Netflix latest hit series has already become a target for a nationwide culture war. Following its premiere last week, Boots drew the attention of the Pentagon, which labeled the popular dramedy series “woke garbage” for centering on a gay teenager who joins the Marine Corps. Miles Heizer plays the teen, Cameron Cope, who decides to join the Marines with his friend Ray McAffey (Liam Oh). Boots follows the two friends through Marine Corps training.
What’s especially strange about the “woke” label is that Boots is based on the life of Greg Cope White, who recounted his experiences in The Pink Marine. The Pentagon’s statement has encouraged some viewers to share their own reactions to the show. One MovieWeb reader and real-life former Marine says that the show does a good job of portraying the real problems he saw his gay colleagues face in the Corps.
Why the Pentagon Thinks ‘Boots’ Is “Woke”
Boots brings a unique perspective to the genre of military shows and films featuring a gay lead character. The American military has evolved over the years, but it wasn’t always welcoming to people of various sexual orientations. Boots takes place in the early 1990s, when being gay in the military was illegal and could result in a discharge. This policy wasn’t changed until 1994, with the introduction of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” whereby lesbian, gay, and bisexual people could work in the military as long as they kept their sexual orientation a secret. That policy wasn’t repealed until 2011.
The focus on this aspect of the military’s history is apparently upsetting to some. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson wrote:
“Under President Trump and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth, the U.S. military is getting back to restoring the warrior ethos. Our standards across the board are elite, uniform, and sex neutral because the weight of a rucksack or a human being doesn’t care if you’re a man, a woman, gay, or straight.”
The statement also said that the U.S. military “will not compromise our standards to satisfy an ideological agenda, unlike Netflix whose leadership consistently produces and feeds woke garbage to their audience and children.”
A Real Marine Says That’s Not the Case
Although members of the Pentagon found Boots distasteful, the series resonated with one real-life Marine so strongly that he found himself pausing episodes to share memories of boot camp with his wife. Michael Sanchez, who served as a Marine for more than seven years, was scrolling through Netflix when he first learned about Boots.
Sanchez served about two decades after the series takes place, but he saw some of the same problems that Boots tackles. When he joined, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was still in effect, but Sanchez says he still knew two gay Marines. In an email to MovieWeb, Sanchez writes:
“From what I saw, these Marines struggled with being able to just be open about their lives. We were a brotherhood, and most of us confided everything in each other, to include our love lives. These two Marines couldn’t be truly open with the rest of us for fear of punishment. When I say I knew they were gay, it wasn’t like they were bragging about boyfriends and making jokes about it with the rest of us. It was a quiet secret that we kept because we weren’t sure who we could trust with it. It also wasn’t our secret to tell.”
Sanchez says that Boots is good at illustrating these kinds of stories about Marines. He was particularly impressed with Episode 4, titled “Sink or Swim,” in which a drill sergeant forces Cameron to dig through a dumpster to find rolls of toilet paper. The task ends with the drill sergeant telling Cameron to believe that he belongs in the Marines. According to Sanchez, this authentically demonstrates how Marines earn their place, and that, “Once your title is earned, you belong with us. You’re home.”
As for his direct thoughts on the Pentagon’s comments, Sanchez disagrees that Boots is “woke garbage.” Referencing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s recent, highly publicized speech to military generals, the former Marine writes:
“Boots does not stand in the way of returning to the ‘warrior ethos,’ and if it did, then the ethos is too weak to begin with. While the Pentagon is correct on certain things, like expecting high physical standards, this does not mean that exclusion is necessary, and I certainly don’t know what being gay would have to do with that. This show largely captures the experience of a recruit during boot camp, and what it means to become a Marine.”
Beyond its focus on a gay Marine, Sanchez says Boots offers other compelling reasons to watch. “The main character’s struggle [with] being gay is only one vehicle to show the internal struggle that MOST recruits have during boot camp for one reason or another,” Sanchez writes. He also cites the show’s accuracy as a draw, noting that he thought the actors playing the drill sergeants did such a great job that he had to check to see if they weren’t real-life sergeants hired for the show.
How To Watch ‘Boots’
The Pentagon’s comments about Boots haven’t stopped the series from achieving success: Boots made it to Netflix’s top 10 most popular shows within its first week on the streaming platform. Ratings-wise, the show is a hit as well. On Rotten Tomatoes, Boots has a 93% rating from critics and a 90% rating from audiences.
Those who haven’t joined in on the sensation yet can stream the series on Netflix. It’s a short watch, with only eight episodes in total. Stream Boots on Netflix.