Abhiroop Das
Helmed by Andy Parker, Netflix’s ‘Boots’ tells the story of Cameron Cope, a frail but determined teen who wishes to overhaul his life by joining the Marine Corps. However, the fact that he is secretly gay stands as the biggest hurdle, as it rules him out of eligibility. Nonetheless, the protagonist resolves to step into the military world by hook or crook, with his best friend, Ray McAffey, serving as his anchor. The previous episodes of this military comedy series end with Cameron gradually settling into the brutal lifestyle of a boot camp, with a physical and psychological burden that forces him to toughen up. However, the arrival of a new drill instructor, Liam Sullivan, stirs up fresh trouble for the teen, as well as the potential of a new, unique dynamic with his superior. Episodes 3 and 4, titled ‘The Confidence Course’ and ‘Sink or Swim,’ delve one step deeper into the military world, using various stages of the camp as its primary narrative structure. SPOILERS AHEAD.
The Platoon’s Inner Fabric Gains More Layers
The third episode begins with platoon 2032 being educated on the US Army’s history, with some of its most impressive feats filling the young recruits with a desire to put themselves on the map. To turn that desire into reality, however, is a different story altogether, and in the present, it is halted by the advent of an unruly storm. Trapped in their dorm with nothing to do, the group passes time with childish activities, such as examining and comparing feces, but that only makes their next task, cleaning every nook and cranny of the room, more ironic. This also becomes a bonding moment for the platoon, with McAffey and Cameron finally sharing a moment once again. Following the accident involving John Bowman, the role of squad leader has shifted from the former to the latter, and they discuss how all of this plays into Sullivan’s larger plan of dividing their friendship.
The platoon is shaken up once again by the arrival of a new member, replacing John. The recruit, who identifies himself as Santos Santos, instantly places himself at the top of the food chain and begins testing the waters with each member he lays his eyes on. Although he gets no real pushback, Santos is still at the mercy of the drill instructors, who have their own internal struggles to deal with. When Sullivan reads one of the official letters addressed to him, rage takes over, prompting him to lash out by overturning the entire dorm, from beds to personal belongings. Forced to clean the room from scratch, the recruits take one more step towards a complete breakdown. Elsewhere, Barbara Cope has a fling with the Marine Corps recruiter, who shows an empathetic side by directing her to a Marine Moms support group. Although Barbara is initially hesitant about joining in, she ultimately decides to give it a go.
Barbara and Cameron Undergo Tests of Their Own
Barbara’s first go-around with the Marine Moms group turns out to be lackluster, largely due to her refusal to open up about her son. When she does begin to break the ice, however, the feelings overwhelm naturally, and she breaks down while talking about Cameron. In a comic turn of events, her phrasing, which describes her son as someone who has “gone away,” is misinterpreted to mean his death, which creates an uproar of sympathy from the rest of the group. Although Barbara quickly realizes the mix-up, she chooses not to bring it up, possibly due to the new dose of affection she now has access to. Back in the camp, the training is back in full swing, with Sullivan inventing new and more cruel methods to test the upper limits of his recruits. One of the teammates, a bully figure named Charlie, quits midway, and the drill instructor uses that decision to make his case about mental strength taking precedence over physical prowess.
The most trying stage of what is described as the Confidence Test involves the use of gas masks and surviving a suffocating environment. From the very beginning, this round begins to take its toll on promising candidates like Cody, further emphasizing how crucial this stage is. As a result, Cameron chooses to take a defiant stance and holds on to the mask for the longest, even when Sullivan specifically tests him. Having passed the round, the protagonist breathes a sigh of relief, but the long list of troubles is not even halfway yet. Later that night, the platoon sits down to write letters to their families, and a wave of emotions bursts through the screen. Some, like Ochoa, have a loving relationship that they wish to return to, and on the other hand, people like Sullivan seem to be hiding from a more complex path. Barbara’s decision to indulge the support group’s delusion cements the extent to which things have changed for the characters.
McAffey Fails at a Crucial Juncture
A flashback to McAffey’s past reveals that his father, who is also from a Marine Corps background, drilled the military values into him from an early age. This leads to a desire to chase success that persists in the present, as exemplified by the teen’s performance in the floating challenge. As the name implies, the recruits are tasked with floating in water for as long as it takes, and that proves to be a challenge for McAffey. His attempts to fill his lungs with air are caught by Sullivan, and he gets dragged out of the round and sent for a medical evaluation. There, McAffey meets Alice, a female recruit who gives him valuable advice on both the pool task and life itself. However, McAffey’s request for a retrial is turned down, pushing him further into dismay. This affects Cameron, who seeks out ways to help his best friend, but is quickly turned down by both his superiors and his peers.
Later that night, Sullivan heads out to the bar and talks things out with his lawyer. He reveals that the letter is for his reenlistment into service, which is something he doesn’t wish to do. Upon being pressed further, he reveals that his previous stationing, in Guam, led to a professional fiasco, which he has been escaping since. The idea of returning to formal service fills him with dread, revealing a human side underneath the heavy drill sergeant persona. Back in the bootcamp, Cameron gathers his allies: Nash, Santos, and Hicks, and devises a way to get revenge on Knox, McAffey’s assaulter, who has been shifted to the neighboring dorm. Their plan is simple: steal this platoon’s toilet paper and blame it on Knox’s team, creating enough reason for an all-out war between groups, which can then be handled by and responded to by the supervisors at any point in this investigation.
The Platoon Has its First Inspection
The following day results in complete chaos, as the drill sergeant rushes them to tidy the place up in lieu of Captain Fajardo’s arrival. She is here for an inspection test, which puts all participants into a unique bind. Things start off with McAffey, who shows excellent control of the weapon, but is turned down due to his conduct regarding other displays of athleticism. From there, she shifts her attention to Cameron, who manages to impress her with his understanding of history. However, the discovery of Hicks’ pet snake spoils the entire event, and an enraged Sergeant McKinnon uproots the entire room once again. Nash’s notebook containing remarks about the team is discovered and made public during the cleaning process. Its extreme and insensitive content make it a bad fit for the group’s harmony, particularly as it uses gay slurs over what is supposed to be a healthy bond.
While the platoon’s story turns to its own direction, Fajardo informs Sullivan of the temperature in the outside world and explains that his return to the field is in the corps’s best interest. When Sullivan turns down the offer, stating that he feels purposeless in the military, Fajardo doubles down on her original idea, explaining the potential she sees in him. While this causes Sullivan to loop back to his old ways, Platoon 2032 is up for another rehaul, as they dump another set of toilet paper once again. This time, Sullivan confronts Cameron about his misbehavior, but instead of reporting him to the higher-ups, imparts a lesson in self-assertion. The theme continues on to McAffey’s storyline, as he gradually rebuilds his credit in the platoon and uses it to earn a pool trial. This time, he passes the floating test with flying colors, charting his own, independent way to success.
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