John Kreese or Terry Silver can be found somewhere in the background of nearly every poor choice made in Cobra Kai. Occasionally both. Despite the fact that the show has spent six seasons meticulously developing these two men into more complex characters than typical television antagonists, viewers continue to ask the same question: which of them is truly worse?
It seems like a simple argument. If you watch enough fan debates on YouTube comment sections and Reddit threads, you’ll see that people have surprisingly strong opinions about this—possibly more strongly than the question seems to warrant. However, Kreese and Silver are more than just variations of the same thing, which is why it produces so much heat. They are completely different types of wrong.
Violence that he did not choose has shaped John Kreese. His backstory from the Vietnam War, which is revealed in bits and pieces over the course of multiple Cobra Kai seasons, explains a lot about how he came to be the person he is. He did not create the “no mercy” philosophy out of cruelty. He learned it in a cage with a commander who followed the same guidelines. The fact that he manipulates teenagers, causes relapses, and pushes people toward their worst impulses doesn’t justify the harm he does, but it does give his evil a certain internal logic. He sincerely thinks he’s preparing people for a society that does not tolerate weakness. That is a dangerous belief. In an odd way, it’s also consistent.
Terry Silver is a unique individual. When he reappears in Season 4, he appears composed and well-groomed, the type of person who orders pricey wine and makes everyone in the room feel a little appreciative of their presence. The point is that surface. Silver is purposeful, well-dressed, and smiles while committing cruelty.
He accuses Kreese of committing a crime that Silver did. After beating Stingray almost to death, he cleans up the evidence by taking advantage of the man’s fear. He creates a karate empire because winning is the only thing that keeps him motivated, not because he believes in anything. With billions of dollars, the man could, by all accounts, live a completely harmless life. He decides against it.
Observing Silver in action gives the impression that this is what makes him more unsettling than Kreese. Kreese is a result of something. The substance itself is silver. His self-control is exact and cautious, his resources are practically limitless, and his ability to truly care for anyone seems to be almost nonexistent. Even the times in the later seasons when Silver seems to warm up to someone, like Kenny, feel more like tactics than emotions.
Despite all of his flaws, Kreese has shown signs of affection. Throughout the entire series, his love for Johnny Lawrence is twisted and conditional, but it is genuine in its own unique way. In a scene that seemed more protective than calculated, he attacked Tory’s predatory landlord. He has lines, but they are hazy and poorly positioned. They don’t seem to be present in Silver.
It’s possible that the show never intended to resolve this issue amicably, and that’s probably the right decision. The machine was built by Kreese. It was supercharged by silver. It might be more helpful to ask what happens when a calculating opportunist and a traumatized ideologue decide they want the same thing rather than which is more evil. Everyone in their immediate vicinity suffers as a result, according to Cobra Kai’s six seasons.
