Ep 5. Counterbalance

Johnny Lawrence, the former leader of the Karate Kid, continues to teach a new generation of students in Cobra Kai, his own martial arts school. His most recent pupil, Miguel, shows great potential and is quickly rising to the top of the class. However, Miguel's mother suspects that Johnny is a bad influence on her son and tries to restrict his contact with him.

Meanwhile, Johnny's long-time rival, Daniel LaRusso, is running a successful car dealership in the same town. He is also trying to help his daughter deal with the aftermath of a recent car accident and the loss of her phone. Daniel feels responsible for the accident and is trying to make amends.

In episode 5, titled "Counterbalance," tensions between Johnny and Daniel come to a head when they both show up at a local high school to recruit new students for their respective dojos. Johnny's recruiting tactics are questionable and lead to a physical altercation between him and Daniel, which is caught on video and quickly goes viral.

As a result of the video, both Johnny and Daniel receive backlash from the community, including their own families. Johnny's son, Robby, who has been estranged from his father, sees the video and is disappointed in his father's behavior. Meanwhile, Daniel's wife, Amanda, questions his decision to engage in a fight with Johnny and worries about how it will affect their family's image and business.

Despite the negative feedback, both Johnny and Daniel are determined to continue with their dojos and prove that their way of teaching karate is the best. As part of this, Johnny invites a special guest to come help him teach his students. The guest, however, turns out to be a former enemy of Daniel's, which causes tension between the two former rivals to rise even higher.

Throughout the episode, the students of both dojos deal with their own personal struggles and challenges. Miguel tries to find a balance between his newfound confidence and his loyalty to his former friends, while Daniel's daughter, Samantha, tries to make amends with a former friend who was injured in the car accident. Meanwhile, Robby tries to reconnect with his father and prove himself as a worthy student.

"Counterbalance" is a pivotal episode in the season that sets the stage for the rest of the series. It showcases the ongoing rivalry between Johnny and Daniel, but also highlights the struggles of their students as they try to find their own place in the world of karate. The episode introduces new characters and conflicts while also moving the existing storylines forward. It keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as they wonder what will happen next and how the characters will overcome the challenges they face.