Daniel LaRusso's view and treatment of Johnny Lawrence on Karate Kid sequel starring Hilary Swank.
Decades later, perceptions of the original film were somewhat shifted. Rather than being the hero, many came around to the belief that Daniel, rather than William Zabka's Johnny Lawrence, had been the film's true antagonist. This came as a result of several viral video essays and Barney Stinson's views on Zabka guest-starring as himself on multiple occasions. Debuting in 2018 (and then re-released via Netflix in 2020), Cobra Kai leaned firmly into that concept. Fleshing out his backstory and illuminating his point of view, Johnny was turned into a more sympathetic and (anti)heroic figure. Conversely, Daniel repeatedly demonstrated less-than-favorable traits.
From the moment he learned that Cobra Kai had returned, Daniel viewed them with a singleminded contempt. Even before the return of Miyagi-do karate: That within all things, there is a balance.
Good and evil, love and hate, positive and negative, each of these opposing traits and even more besides exist simultaneously within everybody. Mr. Miyagi knew that all-too-well. Furthermore, he knew that the most important thing was to see, acknowledge, and maintain that balance — both in regards to karate and life in general. Mr. Miyagi imparted that lesson to Daniel directly during The Karate Kid. Unlike Mr. Miyagi's lesson on forgiveness, however, Daniel doesn't so much seem to have forgotten it but be willfully ignoring it. Repeatedly throughout Cobra Kai, Daniel recalled, mentioned, or even ed along that lesson to such students as Robbie Keene (Tanner Buchanan). Yet he has viewed Johnny and his students through a strictly black or white lens, allowing his own balance to slip in the process.
Of course, there wouldn't be much in the way of conflict if Daniel heeded these lessons entirely. Still, it lent credence to the idea that Daniel is no longer the hero of the story. Such has been what made the show so surprisingly compelling, however, the shades of grey and the blurring of the lines between heroes and villains. Victims can become bullies and bullies can successfully achieve redemption. Therefore, though Daniel has lost his way from Mr. Miyagi's teachings, finding his way back makes for a compelling arc for the character. For Johnny to be the catalyst and eventual culmination of that arc is similarly engrossing, and has an element of bringing things full circle. Both characters are intrinsically linked, having fuelled each other's lapses and growth. They are two sides of the same coin, and perhaps each one half of an external balance that will facilitate re-establishing their internal ones. That being said, if Daniel had been more self-aware earlier, however, much of Cobra Kai's tragedy could have been avoided.