Hold onto your dog tags because Miles Heizer is about to take us on a march through one of the most turbulent chapters in queer history with Netflix’s upcoming series Boots.
The new one-hour dramedy follows Cameron Cope, a closeted teen who enlists in the Marines during the 1990s, when serving openly wasn’t just frowned upon—it was flat-out illegal.
“My life needs a change, sir. I want to be somebody else,” Cameron whispers in the show’s first trailer, only to be told that boot camp is the machine that turns boys into men.
What follows is a blend of grit, humor, and aching truth as Cameron, played by Heizer, navigates training while guarding the secret that could end his career before it even begins.
Based on Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, Boots brings a raw, sometimes biting, but deeply human look at the cost of hiding who you are when the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Adding extra firepower to the cast, Vera Farmiga steps in as Cameron’s narcissistic mother, while Max Parker plays the no-nonsense Sgt. Sullivan, alongside a roster of rising names like Liam Oh, Cedrick Cooper, and Ana Ayora.
Meanwhile, if taboo intimacy under pressure sounds familiar, it may remind you of a much more playful short film that explored desire and secrecy in a very different kind of “training ground.” That cheeky queer short film about bathroom hookups was equally raw about longing, albeit with a whole lot more steam than camo.
What makes Boots stand out is how it refuses to sanitize the contradictions of its era—where the U.S. military called for bravery but demanded silence from those brave enough to love differently.
Heizer, who first captured hearts in 13 Reasons Why and Love, Victor, seems primed for this tougher, meatier role that will let him flex his dramatic chops beyond teen angst into adult stakes.
It’s a bold career move that not only honors a memoirist’s lived reality but also reminds a new generation how recently “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” dominated American policy.
With Netflix setting the premiere for October 9, expect social media timelines to light up as audiences debate, swoon, and probably shed a tear or two.
And if you’re craving even more screen heat, just wait until you catch Russell Tovey and Tom Blyth raising the temperature in their cop-and-lover thriller. That trailer is already leaving fans hot under the collar, so consider it your next double-feature after Boots. 😉