Is John Kreese misunderstood?

John Kreese, as portrayed by Martin Kove in both "The Karate Kid" and "Cobra Kai," is often perceived as a villain. However, Kove himself argues that Kreese is misunderstood, emphasizing that the character's actions stem from a complex background rather than pure villainy. According to Kove, Kreese has high moral fiber that might not have been evident in the one-dimensional portrayal seen in the original movies. He suggests that "Cobra Kai" presents a more nuanced view of Kreese, showing his deep involvement with other characters and emphasizing his complicated nature, as opposed to being purely evil like the character Terry Silver 1.