- This page is for the 1999 TV series character. For the 2019 TV series character, see Max Evans (2019). For the book series character, see Max Evans (books).
- "What's so great about normal?"
- ―'Drunk' Max to Liz[src]
Max Evans is one of the main characters on WB sci-fi series Roswell. He is portrayed by Jason Behr.
Personality[]
Long before Max knew about his destiny as a past and future King, he was respected as the leader of the group. He had always counseled Isabel and Michael to be cautious of using their powers and not to reveal the truth to anyone. Up until the day he risked everything to save the life of the girl he loved Liz Parker, they never questioned him. He often butted heads with the more aggressive Michael, counseling against impulsive or violent actions. More than one person has accused him of being controlling, such as when he refused to let Isabel attend college far away. He can be considered a pacifist, as he is the only one of the Royal Four who never intentionally kills anyone during the series. Though he doesn’t hold it against anyone to kill in self-defense. He is fiercely loyal to his friends (sometimes at great coat) and the time he came closest to crossing that line himself was in revenge for Alex Whitman’s murder. His top priority is always to protect everyone, even if it means making choices that result in hurt feelings.
Much of the story is about the intense love he shares with Liz. He often forgets his priorities when it comes to her. He never questioned her choice to let Maria DeLuca in on the secret. There are many occasions where he tries to walk away from her for her (and their) own safety but is never totally able to do it. He tries his best to be kind to Liz bur Max can be rather insensitive to her feelings. Though it didn’t help that Liz tends to suppress her negative feelings and not let them show. He spent time with Liz like normal while he was seeing Tess Harding, until she told him how uncomfortable she was. Though he did seem devastated when he saw how hurt Liz was when he revealed the pregnancy. He wanted to start things up again with her right after Tess’ departure. Even when Liz was in grave danger from her new powers going haywire he didn’t seem to really understand that she needed time away from him to get past his betrayal. Once Max made up his mind it was often unchangeable. One example was his refusal to trust his own parents enough to let them in on the secret, even though in the end they were trustworthy. His obsession with finding and rescuing his son almost caused him to lose everything else in his life until he finally came to his senses. The burden of leadership was something he accepted but never wanted and thought nothing of giving it up after his son was safe.
Plot[]
History[]
In Max's previous existence, before becoming Max Evans, he was Zan, King of Antar. Michael was his second in command and Tess was his wife. During Zan's existence, his older sister Vilandra, Isabel's former self, betrays Zan, by siding with Kivar his enemy but later on in season 3 Michael remembers that Kivar had said to her nobody would get hurt but he had lied. This cost the lives of most of the Antarians, including the Royal Four.
The ship carrying the biological clones, Max, Isabel, Michael and Tess crashed in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. The army took the alien craft and took it to study. The four clones were saved by a US Air Force pilot and hidden from sight in the Pod Chamber, hidden in the center of a rock formation. Although, the clones do not emerge until forty years later in 1989. However, only him, Isabel and Michael leave together, disguised as human children. The three are left with no memories of their former lives on Antar, or about the fact that there was a fourth child with them. Tess, in fact didn't wake up at the same time. Max and his sister Isabel found themselves wandering together in the desert and were both found and later adopted by a pair of lawyers: the Evans family. On the contrary, Michael found himself alone and afraid, and without a family to rely on. The three were reunited three years layer and made a solemn vow never to use their powers in public or to tell anyone the truth. Max fell in love with Liz Parker at first sight when they were children.
Season 1[]
Viewers first see Max watching Liz Parker work as a waitress while eating at the Crashdown Cafe, which belongs to Liz's parents. Fellow waitress Maria DeLuca points out Max's infatuation with her. There was an argument between two customers and is accidentally shot. Max rushes to her side over the objections of Michael and heals the wound simply by placing his hand over it, bringing her back to life. He covers the bloodstains with ketchup and asks her to hide the truth before fleeing the scene. Liz later discovers a silver handprint on her stomach, a mystery she becomes determined to solve. During a biology class experiment, Liz sneaks a sample of Max's saliva and examines it under a microscope, discovering that Max's cells look nothing like human cells. She confronts Max, who then admits that he is an alien whose spaceship crashed in Roswell in 1947. By telling her, Max breaks the ultimate taboo that he, Isabel, and Michael have kept their whole lives. Liz becomes the first human to know the secret of "The Pod Squad". Max also learns Liz is dating Kyle Valenti, son of Sheriff Jim Valenti. Isabel and Michael were outraged when he admits to having confessed the truth to Liz. The three get pulled over by Valenti who asks them questions. In order to gain Liz’ trust, Max creates a connection with her so she can see into his soul. Liz experiences all his inner feelings, especially the love Max has for her. After seeing Max's true character, Liz makes the decision to protect Max and his friends. Liz also begins to feel very drawn to Max in return, despite her current relationship.
After being questioned by the Sheriff, Liz demands answers from Max. That was how she found out Isabel and Michael were like him. Overwhelmed by the secret, she asks Max why he'd risked everything to heal her. Max replies, "Because it was you." This sets the tone for the series: Max will break any rule (including his own) for Liz. She told Max about a crime scene photo from 1959 where the victim had the same silver handprint. She also warned him Valenti had her uniform with the bullet hole in it and he knew Max was there that day. Max and the others made immediate plans to leave Roswell. Despite the murder, Michael is encouraged to know there might be someone else out there like them. On their way out of town they are stopped by Liz and Maria, who Liz let in on the secret, a transgression Max forgives. Liz had devised a claver scheme to throw the suspicion off Max. Although Valenti remains suspicious, Max is no longer at immediate risk of arrest and they can remain in Roswell. When they meet later Max and Liz are clearly getting closer but Max insists they are “too different” ad a romantic relationship was impossible. (Pilot)
Liz later begs Max to use his healing powers to help save her aged grandmother, Claudia. Max reveals that he can not stop a natural death, but does help her have a final conversation with Claudia. Her grandmother's insights give Liz the clarity needed to break up with Kyle and pursue a relationship with Max.
The hybrids' search for answers about their own existence is a recurring theme of the show. Max comes to the conclusion that there is a fourth alien on Earth after he gets a job at the local UFO center. There he discovers that the silver hand print that Max had left on Liz had been spotted on a number of murder victims in the 1950s. During a Roswell crash convention, Max is nearly killed by an alien hunter named Hubble. Hubble is intent on revenge because an alien killed his wife and unborn child. Sheriff Jim Valenti saves Max's life.
The three hybrids and their romantic partners are portrayed as chaste throughout the first season. However, sexual themes are explored. In the episode "Sexual Healing", repressed passion explodes between Max and Liz. Liz finds that when they kiss, she gets flashbacks of Max's past. They later find an orb from his planet thanks to these visions.
Tess Harding arrives mid-season. At first, they suspect she is a shape-shifting murderous alien named Nasedo. After Max has hallucinations about her, he confronts Tess. It is revealed that she is an alien-human hybrid like them. Nasedo is actually Tess's father figure.
Nasedo is both a murderer and their protector, a conundrum that leaves the Pod Squad undecided about what to do. Nasedo then kidnaps Liz by shifting into the image of Max, leaving the true Max with a clear mandate to save Liz and terminate Nasedo. In the effort, Max is abducted by a special branch of the FBI headed by the elusive Special Agent Pierce. Max is tortured for information but rescued by Nasedo and Michael before he reveals anything significant. In turn, they manage to kidnap Pierce. In the subsequent confusion, gunfire erupts and the sheriff inadvertently shoots his son, Kyle. Michael kills Pierce while Max saves Kyle using the same method that he had used on Liz at the start of the season. Thankful, Sheriff Valenti gives Max his word that he will protect him, Isabel and Michael.
It is the ship hidden in the caves that eventually is the key to the hybrids' history. An image of Max and Isabel's mother comes up and tells them that they are the clones of the Royal Four of their home world Antar. Tess and Max were married, Isabel was his sister and a promised spouse of Michael, who was Max's second in command. Upon hearing this Liz runs away as she realizes that his destiny and responsibility are far bigger than her. He loves her and is reluctant to let her go but she says that there is too much in their way and leaves.
Season 2[]
The second season of the series finds Max as "reluctant king". The others now awkwardly defer to him, except for Michael who still acts out and does things his own way. At the beginning of season two, Max's relationship with Liz is awkward. He still loves her and declares to her that he will keep fighting for her and will never give up on them. His role as the leader also proves to be an obstacle as he finds out about power he never knew he had and the responsibility that comes with that power. But he is rocked when Nasedo is murdered and before dying, he proclaims that one of their worst enemies has arrived in Roswell: the skins. Worried by this, he and the gang agree to sit tight. They target Liz's new boss, Congresswoman Whitaker, who had a relationship with Special Agent Pierce, and do some reconnaissance on her. It is later revealed that the Congresswoman was in fact a Skin.
It is around this time that Max tries to resurrect his relationship with Liz, but she rejects his advances. He only gives up on her when he catches Liz in bed with Kyle Valenti, believing that they had been together. The truth is that it's all a setup created by Liz when the future version of Max comes back from the future saying that she had to make his present self stop loving her because their love will be the cause of the end of the world. Future Max and Future Liz sacrificed their love in order to make Tess stay in Roswell (in their timeline, she left after Max and Liz cemented their relationship), because she is obsessed with Max and would stay only if Max gives her a chance.
However, for most of season two, Max and Tess are only friends. He tries to be friends with Liz, though he never stops loving her even though he does not know the truth about Kyle. Things change, however when their friend Alex dies and his friendship with Liz is compromised by her research for Alex's alien killer that Max cannot accept. He then has his first personal crisis about who he really is and loses his balance. When Tess starts helping him to remember his past, Max is confused about himself. He starts acting out of character, causing his friends dislike him, especially Liz and Isabel.
Due to Tess' influence, he starts to think that maybe he is too blind to accept the truth. A truth that his life is not real and Tess is correct. When he realizes that he has really lost everything, especially Liz, he sleeps with Tess. She is the only one with him and seems to know answers that he is unable to find. Though the two of them are essentially strangers to each other, he does, however try and feel something for her, in line with his destiny. The day after their night together, he realizes his mistake and is unable to love her no matter whether his previous self (Zan) had feelings for her or not. It is now too late for him when Tess tells him of her pregnancy with his son and that she wants to keep the baby no matter what. Max takes responsibility, staying with her even though he's not happy.
At the end of the season, Tess mindwarps him into believing that the baby is sick and he cannot survive in the Earth's atmosphere so they are forced to "return back" to Antar in order to save him. Thanks to the alien destiny book that Alex translated before his death, Max and his friends find the way to return home using the Granlith. Soon, Liz, Maria, and Kyle discover that Tess killed Alex. Max confronts her and realizes that the pregnancy was rouse in order to force him and the other aliens to return home.
Nasedo had made a deal with Kivar 40 years before for Tess to get pregnant by Max's heir and then deliver Max, Michael, and Isabel to Kivar, who would have killed them. The purpose was to finally destroy the royal family. Max, now angry, wants to kill her but stops, realizing that she is still carrying his son. He lets her go to Antar to save the baby he still believes would not survive on Earth.
He regroups with Liz and the others on the mountainside. Max tells Liz that in his life, he was wrong about many things but not loving her. They embrace and the season ends with Max saying that he must save his son.
Season 3[]
Desperate to bring his son to Earth, Max digs through Tess's belongings and discovers evidence leading him to a secret government facility in possession of the reconstructed ship that brought him and the others to Roswell. The ship is located underneath a convenience store in Utah. Having rekindled his relationship with Liz, the two of them devise a robbery, Liz holding up the store with a gun, while Max goes underneath the store to locate the ship. When there, he runs out of time trying to figure out how to work it, before they are captured by the police. Although the charges against Max and Liz are dismissed due to deft legal work by his father, the latter demands to know his reasons for robbing the store, and Max, not wanting to get his father mixed up in the alien affairs, leaves the house to stay with Michael. Subsequently, Liz's parents forbid her to see Max again, and the two of them are forced to carry on their relationship in secret.
Max continues the search for his son. He discovers that there was a second alien protector sent in the ship with them who abandoned his responsibilities for a life as a Hollywood producer and currently goes by the name Cal Langley. Langley, who tried to interfere with Max's search for his son, killed an actor who played a role in the episode "Busted" in order to obstruct Max and Liz's plan and ultimately resulted in their arrest. When Max realizes this, Langley threatens his life again, attempting to force him to return home to Roswell.
Langley's reasons are rooted in his desire to be human, even though he lacks human DNA and cannot even feel or be hurt by fire. Therefore, he fears Max, who can make him alien again, but cannot kill him because he was made to protect him. After discovering that his protector is genetically programmed to obey his direct orders, Max forces Langley to help him find the ship again and use it in order to leave Earth. Langley advises that the ship is too damaged to work. Ultimately, when the ship is finally located, it doesn't work and does not leave the hangar. After the accident, Max takes Langley to his home to help him because he feels guilty for what had happened. Langley tells him that even though he is genetically Max's protector, he will always hate him.
After Max's apologies, Langley finally understands that the boy is just desperate and wants to save his baby, but doesn't know what to do. He then tells Max about things that would have been lost if the ship had really worked. Max finally understands and devastatingly realizes that he almost lost everything, especially Liz, whom he had promised to come back to as soon as he could. Kal's first and last advice to Max is "The more you embrace our alien side... The more you're gonna lose"
With the failure of his plan, Max gives up hope of finding his son until the episode "Samuel Rising", in which an autistic child named Samuel, seemingly mute, calls him "Daddy". Max starts to believe that maybe his son is using Samuel for the purpose of contacting him. Max then visits Samuel, in an effort to befriend him and using what happened to help Samuel as well. However, Max soon realizes that Samuel is not his son and the reason why he talked with him and "liked" him at first sight is attributed to qualities Max possesses, including being special and "different", just like Samuel. He thought that maybe Max could assist him to communicate with his parents and tell them he loved them, even if he could not tell it like other children. Later, Max, with Isabel's help create a shared dream with Samuel and his parents, giving Samuel what he wanted. The encounter with Samuel makes Max realize that Liz is his family and even if he really finds his son, nothing will not change. He then tells her at the end of the episode when they go at the ice skating together, fulfilling his promise to Liz at the beginning.
Later in the season, Liz begins developing alien powers of her own, evidently as a side effect of Max healing her over two years ago. She's sick and it seems that she could die. Max tries to find a solution and he's willing to contact even the FBI if it's necessary, but nothing seems to help her and it gets worse. When trying to heal her with the healing stones she explodes crying, telling him that he always hurts her like when he slept with Tess. Max realizes that even if she's stressed by what is happening to her, she really feels this way. When he tries to talk with her about it Liz decides to take a break from Roswell in order to understand who she is and what she wants. Max tells her that he loves her trying to make her understand that he will be there when she wants and he isn't angry with her for what she said. But, ultimately, Liz goes to a boarding school in Vermont after sending him a letter when she tells him that she does love him too but she has to go.
Back in Roswell, someone kills Michael's friend, Monk, at the Meta-Chem Corporation where they worked together. Later Michael finds that someone at Meta-Chem is tracking him and most likely they discovered that he's an alien and they killed Monk for this reason. With Valenti's help, Michael tries to discover the truth but someone kidnaps Valenti. Max, Michael and Isabel go to Meta-Chem in order to free him. Max is the one who finds him and he discovers that someone at Meta-Chem, led by their leader Meris, was tracking Michael because they thought that he was the healer alien.
Meris wants Max to heal her elderly husband. When Max tries to explain to her that he can't heal people who're dying for natural reasons, Meris blackmails him using Valenti's life, and Max is forced to try the heal. However, something goes wrong in the healing process and instead of healing Meris' husband Max gives his life to the old man. Max becomes the old one, and when the healing process ends a circle of fire emits from Max's body. The fire comes back to him and the room catches on fire. Valenti tries to help Max but it's too late; when he reaches out to touch him Max turns into dust.
At the same time in Vermont, Liz suddenly awakes feeling Max's death deep inside of her and knows that he's dead without a doubt. But Max isn't really dead. His soul is still inside Meris' husband, Clayton. Clayton assumes Max's body like if they switched their previous forms. At first, he is happy of the change for the better, but while he's kissing his wife he's hit by strong flashes of Max and Liz together from Max's soul, and he rolls over, agonized. At this point, he realizes that Max is still inside him, and he believes that the only way he can get rid of Max is to kill Liz. Clayton goes to Vermont, but when he sees her he realizes that Max's connection to the girl is stronger than he thought.
Later, when Clayton tries to kill Liz, Max takes control over his body in order to tell Liz to kill him. Liz doesn't want to hurt or kill Max, but he yells at her saying that she must do it otherwise Clayton will kill her so she must kill them both in order to save herself. However, Clayton takes the control again and while he's trying to kill Liz they both fall from the window to the ground of the school. While they're falling Max takes control over Clayton again and both him and Liz get flashes of their life and all the people they love. All Max sees are his memories with Liz and how she's his whole life so he sacrifices his life in order to save hers. He reaches out to project an energy field to break her fall without using one for himself. Then, even as Liz is cushioned in the protective green energy, Max falls to the ground without a protection. After a moment, the energy field blinks out and Liz drops down, falling closer to Max, both of them lying still. Later, Liz wakes up and, touching Max, realizes he is dead.
She tenderly caresses his face with her hands and bends over him in order to give him her last kiss. A single tear falls onto his cheek and a glow of white energy passes across his face. It begins to transform, taking on Clayton's original features, then fading back into Max's until he wakes up staring into her tearful eyes. Max tells her that she brought him back from death. Liz tells him that now they're even and they return to Roswell.
In Roswell, Max, Liz and their friends are still facing Max's death and "resurrection" when Michael, after Max's death, gets the royal seal of Antar and becomes the king/leader. Michael can't handle this change and he starts to act recklessly. He becomes dangerous and the group tries to find a solution. Eventually, Max takes the seal from him and returns to be the rightful king again even if he never liked this role. Michael finally understands how Max was right about being the king and how it's not a funny game to play.
Later, when a ship seems to crash in Roswell, Max and Michael help a girl and her father who were trapped by the government. Shortly afterward they discover that the crashed ship was Tess coming back to Earth, carrying Max's son with her. Calling him Zan, after his father, she says that Kivar betrayed her and their deal, and he rejected him as the heir of Antar because he is fully human, so she had to escape from the planet and return to Earth in order to save her son.
However, Max discovers that Tess, in order to force him to leave earth, mindwarped him about the baby, later on the end of season 2 when he thought that he was dying. Tess' arrival, however, has sparked government action because in order to protect her son she killed a whole military base. So, in the end of the episode, to ward them away from her son, she sacrifices herself, blowing up the military base and dying in the process and she asks Liz for help. Before dying she confesses to Liz that Max always loved only her and every time they were together she always got flashes of her from him.
However, this turn of events serves to resurrect the Special Unit to hunt for the aliens, and realizing someone will always be after him, Max gives Zan up for adoption, for his own safety.
Shortly after that, Liz starts to receive visions of the future while she's touching people. When she and Max are making out she gets one of her visions and she sees how the Special Unit will kill them at their own high school graduation. Not able to harm the Special Unit again, the group agrees to flee Roswell separately. Max gives up his throne because they're a group and their lives are in danger, he can't make all the decisions anymore and after all, he never really considered himself as the king nor the leader and they all have the right to choose what they want to do with their life.
Later, Max proposes to Liz and she accepts because they can't leave Roswell without each other, even if it means they'll be killed. However, at the high school graduation ceremony Max tries to sacrifice himself by taking FBI attention only on him in order to free the others but Michael saves him at last minute. After what happened, the group makes the decision to leave Roswell all together, instead of separately like they established before. Max, Liz, Michael, Maria, Isabel and Kyle then depart from Roswell into a van and Max makes the decision to use his powers in order to help people. One of the last scenes of the series shows Liz's father reading his daughter's journal where she wrote him a letter and told him about her wedding with Max and who he really was.
At the end of the series, Max and Liz get married in a small chapel in the desert and get back in the van, continuing their trek throughout the country with their friends.
Relationships[]
Family[]
Isabel Evans (Sister) – Max and Isabel were separated from Michael shortly after they left the Pod Chamber. They were found by the couple who would adopt and raise them. Despite being counted as the older sister, Isabel tended to look up to Max as the voice of reason. Both she and Michael deferred to his judgment on everything because his caution about keeping their secret hidden was what kept them safe for many years. That all changed when Max risked all their lived to save Liz Parker and shared their secret with her. Isabel may never have entirely forgiven him for this because they never seemed able to live a safe, relatively normal life after that. She would usually encourage Max to take things slow with Liz, because that girl seemed to impact his better judgment. She seemed to loosen up over time though and she would give him advice on women. One thing they always disagreed on was that Isabel wanted to share her secret with their mother but Max always refused until they had no choice. She later found out that she and Max were brother and sister in their former life too. Another time they fought was when she found out she had betrayed her family in her former life and had gotten them all killed. She tried to hide this from Max for as long as she could but Max decided not to hold it against her in the end. They had a nasty fight after Alex Whitman died. She wanted to go to college as far from Roswell as she could. He forbid her from moving so far away and vowed to sabotage her if she tried. They didn’t make up until she found out about the pregnancy. They also bickered when she wanted to let Jesse in on the secret. But he didn’t try to break them up and he even convicted their parents not to boycott the wedding. In general they are as close as any normal siblings could be.
Philip Evans (Adoptive Father) - Their parents were the ones who found them in the desert. They were always loving and supportive. Bur Max always had the position that the secret should be kept from them. Not just because they might turn them in, but because they might be at risk if they knew too much. His father got suspicious of his son’s many secret during the third season and started to investigate. He wouldn’t let it drop even after Isabel told them something reasonably close to the truth. Once Tess retuned on the run from the military they had no choice but to confess everything. Fortunately they accepted the truth and his father even helped him put his grandson up for adoption for his own safety.
Diane Evans (Adoptive Mirger) – Max loved his parents but always kept an emotional distance from them in ways Isabel never did. At one point his mom saw him put out a fire in the kitchen using his powers. This made her remember another miracle she had seen him perform as a kid and she demanded the truth. But he persuaded her there was a reason he couldn’t tell her everything and it didn’t mean he didn’t care about her. She later participated in her husband’s efforts to discover the truth and planted a hidden camera in Isabel’s room forcing them to confess everything. They barely had time to get to know this side of their kids before Max and Isabel had to flee for their lives.
Zan (Son) - Max always thought of sleeping with Tess as perhaps the worst mistake of his life. But he didn’t shirk his responsibilities to his unborn son in any way. When Max was made to believe his son couldn’t survive on Earth (a Mindwarp) he made immediate plans for them to return to their war-torn home planet to save him. Once the truth about Tess was revealed it was only the thought of his son’s welfare that caused him to allow her to return home unscathed. But he immediately declared his son’s rescue would be his top priority. Even Liz decided to help, although obviously she felt conflicted about it. Max was able to sense it when his son was born. He grew increasingly more desperate to find him, to the point where it almost cost him everything else important in his life and he realized he had to take a step back. At one point he thought his son was commutating through an autistic boy. Tess eventually returned with his son. The original plan was for the child to be installed as a figurehead to add legitimacy the Kivar’s rule. Though Tess at first claimed Zan was dependent on her for survival, she finally confessed Zan was complexly human. This was why Kivar rejected him and why she had to return. Tess then sacrificed herself to protect her son. Since Zan was fully human Max gave him up for adoption, knowing his own lifelike was too dangerous. He asked his father to find a loving home but not to tell him where it was. The last time he held Zan, Max granted him a memory. Perhaps so he would know how much his parents had loved him.
Liz Parker (Wife) – Max had fallen in love with Liz at first at first sight and was unable to stop himself from saving her life. He let Liz in on the whole truth and she fell in love in return. He knew a romance would be dangerous for her and doomed to fail, but he couldn’t stay away. Then Tess appeared and they learned Max was intended to be with her. Max decided his love for Liz meant more than this ‘destiny’ and kept pursuing her. He only backed off when he caught her in bed with Kyle. As he got closer to Tess, he and Liz tried to go back to being friends, even attending prom together. But on the dance floor Liz told him they must stop clinging to ‘what might have been’ because it was too painful. He finally recognized it was truly over. Then Alex died, and Liz insisted an alien must be responsible. Liz became so obsessed with finding the killer she risked exposing all of them. She and Max got into a horrible fight. This led Max to seek comfort in the arms of Tess, which led to her pregnancy. Max must confess this to Liz on the eve of their departure, leaving them both devastated. Liz was able to unmask Tess as the real killer just barely in time. Max re-kindled his relationship with Liz as he sought to rescue his son. But his obsession with that goal almost got Liz a 10 years prison sentence. Her father was furious and they had to sneak around for a while. Liz developed her own powers which were unstable due to her repressed anger at Max. She left to sort out her feelings and wound up playing the key role in his resurrection. Liz saw a vision of danger that forced them to flee. Max gives up the throne and proposes to Liz. The group goes on the road and the final scene is of their wedding.
Jesse Ramirez (Brother-on-Law) – Jesse worked at their father’s office but they were likely virtual strangers before Isabel admitted she was dating him. Isabel really wanted to tell him everything but the others reminded her of the vow they made not to bring anyone else in after Alex died. For his part Jesse didn’t especially like Max because he certainly wasn’t all that supporting of their relationship. The reason Max was so protective and always around made total sense once Jesse knew everything. They seemed to get along better after that but never seemed like close friends. Jesse helped them out a few times later but when it was time to leave town Isabel insisted her should let her go and get on with his life.
Friends[]
Michael Guerin - Max and Isabel first met Michael in the desert after leaving the Pod Chamber. They became separated for 3 years. During that time those two were adopted by a kind and loving family while Michael was in about the worst possible foster situation. He lived in a trailer park with a drunk and developed a serious attitude problem. The reason Michael was always the most enthusiastic about finding out about their home world was because his home life was so miserable. When Michael’s foster father became abusive, his friends helped him gain his independence. As Michal got closer to Maria and his situation improved he came to appreciate his life on Earth. Ironically that shift happened at the same time Max was getting closer to Tess and was embracing his former life. Michael was always the most aggressive of them, the biggest risk taker. On those occasions Max and Isabel were usually on the same side of the issue, choosing to be calm and cautious. Michael and Maria were usually the risk-takers in romance as well. They were the first couple to kiss as well as consummate their relationship. Michael frequently turned to Max for advice on women because he was better at the whole ‘boyfriend’ thing. Michael often challenged Max’ authority, especially after they learned of their true identities. It was only after Michael got a taste what it was like to lead that he understood what kind of serious responsibility it was. Max had to forcibly take the Royal Seal back because Michael had gone out of control. Michael saved Max when he nearly sacrificed himself at the end of the series and they all went on the road together. Michael was almost certainly the best man at his wedding to Liz.
Maria DeLuca - Max seemed understanding when Liz let her best friend in on the secret shortly after she learned it herself. Though it didn’t seem like Maria would be able to hold up under pressure at first, she felt she owed Max something for saving Liz. Each of them was dating the other’s best friend so they often consulted each other for advice on their partner. Early on Maria seemed a little envious that Max and Liz had a deep spiritual connection and that Max treated Liz far better than Michael did her. Liz turned away from Max after his ‘destiny’ with Tess was revealed. Liz was gone for a while and Michael had dumped Maria for her own safety. As a result Max and Maria spent that summer hanging out and consoling each other, and were noticeably closer friends after that. When Liz was pushing him away after her return Maria almost succeeded in persuading Max to leave Liz alone. Max also made an effort to help Michael to be a better boyfriend to Maria and he gradually did. The group gave Maria space when she tried to return to a normal life and focus on her music. But in the end Maria changed her mind became one of their traveling companions after they fled Roswell.
Alex Whitman – Alex was the closest male friend of Liz and Maria and they originally intended to keep him out of the loop. But then Max got into a car accident and they needed a human male to switch out the blood samples at the hospital. Max owed him big for agreeing to help. Alex grew increasingly suspicious, especially after helping them expose the guidance counselor as an undercover agent. This created a rift between Alex Liz. But the girls in the group all came to believe he could be trusted and he eventually was told everything. Max and Alex became good friends, though of The Pod Squad he was close to Isabel. After Alex died Max was the only one (reluctantly) willing to consider the idea if it being a suicide. He refused accept Liz’ plausible theory about an alien being responsible because like Isabel he would feel partially responsible for bringing Alex into their world in the first place. It is notable that Alex’ death was the time Max came closest to killing someone, in revenge for his murder. It was only the thought of his unborn child that stopped him from seeking revenge when Tess was revealed as the killer. After Alex died Max, Isabel and Michael made a vow never to let anyone else in on the secret for their own safety.
Jim Valenti – Jim Valenti was the Sheriff of Rowell. He became suspicious when he brogan investigating the incident where Liz was shot and healed by Max. He was increasingly suspicious of Max though they were able to barely stay one step ahead of him for a while. He was determined to prove he was right but in the process his efforts drew even more dangerous attention to the Pod Squad such as the FBI. But he seemed to realize he was on the wrong side when Max was nearly killed by a cracked ‘alien hunter’. Max accused the Sheriff hardly being any better, persecuting an innocent person for vague suspicions. He Sheriff made an effort to earn their trust and Max was gradually convinced of his honesty but the others weren’t willing to let him in until they needed his help to rescue Max from the Special Unit. During that incised Max saved Kyle when he was shot by accident and that won Valetta’s total loyalty. The Sheriff worked to protect and help them on many occasions after that. A kidnapping case ended up costing Valenti his job because he couldn’t explain how he was getting help from Isabel. Max felt quite guilty about that. Valenti persuaded Liz’ dad, who was trying to keep Liz bad Max apart, to give him a second chance, Valenti helped them look into a murder and was taken prisoner. Max rescued him and healed him when he was shot. Max wound end up dying during that rescue, but was able to return in the end.
Kyle Valenti - Max and Kyle didn’t get along well at first. Liz was dating him at the time and she made little effort to conceal her growing feelings for Max. In the end she ended things but Kyle started following them. Kyle got it into his head that Max was dangerous and she needed his protection. But eventually Kyle backed off and moved on. There was an evening when Liz won a ‘perfect blind date’ on a radio contest. Kyle and Max got drunk together and bonded in their shared misery. He later saved Kyle’s life, letting him in on the secret, though Kyle was slow to earn his trust. Kyle, on the other hand was extremely freaked out by the notion if aliens and took up Buddhism. Kyle and his father provided Tess with a home for a while. Kyle was the key witness who revealed the truth about Alex’ murder. Kyle warned Max and Michael that Kivar had been at Isabel’s wedding. Kyle was the first person Liz told when her powers started to develop. Max was quite desperate to fix her. Fortunate Kyle realized Max’ presentence was making her condition worse, otherwise he might have killed her. Due to his own latent powers Kyle joined the group when they fled Roswell.
Girlfriends[]
Tess Harding - Max was introduced to Tess by Isabel. He felt instinctively drawn to her, despite his love for Liz. They investigated her and found out she was the fourth Hybrid who they left behind in The Pod Chamber. Liz ran away after it was revealed Tess was his wife in their past life and they were intended to be together again. He remained devoted to Liz who was forced to hurt in order to get him to give Tess a chance. Liz had been told if that didn’t happen Tess would leave and it would create a disastrous vulnerability. Max accepted her as a friend and ally but kept his distance until he began recovering memories from his past life. Tess amplified those feelings to make Max think he cared for her more than he actually did. Liz insisted they need to move on at the prom and he kissed Tess. It was the death of Alex that drove a wedge into their group. Max steadfastly refused to accepted the entirely plausible theory than an alien was responsible. After his worst fight with Liz ever, Tess took advantage of his vulnerable state to seduce him and became pregnant. Max quickly decided to take responsibility and fully committed himself to Tess and their child. When Liz started looking into Tess’ powers due to Alex’ strange behavior Max refused to hear it. Kyle was providing Tess an alibi at the time due to a Mindwarp but it later broke, revealing the truth. Tess had been hiding her true feeling and motives all along. It had all been staged so she could conceive his heir and lead them Inyo a trap on their home planet. It was only his unborn son that stooped him from killing her. When Tess returned on the run Max still voted against turning her in, knowing how badly she would suffer if they did.
Powers[]
- The Hybrids were created by mixing human DNA with cells from their previous life on another planet. They are capable of accessing abilities beyond the current level of human evolution.
- Leptokinesis – The ability to manipulate molecular structures. Most other abilities are based on this one. Max used this power to dissolve the bullet when he healed Liz Parker.
- Healing – The ability granted to the rightful King of Antar. Max can heal serious injuries even if they are at the verge of death. Max has been shown to heal children with terminal cancer. Any human bought back from the brink of death will slowly evolve to access the full potential of the human brain like the Hybrids do.
- Connecting – The power to experience flashes of insight into the memories, thoughts and feelings of a person you have intimate contact with. This power seems to be a side-effect of the Healing ability. Max grants this ability to Liz to earn her trust.
- Telekinesis – The ability to move objects or people with a wave of the hand, Max used this power to shove his Jeep off a cliff prior to their planned departure.
- Soul Projection – The ability to project an image of yourself or the person you touch into the mind of someone else. Max uses this ability to help Liz say goodbye to her comatose grandmother.
- Technopathy – The ability to manipulate electronic devices. Max is able to override electronic locks by merely touching them.
- Force Field Projection – Max generates a barrier of green energy to protect himself and those around him from harm. It is implied to be impenetrable so long as Max had the energy to maintain it. Max also uses it as a net to protect Liz from a fall.
- Clairvoyance – The ability to receive powerful visions due to physical or telepathic contact with certain objects or people. Max was able to recover memories of his past life with help from Tess Harding. Max received a powerful vision when his son was born despite the distance between them.
- Thermokinesis – The ability to speed up molecules inside an object to heat up or melt it. Max used this to heat a TV dinner during a power outage. Max also used it to dispose of the gun after the convenience store robbery.
Appearances[]
| Episodes | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Season 2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Season 3 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Trivia[]
- Max "only ever listens to the Counting Crows when [he's] really upset," according to Isabel.[1]
- On May 12, 2020 Carina Adly MacKenzie revealed in a tweet that in a conversation she had with Jason, on wanting things to go back to normal after the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, without skipping one beat, Jason used one of Max's original lines from Roswell replying, What's so great about normal?.[2]