Aug 3, 2026 · 1h 38m

The Karate Kid sequel turns Miyagi into its real hero

‘The Karate Kid Part II’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt

The rewatch exposes a sequel whose emotional center is Pat Morita, even as Daniel’s behavior, romance, and karate skills come under sustained suspicion.

3 key takeaways

1Pat Morita’s Miyagi carries the film, giving its Okinawan drama more emotional weight than its uneven action.
2Daniel’s impulsiveness and dependence on Miyagi complicate his status as the trilogy’s hero.
3The movie’s 1986 excesses, continuity problems, and “Glory of Love” help explain its enduring rewatch value.

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The hosts award the movie to Pat Morita, then give Peter Cetera’s “Glory of Love” a provocative alternate victory.

The brief

Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt revisit The Karate Kid Part II as a sequel with surprising rewatch value, then ask whether its true protagonist is Daniel or Mr. Miyagi.

The film becomes a Pat Morita showcase, while Daniel’s impulsiveness, dependence on Miyagi, and questionable choices make him look less like a hero and more like the trilogy’s hidden problem.

Okinawa supplies the sequel’s emotional and cultural frame: Miyagi confronts Sato, Daniel meets Kumiko, and the hosts weigh heartfelt drama against abrupt villain redemption and implausible action.

The rewatch peaks with the typhoon rescue and castle finale, where Miyagi saves Sato and Daniel faces Chozen amid drum techniques, strange punches, and escalating 1986 excess.

After dissecting continuity, production trivia, music, and franchise legacy, the hosts award the movie to Morita, with Peter Cetera’s “Glory of Love” claiming a cheeky alternative victory.

Featuring

Kyle Brandt