Whether Daniel LaRusso ruined Terry Silver's life is a major debate in the
Cobra Kai fandom, with arguments suggesting Daniel's persistent opposition, refusal to forgive, and creation of rivalry pushed the already unstable Silver further into villainy, while others argue Silver's inherent psychopathy and manipulative nature meant he would always seek to destroy Daniel, with Daniel's actions simply a catalyst for Silver's self-destruction. Silver’s life unravels after his schemes against Daniel are exposed in
Karate Kid Part III, leading to his defeat, and again in
Cobra Kai, culminating in his arrest, with many attributing his downfall to his own choices and Daniel's consistent resistance.
- Unrelenting Opposition: Daniel's distrust and consistent fight against Silver's Cobra Kai forced Silver to escalate his tactics, making him feel he had to win at any cost, as seen in The Karate Kid Part III.
- Refusal to Forgive: Some fans believe if Daniel had shown more empathy or accepted Silver's (possibly disingenuous) apologies, Silver might have felt less isolated and angry.
- Catalyst for Downfall: Daniel's actions exposed Silver's cheating and ultimately led to his downfall in Cobra Kai, ruining his plans to expand Cobra Kai.
