"I would’ve loved if Hawk stayed as a villain": Cobra Kai’s Hawk talks about his villainous role and unexpected defeat

All five episodes of Cobra Kai season 6 part 2 were released on Netflix on November 15, 2024. Since then, fans have been discussing the various developments in the latest episodes of the popular series.

Dramatic character arcs are not uncommon in the show, with several characters having undergone significant changes in their personalities throughout the course of the story. Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz, played by Jacob Bertrand, is one such character; he started as a good person, morphed into someone evil, and then turned good again.

In an interview with GamesRadar+ dated September 18, 2024, actor Jacob Bertrand opened up about the transformation his character has had in Cobra Kai. The actor remarked that Hawk’s character reached a “full circle” in the series. However, Bertrand also made it clear that he would have liked the character to stay a villain.

The actor stated:

“I think me personally, Jacob, the actor, would've loved to have seen how dark Hawk could have gone. But I know that one of the best moments for fans is when Hawk switches back. But personally, I would've loved if Hawk stayed as a villain and started murdering people – that would've been so sick.”

However, Bertrand also acknowledged that such a dramatic arc would have upset the fans of Cobra Kai. Thus, even though he would personally love it if Hawk would “break more arms and put people in comas," the thought of the audience’s potential reactions resulted in a different trajectory for the character.

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Hawk has had a drastic transformation in Cobra Kai

Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz has been a part of the series since season 1. During the show’s debut season, Hawk was a taciturn person who liked to keep things to himself. Not only did he not have the mohawk that later became his hallmark but he was also a victim of bullying.

However, Hawk’s character underwent a massive shift in the subsequent seasons, especially after joining the Cobra Kai Dojo. Following this, he became somewhat vindictive and turned toward violence.

For instance, in season 2, Hawk got into a prolonged scuffle with Demetri (played by Gianni Decenzo). Further, he also started getting manipulated by Kreese, one of the antagonists of the series. Hawk reached a new level of notoriety when he vandalized Daniel LaRusso's dojo and stole the Medal of Honor that belonged to Mr. Miyagi.

Hawk’s character, however, did not stay a villain for long. He eventually ended up mending his relations with Demetri and even going on to train at the Miyagi-Do.

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Bertrand backs his character

In the aforementioned interview, Bertrand offered his interpretation as to why Hawk suddenly became an evil person from a good one. He explained:

"I don't think Hawk's a bully. I think he has just been misguided a lot – seasons 2 and 3. I think he was just misguided. He's a, he was like a 15-year-old kid getting manipulated by like a 60-year-old guy. What do you want from this kid?”

The actor also highlighted that the character is a popular one within the story. Hence, it is not really surprising that pride crept into him and changed him fundamentally for a while. He added:

“He's super powerful and has a cool mohawk and all the ladies love him. Of course, the power's gonna go to his head a little bit.”

Meanwhile, Hawk was given a redemptive trajectory in Cobra Kai after some seasons of moral lapse. Furthermore, in season 5, he even lost to Kenny, who had only been training for a year, although Hawk is one of the best fighters in the series. However, Hawk's loss helped him realize that it's okay to lose sometimes.

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Part 3 of season 6 will premiere on Netflix on February 13, 2025.