The first reactions to the imminent fourth season of Cobra Kai are in, and it sounds like another knockout for Netflix’s hugely popular Karate Kid sequel series. Promising a whole host of terrifying new enemies, exciting new alliances, and a lot of karate, it sounds like Cobra Kai Season 4 punches hard, kicks high, and expertly continues the epic saga of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence.

Some have even gone so far as to call season 4 the best outing for Cobra Kai yet, which is already a very high bar indeed. One critic describes the fourth series as “Easily the best season – so far,” praising both the fight sequences and evolving characterisation.

While another critic calls Cobra Kai season 4 not only “incredible” but goes on to hail Cobra Kai as “The best show on television.” You’ll get no arguments here.

One review describes Cobra Kai season 4 as being like a “full-on soap opera” but with kicking (something which all soap-operas could do with adding), a statement which teases both the ongoing drama and the karate-fuelled action that fans now know and love.

Of course, not all reactions can be quite as glowing, with one critic finding the latest series of Cobra Kai to be “slow,” “messy,” and “clunky.” Despite this, they were still somewhat charmed by the exploits of the warring karate clubs, and remain excited to see season 5.

Thankfully, the positives continue to come in thick and fast like so many crane kicks to the face, with these early reactions calling the fourth season “GREAT,” with others praising the show for perfecting the art of action-packed, comforting television.

Finally, season 4 of Cobra Kai has been applauded by some of these early reactions for subverting many of our expectations, which leads to a surprising, refreshing action-comedy-drama, and should be the perfect way to wrap up the holiday season.

Cobra Kai brings some of the greatest heroes of 1980s cinema back into our lives, picking up 34 years after the celebrated The Karate Kid and re-examining the events from Johnny Lawrence’s point of view. After two acclaimed seasons, the third series of Cobra Kai wrapped up with some big changes being made to the status quo. Rivals Daniel and Johnny bring together their respective karate clubs, Miyagi-Do dojo and Eagle Fang, in order to defeat Cobra Kai, which has now been taken over by the menacing John Kreese.

The no-doubt shaky union of Daniel and Johnny will face several major challenges in Cobra Kai season 4, as Kreese brings his own partner into the fray in the form of the returning villain Terry Silver. Last seen in The Karate Kid Part III, Silver is a character that many fans had hoped would make a comeback, with the bad guy duo sure to cause all manner of chaos across the Valley.

Cobra Kai Season 4 will once again star Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Martin Kove, Vanessa Rubio, and Peyton List, and is set to be released on December 31.