The key to Cobra Kai is the relationship between Johnny Lawrence and Miguel Diaz

The Ringer

"It’s the first time that we’ve gotten to see a Latino significantly worked into the fabric of a true American classic (which The Karate Kid absolutely is)," says Shea Serrano of 16-year-old Xolo Maridueña's performance. "And they don’t ever even turn him into a totem or force him to be an avatar or representative for the whole community. He gets to just be a normal teenage kid karate-kicking his way through normal teenage issues."