Netflix ’s Boots follows a young gay man as he finds camaraderie in a seemingly hopeless place, all the while wrestling with the emotional – and, at times, physical – toll of keeping his true self under wraps.

Still, series creator Andy Parker and his cast of breakout stars hope viewers find a poignant message in the transformation the character undergoes, even if the show isn’t a traditional coming-out tale.

Released last week, Boots stars Miles Heizer as Cameron Cope, a queer teen who enlists in the Marines at the encouragement of his straight best friend, Ray McAffey (Liam Oh), after graduating high school in 1990.

Though Cameron befriends some fellow recruits, including the hammy and mischievous Hicks ( Angus O’Brien ), any hope of embracing his truth is dashed, given that

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