Netflix’s Boots introduced viewers to a group of aspiring Marine recruits who endure severe physical challenges, emotional pitfalls and even a surprise death — but how did the season end?
The show, which premiered on Thursday, October 9, follows Cameron (Miles Heizer) as he joins the American military alongside his best friend Ray (Liam Oh) during the 1990s. Cameron has to hide his sexuality while trying to make it through basic training alongside Slovacek (Kieron Moore), Hicks (Angus O’Brien), Nash (Dominic Goodman), John (Blake Burt), Cody (Brandon Tyler Moore) and Ochoa (Johnathan Nieves).
The recruits make progress when suddenly Ochoa dies after he called home and found out his wife was having an affair. The stress caused Ochoa to act out and a confrontation with Sergeant Howitt (Nicholas Logan) led to the teenager triggering a heart condition that ended his life.
O’Brien spoke with Us Weekly about the shocking twist.
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“That was a very big turning point in the show. It’s a huge tragedy in a lot of ways. And it really challenges and cements a lot of the relationships that are being tested and the relationships that are being formed in the show,” he noted. “For a lot of the guys, it’s an eye opening moment. They realize this is real and isn’t a joke anymore.”
While breaking down the emotional moment, O’Brien reflected on how it affected his character, adding, “Hicks was looking for a thrill or looking for excitement or entertainment. In that moment, there’s these beautiful things that happen with tragedy sometimes where you get to see how people show up for each other and comfort each other. I don’t know that Hicks was ever necessarily the type to value that kind of behavior. But for whatever reason at boot camp, it shifts something in him.”
O’Brien continued: “There is a deeper mutual respect that all the recruits share after that moment. Speaking for myself, I would say that’s something that’s added to Hicks after that moment is just that not everything has to be a joke, even though it’s fun when a lot of things are a joke.”
During the show’s first season, an overarching story line features Cameron existing as a gay man in the military. This served as a parallel to Sergeant Sullivan (Max Parker), who pushed Cameron to keep that aspect of himself hidden because Sullivan was in a similar position as a closeted man in the army.
O’Brien discussed the way Boots creates a conversation about authenticity.
“The experience of shooting the show was a reminder to me that no matter how different we might think we are from someone, ultimately we want the same things. We want to be happy, we want to be respected and we want to live a life that’s fulfilled,” he noted. “What’s so beautiful about the show is that you have all these guys from very different walks of life who wouldn’t necessarily think to depend on each other. Because of the situation that they’re in, they’re forced to rely on each other and they realize through that how powerful it is to depend on someone who has lived a different life than you — and how many lessons there are to learn from that.”
The actor is hopeful that viewers take that message away from the show, saying, “There are people to depend on and to rely on in all different walks of life. Don’t count someone out just because you think they’re not going to support you. They might. They want the same things you do.”
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By the time Boots comes to an end, all of the remaining recruits pass training and are ready to serve. The last scene shows the group celebrating their success before getting distracted by news coverage of an ongoing invasion that reminds them of what comes next — actual military service.
Moore, who opened up about bringing the show’s misunderstood antagonist, didn’t rule out another season, telling Us, “I think we only scratch the surface for Slovacek ahead of season 2. If we get to go again, it’d be a really wonderful story to explore him a little bit more. I’m just hoping that audience members are curious about him.”
He continued: “All of the characters are remarkable but I know that for me and people around me, everyone knows the Slovacek that doesn’t really get the time to become something. I think he’s a very representative of a lot of young men out there that just need some guidance. They’ve got a skill and abundance, passion and abundance.
Boots is currently streaming on Netflix.
