Ralph Macchio chuckles as he reflects on the success of Cobra Kai. “The low expectations did not hurt, did not hurt,” he says. “I was like, ‘Oh, this is gonna be the worst cash grab, one note [show]'. And the creators just did a beautiful job.” Macchio is calling in over Zoom from his home in Long Island, in New York State. Outside the winter sky is starting to darken, but Macchio is keen to say hello in that peculiarly American way to his “friends Down Under”. He is relaxed and chatty, and happily riding a wave of nostalgia that has delivered him the No.1 action show on Netflix.