The Karate Child motion pictures of the ‘80s monitor the journey of Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and his introduction to martial arts. In fact, LaRusso’s clever and jovial mentor, Mr. Miyagi, receives his fair proportion of the limelight as nicely. That’s very true with the second installment of that authentic trilogy. Whereas the 1986 movie, subtitled Half II, isn’t held in excessive regard like its iconic 1984 predecessor, I actually take pleasure in it, which is why I relish rewatching it. Nonetheless, there’s one facet of that sequel I want had been tackled otherwise.
In The Karate Child: Half II, Daniel and Mr. Miyagi journey to the latter’s homeland of Okinawa after receiving phrase that his father is gravely unwell. Whereas there, the duo cross paths with Miyagi’s former buddy, Sato Toguchi, who nonetheless holds a grudge towards the handyman. In the meantime, Daniel involves blows with Sato’s nephew, Chozen (who evolves by the occasions of Cobra Kai). The story presents motion, romance and extra, however it’s the dealing with of Miyagi’s father that serves as a missed alternative.
Miyagi Chōjun solely seems in two scenes throughout the movie – the second at which Miyagi and Daniel arrive on the town and when he later summons Miyagi and Sato shortly earlier than his loss of life. The patriarch has a number of traces of dialogue upon seeing his son for the primary time in a long time, however he doesn’t converse once more forward of his passing. It’s due to this that Chōjun comes off as extra of a plot machine versus an precise character.
Sure, this movie is extra so meant to spotlight the surrogate father/son relationship between Miyagi and Daniel, however it might’ve been fascinating for the previous to spend a bit extra time together with his dad. Even a further scene during which the 2 characters have a coronary heart to coronary heart – whereas talking of their native tongue – might’ve been extremely compelling. Such an alternate might have additionally supplied some further details about the connection they’d earlier than Miyagi left Okinawa.
It’s a disgrace followers didn’t have the chance to see Mr. Miyagi work together with a residing relative. Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless a chance to (considerably) make up for the lackluster execution of Chōjun’s introduction.
How Can The Karate Child Franchise Do Proper By The Patriarch Of The Miyagi Household?
There’s been a variety of hope from followers of Cobra Kai (which is offered to stream with a Netflix subscription) that the present may spark different tasks set throughout the fictional universe. Whereas the creators haven’t dropped any particular particulars, they’ve indicated that they’re certainly speaking out concepts. An apparent one can be to provide a prequel collection targeted on the adventures of a younger Mr. Miyagi. Such a present would certainly permit the artistic staff the chance to flesh out the connection between the lead character and his dad.
The EPs of the hit streaming present – Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg – do certainly need to inform Miyagi tales, but there’s one factor they received’t do. As they shared with CinemaBlend, they’re not eager on monitoring the character’s exploits across the time he met Daniel. The trio would like to discover the sensei’s earlier life and presumably have totally different actors play him in several eras. That will be a stable solution to method that form of present.
In fact, I’d simply hope that if that occurs, followers will obtain a layered illustration of Mr. Miyagi’s relationship together with his father. That simply appears like a side of this fictional universe that’s ripe for exploration and, for me, it will actually make up for what is definitely considered one of Half II’s weakest parts.
Stream The Karate Child: Half II utilizing a Hulu subscription now. Additionally, try the 2025 film launch, Karate Child: Legends, in theaters now.