Screen Queen reviews: Boots, Nobody Wants This, Harlan Coben’s Lazarus, Mr Scorsese and The Golden Bachelor

Boots

Streaming now on Netflix

As someone who gets paid to watch TV, I like to think I’m across the medium. But real talk: sometimes shows pass me by. And I’m embarrassed to admit that’s what happened in the case of this delightful new series, starring 13 Reasons Why’s Miles Heizer.

Based on a memoir titled The Pink Marine, which details Greg Cope White’s experiences joining the marines at a time when LGBTIQA+ people were barred from entering the military, it sees Heizer starring as Cameron Cope, a gay high school graduate who decides, on a whim, to join his best friend and try out for the marines.

As his mate points out, perhaps he should have watched Full Metal Jacket before signing on for the rigorous boot camp because, as Cope soon realises, it’s nothing like the collegiate experience he was hoping for, nor a chance to reinvent himself post-high school.

Still, he toughs it out, and this delightful coming-of-age eight-part series, set four years before Bill Clinton’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was enacted in 1994, is all about what happens during the rigorous selection process.

Presumably it will go to more seasons and we’ll get to see what happens to Cope and his friends as they traverse life while serving in a Gulf War-era Marine Corps. I, for one, will be along for the ride, because while this so easily could have been a “hooyah” bro-fest, it’s so much more than that, playing out as a nuanced and surprisingly heartfelt exploration of masculinity and identity at a time when the world was changing fast.

If you’ve not yet caught this, I urge you to check it out. Let’s all cross our fingers for more seasons.

Nobody Wants This S2

Thursday, streaming on Netflix

Sometimes you just want to watch a delightful rom-com starring two of your favourites. Enter: Nobody Wants This, last year’s break-out hit, starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody.

Series two picks up with the mismatched lovers navigating what comes next after falling madly in love. Joanne’s still podcasting, Adam’s still rabbi-ing, but now they’ve got the tricky task of enmeshing their lives — let’s just say, it won’t be smooth sailing.

This is shaping up to be one of the biggest releases of the year. Counting the days.

Mr Scorsese

Streaming now on Apple TV Plus

This one’s for film buffs, cinephiles, or anyone who’s ever enjoyed one of Martin Scorsese’s films (see: everyone). It’s a fabulous portrait of the filmmaker, boasting incredible access to family archives and his famous friends. Must-see.

The Golden Bachelor

Monday, 7.30pm, Nine

Watching a bunch of old people date — should I be horrified or intrigued? I was both. If this similarly piques your interest, tune in to see whether 61-year-old Sydneysider Bear finds love.

Harlan Coben’s Lazarus

Wednesday, streaming on Prime

This psychological thriller comes from the genius mind of Harlan Coben, so you know it’s going to be good. Starring Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy, it tells the story of Joel Lazarus (Claflin), whose famous psychiatrist father dies in mysterious circumstances, prompting him to uncover what happened and how it intersects with other unsolved cold cases. You’ll be hooked.