10 Incredible TV Shows That Everyone Thought Would Be Terrible

With rebooted sequels like Fuller House, Saved By the Bell, and The Mighty Ducks becoming the norm, it appears the television industry is banking on rehashing the same old stuff rather than writing something original. And when The Karate Kid follow-up, Cobra Kai, was announced in 2018, no one was expecting much.

Apart from the original film, everything connected to The Karate Kid tanked, whether it's the sub-par sequels, the abominable spin-off, the forgettable remake, or the cartoon you didn't know existed. Also, Pat Morita had passed away, meaning the franchise's best character, Mr Miyagi, would be absent from the revival.

And yet, Cobra Kai was a massive triumph. The Easter eggs for its predecessor are there but the series isn't a slave to nostalgia. It focuses on the characters, fleshing them out so well, you end up caring about everyone. (Except Tom Cole, because screw that guy.)

Watching The Karate Kid, you never thought twice about Johnny's mates. But Cobra Kai makes you teary-eyed when one of them dies.

The series should be used as the blueprint for reviving old properties since the showrunners clearly know how to commemorate the original story while not latching onto it like a crutch.