Cobra Kai as Greek Tragedy

So, I've been watching Cobra Kai (a spinoff of The Karate Kid), and firstly, I recommend watching it if you enjoyed the original Karate Kid movie that it's based on.

But, the interesting thing to me about this show is that it's pretty much taking the form of a Greek Tragedy, and in doing so re-imagining the original movie AS a Greek Tragedy from the perspective of Johnny Lawrence.  Daniel LaRusso becomes, not a hero or a villain, but the vehicle of a deus ex machina punishment of Johnny for his hubris.

Now, I'm certainly not a scholar of the Greek Tragedy, but my admittedly abbreviated understanding is that they generally take the form where the hero has the good life.  Then the hero commits a sin against a god or gods, usually in the form of hubris--of thinking that he doesn't need the gods, because he's so awesome he can do everything himself.  He thus ceases making proper sacrifices, or disobeys the gods, or otherwise scorns them.  This, of course, infuriates the gods, who are jealous of mortals, and they proceed to punish the mortal and make him lose everything he loves until he eventually realizes his crime and (usually) takes his own life out of despair.

That is certainly what is shaping up here, as Lawrence's attempts to elevate himself, recapture his glory days, and build some sort of future for himself are met at every turn with tragic consequences, usually due to the direct or indirect interference of Daniel LaRusso or one of his family.

What makes it all the more heartwrenching is that on a couple of occasions Johnny and Daniel meet in neutral circumstances and are actually quite friendly, but the ex machina keeps churning away in the background, setting them eternally at odds until its revenge is complete.

I'm looking forward to Season 3.