Explaining Cobra Kai Season 5’s 2 Traitors (Not Devon)

Warning: SPOILERS for Cobra Kai Season 5There were two traitors in Cobra Kai season 5 but despite appearances, neither of them were Devon Lee (Oona O’Brien). By the end of Cobra Kai season 5, Tory Nichols (Peyton List) confessed Terry Silver’s (Thomas Ian Griffth) crimes at the All Valley Under 18 Karate Tournament to Samantha LaRusso (Mary Mouser). Sam and Tory ended their rivalry and led the Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang students into Cobra Kai’s Encino dojo to get the proof they needed to expose Terry Silver, which led to a brawl with the members of Cobra Kai thanks to the revelation of a traitor to Miyagi-Do.

Cobra Kai season 5’s promotional materials showed Devon wearing a black and red gi and training with Tory, so naturally, it appeared that Johnny Lawrence’s (William Zabka) ex-protege turned on Eagle Fang Karate. Devon was recruited by Johnny as Eagle Fang’s main female competitor at the All Valley in Cobra Kai season 4. Despite only having a few weeks to train, Devon acquitted herself well at the tourney before losing to Tory. In Cobra Kai season 5, Devon was still hanging with her Eagle Fang and Miyagi-Do friends at a water park, but because Johnny shut down Eagle Fang, she joined Topanga Karate to continue her martial arts training. But as Terry Silver expanded Cobra Kai, he bought Topanga Karate and turned it into a Cobra Kai dojo. Since she wanted to continue learning karate, Devon had no choice but to become a Cobra Kai, and she even caught the eye of Sensei Kim Da-Eun (Alicia Hannah Kim) as a future champion to replace Tory.

However, Devon never actually turned traitor in Cobra Kai season 5, unlike the two real traitors, Tory and Mitch AKA Penis Breath (Aedin Mincks). Tory hated and feared Terry Silver and her loyalty was always to her sensei, John Kreese (Martin Kove), who told her to continue at Cobra Kai as his mole. Since Tory never considered herself Silver’s student, she didn’t feel that she was betraying Cobra Kai itself, just its corrupt sensei. Meanwhile, Mitch is a full-on traitor. When Penis Breath first saw the new Cobra Kai Encino dojo, its amenities like a snack bar, and the fact that lots of girls were training in Cobra Kai, he made up his mind to sell out Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang. It was Mitch who alerted Cobra Kai to Sam and Tory’s plan to invade the Encino dojo. Meanwhile, Devon did decide to side with Tory against Master Kim, joining the group that turned their backs on Terry Silver and Cobra Kai.

What Happens Next To Cobra Kai’s Students (Do They Join Other Dojos?)

The former students of Cobra Kai like Kenny Payne (Dallas Dupree Young) have a big decision to make in terms of their future studying karate. Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang are both open for business and have qualified to compete in the Sekai Taikai international karate tournament. Senseis Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) would welcome former Cobra Kai who are willing to shed what Silver taught them and learn their style of karate. However, even with Terry now facing criminal charges, Cobra Kai itself may not be dead. The snake dojo could continue, perhaps with Master Kim as its sensei, since Cobra Kai has also qualified for the Sekai Taikai. Cobra Kai students could continue to train under Master Kim, especially someone like Mitch who likely isn’t welcome back at Miyagi-Do after he betrayed them.

What happens next to Cobra Kai is one of the pivotal questions for season 6 to answer. John Kreese escaped prison, and he may try to take the Cobra Kai dojo back. The aforementioned Master Kim could continue what Terry Silver started and use Cobra Kai to bring the Way of the Fist to a global audience through the Sekai Taikai. Johnny Lawrence and Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan) are also former Cobra Kai who could take over the dojo as senseis. But despite all the upheavals, Devon never actually betrayed any of her friends, unlike Tory and Mitch did in Cobra Kai season 5.

Cobra Kai Season 5 is streaming on Netflix.