The series stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, reprising their respective roles as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence from the film series. The first and second seasons launched on YouTube Red / YouTube Premium in May 2018 and April 2019. Netflix acquired the series in June 2020 after YouTube decided to stop producing scripted original programming. The series has attained high viewership on both YouTube and Netflix.
Thirty-four years after being defeated by Daniel LaRusso in the 1984 All-Valley Karate Kid (1984), Johnny Lawrence, now in his 50s, works as a part-time handyman and lives in an apartment in Reseda, Los Angeles. Daniel is now the owner of a highly successful car dealership chain, is married to co-owner Amanda, and has two children: Samantha and Anthony. Daniel reopens the Miyagi-Do dojo in response to Cobra Kai's success, sparking a massive rivalry between the two dojos.