Netflix is always cooking when it comes to having the best new original programming on a regular basis.
The streaming platform just dropped a brand-new series, and it’s already rising on the Netflix Top 10 chart. The show, called Boots, follows a closeted gay teenager in the 1990s who joins the military along with his straight best friend.
This is an especially perilous choice, as being gay in the military meant jail time back then.
Not only is the series crushing with audiences, it’s also got all the critics talking.
Watch With Us breaks down why everyone is watching Boots this weekend.
‘Boots’ Is Based on an Incredible True Story
Boots is based on a memoir called The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White. The memoir recounts Cope White’s real experience as a young gay Marine who joined the ranks in 1979, back before “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” During that time, serving in the military as a gay man was illegal. Still, Cope White finished the week-long boot camp as depicted in the series and went on to serve a six-year commitment with the Marine Corps.
Series creator Andy Parker was a young gay man during the 1990s, whose conservative evangelical family once received a pop-in from army recruiters. Parker was interested in joining as a means to, in his own words, prove something to them or just run away. And while he didn’t actually end up recruiting, he eventually read Cope White’s memoir and felt it was like his road not taken. Thus, Boots is not just an adaptation of Cope White’s memoir; it’s also personal for Parker, blending both experiences as closeted gay men.
It’s a Poignant Coming-of-Age Drama
How does one come of age when they’re existing in an environment in which their very identity can carry legal ramifications? This is just one of the questions contemplated by Boots, and in real life, it was ironically Cope White’s time serving that gave him the confidence to eventually come out to his family. However, in the show, his surrogate, Cameron (played by Miles Heizer), finds himself conflicted with the extreme machismo he’s now forced to perform in.
Will doing so permanently alter his true sense of self? While still trying to figure out who he is, Cameron is forced to hide part of it. It’s an interesting milieu to have this character exist in, and it creates ample playground for compelling narrative drama and emotional hurdles. This inner turmoil is precisely what makes Boots tick. The series writers tap into it in a way that creates engaging and empathetic storytelling, while giving a gay perspective on the toxic culture of the military.
‘Boots’ Features a Fantastic Lead Performance
Miles Heizer might not be a household name, but you may recognize him from the discourse-starting 13 Reasons Why or the NBC family drama Parenthood. Boots sees the young actor working in a new environment and being allowed to further challenge his acting skills, and he does so with aplomb.
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Even though Heizer is now 31, he still manages to play a teenager quite believably. He evokes the discomfort and uncertainty of a young person struggling to find themselves, let alone in such a hostile environment, and physically articulating the progression his character takes towards self-confidence.
Miles Heizer in Boots Netflix
The series also forces Heizer to act in many challenging scenes, acts of prejudice that are traumatic for his character, but he is also allowed some levity. Heizer is ultimately able to oscillate nimbly between comedy and drama, giving a terrific performance in a show that’s one of 2025’s best so far.