TV series about US marines has fans demanding another season | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

The TV show Boots tells the coming-of-age story of a former US Marine who joined the Corps as a struggling, gay 17-year-old in 1979, but the Netflix version is set in the 1990s. The screen adaptation is based on Greg Cope White’s book, The Pink Marine, and depicts the story of a then-teenager navigating the notorious Parris Island from Texas after escaping bullying in high school.

The United States Marine Corps provides an unlikely escape for Cope, who is played by Miles Heizer, as he takes on the challenge alongside his heterosexual best friend Ray McAffey, who is the only one who knows his “secret”. The United States military at that time had a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which saw the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) conduct witch hunts in an effort to oust homosexuals from the ranks of the Marine Corps.

The comedy-drama series centres on Cope’s impulsive decision to join The Devil Dogs despite the official policy of that time, with his tale showing parallels to the proverb: “Better to be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war.”

While Cope’s experience is far from easy with his subconscious continuously questioning his “right” to be there, boot camp sees him experience profound personal change. And while his story is integral to the plot, it is the surrounding characters that help give the series legs.

There’s the head drill instructor, Staff Sergeant Marcus McKinnon – played by Cedrick Cooper – who tries to steer at times what is a chaotic ship amid the possibility of his wife going into labour; and Sergeant Robert “Bobby” Sullivan, played by Max Parker, who is a highly decorated, elite Recon Marine who was awarded the silver star.

Initially tyrannical, Sullivan sees himself in the young Cope and tries to mould him into someone who will survive the challenges of his environment.

Captain Denise Fajardo, who is depicted by Ana Ayora, is a rare female company commander at the male-dominated Parris Island. Although sympathetic to the plight of homosexuals in the military at the time, she is powerless to stop Sullivan’s erratic behaviour as he struggles to maintain his frustration after having an affair with a male major at his previous post.

McAffey, who is played by Liam Oh, tries to support his best friend as he struggles through boot camp, but is quickly discouraged from doing so by the drill instructors who want Cope to stand on his own two feet. As the son of a former high-ranking non-commissioned officer of the Marines, who won his platoon’s best recruit, McAffey has a lot to live up to.

Then there’s an eclectic array of supporting characters within the platoon that adds to the comedic value of the show. From the slightly deranged wild card Thaddeus Hicks to the troubled Eduardo Ochoa and the Bowman twins, all work masterfully together to tell the vivid tale of Cope’s time in Marine boot camp.

The TV series Boots has a ranking of 7.9/10 on IMDb and has fans unsurprisingly demanding a second season. The show is currently available to watch on Netflix.