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Spoilers ahead for the fourth season ofCobra Kai.
To bring that back now, I dont think that wouldve worked, he says.
What has this guy been up to for the last 30 years?
How do we make him a much more three-dimensional character?
How do we bring him into 2021?
The questions I had are the same questions I think a lot of the fans would have.
Karate Kid IIIwas my first film, so it was always such a part of me.
Have you kept up a daily martial-arts routine over the years?Absolutely.
As a martial artist, Ive just kept evolving.
I started Tae Kwon Do and then incorporated other martial arts.
Ive been on this learning curve my whole life since I started this as a kid.
And for me, its not something I choose to do; its something I have to do.
It makes me a more balanced person.
I had been training up until literally the day I got the call.
That was one of the questions the guys had: Hey, are you still a good kicker?
Its like, Oh, yeah, we have that covered.
But once its in you, you want to do it.
Im certainly going to show that I had that ability.
Whats that like on set?
I set it up from the beginning, I said, Im very specific with what I do.
This is a world I know very well.
The goal always was to keep Terrys style true to who that character is.
Its a bigger-than-life character, this guy.
It should be that explosiveness.
Hes always this coiled snake, in a way.
And of course as fighters most of them are incredible martial artists, by the way they love that.
It sounds insane just talking about it.
I love that canonically, now, Terry Silver was on cocaine in the movie.
I think he really tapped into that.
Did I know if it was working at the time?
I had no idea.
When I look back, some of it works, some of it I think doesnt.
But then, it was the directors vision to say, Here it is.
This may be terrible, it may be great, but were going to go for it.
I have fond memories of it.
To bring that back now, I dont think that wouldve worked.
But when I read the first script [of season four], I thought, This is it.
The monologue where Im talking about doing the blow, and theabsurdityof this.
I was reminded that everybodys in on the joke.
Its totally ridiculous, this billionaire coming back.
Thats why I think it works.
Clearly, Terry is kind of haunted by his time in the POW camp in Vietnam.
Do you think of his story in terms of addiction and PTSD?Addiction, yes.
These are conversations I had with John Avildsen way back in 1989 doing the film.
And sometimes that gives you a drive and focus; its visceral.
Its sort of like a path of survival.
orWas it worth it?
Its really hard for people to accept that and make a change.
I dont think Terrys willing to make a change.
This is what hes lived his life by.
This is what he believes.
Hes going to see it through.
Theres such a sincerity about that.
Its like, I was a complete asshole.
My behavior was unacceptable.
Can you forgive me?
What if Daniel said yes?
I believe that that wouldve changed the course that the new Terry Silver went on.
And I think thats such a huge part of the relationship with Kreese, going, I owe you.
Im gonna pay you back.
Im indebted to you.
My allegiance is there.
Until he realizes thats being abused.
But look, as human beings, theres a little Cobra Kai in all of us.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
