Netflix’s upcoming LGBTQ+ series Boots is gearing up to deliver a unique blend of resilience, camaraderie, and emotional storytelling — set against the rigid backdrop of the 1990s U.S. Marine Corps.
Centred on closeted recruit Cameron Cope (played by 13 Reasons Why star Miles Heizer) and his fiercely loyal best friend Ray McAffey (portrayed by Liam Oh), Boots explores what it means to survive in a world designed to suppress difference — especially during an era when being gay in the military was still illegal.
The series is adapted from The Pink Marine, the memoir of former U.S. Marine Greg Cope White. Across eight episodes, it follows Cameron as he joins a diverse group of recruits, each battling personal challenges while enduring the rigours of Marine boot camp.
According to Netflix’s Tudum blog, Boots is about “friendship, resilience, and finding your place in the world — even when that world seems determined to keep you in line or leave you behind.”
Heizer’s Cameron lives with his unpredictable and narcissistic mother Barbara, portrayed by the ever-iconic Vera Farmiga. The character is described as a “chameleon — always on the run from the consequences of her actions,” and becomes emotionally destabilised when her son enlists.
Heizer reflected on his experience filming the show, telling Tudum:
“Boots was easily the hardest and most fun thing I’ve ever been a part of. The show is interesting because it manages to find the humour in a very intense experience, which is the only way to live, in my opinion! It’s also rare in that it’s 50% acting and 50% actually struggling through training and DI screams.”
Ray, meanwhile, is the son of a strict Marine father and carries the weight of always needing to be the best — a goal that gets complicated once boot camp kicks off.
Fans can expect sparks, tension, and possibly something more between Cameron and Ray, with early glimpses hinting at powerful chemistry.
Also starring Max Parker as Sgt. Sullivan — a decorated Recon Marine with his own secrets — Boots promises emotionally layered storytelling. Sullivan “sees himself in Cameron and tries to prepare him for the same personal war he’ll face beyond boot camp.”
The series boasts a compelling cast including Danielle Brooks, Cedrick Cooper, Ana Ayora, Angus O’Brien, Blake Burt, and Joy Osmanski, among others. Behind the scenes, Boots is helmed by creator Andy Parker, co-showrunner Jennifer Cecil, and honours the legacy of the late Norman Lear as executive producer.
Heizer also opened up about the bond formed between the cast during filming:
“Due to the group nature of boot camp, we were essentially together all day, every day of filming and got incredibly close. In a way, the show sort of mirrors our real experience of meeting, coming together, and forming a very deep bond by the end. I truly feel a phantom boot camp connection to all of these boys.”
A one-hour comedic drama with an “irreverent, off-beat take on the coming-of-age story,” Boots promises to be heartfelt, hilarious, and undeniably human.
Get ready to laugh, cheer — and, as Heizer warns, probably cry too.
