s final season will be released on a three-part event model, with the final part releasing in 2025.
Cobra Kaiis ending on a high note, which does not mean the show will not be missed. Fortunately,One Pieceseason 2, whose release date has yet to be announced, could confirm that the live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s hugely popular manga is Netflix’s next big action series.Cobra KaiandOne Piecemay feel like very different shows at first, but on a closer look,the live-action anime adaptation has the potential to be as big as theKarate Kidsequel show– if not bigger.
8One Piece Is Based On A Major IP (Like Cobra Kai Was)
Cobra Kai rebooted Karate Kid; One Piece live-action expanded its franchise
BothOne PieceandCobra Kaican be considered adaptations of a pre-existent IP, although the former is a live-action remake of a story, whereas the latter is a legacy sequel to theKarate Kidmovies.The Karate Kidfranchise has been around longer thanOne Piece, but it must be noted thatOne Piecehas been releasing manga chapters and anime episodes non-stop since 1997. Regardless, the fact is that bothCobra Kaiand Netflix’sOne Pieceare part of larger franchises that have been around for decades.
One Pieceseason 2 will cover the Arabasta saga.
Even though audiences always crave something new, it cannot be denied that major IPs still make for most of the most successful movies and TV shows available across all streaming platforms. Shows likeWednesday,House of the Dragon,The Boys, andInvincibleprove that, when handled correctly, established properties can be adapted into highly successful shows for streaming.Cobra Kaihonored the legacy ofThe Karate Kid, just likeOne Piecelive-action has so far lived up to the expectations raised by the quality of its source material.
7One Piece Is About The Next Generation Stepping Up (Just Like Cobra Kai)
The old guard is passing the torch in both One Piece and Cobra Kai
AlthoughOne Pieceis not a legacy sequel to anything, its story is about the new generation of pirates stepping up in a world that is now very different following the death of Gold Roger.One Piece’s main story may start with Luffy setting sail to become King of the Pirates, but the world ofOne Piecebegins way before that.For everyOne Piececharacter viewers follow in the present day, there are dozens of pirates and marines who came before themand whose stories directly affect what is currently happening.
Cobra Kaiseason 6, Part 1 premiers June 04, 2025.
The same thing can be said aboutCobra Kai, whose storylines are mostly tied to the events of the first threeKarate Kidmovies. From Daniel and Johnny’s fight at the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament to Terry Silver helping John Kreese take revenge on Mr. Miyagi,everything that happened in the first threeKarate Kidfilms impactsCobra Kaiin some way. Johnny and Daniel may be the nostalgic leads ofCobra Kai, but the show’s heart and soul lie in the young characters.Cobra Kaiwas primarily about names like Miguel, Sam, Robby, and Tory.
6One Piece Is All About The Adventure (Like Karate Kid & Cobra Kai)
One Piece and Cobra Kai are about following your dreams
One of the biggest similarities betweenCobra Kaiand Netflix’sOne Pieceis the sense of wonder and adventure that exists in both shows.Cobra Kaimay be set in a “realistic world” compared toOne Piece, but theKarate Kidsequelseries almost feels like it takes place in a fantastical universe that could be found in a comic book or an anime series.Cobra Kaiasks viewers to have a certain level of suspension of belief, which makes the show even better. Conflicts are settled in tournaments, and rivalries forge friendships.
Adventure and freedom, both of which are important themes inCobra Kai, also defineOne Piece’s story.Those who enjoyedCobra Kaiwill likely enjoy following Luffy’s journey, as the Straw Hat pirates face similar dilemmas and have to deal with similar challenges to those encountered byCobra Kai’s characters. Of course, a world of pirates and giants is radically different from The Valley. Still, the idea of young characters taking on stronger opponents to become better versions of themselves works for bothOne Piecelive-action andCobra Kai.
5One Piece Has Plenty Of Compelling Characters (So Does Cobra Kai)
Cobra Kai and One Piece are full of popular, fan-favorite characters
Cobra Kaimay have started as the story of Johnny and Miguel, but it has since grown into an ensemble that combines original characters with returningKarate Kidnames. Between all the different dojos and students,Cobra Kaiseason 5 had an extensive list of characters, all of whom were interesting in their own way.All of theCobra Kaicharacters, from heroes to villains, have been given meaningful backstoriesand compelling arcs within the first five seasons. This is part of the reason why the show has become so successful for Netflix.
Sanji
Taz Skylar
There are plenty of fan-favoriteCobra Kaicharacters who have their own legion of fans, just like there are multipleOne Piececharacters who can steal the show in upcoming seasons. In addition to the original Straw Hat pirates, all of whom have already made quite the first impression in season 1,Netflix’sOne Pieceis expected to include a lot of other names from the manga.For example,One Pieceseason 2 will introduce Chopper and Nico Robin. There’s no shortage of options for characters for newOne Piecefans to fall in love with.
4Cobra Kai Always Felt Like Live-Action Shonen Anime
Cobra Kai uses many anime tropes
Cobra Kaistrangely feels like it is a live-action shonen anime sometimes, even though it is obviously not based on any manga or anime. From the pacing of the series to how important friendship and rivalries are,Cobra Kaihas indirectly incorporated some of the most famous anime tropes in a fun way. Even the classic “power-up flashbacks,” during which the main character remembers something important before finding the strength they need to defeat the bad guy, can be found inCobra Kai.
Cobra Kai’s anime similarities mean that there couldn’t be a better follow-up to it on Netflix than an actual anime adaptation. The biggest difference betweenOne Pieceand previousNetflix anime adaptationsis that the former was not ashamed of its source material.One Pieceembraced all the silliness and humor of the anime, just likeCobra Kaiwas never afraid of being a “karate soap opera” based on a franchise from the 1980s.
3One Piece Talks About Friendships & Rivalries (Just Like Cobra Kai)
Friendships come first in One Piece and Cobra Kai
Much ofOne Piecehas to do with friendship, some of which are born from rivalries, and vice versa. There is nothing Luffy values more in than world than his friends, which Netflix’sOne Piecenailed.The bond between the Straw Hat pirates is more important to the story than the search for the One Piece, even though they don’t always agree with each other and even come at odds sometimes. For example, if Netflix’sOne Piecegets to season 4, it will likely cover the tragic fight between Luffy and Usopp.
Cobra Kai Season 6 Just Teased A Redemption Story For The Last Character We Thought Would Ever Change
A character who had little hope of redemption could wind up joining Johnny and Daniel’s dojo, if a tease for Cobra Kai season 6 is to be believed.
Cobra Kaiis also about friendships and rivalries, though the latter has dominated the show’s first five seasons. It was only at the end ofCobra Kaiseason 5 that most of the show’s rivalries were settled, paving the way for everyone to come together ahead of theSekai Taikai inCobra Kai’s final season. Still, friendships are very important inCobra Kaias well. Characters like Miguel, Eli, and Demitri have been friends since the beginning of the show, and although mistakes were made, their bonds remained.
2Fights Make Up For Most Of One Piece (Just Like In Cobra Kai)
Problems are solved with fights in Cobra Kai and One Piece
One Pieceis more than just fights, but it cannot be denied that most storylines usually come down to a physical conflict between Luffy and his enemies.Luffy will fight anyone at any time if it means protecting his friends and their dreams, which is whyOne Piece’s fight scenes are always great. Netflix’s live-actionOne Piecefight sequences were not as impactful as the ones from the anime, but there is room for the series to improve its battles in future seasons.
Cobra Kai’s very premise means it is an action-packed show where everything is settled on the mat or a street fight. TheCobra Kaicharacters are always fighting, regardless if it is for points in a tournament or for personal reasons. Either way,for those who got used toCobra Kai’s fun action,One Pieceis the perfect replacement.The live-action series combines practical stunts – including but not limited to sword work – with VFX-heavy sequences that bringOne Piece’s Devil Fruit powersto life.
1One Piece Can Be One Of Netflix’s Flagship Titles For Several Years
One Piece live-action can run for several years
Cobra Kaimoved to Netflix ahead of season 3 and quickly became one of the streamer’s flagship titles. The fact thatCobra Kaiseason 6 will be split into three parts and will have 15 episodes in total shows how much confidence Netflix has in the series, which has been among the platform’s most-watched titles for more than three years now. Althoughit is still soon to say how bigOne Piecelive-action will be for Netflix in the long run, the series could become one of the streamer’s main titles for several years.
Netflix’s One Piece Can’t Wait Until Season 4 To Mention This Pivotal Character
The huge importance of this One Piece character means Netflix’s show must mention them in season 2, even though it shouldn’t happen until season 4.
Not many TV shows, not evenCobra Kai, can organically continue for over a dozen seasons, butOne Piecedoes. With over 1000 manga chapters left to be covered and counting,One Piececan arguably continue for as long as Netflix wants. There is virtually unlimited potential for the live-action series, which can cover dozens of arcs at any rhythm depending on how long it continues to air. IfOne Pieceseason 2 is as well received as the first one, Netflix will have found a guaranteed hit that has decades-worth of stories ready to be brought to the screen.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
One Piece
One Piece follows young pirate Monkey D. Luffy and his diverse crew as they embark on a daring quest for treasure. Released in 2023, the film brings the adventurous world of the popular manga to life, capturing Luffy’s relentless pursuit of the legendary One Piece treasure.
