Netflix will not move forward with a second season of Boots, the military coming-of-age comedy-drama that stands as the final television series from legendary producer Norman Lear. The decision comes more than two months after the show’s eight-episode first season debuted on the streamer.
According to sources, the outcome was the result of an extended evaluation rather than an immediate cancellation. Boots arrived to strong critical and audience reception, earning a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and delivered solid viewership during its run. Netflix reportedly held multiple discussions with Sony Pictures Television, the studio behind the series, as it reviewed long-tail performance data before ultimately deciding not to proceed.
In anticipation of a potential continuation, Sony TV extended cast options earlier this year for several core ensemble members, including Miles Heizer, Liam Oh, Kieron Moore, Dominic Goodman, Angus O’Brien, Blake Burt, and Rico Paris. However, Netflix’s exclusivity agreements effectively prevent the series from being shopped elsewhere following the streamer’s decision.
Created by Andy Parker and inspired by Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, Boots is set in 1990, a time when being openly gay in the U.S. military was illegal. The series follows Cameron Cope (Heizer), a closeted and uncertain young man, and his straight best friend Ray McAffey (Oh) as they enlist in the Marine Corps and join a diverse group of recruits navigating the physical and emotional intensity of boot camp. The show explores identity, friendship, and survival within an institution designed to strip individuals down and rebuild them.
The road to release for Boots was unusually long. The project was greenlit in May 2023 while Lear—a decorated World War II veteran—was still alive. Production began that summer but halted just one week in due to the Hollywood strikes. Filming resumed in March 2024 and wrapped in August. Lear died in December 2023 at age 101, months before the series premiered.
Despite completing production in 2024, Boots did not reach audiences until nearly a year later. During that gap, the cultural and political climate surrounding its subject matter shifted significantly. Following its release, the series became part of a broader public conversation after the Pentagon criticized the show, dismissing it as “woke garbage.”
The attention appeared to boost interest. Boots averaged approximately 9.4 million views during its first full week on Netflix—doubling its debut-week performance—and remained in the platform’s Top 10 for four weeks, peaking at No. 2.
The cast also includes Max Parker, Vera Farmiga, Cedrick Cooper, Ana Ayora, and Nicholas Logan. Jennifer Cecil served as showrunner and executive producer, with Parker as creator, co-showrunner, and executive producer. Lear and Brent Miller executive produced through Act III Productions, alongside Rachel Davidson, Scott Hornbacher, and Peter Hoar.
Netflix’s decision arrives amid several recent renewals at the streamer, including Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black, which was picked up for a third and final season, and Nobody Wants This, renewed last month.
For Boots, the end of its first season also marks the close of a longer legacy—bringing Norman Lear’s historic career in television to its final chapter.