Cobra Kai has recontextualized Johnny Lawrence as a multifaceted antihero — however, it likely would have had the opposite effect on How I Met Your Mother's Barney Stinson. In a classic episode of the CBS sitcom, Barney declared that William Zabka's Johnny, not Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso, was the true Karate Kid. That belief would be reiterated in later episodes. When Macchio was invited to his bachelor party, Barney raged in his face about how much he hated him. He labeled LaRusso a "monster" that had only won because of "a cheap, illegal head-kick". Alternately, Barney was overjoyed when Zabka was also revealed to be hidden in plain sight at the party.
A decade after Barney's initial proclamations, Cobra Kai has convinced fans that Barney Stinson was right. Johnny has reckoned with the past and his mistakes. Though he has made a few more missteps, he has nonetheless demonstrated a commitment to change and redemption. The show also allowed fans to see the events of The Karate Kid from his point of view. Between this and new details regarding his childhood, many have come to see Johnny in a more heroic light. Conversely, with their feud reignited by Johnny's reopening of Cobra Kai, Daniel has frequently acted in a less than favorable fashion. However, while all of that has shifted people over to Johnny's side, it would probably have sent Barney in the opposite direction — for several reasons.
The most surface level of the reasons would probably be the primary one, in Barney's eyes: Daniel frequently wore a suit. After all, throughout How I Met Your Mother, he was passionate about suits to an obsessive degree. "Suit up" was even one of Barney Stinson's many catchphrases. That passion also extended to his favorite movie characters, among which Johnny wasn't the only antagonist. He also pledged his support for Hans Gruber, The Terminator, and even the Assistant Principal from The Breakfast Club. Barney's reasoning for the latter was that "he's the only guy in the whole movie wearing a suit". As such, Daniel's sartorial upgrade would no doubt prompt Barney to view the character through a similarly skewed lens. There is even a scene in Cobra Kai where Daniel busts out his karate moves while in the suit — which, it's easy to see, could have provoked a cheer from Barney, be it unconscious or otherwise.
Since The Karate Kid Part III, Daniel has also become a highly successful businessman. His company, LaRusso Auto Group, has multiple branches throughout California, specializing in luxury vehicles. As a result, he has become rich and enjoyed an extremely comfortable life for many years. That would provoke respect from Barney, who prided himself on amassing a similarly grand living situation. The fact Daniel has also built the company around his own image would only add to that respect from the equally self-promotional Barney. Some of Daniel's decisions were also driven by ego and competitiveness, two traits that Barney could fiercely relate. Those attributes spurred some machiavellian schemes — such as surreptitiously getting Johnny's rent increased. As the creator of the fiercely elaborate Playbook, Barney would likely be both impressed and proud of the new Daniel LaRusso.
Barney's shift of allegiance would likely be supported by the fact that Johnny often dresses scruffily, now living far from the affluent lifestyle he embodied in The Karate Kid. In fact, Johnny has shown a general disdain for overly wealthy people — emphasized by his abusive stepfather. In adulthood, he has embraced a much more white-collar life. Johnny is also often more emotional and less the fierce warrior that Barney idolized. In Barney's extremely twisted logic, he would likely consider this to be Johnny Lawrence's fall from grace rather than the start of a redemptive path. Conversely, given his rationale that Daniel was the villain of The Karate Kid, Barney would no doubt consider Daniel's new position in life a sign of having embarked on a successful redemption arc prior to Cobra Kai. As such, Barney's infamously contrarian nature would continue to live on.
Cobra Kai Theory: Johnny Will Run Miyagi's Dojo In Season 3
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