I believe that Tory has some type family relationship with him. If I'm correct, I think that he's going to have a few really tender moments with her. They will show him really dropping his tough guy persona when he's with her. I also think there will be at least 1 scene talking about his struggles with how he felt after coming home from Vietnam. This will also help explain why he's like the way he is and why he created Cobra Kai.

I'm also expecting them to really play up how down he was after kk3.

These 3 things are imo the most obvious ways the creators could help the audience to lower their guards about how they feel about this character.