“I’m thinking a lot bigger than just the Valley.”
Cobra Kai’s Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) has expansion on his mind in season 5.
“He’s no longer content to keep things small,” says Griffith.
Sensei Rosenthal (Spence Maughon) and Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) in ‘Cobra Kai’ season 5.Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix
“He wants to get his way of teaching out there.”
But Daniel-san has an even more formidable weapon: Okinawan karate master Chozen (Yuji Okumoto).
TheKarate Kid Part IIvillain-turned-man of honor has no intention of letting Silver wipe Miyagi-Do karate off the map.
Ralph Macchio and Yuji Okumoto in ‘Cobra Kai’ season 5.Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix
“He wants to protect the legacy of Miyagi-Do,” Okumoto tells EW in the video above.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How would you describe Terry’s motivation this season?
THOMAS IAN GRIFFITH:This season is about growth.
Alicia Hannah-Kim in ‘Cobra Kai’.Netflix
He is no longer content to keep things small.
He just wants to go big and broad and get his way of teaching out there.
I think he’s evolved.
Thomas Ian Griffith and Courtney Henggeler in ‘Cobra Kai’.Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix
Inthe teaser, Silver and Chozen have a brief but tantalizing exchange about fire and gasoline.
They’re the ultimate warriors with completely different philosophies.
That was set up in the films and we were both these archetypal villains.
I think that’s what makes it so fascinating, the dimensions that we’re both bringing to it.
You know we’re on a collision course because just we view the world so differently.
How would you tease the dynamic between Chozen and Terry?
[Laughs]
This season, Silver recruits Sensei Kim to help him execute his grand plan.
What can you tell us about their relationship?
I love that it goes back to histang soo doroots from his master in Korea.
She is a part of that world.
That part of Terry’s life had the most influence on him in terms of martial arts.
I love that he’s bringing back a sensei that was part of his past.
It just bolsters the way he wants his karate to be taught.
I also love that he brought a woman back to do it with him.
He’s so beyond that, he just wants the best teachers.
That’s perhaps Terry’s one positive evolution.
What do you mean hisonepositive evolution?
Come on, how dare you!
[Laughs]
It looks like Terry and Amanda LaRusso [Courtney Henggeler] cross paths this season.
What can you tease about that?
Terry just wants to say, “This is what I’m really about.”
Terry has nothing to hide.
He wants to share with the world who he is.
He wants Daniel LaRusso’s wife to understand him if she can.
There are the sprinkles of truth that he wants to put out there and hopefully she can receive them.
What was your training regimen like for season 5?
Did you get any gnarly injuries?
Oh, there’s always injuries when we’re going at the pace we’re going.
To be able to showcase that was just a blast.
Cobra Kaiseason 5 premieres Friday, Sept. 9, on Netflix.
