Martin Kove Reveals Cobra Kai’s Explosive Alternate Ending — And It’s Wild!
Alright, Cobra Kai fans, buckle up because Martin Kove has some spicy tea to spill about his iconic character, John Kreese. While most of us were glued to our screens for the final season, twists and turns awaited behind the scenes. In a recent exclusive chat with PEOPLE, the 77-year-old actor shared details about an alternate ending for Kreese that was filmed but never made it to your Netflix queue.
Imagine this: during the climactic showdown on a yacht, things go from zero to explosive real quick when Kreese and his nemesis Terry Silver knock over a fuel tank. Cue the fiery explosion! They wanted to leave viewers on the edge of their seats wondering if Kreese managed a miraculous escape. Kove revealed, “A lot of the fans think that the character, he should have come out of the water and survived… We shot a scene where I’m smoking the cigar and I grab a magazine.” However, showrunners nixed it because, well, they thought it was “a little hokey.” Kove wisely gave them a pass on this one, saying, “I understood the motivation.”
But wait, there’s more! Jon Hurwitz, one of the show’s creators, chimed in through Instagram, commenting on the alternate ending that they ultimately shelved. Sure, a suggestion that Kreese might still be alive sounded like a fan-favorite twist. Still, Hurwitz aimed for a “triumphant and credible” finale and felt a wild escape from a boat explosion would push the limits of believability.
Fans have been debating Kreese’s fate since “Cobra Kai” exploded onto our screens in 2018, and Kove’s character journey reflected a deep dive into vulnerability that was far removed from the one-dimensional villainy first portrayed in “The Karate Kid.” “I signed on to do the deal only if they’d write vulnerable scenes,” Kove shared, and boy did they deliver! Across six seasons, Kreese evolved from a shadowy antagonist to a layered figure grappling with his own demons. So whether you’re team Kreese or team LaRusso, one thing’s for sure—this show isn’t just about high kicks and karate chops; it’s also about the human experience!
All episodes of “Cobra Kai” are currently available for binge-watching on Netflix. So grab your popcorn and dive back into this nostalgic, yet refreshingly complex series.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Netflix
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