Freelance Husbands

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For the page regarding the Freelance Police as a whole, see Freelance Police.

What is "Freelance Husbands"?[]

"Freelance Husbands" is the name of "Sam x Max" ship. It was made by the community as the way that most of the fans believe that Sam & Max are married.

"Sam x Max/Freelance Husbands" ship haven't been fully confirmed, either by Steve Purcell, Telltale Games, or Skunkape team, and is just a heavily implied headcanon. But either the creators of the game series and Steve Purcell himself implied that they support the ship on some level.

On this page you will be able to learn why people believe Freelance Husbands is canon, or why people tend to ship Sam & Max[]

Keep in mind that this is a comedy series, and therefore most things mentioned here are meant to be seen as funny or supportive jokes by the developers. Another important thing is that despite Max not being canonically in a relationship with Sam specifically, he is still most likely a homosexual man, and he has no interest in dating or having any form of serious relationship with women.

And as a final note, despite characters acting like they're a couple, or like they're in a romantical or sexual relationship, it doesn't always mean they desire to be seen that way, so it's up to the characters to say how they see their relationship. In Sam and Max's case, they seem to label themselves as "best friends", but even characters in the game can see there's something more in their relationship.

Actions:[]

Romantic[]

Sam & Max often make amorous or romantic comments towards each other, compliment each other, or suggest that they engage in a sexual activity. But they don't seem to do it in a "lovely dovely" way, more in a way of silly and teasing jokes. Additionally, it seems like that at least Sam might desire a deeper romantic relationship with Max, meanwhile Max is just happy with his best friend company.

Comfort[]

Max heavily appreciates personal space, growling or even attacking most people who disrespect it, or move too close to him (including Satan). Despite this, he seems to have no issue with Sam touching him, even up to allowing Sam to carry him around like a plushie, grabbing, picking him up, grab onto his ears, pat his head, place hand on his head, and hug him.

Max himself doesn't know what other's personal space is, and he tends to climb on Sam, or hug him out of nowhere. In most of times, Sam doesn't really mind when Max is doing this.

Personalities[]

Sam doesn't mind Max's violent personality, in fact, he seems happy watching Max beating up evil people, like in the Freelance Police 2004 trailer, when Max is beating up a theft who was trying to steal their car, Sam smiles watching Max doing his job and threaten the criminal. He also finds Max's behavior as cute and admitted it a few times out loud. Meanwhile Max admitted he tend to express his love towards Sam through violence.

Sam despite being supposedly bi, he seems to do better with males. Meanwhile Max while being supposedly gay, does better with females.

Pet names[]

Sam likes calling Max names such as: Melonhead, Bonehead, Knucklehead, Pinhead etc. in a positive way. Max also really likes when Sam calls him "little buddy" or when he uses "You crack me up, little buddy" phrase on him, which Sam uses when he wants to let Max know what a great time he's having with him (as said in the cartoon bible).

Separation issues[]

As shown in most media, Sam and Max have severe separation issues, and become incredibly uncomfortable and upset when they're separated from each other for extended lengths of time unless they're absolutely certain the other may be safe, but it still makes them uncomfortable to be away from each other.

When Sam was gone in the "A Glitch in Time" cartoon episode, Max already started panicking not knowing where his best friend is, and started searching for him as fast as possible, panicking he won't be able to find him, and doing anything to make Sam remember who he is.

During Hit the Road, Sam won't attempt to continue the case until he can rescue Max from the "Dunk the beast" tank Max got trapped on. Like Sam said in the Hit The Road HintBook: "I had to get to that island and rescue my partner. He may be maniacal, he may be homicidal, he may torture animals smaller than himself, but he's still my partner." While getting closer to freeing Max, they argue like an old married couple, but after successfully freeing Max, Sam shows relief his friend is free, "A short stroll later I was on the island, freeing Max by opening the cage door. He wasn't very grateful, but at least he wasn't dead.".

In 101 when Max was gone, Sam couldn't think about anything than Max saying stuff like "Max would look at that/you know who would like that? Max.." whenever clicking on anything not related with helping to find Max while he is gone.

Sam and Max want to have hells next to each other when they will be dead. Beside that, in season 2 Max said that when he will be going to die, he will take Sam with him. When Sam asks if it's a threat or a compliment, Max replies with saying he sees it as a "grim inevitability".

Barriers[]

Sam is too afraid to straight up tell or admit Max his feelings and worries, most likely being scared of it destroying their relationship, or Max not understanding his intentions, so he just keeps stuff to himself. He tends to worry one day Max won't need him anymore.

Max doesn't fully understand what love is, he tries to show Sam he's important to him, but he does it pretty poorly.

"Max doesn't even like girls!"[]

This is one of the quotes that Sam keeps telling to Max pretty often in the franchise. Some people believes Sam is just jealous, and they believe in it even more after the quote that have been said in Poker Night 2, when Max kisses the player and Sam says "Knock it off Max, you don't even like... Whatever gender that is.".

People think that Sam & Max are married[]

Yes, Sam & Max have been shown a lot of times getting married, in the Cartoon, in Hit the Road, as a wedding toppings, but from what we know, they aren't married in the TellTale universe yet. But Sam still thinks about proposing to Max in a dream analysis in Season 1, and in Season 3 of the game after imagining spending good time with Max and putting a ring on his finger.

Sam & Max also often end up in the tunnel of love, they did it in the cartoon and Hit The Road. And in the second one, Sam comments that the tunnel of love trip is "surely romantic", and when Max was gone, he said he can't go to the tunnel alone as it "wouldn't be romantic without Max".

Other characters often talk about Sam & Max in the way like they could be a couple[]

Sybil was assuming that Sam wants to marry his best friend after choosing "wedding cake" and "Max" in the diagnosis dream in 101. Beside that, she was also saying that Sam is probably preparing for some "little celebration", and when we choose the wedding cake itself after her saying that, Sybil will ask in encouraging voice "Is someone getting married, hmm?", making Sam act angry and annoyed by her question.

When Sam and Max make tests about ideal soulmates, Sybil says Sam's ideal soulmate match is Max, and vice versa. But Sam & Max decide just not to talk about it.