Netflix has announced that the sixth season of hit series ‘Cobra Kai’ will be its last.

Much like Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) himself, ‘Cobra Kai’ has battled against considerable odds. An unlikely continuation of the ‘Karate Kid’ franchise, it was originally commissioned as part of YouTube’s attempt to launch a set of scripted series, one that didn’t last long, though ‘Cobra Kai’s first two seasons ran there.

When Netflix picked up the show’s third season and agreed to make more, the series really kicked off into the pop cultural consciousness.

Set more than 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, the show is a continuation of the inescapable conflict between Daniel and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). Their fortunes have been considerably different in the years since then––Daniel is a successful car dealership owner, while Johnny has fallen on harder times, scraping by as a handyman at an apartment building.

Through the years of ‘Cobra Kai’, they’ve both acquired groups of students, been at odds with each other once again and united to take on the likes of villains John Kreese (Martin Kove) and Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith).

Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in 'Cobra Kai.'

(L to R) Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in 'Cobra Kai.' Photo: Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix.

In Season 5, Silver’s plans to expand his Cobra Kai empire came to fruition, as the sensei’s “No Mercy” style of karate began being taught all across the valley. With Johnny having set karate (temporarily) aside to focus on repairing the damage he’s caused, Daniel called on an old friend for help—former adversary Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto). They were triumphant, but the story is not over yet.

Fortunately, show developers Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg always had an endpoint in mind and unlike some other, more recent Netflix series, ‘Cobra Kai’ is not being cancelled prematurely.

“Reacquainting the world with the ‘Karate Kid universe’ has been our humble honor,” the creators said in a letter penned to fans. “It has enabled us to play sensei, expanding the original storylines and birthing a new generation of underdogs. We’ve never once taken this opportunity for granted. Our Day 1 goal with ‘Cobra Kai’ has always been to end it on our terms, leaving the Valley in the time and place we’ve always imagined. While this may be a bittersweet day for the fandom, the Miyagiverse has never been stronger… We hope to be telling more ‘Karate Kid’ stories with you down the line because as we all know: Cobra Kai never dies.”

And yes, lest you feel bereft at the news that Daniel, Johnny and co. will be punching their way to the sunset, there is always hope of a spin-off. “Every permutation of spinoff or deep-dive crosses our minds,” Schlossberg told TVLine in 2021. “It all has to be the right thing, and it has to be the same level of quality that ‘Cobra Kai is’. Our minds are always thinking 'Karate Kid,' so that possibility is definitely out there.”

The final fight will be upon us this year, though Netflix has yet to announce when the show will return.

Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in 'Cobra Kai.'

(L to R) Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in 'Cobra Kai.' Photo: Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix.