Despite top marks, Netflix is ending “Boots” after just one season. The surprising decision also affects contracts that have already been extended.
The first season of “Boots” achieved an approval rating of 90 percent among professional critics on the rating platform Rotten Tomatoes. The series also placed in the internal Netflix top 10 for four weeks. These key figures initially suggested a continuation. As the industry magazine “Deadline” now reports, the series will not be continued. The fact that the production studio Sony Pictures Television had already extended contracts with several actors in August 2025 deserves particular attention, which usually indicates that further seasons are planned.
It’s over at Netflix, but is it moving on somewhere else?
The series is based on the memoir “The Pink Marine” by Greg Cope White. The plot follows homosexual Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer) and his best friend Ray McAffey (Liam Oh), who enlist together in the US Marine Corps. The story is set in the 1990s, when homosexuality was still punishable in the US military. The topic in series form attracted great interest. And yet it won’t continue.
Plus: A sequel to “Boots” with another provider is also considered unlikely. Netflix’s exclusivity agreements make it significantly more difficult for external production studios to license or develop canceled series on other platforms.
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Long production history with interruptions
The production history of “Boots” spanned a long period of time: the project received production approval in May 2023. Filming began in the summer of 2023, but was interrupted after a week due to the Hollywood strikes. Production resumed in March 2024 and completed in August 2024. The specific start date was only set about a year after filming ended.
More series with premature ends despite critical acclaim
“Boots” joins a list of series that were canceled after just one season despite positive reviews. Such as:
- “1899” (Netflix, 2022): The mystery series from the “Dark” creators achieved 76 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, but was ended after one season, even though the story was intended to last several seasons.
- “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” (Netflix, 2019): The lavishly produced fantasy series using puppet technology received 86 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and won an Emmy, but was not renewed.
- “Archive 81” (Netflix, 2022): The horror-mystery series received a 77 percent critical rating and was placed in the top 10, but still ended after eight episodes.
- “I Am Not Okay with This” (Netflix, 2020): The coming-of-age series with supernatural elements achieved 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes; the planned second season was canceled due to the corona pandemic.
- “The Get Down” (Netflix, 2016 to 2017): Baz Luhrmann’s expensive series about the emergence of rap culture in the 1970s received 87 percent positive reviews but was too expensive to continue.
- “Firefly” (Fox, 2002): Despite being canceled early, Joss Whedon’s science fiction series developed into a cult series and later spawned a movie.
- “Freaks and Geeks” (NBC, 1999 to 2000): The series launched the careers of numerous Hollywood stars and is now considered a cult, but was canceled after 18 episodes.