Boots: Pentagon issues statement on Netflix’s latest series – Here’s what they said 

Boots, a new coming-of-age series from Netflix, has been making waves since its release. Based on Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, the series dramatises Cameron Cope, a closeted gay teenager attending a U.S. Marine Corps boot camp in the 1990s.

Drawing on the heartfelt drama, masculinity and tightly fenced-in world of period military culture, Boots has found an audience around the globe. The series has shot up Netflix’s global charts, earning rave reviews for its humour, drama and social observations, making it one of the must-watch additions to the streaming platform’s slate.

The series’ main storyline revolves around Cameron and his best friend at boot camp, the straight Ray McAffey and the harsh training regimens under Sgt. Sullivan, as well as his own experiences of hiding his sexuality in the military and in a conservative environment. Boots brings a new male voice to military drama, raising questions of identity, loyalty and societal expectations without becoming too dry or elitist for the masses.

Pentagon responds to Boots with strong criticism

The U.S. Department of Defence has now commented on Boots, and while it did not state whether or not it would be helping with the series, there was a negative reaction to the depiction of life in the military and the LGBTQ+ subject matter. Kingsley Wilson, Press Secretary for the Pentagon, released a comment to Entertainment Weekly saying:

"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. [Officials] 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."

Wilson’s remarks specifically highlight the Pentagon’s disapproval of what it perceives as an ideological agenda in Netflix programming. While Boots has gained a strong viewership, the official government statement marks a rare public denunciation of a television series by military authorities.

Boots: Cast, story and critical reception

The show stars Miles Heizer as Cameron Cope and Liam Oh as his straight best friend, Ray McAffey with Vera Farmiga cast as Cameron’s worried mother. The show takes place in the 1990s when LGBTQ+ service members were legally restricted by the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy.

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Based on White’s non-fiction book, the series is a coming-of-age story about a young gay man navigating friendship, self-identity and the impossible expectations of army boot camp. The show has been praised by reviewers for its emotional complexity and storytelling, Heizer's performance receiving particular mention. It has been given a 92% score currently on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating critical acclaim.

In addition to being critically acclaimed, Boots has also become a streaming success, ranking in Netflix’s top ten in more than 70 countries. Its mix of humour, drama and social commentary has kept the audience highly engaged and bodes well for future seasons.

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