The story is compelling, the acting is top-notch, and it balances comedy and drama perfectly. While Netflix has not picked the show up for a second season yet, it seems highly likely, given the popularity and positive reviews.
On top of that, lead actor Miles Heizer wants to make Boots season 2, which is a great sign for the TV show. If the show comes back for a second season, Boots has many big mysteries to solve and questions to answer.
Will Cam & Ray Get Deployed To The Gulf War?
One of Boots’ biggest changes is moving the setting from 1990 to 1979. As such, big military operations – Operation Desert Shield and Storm – are coming up for the United States military. The news report at the end of the season even teases the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, which starts the Gulf War.
The Marines were involved, like the other branches. This raises the question of whether Cam Cope, Ray McAffey, and any of the other new recruits will be deployed to the Gulf War. It seems unlikely.
While they have made it through boot camp, they still have to go through either infantry school or Military Occupational Specialty school. There’s still a possibility that one or both of them will go downrange for the Gulf War after specialty training.
How Will Cam’s Mom Cope With Her Son Being A Marine?
Cam’s mom, Barbara, played by Vera Farmiga in Boots’ cast, really struggles to cope with the idea that her son will be a gay Marine during a time when it’s illegal. She joins a support group, but they kick her out once they find out she misled them, implying her son was dead.
Now that Cam is a Marine, rather than just a recruit, she’ll need support again. There’s just one problem. Her son’s sexuality contributes to her fear about him being in the service. However, she can’t reveal her son’s sexuality to a support group, or someone could tell someone who could tell someone else. His secret is also her secret.
Ultimately, Boots season 2 will need to continue to explore Barbara Cope’s relationship with her son and how she handles her son’s enlistment. Hopefully, she continues to lean on Ray’s mom, since she’s aware of Cam’s sexuality.
What Happens To Major Wilkinson After Getting Court-Martialled?
While he only gets a small amount of screentime in Boots season 1, Major Wilkinson plays a major role in the story because he had a romance with Sergeant Sullivan in Guam. The NCIS is investigating his sexuality.
If he’s found guilty, there are a variety of punishments that can include rank reduction, time in jail, or (the most likely outcome) a bad conduct discharge. Though it doesn’t need to be a central part of the story, Boots season 2 needs to provide an answer about what happened to Wilkinson.
How Will Cam & Ray Maintain Their Friendship?
After the events of Boots, the real-life Cam and Ray, Greg Cope White and Dale, remained friends all these years. Dale was even on set for some of the filming, per Cope White’s Instagram.
It’s thrilling to know that they have continued to support and rely on each other decades later. However, I’m interested in learning how the two characters, Cam and Dale, will maintain their friendship once they’re separated. Considering the friendship is integral to season 1, they can’t just ignore it.
After boot camp, they won’t remain together in the same specialty or unit, as the buddy system only applies during boot camp. Boots season 2 should show them sending letters, visiting each other, making phone calls, and using email to keep in contact.
What Specialty Jobs Will Cam & Ray Have In The Marines?
The Boots TV show removes most of the final chapter of The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White. As such, neither Cam nor Ray gets promoted from Private to Private First Class. Additionally, neither of the characters learn their specialty.
In real life, Greg Cope White was assigned the job of Field Wireman and went on to become a communications specialist. The book does not specify what MOS Dale received, leaving it a mystery. If Boots gets a second season, they will need to share what specialty jobs Cam and Ray have in the Marines.
They’ve made many changes to the true story of Boots, so it’s possible that they’d change Cam’s specialty within the Marines. Additionally, they could choose a different MOS for Ray than Dale had, which would allow the real-life man privacy.
Do Ray & Alice Start A Relationship?
The most endearing moment is when she does the game MASH with him for the first time. At the end of the season, he asks for her name, and she says he’ll have to call her to find out. The only reason I know her name is Alice is because of IMDb.
Ray and Alice had such great chemistry in the first season. Boots season 2 needs to answer the question of whether Ray called her. If so, they should explore either their friendship or their potential romantic relationship.
Will Cam Get A Secret Boyfriend?
When he joins the Marines, Cam is completely inexperienced with sex and romance. Boots season 1 teases the idea of Cam having a romance for the first time with Jones, the gay man who joins his platoon after getting dismissed from the medical-watch platoon. However, Jones prioritizes his desire for a medical discharge over any connection with Cam.
As such, Cam Cope still hasn’t ever had his first romance or boyfriend by the end of Boots season 1. If Netflix picks up the show for a second season, they need to answer the question of whether Cam will pursue a secret romance.
What Happened To Sergeant Sullivan After The End Of Boots Season 1?
This section includes a mention of suicide.
The biggest mystery that Boots season 2 needs to solve is what happened to Sergeant Sullivan after the end of Boots season 1. Throughout the first season, he’s under investigation by the NCIS for possibly being gay. Rather than face investigation and court-martial, he decides to get into a barfight that could put him in jail.
He is facing so many legal issues and potentially getting outed. Ultimately, the last we see of him, he gives his radio to Cam and walks further into the swampy forest. This is an ominous ending, as LGBTQ+ people and veterans have always had a higher rate of deaths by suicide than non-LGBTQ+ and non-military members (via RAND).
It felt like they were hinting at that without showing it, which I really hope isn’t the case. However, it’s also possible he went UA, fleeing from both the law and the Marines. Alternatively, he could go through one or both court systems. No matter which direction they go, Boots season 2 needs to answer what happened to Sergeant Sullivan.
