PlumUmbra

"Boots" (Season 1, 2025, 7.5/10) is an intimate military dramedy about coming of age, self-acceptance, and trying to find your place in a world that never expected you in the first place. The story unfolds in the early 90's and follows Cameron - a young recruit who joins the Marine Corps not out of patriotism, but in an attempt to understand himself and break free from a toxic environment.

The central character, Cameron played by Miles Heizer, is the strongest part of the series. His journey is portrayed honestly: from an insecure guy trying to blend in, to someone who begins to stand up for himself, gradually realizing that strength isn't always about physical training.

The supporting characters mostly serve as reflections of his internal conflict - from Sergeant Sullivan to his mother, whose decisions cast a long shadow across the season.

The show captures the military atmosphere as both harsh and absurd: there are humiliations, odd flashes of support, and that so-called "brotherly" closeness born from the need to survive. These are the moments where the series works best - when it doesn't try to be likable, but simply shows how people are shaped under pressure.

Visually, it's restrained: muted colors, minimal musical cues, editing that feels ripped from reality - all of this reinforces the everyday routine.

However, the tone is noticeably uneven. It tries to be a tough drama about systemic pressure, a light comedy about adaptation, and a coming of age story - and these threads don't always form a cohesive whole.

As a result, some conflicts lose tension, and serious moments sometimes dissolve into humor.

Verdict: "Boots" is a restrained and sincere coming-of-age story set within a rigid system. Not groundbreaking or shocking, but a competent and at times very honest series driven by atmosphere and performance. More a story about finding stability than a traditional military drama.

"One Punch Man" (Season 3, 2025, 5.8/10) - a return that, unfortunately, loses almost everything that once made the first season special. By the fifth episode, it becomes clear: the irony and energy of the original have nearly vanished, leaving only familiar faces without the former drive or satirical sharpness.

The main problem lies in the fatigue of the material. Where there once was clever genre reflection and lively pacing, now there are routine fights, drawn-out scenes, and weak direction. Even Saitama - the main source of irony and absurd humor - feels like a background character in his own story.

The animation noticeably falls short of the first season: battles feel static, and the directing has lost its former manic brilliance - that edge which once made the series unique. The soundtrack is still upbeat but no longer saves it from overall inertia.

Most importantly, it has stopped surprising. Now it's a story that talks more about its former greatness than shows it. The satirical tone has become muted.

In the end, One Punch Man Season 3 is a disappointment for those who remember how it all began. It's no longer satire or heroic irony - just a shadow of past success, with almost none of the energy that once made the series a phenomenon.