Why Wasn't There a Scene of Daniel and Amanda Returning to a Wrecked House in Cobra Kai?

In season 4 of Cobra Kai, when Johnny came back from his outing with Ali and saw Miguel in pain, it provided a powerful emotional climax to the episode. However, had Daniel and Amanda returned to their home to find it in ruins, would this have been as impactful?

Why Johnny's Scene Was More Impactful

Johnny was planning to commit with Carmen, and he had heeded her warning twice to protect Miguel. Yet, finding Miguel battered and bruised was more emotionally charged than Daniel and Amanda discovering their own house was wrecked due to a Cobra Kai attack. The intensity of witnessing someone you care about in pain is more potent than simply seeing your own property damaged.

In the scene where Hawk and co. trashed Migayi-Do and stole the Medal of Honor, the level of anger that Johnny felt was comparable to what Daniel would have experienced if he had seen his home in ruins. Johnny's rage and determination to protect Miguel would have been a powerful showcase of male emotion and loyalty, which in turn would transfer to Daniel's scene.

Length Considerations

Season 3, episode 10 of Cobra Kai was already the longest episode of the series at approximately 45 minutes. Given the need to compress and balance the narrative, including a scene where Daniel and Amanda return to find their home wrecked might have extended the episode, making it even longer than necessary. The showrunners were likely mindful of the pacing and composition of the episode, knowing that every moment needed to serve the overall storyline.

The Role of Amanda's Support

Even if the scene had been included, it's highly unlikely to have added value to the narrative. The role of a supporting character like Amanda in such a scene would have been to bolster Daniel's resolve, encouraging him to take on the Cobra Kai dojo. However, Amanda had already shown her support earlier in the season during the episode where Daniel takes Sam fishing. Her support was cemented when they discussed the importance of standing up to Kreese, making a redundant scene unnecessary.

Conclusion

The episode's strength lay in its core character dynamics and internal conflicts. Johnny's scene with Miguel, while tragic, provided a powerful emotional closing to the episode. A similar scene with Daniel and Amanda would have been redundant and potentially extended the episode unnecessarily. The showrunners chose wisely by focusing on the more impactful moments of character development.

In the world of Cobra Kai, every moment needs to count. The decision to show Johnny's reaction to Miguel instead of Daniel and Amanda's return to a wrecked home showcased a deep understanding of narrative and character development.