Shows like Cobra Kai do well with a certain type of character: the awkward underdog who develops into something genuine over time, earning their spot through perseverance and a certain unwavering refusal to give up rather than through natural talent. That character was Demetri Alexopoulos. Demetri, portrayed by Gianni DeCenzo in all six seasons, began as the nerdy sidekick that no one took seriously. For a few seasons, that arc paid off in ways that felt truly earned.
Demetri was essentially comedic relief with anxiety when he initially appeared in Season 1. On his second day at Cobra Kai, he was humiliated by Johnny Lawrence, harassed by Kyler, and quick to back off when things became awkward. He left the dojo almost right away. He had a dry, self-aware humor and a willingness to point out the ridiculousness around him that most other characters couldn’t or wouldn’t do, which was interesting even in that limited role. He was the only child who thought that Cobra Kai’s “no mercy” philosophy was a bad idea.
One of the show’s more subtly captivating dynamics came from his friendship with Eli, who would go on to become Hawk. Since kindergarten, the two had been “binary brothers”—winners of coding competitions and outsiders who found solace in one another. It was unsettling in the best way to watch that bond break during Seasons 2 and 3 as Eli changed into the mohawked bully Hawk and turned his aggression on Demetri. The fact that Hawk broke Demetri’s arm is still one of the series’ most horrifying scenes, not because of the actual violence but rather because of what it meant—a best friend choosing cruelty and the other having to figure out how to survive it.
Because the writers allowed Demetri to develop without hurrying him, those middle seasons worked for him. Instead of joining Miyagi-Do as a warrior, he did so in search of some dignity and basic self-defense. His progress was gradual and convincing. The audience witnessed every clumsy step he took to get there, so when he eventually stood his ground against Hawk in the Season 2 school brawl, it landed. When you watch that scene, you get the impression that the show knew exactly what it was doing.
Demetri was somewhat restrained in Seasons 4 and 5, which was probably the right decision. Demetri in a supporting role—still humorous, still the moral compass, still fighting alongside Hawk in scenes with real energy—performed adequately despite the show’s large cast and larger plotlines. Despite starting out as a crush on the girl who had once made fun of him, his relationship with Yasmine was strangely endearing and gave him a softer side.
When Season 6 arrived, there was a discernible change in the discourse surrounding Demetri. The plot revolved around his long-held desire to attend MIT with Hawk, and his reaction took a turn for the worse when he learned that Hawk had not applied early. The final season’s Demetri felt devoid of the warmth and humor that had made him endearing, according to both fans and critics. His short fuse, disdain for teammates, and eventual cheesy victory over Hawk in their race for the Sekai Taikai spot made him harder to support. The frustration was exacerbated by the Barcelona cheating subplot. There were conflicting opinions on Reddit, with some defending him as misinterpreted and others claiming the show just forgot about him.
The authors might have meant for this to be a purposeful regression under duress, a character going back to his worst tendencies when the stakes seemed to be at their highest. Although generous, that reading is not wholly implausible. It’s more difficult to ignore the fact that the humor vanished along with the likeability, leaving very little to cling to. Nevertheless, Demetri and Eli remain friends as they wrap up the series at Caltech. Despite all of his mistakes during his last season, the foundation remained strong. That could be sufficient.
