‘Cobra Kai’ Season 4 Filmed a Different Ending to Tory and Samantha’s Fight
The end of Cobra Kai Season 4 was thrilling and bittersweet. The 51st annual All-Valley Karate Tournament decided the fates of Cobra Kai, Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang. It came down to the female finals between Tory (Peyton List) and Samantha (Mary Mouser). But, there was an alternate ending you didn’t see until now. Mouser showed it at the Cobra Kai: Live and Badass event on May 5.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Cobra Kai Season 4.]
Showbiz Cheat Sheet was at Cobra Kai: Live and Badass. We’ll have more with the cast of the show, but first here’s the alternate ending for season 4 that Mouser showed. Cobra Kai Season 5 premieres Sept. 9 on Netflix.
‘Cobra Kai’ shot an ending where Samantha beat Tory in the All-Valley Karate Tournament
Mouser set up the clip with a tease. “You guys actually saw the wrong ending of season 4,” Mouser said. “We found it when we were going back and re-editing so we have the correct ending of season 4. I’ll be interested in your thoughts.”
The clip began with John Kreese (Martin Kove) telling Tory (Peyton List) to fight her way. Much of the fight choreography remained the same including slow motion kicks and blocks. But, Samantha scored the final point. Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang lifted her up as the champion.
Tory was always supposed to beat Samantha at the end of ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 4
Mouser’s costars confirmed that the alternate ending was only filmed to fake out the audience of extras watching them film the All-Valley Karate Tournament. Think about it, the creators already had Cobra Kai Season 5 planned. If Miyagi-Do won, Daniel (Ralph Macchio) would not need to bring Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) in to help fight Cobra Kai.
“I think we knew what ending was going to play,” Macchio said. “There was always the chance in the editing room anything could be changed, but that was more for the audience of extras or folks that were there cheering in the stands. We didn’t want them to be 100% sure who won.”
Mary Mouser got to enjoy one scene of victory
Mouser was on board to shoot a scene that she knew was never going to be used. And it wasn’t just any scene. She learned new choreography just to fake out the live audience.
“We don’t do spoilers,” Mouser said.
William Zabka supported Samantha’s victory. He alluded to the fact that once again the All-Valley winner made some illegal moves. First Daniel beat him with an illegal kick. This time Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) paid off the judges.
“It was written for Tori to win but the fans were there and there are a lot of people,” Zabka said. “We just wanted to throw them off the trail so Sam won in one. I think she won in style and I think that should’ve been the ending.”
