10 TV Shows Like Boots You Should Watch Next

Who would have thought that in the mid-2020s, a show about gays in the military (even a relatively pro-military one) would prove its relevance by drawing furious and angry condemnation from the current administration—a reaction so strong that the show may even have been canceled, despite its high ratings and buzz.

But then again, given the volatile streaming market, it’s best to think of everything as a miniseries these days. The Netflix series, based on Greg Cope White’s memoir, tells the story of Cameron Cope, a closeted gay teenager who follows his best friend into the military in the pre-“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era, long before open service became a possibility.

With no second season, it might be hard to figure out what to watch next. I have a few suggestions—though given that there aren’t many “gay teen goes to the military” shows, I’ll focus on coming-of-age stories for queer characters in general, not just those involving the military. (Growing up queer is a bit of a boot camp.)

We Are Us (2020)

Director Luca Guadagnino ( Challengers, Queer ) created this series about two American teenagers, Fraser (Jack Dylan Grazer) and Caitlin (Jordan Christine Seaman), living with their families on a U.S. military base in Chioggia, Italy. Both of Fraser’s mothers serve in the military (which would have been impossible in the 1990s, when Boots was released, and may soon be), but he is new to life on the base. Caitlin, meanwhile, has lived in Chioggia for years with her conservative father. Over the course of the summer, they gradually grow closer, sharing a common sense of isolation and exploring issues of gender and sexuality. Watch We Are Us on HBO Max .

Overcompensation (2025 – )

Comedian Benito Skinner plays himself, sort of, in this acclaimed comedy about a former high school athlete who begins his freshman year of college desperately trying to convince himself and everyone else that he’s completely straight (understandable, if not for the jock part). Much of the appeal lies in the clever mix of tones: it’s often a frank college comedy, but also a sweet coming-of-age story about accepting yourself without worrying about what others think. The cast includes Adam DiMarco ( White Lotus ) and Rish Shah (Ms. Marvel), and, equally impressive, it’s a streaming series featuring gay characters that’s even been renewed. Watch “Overcompensating” on Prime Video .

Intense Rivalry (2025 – )

Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) are professional hockey players playing for rival teams, the Montreal Metros and the Boston Raiders. Although their public relationship remains strained for years, they develop (at least initially) a casual sexual relationship that grows increasingly passionate off the ice. Not to be outdone, this acclaimed series also explores the equally complex relationship between the American team captain and a smoothie barista. While its sex-fueled fun tone may not match Boots , it’s one of the few series with gay leads to find success on streaming platforms. It’s also been renewed for a second season. Watch Heated Rivalry on HBO Max .

Blood and Water (2020 – )

In this top-notch teen drama, Ama Kamata plays Puleng Khumalo, a teenager who has lived her entire life in the shadow of her sister, who was kidnapped as a baby by human traffickers; Puleng’s parents even throw her a birthday party every year. When Puleng is invited to the party by the popular Fikile Bhele (Khosi Ngema), a student at an elite Cape Town school, she can’t help but notice their resemblance. Immersed in her sister’s story, Puleng transfers to the school to understand the situation. While the series is rich in gripping high school drama and family secrets, its strengths lie in its unexpected dramatic depth and its diverse cast of characters and storylines that reflect the LGBT community.Watch Blood & Water on Netflix .

The Young Royals (2021–2024)

The gripping series The Young Monarchs follows the fictional Prince Wilhelm of Sweden (Edwin Ryding), who begins a romance with fellow student Simon Eriksson (Omar Rudberg) at their elite boarding school (it’s not exactly a boot camp, but that’s relative). While possessing all the hallmarks of the teen drama genre, The Young Monarchs takes itself a little more seriously than some others and is surprisingly fresh in its approach to casting age-appropriate actors in all the key roles.Watch The Young Monarchs on Netflix.

The Hitchhikers (2023)

Though the film follows middle-aged men (Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey) in the 1950s, I’d safely call it a fairly loose analogue, as, like Boots , it’s a period drama set against the backdrop of era-specific queer cultural expressions, from the McCarthy-inspired Lavender Scare to the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Bomer and Bailey create real chemistry (and offer intense, if not particularly explicit, sex scenes) as they depict decades in the lives of a closeted couple—one working at the State Department, the other an idealistic congressional staffer. Stream The Hitcher on Paramount+ .

Elite (2018–2024)

Elite follows a group of working-class friends who receive scholarships to Las Encinas, a fictional private school that, within the show’s universe, is the most exclusive in Spain (again, not exactly a boot camp, but still). There, they encounter snobbery, of course, but also mystery, murder, and a whole lot of sex (among characters of varying sexual orientations and number groups). This clever yet delightfully kitschy series ran for an impressive eight seasons, with Indian and South African versions also available (the aforementioned “Class” and “Blood and Water” ).Watch Elite on Netflix .

Heartstopper (2022 – )

Boots’s hidden, understated angst is certainly a good thing, but “Heartstopper” is an inspiring coming-of-age story of teenage love, which is exactly what we need right now. While the show never glosses over the dangers of homophobia, it also doesn’t wallow in tragedy. Kit Connor and Joe Locke deliver sensitive (and often very funny) performances in a show that’s almost always full of smiles without feeling saccharine.Watch “Heartstopper” on Netflix .

First day (2020–2022)

In this Australian series, Evie Macdonald plays Hannah Bradford, a confident 12-year-old girl interested in school politics and taekwondo. At the beginning of the series, she begins a new life at a new school, undergoing a gender transition and identifying as female for the first time. She immediately makes new friends but also encounters a bully from her old school who keeps her secret, just as Hannah begins to develop her own identity. And if that doesn’t sound like a real boot camp… “First Day” is aimed at a younger audience than other series on this list, but it’s still a solid drama about coming of age, finding meaning in life, and finding self-identity. Watch “First Day” on Hulu .

It’s a Sin (2021)

Another historical drama set in relatively recent times, Russell T. Davies’s miniseries It’s a Sin takes us back to the 1980s through the story of a group of friends living in London during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Featuring an impressive cast, the series tells a story that follows their journey from the early days of queer liberation to the growing threat of a disease no one in the world wanted to talk about, let alone do anything about. Davies ( Queer as Folk , Doctor Who ) has told stories with queer themes before, but none as powerful and moving. Watch It’s a Sin .

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