#daniel larusso has ptsd

[boundless11]

Anonymous this is for you- your Ask-I had drafted a post but I have no idea what happened to it.

The imbalance in Cobra Kai’s portrayal of characters is one of the most significant flaws in its storytelling. The trauma experienced by the LaRussos, particularly Daniel and Sam, is often overlooked or downplayed, while other characters are given far more narrative sympathy. For instance, Daniel is still clearly haunted by his experiences with Terry Silver, which is why he’s so strongly opposed to Cobra Kai and what it represents. However, the show often frames him as overly rigid or out of touch, failing to fully explore the lasting impact Silver had on his life. Instead, Daniel is depicted as someone who just doesn’t “understand” Johnny’s intentions, further fueling the tension between them. This dynamic is especially frustrating because much of the conflict in the earlier seasons stems from miscommunication—whether it’s between Sam and Miguel, Robbie and Johnny, or Johnny and Daniel themselves.

Similarly, the show has a tendency to diminish Sam’s trauma while elevating Tory’s struggles. Her hardships—such as her unstable home life, her mother’s illness and her predatory landlord—are rightfully explored in a way that makes her a sympathetic character. However, Sam’s equally harrowing experiences are rarely given the same attention. She was physically attacked by her, witnessed Miguel being kicked off a balcony and struggled with anxiety and PTSD. Yet, when Sam lashes out or stands up for herself, she is quickly labeled as “problematic” or “lacking understanding.” For example, when Sam organised a car wash to raise money for Miguel’s surgery, Cobra Kai members hijacked the funds—a cruel act that was brushed off as just another “cool” move by Cobra Kai. Later, when Sam fights back against Cobra Kai and tensions escalate, she is unfairly blamed for Dimitri’s broken arm, even though it was Hawk who broke it, egged on by Tory.

Season 3 particularly highlights the show’s mishandling of trauma. While Tory is given depth and understanding for her actions, Sam is often vilified or dismissed. The same can be said for the show’s framing of Cobra Kai overall: their morally questionable actions are excused as part of their “edgy” nature, while Miyagi-Do and the LaRussos are held to impossibly high standards. This imbalance is frustrating for viewers who grew up with the clear moral lines of The Karate Kid. While morally gray characters can add complexity, Cobra Kai takes it too far, often undermining the heroes and giving too much leeway to the villains.

At its core, the original Karate Kid story was about good versus bad, with clear lessons about standing up to bullies. By muddying these waters, the show risks alienating fans who appreciated those distinctions. The LaRussos, particularly Sam and Daniel, deserve a more balanced portrayal—one that acknowledges their struggles and humanity rather than constantly casting them in a negative light for reacting to the challenges they face.

[miriadalia]

Damn...

I wanna have the same mental strength most Cobra Kai characters had after seeing a freaking teenager die in front of their eyes in the middle of a brawl they all participated in

Like... No trauma, no PTSD, no fear of fighting again in tournaments, no flashbacks, no questioning their own actions, no nothing!

The teens didn't give a shit (except Sam). Demetri joking with the boys and telling Robby "we don't want you dead", Tory not wanting to participate in the tournament only because she was scared to lose her Miyagi Do friends again (?) and not because she has experienced two cruel deaths in person in a matter of weeks/months (??), Axel seemingly not remembering anything when he was the last one to fight Kwon just before he stabbed himself.......

They literally just waited one month because of the "media scandal" and then BAM! "We're all in this together 🕺🏽💃🏼👏🏻" finale like nothing

Daniel LaRusso was the only one feeling paranoid and guess what? Everyone was like "Pft yeah, it's normal since he was the one to turn the kid LIKE A PANCAKE" 🙄🙄🙄🙄 as if the rest of the teams that participated in the Sekai Taikai weren't there 🤦🏽‍♀️

Yeah, I agree, they can't be grieving forever. Especially since most of them didn't know Kwon at all and "life goes on" and blah blah...

But the time jump being that short and the mental state of the characters being that indifferent just made them look like:

Either they're all stupid

Or they're all heartless

And I don't know what's worse.......

Many fans have pointed all of this out and that gives me a little hope in humanity still 🙃

[misterbenzadrine]

where the ck kids actually were/could've fit in kk: legends

!! possibly minor spoilers for karate kid: legends !! and a reminder that kk: legends takes place three years after the ck finale :) also would like to emphasize these are my personal theories with no canon standing lmao, i'm just delusional about cobra kai

miguel diaz

pretend this is sam lmao

where he was: finishing his junior year at stanford, likely with a great engineering internship and a job lined up for post-grad (again, not entirely sure why he chose stanford but i saw someone say he could be studying engineering so for sure ! engineer miguel !) OH AND he's started saving up for an engagement ring for sam :33

how he could've helped: this will be the obvious answer for most of them BUT he for sure could've helped to train li fong, champ to champ, and also could've served as a mentor for li, much like daniel, bc he knows what it's like to move to a new place, fight over a girl, and have ptsd over seeing a kid stabbed to death

robby keene and tory nichols

where they were: definitely off in some other country (i'm gonna say somewhere in latin america) in a karate tournament. even though they've slowed down how many tournaments they do a year, since they're getting older, they still compete and do masterclasses and meet and greets internationally

how they could've helped: love miguel down but robby and tory (and sam) likely would be better coaches for li since they're still actively practicing karate and havent stopped for school, so they're less rusty and likely picked up new techniques and moves in their travels to help li gain an edge on conor

sam larusso

where she was: her study abroad in okinawa was only a year long, but she loved okinawa so much and wanted to study more japanese culture and karate history that she ended up staying there for two more years. she got an apprenticeship under a local sensei and her japanese, while far from perfect, is coming along. chozen and kim occasionally visit her (the first time they visited, chozen didn't expect to see sam there and was all flustered trying to come up with a lie why he hasn't been in okinawa for a bit but after she finds out about their relationship, they become a frequent comfort for her when she gets homesick)

how she could've helped: mr. han, though knowing mr. miyagi had moved to california, had heard from friends of friends that his granddaughter was living and studying in okinawa. he visited okinawa in sam's first few months and was surprised to meet her, engaging in a long conversation and a fun exchange of martial arts concepts. when he makes the plan to train li, he asks both sam and daniel to fly into new york and train him (through movie magic, she has both the time and money). she's a lot more patient and technical with li and acts as a referee between daniel and mr. han, plus li appreciates her refusal to beat him up

binary bros (demetri + eli)

where they were: likely graduating early and already moving up the ladder at a great tech company (they had a higher position but the cfo wanted them to compete for who got the position, to which demetri responded "we're a package deal. it's all or nothing." and when the cfo happily sent them away, eli said, "screw that asshole. we'll start our own fucking company." they didn't but their joint projects and matching resumes impressed another company that offered them low-paying jobs and the promise they could move up if they worked hard. "sounds like capitalist bullshit but at least we'll work together, right?")

how they could've helped: obvious answer but a more advanced version of their FIGHT program, recalculated to emulate conor's karate style, could've helped li

kenny payne/devon lee/anthony larusso

where they were: finishing their senior year of high school, getting ready for college, AND winding down from the 2024 sekai taikai

how they could've helped: kenny would help just like miguel and even though shawn is very much alive, he could still connect with li over what it's like to need your brother when he cant be there. devon would be a lot like mr. han and daniel as a coach (embodying a lot of johnny's style) and be tough on li, though it's done with care. anthony would be a great sparring partner for li and could even just be someone who could understand how stressful and frustrating everything is, a lot like alan. mature anthony is my fav anthony <3

[armenianwriterman]

So I've started watching Cobra Kai and it's the coolest shit ever (almost done with season 5 at the time of posting), so naturally, I've decided to make a RWBY AU about it. Now right now this is just a half baked idea, but hopefully I'll refine it and make it an actual story sometime. Here's a list of all the roles certain characters could occupy:

Summer Rose -> Daniel LaRusso: Once a poor kid who moved across the country and dealt with bullies until she learned karate and beat her rival in a big tournament. Now wealthy and successful, Summer learns the dojo that tormented her in her youth has reopened and seeks to do whatever she can to stop their influence. I chose Summer for Daniel because of her status as the previous generations' hero, and about how they both try to do what they think is the right thing, even if they don't always succeed

Raven Branwen -> Johnny Lawrence: Summer's chief bully until she was defeated at the tournament and ended up becoming a drunken moronic loser. Until she meets a student who needs her help and she develops into drunken moronic karate sensei. Raven's girlfailure energy and hidden heart of gold fits the present day Johnny very well, and plus having her as Johnny lets us have...

Yang Xiao Long -> Robby Keane: Raven's estranged and troubled daughter, who takes a job working for her mom's nemesis out of spite. However, when Summer proves to be a much better mother figure then her bio-mom, Yang joins her dojo and quickly becomes its top fighter. Yang and Raven as Robby and Johnny was such a perfect combination that I couldn't resist, it had to be them.

Emerald Sustrai -> Miguel Diaz: A high schooler who moves next to Raven and learns her neighbor is a karate master after running afoul of bullies. After convincing her to train her, Emerald becomes the first and star student of Raven's newly opened dojo. I'm gonna be honest, I'm really not sure who would best fit Miguel's role, if you have any better ideas comment in the notes.

Ruby Rose -> Sam LaRusso: Summer's daughter who trained in martial arts as a child and lived a sheltered life, until her new "friends" start a smear campaign against her. Angered by this, Ruby starts doing karate once again and ends up falling in love with Emerald. There isn't much to say for this one other then I chose Ruby for Sam because she's Summer's daughter.

Cinder Fall -> Tory Nichols: A deeply troubled but highly confident teenager who joins Raven's dojo. She very quickly becomes deeply personally offended by Ruby's existence and does whatever she can to crush her rival's dojo. Cinder definitely fits some of Tory's more unhinged moments and I think she'd be a good threat to the heroes.

Lie Ren -> Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz: A quiet teenager who gets bullied along with his long time best friend Jaune. He joins Raven's dojo and develops a hyper confident persona as he learns karate, only to become a bully due to the influence of Ironwood. I chose Ren for Hawk because they both start out as very quiet kids who don't say much and because they both have arcs about having a downward spiral in part due to the influence of a military man.

Jaune Arc -> Demetri Alexopoulos: A sarcastic nerd who gets bullied along with his best friend Ren. Initially staying out of karate due to Raven's harsh teaching styles, he ends up joining Summer's dojo due to a lot of his former friends becoming bullies under Ironwood's influence. This one was a no-brainer, Jaune had to be Demetri.

James Ironwood -> John Kreese: The main antagonist, a karate sensei and war veteran whose PTSD and No Honor, No Mercy philosophy poisons a lot of his students into becoming bullies, including Raven in the past. When Raven's revived dojo becomes a success, he returns to pass on his corruptive teachings to the next generation. Ironwood as Kreese was another obvious for me, given Kreese's past as a war veteran and both of their struggles with PTSD.

Arthur Watts -> Terry Silver: The other main antagonist, Ironwood's wealthy longtime business partner who has ambitions to spread the No Honor, No Mercy philosophy worldwide. Although he's initially a close friend of Ironwood's, Watts ends up becoming disillusioned and starts forming plans of his own. I decided to have Watts be Silver because of their past histories of being allies with Ironwood and Kreese (and also because RWBY's resident corrupt ultra rich CEO Jacques is nowhere near cool enough to be Terry Silver).

And that's all the main cast. Feel free to leave suggestions for other rolls or characters that you think are fitting.

[deviousdevilx]

Kinda wished they made more of an age gap between Terry and Kreese. Like Terry being like 17 or barely 18 when he joins up to the army and sent to Vietnam, compared to like Kreese who is like 23-24 when they meet. So not MUCH older, but plays into Kreese as the mature one of the pair, the older brother, mentor, leader in the pair.

And then after the war, Kreese takes on a more sensei role with Terry even as young adults. I dunno that would explain Terry's jealousy towards Johnny better, like Johnny was a Terry replacement, but for Kreese he was also someone more controllable than Terry was, someone Kreese could mold better.

So when Kreese meets up again he pretends to wanna be equals with Terry, teach Cobra Kai TOGETHER, but then starts pulling rank and seniority on Terry like before, even triggering his PTSD to break down Terry into submission, but now oh no Terry is older and wiser to that bullshit but is also heartbroken that Kreese has not changed, and wants to be in control, have power over others like in the past, and that's when Terry plans on getting rid of Kreese but doesn't quite know how yet, believing he is doing what's best for everyone and Cobra Kai, as Kreese will just continue to make the same mistake that led to Cobra Kai's failure TWICE.

And when Stingray shows up, well, he then decides how he'll get rid of Kreese.

Afterwards he returns to the LaRusso residence, and tries to convince Daniel that he will ensure Cobra Kai is nothing like what Kreese taught. Daniel isn't so sure. He goes down one day, sneaks into a training session but gets triggered when he hears Terry talking about the Three D's; desire, devotion and discipline and decides he has to stop Terry.

[mimsyaf]

Here be spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World. Cool?

Ok here are not very intelligent thoughts I had

1. This would have hit so different in a Harris administration. Like, the whole time I kept being like this President is so much more human and humane and preferable to what we have! Old Hulk Han Solo 2028! Gooey brainy head evil guy can be VP!Everyone in the movie keeps saying how the world is going to shit but the movie world is SO PREFERABLE TO OUR ACTUAL WORLD. And it is not supposed to be, this is not intentional on the part of the writers.

2. I realized about 10 minutes in that the difference between the MCU and our world is not superheroes or the blip or the celestial island which I absolutely refuse to learn anything about. It is that Steve Rogers defeated/exposed Hydra in CA:TWS and in real life, Hydra just won the election. You can’t defang and expose a secret evil society if they’re just Hail Hydra-ing all over CPAC with a chainsaw. Um. This point is not actually about Brave New World.

3. There are so many SO MANY fuckable men in this movie and it is the gayest thing I have ever seen and that includes CA:TWS. That movie was homoromantic. This movie is homosexual.

4. Joaquin Torres: that twink needs to be obliterated and I have read all the fic now where that is what happens to him and I thank you for your service, writers. Dear God.

5. Does he count as a twink if the actor playing him is like 32? Welp. Cobra-Kai-era Daniel LaRusso proves that you can be a twink in AARP. So.

6. Actually he is a twunk, I forgot that was a word.

7. Bucky Barnes as a congressional candidate post winter soldier makes absolutely no sense whatsoever but sure, whatever floats your boat writers

8. Stop growing out Sebastian Stan’s hair, let’s get back to spikey hair.

9. Anthony Mackie may be the most beautiful man currently living and also he really really really REALLY deserves to be in some better movies.

10. The writing is basically like they wrote “TKTK joke here” “TKTK meditation on race in America here” and then forgot to fill in any of the TKTK with actual, you know, dialogue. That humans speak. It is very bad. Well, not BAD even. It is skeletal.

11. I want to like Liv Tyler, I have wanted to like Liv Tyler since The Fellowship of The Ring and I Do Not. She’s not really in this but I still managed to get annoyed.

12. Ruth Bat-Seraph was a VERY strange choice to include in the year of our lord 2024. That being said, I did appreciate how Widows have evolved from being all Scarjo in black low-cut pleather in Iron Man 2 to being this kind of weird, grumpy, ultra competent, no-nonsense, INCREDIBLY SHORT person who wears unflattering suits all the time and wants to climb Bucky Barnes like a tree (extremely relatable). The male gaze in this movie is focused solely on the males. Is what I’m saying. And I appreciate that, both for the twink/twunk/ whatever thirst (hell even the random Army helper guy who gets killed is Daddy, and Harrison Ford is like a great-grand-Zaddy, and I believe I mentioned Anthony Mackie is so beautiful it hurts my eyes, and also Congressman C-PTSD, oh AND I forgot about the most attractive Prime Minister in the history of Japan or anywhere else actually) but also for the just-normal-women as people/characters, worthy of respect. And I really appreciate that about where Marvel is. Women are allowed to be subjects, not objects. Women are allowed to look kind of ordinary and Do Stuff.

13. As bad as the writing was, there were like a few bones of a more interesting movie. The moment where Sam is talking to Joaquin about being Captain America and feeling like he has to be perfect, and that he can never just be… enough. The acting elevated the clunky dialogue, and the moment was genuinely moving. It also resonated strongly enough with the impeccably dressed 20-something guy next to me that he uttered “enough” at the same moment as Anthony Mackie, and then had this really long conversation after the movie about what it was like for him to see a Black Captain America and to hear that scene, and relate so strongly to it (I overheard parts of the convo because I was waiting for the mid-credits scene in case it happened to be that twink getting obliterated but alas it was not). And I guess what I’m saying is to all those (mostly white) reviewers saying this movie had nothing meaningful in it… maybe nothing that was meaningful to YOU good Sir/Madam.

14. The scenes with Isaiah had flashes of true pathos too, again because Carl Lumbly is an incredible actor. When he begs the cops not to hurt his suit…

15. Has Giancarlo Esposito ever played a good guy even one day in his life? He was fun in this.l, as always.

16. Whoever does set design for the MCU really likes enormous fans under the floor in evil science lairs for no apparent reason. What if you were wearing a skirt? What then? Rude!

17. Color scheme not as blah as normal. Yay!

In conclusion: I liked it. And sorry-not-sorry for objectifying almost every man in this movie except Samuel Sterns.

[ao3feed-johnnylawrence]

The Best Men.

by Loki_riel Bobby Brown has been The Best Friend his whole life, the best sober ally to Johnny, and the best brother to the cobras, and now he needs his best friend to become the man he knows Johnny can be and help him get down the aisle. He suspects his fiance has something planned between the two best men, all he can do is help her, a happy wife, a happy life. Johnny Lawrence is a recovering Alcoholic, a Single dad (thanks Shannon), and now a best man. He knew hanging around bobby brown would ensue hard labor one day, he never expected that hard labor would be a wedding but who's he to judge... (he's judging) he thinks he can pawn the heavy lifting on Dutch though. Daniel LaRusso, The perfect parent, Daniel LaRusso The hero, Daniel LaRusso the struggling man. Daniel's head is full of other people's expectations and he can't escape his own PTSD, he can't escape the need to seem like the perfect dad. Daniel LaRusso the man who stays up all night sowing his daughters Halloween costumes months in advance, and scheduling playdates with kids he hates for his son who probably won't remember them, now he's the best man to his ex-wife, when will he be Daniel LaRusso the man who can say no? Words: 4593, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Cobra Kai (TV), Karate Kid (Movies) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/M, Gen, M/M Characters: Daniel LaRusso, Amanda LaRusso, Samantha LaRusso, Anthony LaRusso, Johnny Lawrence, Robby Keene, Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz, Miguel Diaz (Cobra Kai), Carmen Diaz (Cobra Kai), John Kreese, Terry Silver, Tommy (Karate Kid), Jimmy (Karate Kid), Dutch (Karate Kid), Bobby Brown (Karate Kid) Relationships: Daniel LaRusso/Johnny Lawrence, Amanda LaRusso/Bobby Brown Additional Tags: Wedding Planning, Protective Johnny Lawrence, Past Amanda LaRusso/Daniel LaRusso, Daniel LaRusso Needs a Hug, Johnny Lawrence Gets Therapy, Kid versions of the cobra kai kids, Bitter Daniel LaRusso paired with argumentative Johnny Lawrence, Amanda LaRusso gets shit done, our boys are pushed to plan a wedding together, Fluff and Angst, Good Friend Bobby Brown (Karate Kid) via https://ift.tt/xWKmR04

[moreofaloner]

hey you mentioned somewhere that you thought sam was a mean girl in the first seasons - out of genuine curiosity, can you point out specific things/moments where she was? i only remember her being rich & somewhat stuck up (the whole kyler arc was bad etc) but i also haven't watched the first few seasons since they were on YOUTUBE lmao so i really and truly don't remember them in much detail and would appreciate a refresher from your pov! :)

She wasn't a mean girl at heart. But Sam's arch in the first seasons was that she wanted to belong with the mean girls Yas and Moon.

She didn't actively bully anyone. But she was in the car when Yas crashed Johnny's car and she never said anything.

She actively ignored Aisha many times. And lied to her about hanging out and being busy.

When people were bullying Aisha, she never did anything to help her. She just apologized, for no reason.

Then her own bullying started so for season 1 this was her big mean girl moments.

Although she's annoying me in the first season, I don't hate her. What she's doing is just teenage things and phases we've all been through.

And then the rest of the seasons up till 4 happen.

And Samantha Larusso thinks she's a good person and she starts being judgmental and condescending towards everyone. Her father taught her well that cobra Kai is bad and she never questioned it after Miguel acted like a jerk.

So she never gave Miguel, or Aisha or anyone from cobra Kai a chance to prove her wrong.

The line "everybody's got a sob story, doesn't give them the right to be a bully" irks me not because it's not true, but because a rich kid that never was met with something or someone that she can't have said it.

Then we have what Daniel told her at some point. Sam never had a moment without a bf or boy problems.

I liked that they referenced it. But the fact that that was the case was just old school writing. The writers wrote Samantha as a plot device more than her own character. And that's the problem with her and Tory's relationship too. (Up until season 3) Their hatred has started from jealousy over Aisha and mostly Miguel.

Season 3 Sam, had the whole PTSD arc which I appreciated and that's the point I changed my mind about her. She grew!

Season 4, her embracing Johnny's cobra Kai was beautiful. But then she marvelously misinterpreted Aisha's point. And she almost ruined it for me. The sob story line...she still believed it.

I added my personal pov since you said you wanted. I hope that's what you wanted ;)

And this is hard to believe since I listed all the reasons I dislike her but I grew to like Sam as a character. And now watching back to earlier seasons I enjoy disliking her.

[starglaee]

Cobra Kai and Cold Hearted (my fanfic on Wattpad) characters and plotlines as folklore songs. Cold Hearted spoilers below. Feel free to add your own thoughts and opinions!

Tag list: @secretsandwritings-blog

-

the 1

Cobra Kai: Lawrusso. Easily. Every time I listen to this song I can’t help thinking of them: “ And if my wishes came true, it would’ve been you. In my defense, I have none for never leaving well enough alone. But it would’ve been fun if you would’ve been the one.”

Cold Hearted: Elion and how I feel from writing them: “I persist and resist the temptation to ask you if one thing had been different would everything be different today?”

-

cardigan

Cold Hearted: No matter what happens, Robby is there for Zion. They know each other, they trust each other, and confide in each other. This is especially true post season 3. There’s no other couple in the show or my book that really fits this song like them: “When you are young they assume you know nothing. But I knew you.”

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the last great american dynasty

Cobra Kai: Tbh this song gives me Sensei Kim Da-Eun vibes. While I’m still waiting to see what they do in season 6 with her character, I think she fits the depiction of a badass woman coming to town and turning it upside down: “There goes the loudest woman this town has ever seen. I had a marvelous time ruining everything.”

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exile

CH: This is the title of my playlist for Elion (Eli and Zion). The angst fits them so perfectly. Also, the mentions of violence and clear jealousy illustrates these two in season 2 and 3 in a way no other song I’ve found can. Taylor’s writing makes me so happy, and Bon Iver’s voice makes it that much more heartbreaking: “I can see you standing, honey, like he’s just your understudy. Like you’d get your knuckles bloody for me.”

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my tears ricochet

CK: This very much applies to Johnny and Kreese. Kreese made Cobra Kai a safe space for Johnny in his childhood only to abuse him and shut him out. Johnny grew but brought back Cobra Kai then Kreese tries to join again. Once he did, he stole it from Johnny. I have too many quotes for this one so here’s a few: “And if I’m dead to you, why are you at the wake? Cursing my name wishing I stayed…” and “And I can go anywhere I want, anywhere I want, just not home.”

CH: Zion and Terry and Kreese are exemplified beautifully in this song, too. Like Johnny, they used her for their own gain while mentally abusing her in the process: “And you’re the hero flying around saving face.” and “‘Cause when I’d fight you used to tell me I was brave.

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mirrorball

CK: Samantha LaRusso is a mirrorball. In season 1, she did anything to fit in and be popular like endure what Yasmine and Moon said to her and her former friends and classmates. In season 2, we get a glimpse of her changing herself to be with Robby and try to push Miguel and her feelings - both anger and love - away. In season 3, she’s masking her PTSD. In season 4, she does all she can to be the Bonsai Badass for her dad and the Miyagi legacy. In season 5, she finally breaks down for Miguel and says she can’t do karate anymore until she really knows who she is and overcomes all the mental obstacles still waiting for her. She also lets Daniel and Chozen in over the course of the show, letting the mirrorball crack more and more. (I love the exploration of her PTSD, if you can’t tell): “The masquerade revelers drunk as they watch my shattered edges glisten.”

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seven

CH: Tbh I think this only fits Jess and Zion since we don’t know a lot about anyone’s childhood except Anthony and Johnny, but they don’t have any friends that would fit this song. Jess knows from an early age that Zion’s mom is bad, though they can’t put their finger on it. It’s such a sweet and haunting song about childhood that only they can really express: “Your dad is always mad and that must be why. And I think you should come live with me and we can be pirates then you won’t have to cry.”

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august

CK: This is an accurate song for SamRobby. The summer romance, the angst with the Miguel of it all, and the whispers of hiding it from Sam’s parents: “‘Cause you were never mine.”

CH: This song heavily inspired the prequel chapters with Zobby (Zion and Robby): “August slipped away into a moment in time.”

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this is me trying

CK: Johnny’s relationship with Robby is beautifully detailed in this song. It’s about overcoming alcohol and peaking too soon. Johnny won 2 AVTs in high school before losing to LaRusso. After that, he let it and his trust issues overtake him and thus drive Robby out of his life. When he finally gets his act together, it’s for Miguel. But he keeps trying for Robby at the end of season 4 when he tells Robby they’ll save Kenny together (though I still wish Johnny would prioritize Robby over Miguel more and actually help him rather than depend on Robby helping him but that’s another rant): “At least I’m trying.”

CH: This is also about Zion in season 5 to everyone she loves while she does all she can to recover from the addiction: “Pouring my heart out to a stranger, but I didn’t pour the whiskey. I just wanted you to know that this is me trying.”

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illicit affairs

CK: Samiguel, duh. It’s not as beautiful of a story as Taylor describes because it’s just them kissing at a party while actively having their respective partners: “It’s born from just one single glance, but it dies and it dies and it dies a million little times.”

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invisible string

CK: This may be a weird take in a non-romantic way, but the invisible string is for Julie Pierce and Daniel. The string is actually Mr. Miyagi. But regardless I think this is a cute way to think about it, like karate has bonded them even if they don’t know it yet. (This is also my official prayer and plea and whatever that Hilary Swank will be in season 6. I guess we’ll see): “Isn’t it just so pretty to think that all along there was some invisible string tying you to me.”

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mad woman

CK: aka Tory. The woman is always mad as hell (/lh). She’s always called crazy and manipulated by some old Cobra Kai war veteran. Just give her a break, man: “Every time you call me crazy I get more crazy.”

CH: Yeah, it’s the same with Zion tbh. But I also pose the idea of it being Zion’s pov on the Demetri rivalry. He calls her crazy, initially had Yasmine on his side, and she reacts the only way she knows: “What did you think I’d say to that? Does a scorpion sting when fighting back? They strike to kill, and you know I will.”

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epiphany

CK: Is it weird to give this song to Silver? (I guess it also applies to Kreese.) He’s a war veteran with very obvious and untreated PTSD that he uses to mold an ideal version of the world for himself where Cobra Kai rules and he doesn’t have to answer for his heinous and violent actions. He also hid away from the karate world after the AVT in ‘85 with his money, business, and rich friends, which was where we found him at the beginning of season 4. He even repressed those memories until Kreese brought them out, thus also bringing out the monster: “Just one single glimpse of relief to make some sense of what you’ve seen.”

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betty

CK: This song is a poor apology, kind of like what Miguel gave to Tory. It reminds me of that scene in season 3 when Miguel is at Tory’s work accidentally and they talk and she calls him out on just wanting Sam back (despite that being her initial suggestion for the relationship anyway (also another topic for another time)): “I thought of you all summer long.”

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peace

CK: Daniel’s song for Amanda. She’s such a catch, amazing wife, fabulous mother, and whatever. But Daniel can’t stop the karate villains from his past from emerging or from engaging with them. He may never “give her peace,” but he tries to be upfront about it. In season 5 she really snapped when rival after rival showed up and how Terry manipulated and divided them, but after he got hurt and she talked to Jessica it seemed better. And at the end of season 5 she gets it. So I feel like this song was a conversation at some point offscreen, and it helped their marriage significantly: “I’d give you my sunshine, give you my best, but the rain is always gonna come if you’re standing with me.”

CH: Zion to Robby. Rumor after rumor, fight after fight, manipulation after manipulation, and breakup after breakup. He’s still there for her. Like Daniel, she’s desperate to get her partner to know that she does all she can for him despite the drama the real world brings in. She acknowledges her trauma, and Robby acknowledges his. Because of this it’s a bit healthier than the song depicts where Taylor’s lover is on a pedestal in comparison to her. Let’s just say Robby lets her bejeweled (iykyk): “All these people think love’s for show, but I would die for you in secret.”

-

hoax

CK: I kind of feel like this is Robby’s song for his mom. He loves her and is so protective of her, but she keeps choosing alcohol (and drugs?) and men over him. Even though she makes him sad, she’s the person he goes to after kicking Miguel. Even though she’s not the best mom, she’s all he has. He let her do whatever just to keep his mom around: “Don’t want to know other shade of blue but you. No other sadness in the world would do.”

-

the lakes

CK: This one is for Miguel. He suffered in silence during season 4, doing what Johnny asked and supporting him when he was the one who needed that. He wanted to run away to Mexico because he felt he didn’t belong in karate anymore (and because of his dad but for these purposes it’s just because of karate): “What should be over burrowed under my skin in heart-stopping waves of hurt.”

CH: This one is also for Zion, the girl who always fantasizes about running away and finding a better reality than the Valley, especially with Robby: “I don’t belong, and my beloved neither do you.”

-

Fun fact: my Zobby playlist is called My Beloved. I’ll share the songs if you’re interested. It’s a long list, though.

Let me know your thoughts on this if you have any! Please remember this is just my take on things.

It’s fun to do these, so feel free to request more things. I’m most familiar with Taylor’s music, but I’m open to listening to new music or doing non-Taylor related content.

[avatarskywalker78]

Chapters: 1/1

Fandom: Cobra Kai (TV)

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Mike Barnes & Daniel LaRusso

Characters: Mike Barnes, Daniel LaRusso

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Misunderstandings, Light Angst, Humor, Male Friendship, Or slowly getting there anyway, Daniel LaRusso has PTSD, And he still has some issues to work through

Series: Part 10 of bad boy (no more)

Summary:

Mike Barnes tends to keep out of the wider karate stuff since his store got torched, though he still meets up with Daniel, Johnny, and Chozen sometimes and they (mostly) get along.

Except Daniel's somehow gotten it into his head that Mike wants to be a sensei and is making it Mike's problem, so it seems there's still a way to go.

[landslided]

Honestly one of the things that fascinates me about Cobra Kai is how Daniel's perception of what Johnny thinks colors the way he reacts towards Johnny.

The way he greets him in the dealership makes it clear that he still thinks of Johnny as a kind of archetype. And obviously a lot of the show is about them getting past that and learning to know each other as adults, or is in the ideal version in my head, lol.

But I would like the moment when Daniel's perception flips and he sees Johnny in another light, with another label attached:

Bisexual, mentally ill sex worker with substance abuse problems and C-PTSD from being groomed as a child soldier in a cult.

i feel everyone on tumblr has decided to send me anons that appeal to me particularly because OUUUUGH anon, i am SUCH a fan of this.

i also love to explore daniel’s perception of johnny and by extension, himself through johnny because i think sometimes when daniel realizes that johnny isn’t the fully fledged villain or at least an archetype he has imagined in his head, he has to take a moment and shift his gaze onto himself.

we have a bit of a moment like this in S1Ep9 (different but the same my absolute beloved) when daniel learns that johnny’s dad wasn’t around and that laura married sid. you can see the gears shift in his head and think "oh… maybe there is more to this than i thought" and johnny has those same moments with speedwagon (which, is less deep than daniel’s realization but an important one of oh maybe we do have stuff in common that isn’t just our past).

i also think johnny in the show is more open to having his perception of daniel shifted because he does not have the same trauma attached to daniel. obviously, it’s pretty normal of daniel to be mistrustful of johnny because well, he was his high school bully who made his life hell, but i think there’s also a special brand of i can’t trust anyone and everybody is exactly how i see them philosophy that is a legacy of what terry silver has done to daniel. and when robby manages to make his way into daniel’s life and his trust and then is found out to have lied, daniel completely breaks down and has a reaction to robby (a kid) that feels just too much for the situation at hand.

also, if you, like me, love to read daniel as repressed in his sexuality (because hello guy from the 80´s and also once again, he was betrayed by silver and i don’t even mean this in a silverusso way but in a oh i can’t trust anyone with parts of myself because they could use it against me way) then there is a layer to daniel’s refusal to see johnny differently that is i think a way to protect himself and his own vision of himself and his desires.

i… love daniel larusso so much. he is such a complex mess of a character who believes himself to NOT be a mess and that’s what makes it so delicious to me.

but god, yes. bisexual, mentally ill sex worker johnny with substance abuse problems and C-PTSD, like, it’s not that far off from what he is in canon! we just put the actual words on it! (i could also go on a full tangent about sex worker johnny and the clues we have of that past in the show but i won’t here). i think if daniel ever learned about any of this in any capacity his brain would shut down for a least three to four business days before he tried to be aggressively supportive and johnny would find it unbearable. (i would like to see it)

[miasmultifandomdump]

People refusing to understand that Daniel LaRusso has PTSD is my villain origin story.

[ao3feed-binarybfs]

Got Your Heart (In A Headlock)

by cybrdvnt

read it on AO3 here

Daniel LaRusso is a 50-something car salesman that since after the 80's, has been in good health. A few weeks after his and Amanda's divorce, a week before moving day, his knee starts giving him unrelenting agony.

Amanda is his best friend and wants the best for him. She thinks the way to that is Johnny Lawrence's help.

Words: 3389, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Cobra Kai (TV), Karate Kid (Movies)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: Daniel LaRusso, Johnny Lawrence, Amanda LaRusso, Samantha LaRusso, Anthony LaRusso, Moon (Cobra Kai), Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz, Demetri Alexopoulos, Robby Keene, Miguel Diaz (Cobra Kai), Miyagi-Fang Students

Relationships: Daniel LaRusso/Johnny Lawrence, Daniel LaRusso & Johnny Lawrence, Samantha LaRusso/Moon, Samantha Larusso & Moon, Demetri Alexopoulos/Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz, Demetri Alexopoulos & Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz

Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Guilt, Fluff and Angst, Angst, a whole lot of it, Attempt at Humor, Hurt Daniel LaRusso, Divorced Amanda LaRusso/Daniel LaRusso, Injury Recovery, Daniel LaRusso has PTSD, Johnny Lawrence is Bad at Feelings, lawrusso, Mutual Pining, Slow Burn, Eventual Relationships

[ryanjudgesthings]

Daniel LaRusso being told as a child by his abuser that the crane kick is weak and won't defeat anyone only for Daniel to grow up and crane kick that same abuser in the face is immensely satisfying, I'm just saying.

[shrinkthisviolet]

Prompt: Scary Monsters

@allvalley100

Sam, 10 years old and so painfully small, skips ahead, dragging her little brother along.

“Stay on the path!” Daniel calls, trying not to sound as scared as he feels.

Skeletons chase him relentlessly, his legs ache but he’s too scared to dwell on it, a chain-link fence, pain, pain–

A scream erupts from close by–female, young...

SAM!

Daniel runs, screaming his daughter’s name, panic, panic–

“Your face!” The skeleton chortles–and that voice...it’s...it’s–

“That wasn’t funny, Eli!” Sam scowls. Then her eyes catch his. “Dad!”

He stumbles to the ground, his breath coming out in gasps.

“Dad! Dad, breathe!”