BOOTS is a poignant and intense, behind-the-curtain look at what a Marine boot camp is like. It is an excellent, testosterone-filled experience. The writing gives viewers several compelling character arcs that don’t disappoint or let up until the final frame, and it is set up for a second season. I binged the entire series in two days.
The tight, superbly acted cast grabbed me from the opening scene. BOOTS centers on friendships, on discovering who we are at our core, all while dealing with the garbage we carry from our childhoods. The stories are sad, yet inspiring because of the immense growth each recruit accomplishes. The writers do not sugar-coat a moment. It is truly a testament to the sheer “gut” power of each individual.
At the center of BOOTS are two young men, Cam and Ray. Their friendship sustains them and carries them through each raw, painful, soul-searching moment. It is powerful to witness boys become men and realize that their choices have consequences and can touch everyone around them. It is a domino effect that will echo throughout their enlistment.
BOOTS takes place at the beginning of the Iraq War, when “don’t ask, don’t tell” was still the norm for all homosexual men. It was a perilous time hiding out among a legion of men. Their nightmarish experiences were also highlighted. The scenarios were brilliantly crafted, pulling every heartstring.
BOOTS kicked my ass. It will immerse audiences within a world most of us don’t often think about. We walk past soldiers all the time and say, “Thank you for your service,” perhaps without giving a second thought to how it all began or what they endured. BOOTS opened my eyes. All I can say is “oorah.”
BOOTS is streaming on Netflix.
