Based on former U.S. Marine Greg Cope White’s memoir “The Pink Marine,” executive produced by the late Norman Lear and adapted for television by Andy Parker, Netflix‘s military dramedy, “Boots,” is an irreverent but insightful look at friendship, self-determination, courage and acceptance amid the challenges and demands of the United States Marine boot camp. As hilarious as it is devastating, the series is a unique coming-of-age story centered on an unlikely Marine recruit who is desperate to find himself.
“Boots” opens in 1990 in a recruiter’s office in New Orleans. With the chaos of high school and its constant bullying behind him, Cameron Cope (a perfectly cast Miles Heizer) is desperate for a new chapter. Determined to hide his sexuality and exhausted by the whims of his chaotic mother, Barbara (Vera Farmiga), who has moved their family 10 times in the past 12 years, the Wilson Phillips-loving Cameron decides to join the Marines alongside his best and only friend, Ray McAffey (Liam Oh), as a way to escape the monotony of his life and his mother’s antics.
Unfortunately, he isn’t quite aware of what he’s getting into, and he definitely should have watched “Full Metal Jacket” like Ray suggested instead of “Golden Girls” reruns. When he and Ray arrive at Parris Island, South Carolina, for their 13-week basic training and get hauled off the bus by a tyrannical Senior Drill Sargent (Cedrick Cooper) and his assistants, he quickly realizes he has made an abysmal choice. It also doesn’t help that being gay is illegal in all branches of the armed forces.
The series spans the entire three months of boot camp, encompassing obstacle and confidence courses, rifle shooting and the final 54-hour test, known as the Crucible. Cameron, Ray and the entire platoon are pushed to their emotional and physical limit. Though he’s already out of his element, things shift even more for Cameron amid the arrival of Drill Sgt. Sullivan (Max Parker), a highly decorated and vicious Marine who sees him as a target. Moreover, Ray’s determination to become the unit’s Honor Man — the highest honor for recruits — and Cameron’s struggles to fit in put their friendship to the test.
“Boots” hits all of the poignant, heart-tugging beats that Lear’s body of work is known for, but creator Parker and the writers’ room put their own stamp on the show. From the 1990s-infused soundtrack, which features songs by George Michael and Sade, to a diverse and robust cast with distinctive and memorable characters, the series is a compelling, funny and sometimes tragic portrayal of brotherhood, self-sacrifice, and the cost of serving one’s country. Though much of “Boots” is heavy, lighter bits, including Cameron’s inner monologue, which presents as a sassier, more confident version of himself, to standout characters like his maniacal but humorous fellow recruit Hicks (Angus O’Brien) and the late addition of the proudly Dominican Santos (Rico Paris) make the narrative memorable.
Though the platoon itself anchors the story, audiences also get to see a bit more about the inner workings of the Marines and Parris Island. Capt. Fajardo (Ana Ayora) is the first woman to lead a male-dominated company on the base, and the series illustrates the misogyny-laced pushback she receives in her role, not just from her superiors but from her subordinates as well. Moreover, Cameron, who had been previously focused on what he perceives to be his own flaws and hiding his sexuality, begins to see the injustices his fellow recruits are also facing, including fatphobia and racism.
“Boots” is a delightful, heartfelt watch. It is about a young man gaining introspection and a sense of maturity in an extraordinarily challenging and repressive environment. On the eve of the Gulf War, the audience is introduced to several young men (and a couple of women) who are pulled together by circumstance and pushed to the brink as they slowly, and often painfully, learn exactly who they are and what they are made of.
“Boots” is now streaming on Netflix.
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