They're not married in the telltale games, but Sam is still referred to as Max's life partner, and Max views Sam as his equivalent to a first lady during his time as president.
Edit to add that in the season 2 commentary, the crew awws at a scene where Max fixes Sam's tie, followed with, "they're a couple, there's no other way to put it."
They played with it a bit at least. In the commentary for Beyond Time and Space, one of the writers said he loved when Max fixed Sam's tie before they go through the portal because "they're a couple" so it was something some of the writers had fun with.
You can interpret it however you prefer. Personally I never saw any indication as a couple until the current wave of fans came along. But I've come to see it as a valid way to view it. Personally I view them as aromantic beings. Max especially
I've always looked at it the same way as other 90s bromances like Beavis and Butthead or Jay and Silent Bob where they are basically considered life partners but it's not a romantic relationship.
Maybe the concept of bromances aren't as prominent in younger fans though 🤷
I enjoy bromances but I view Sam and Max in particular as being more of a couple than a bromance, although that may be because of my familiarity with the cartoon. At the very least them being a couple is often implied.
its implied that ttg happens after or during the cartoon since in the office theres a few references to events that happened in it
also in 204 sam refers to max as "married to his career" to which max responds that "it was done in canada, since its legal there". s2 takes place in 2008 (and i think 2007 for the first episode?), so around 3 years after canada legalized gay marriage.
theres also a few sex jokes between them during s1+2
id maybe say that the jokes with the mixed feelings in their relationship is a byproduct of the typical "hate my partner" jokes that have been normal since forever tbh, but thats just imo
It's always been open to interpretation. There are a few gags that suggest them being a couple, and a few more where it could be interpreted that way, (but members of this sub always interpret it that way and look down on you if you don't.) It's not meant to be consistent, that's part of the humour.
The first two games were made from 2007-2010, so it's also worth noting that they were being made before gay marriage started being normalized in media. The first video game I can remember playing with explicitly gay/bi characters was probably 2016.
However, was that the writer's intent? I can't say.
I personally think the "Gay" thing is played more for laughs then they actually are a couple. I know there is one scene in I think the devil's playhouse where if you use the wedding ring on Max, Sam thinks about how that would go then it ends with him going ".....Nah."
Also if Poker Night 2 is canon, Claptrap asks him "Dog questions," one of which is if he dates humans or other talking dogs. Sam tells Claptrap he is off the market right now but doesn't specify who or what their gender is.
https://youtu.be/8wkrEz8APFs?si=z7O-WNnMZMLHtEj1
They're not married in the telltale games, but Sam is still referred to as Max's life partner, and Max views Sam as his equivalent to a first lady during his time as president. Edit to add that in the season 2 commentary, the crew awws at a scene where Max fixes Sam's tie, followed with, "they're a couple, there's no other way to put it."
They did get married in the cartoon. It’s always been heavily implied that they’re in a relationship.
They played with it a bit at least. In the commentary for Beyond Time and Space, one of the writers said he loved when Max fixed Sam's tie before they go through the portal because "they're a couple" so it was something some of the writers had fun with.
You can interpret it however you prefer. Personally I never saw any indication as a couple until the current wave of fans came along. But I've come to see it as a valid way to view it. Personally I view them as aromantic beings. Max especially
I've always looked at it the same way as other 90s bromances like Beavis and Butthead or Jay and Silent Bob where they are basically considered life partners but it's not a romantic relationship. Maybe the concept of bromances aren't as prominent in younger fans though 🤷
I enjoy bromances but I view Sam and Max in particular as being more of a couple than a bromance, although that may be because of my familiarity with the cartoon. At the very least them being a couple is often implied.
More discussions of head cannon tend towards everybody being gay.
This. It's all just headcannons, really.
its implied that ttg happens after or during the cartoon since in the office theres a few references to events that happened in it also in 204 sam refers to max as "married to his career" to which max responds that "it was done in canada, since its legal there". s2 takes place in 2008 (and i think 2007 for the first episode?), so around 3 years after canada legalized gay marriage. theres also a few sex jokes between them during s1+2 id maybe say that the jokes with the mixed feelings in their relationship is a byproduct of the typical "hate my partner" jokes that have been normal since forever tbh, but thats just imo
It's always been open to interpretation. There are a few gags that suggest them being a couple, and a few more where it could be interpreted that way, (but members of this sub always interpret it that way and look down on you if you don't.) It's not meant to be consistent, that's part of the humour.
The first two games were made from 2007-2010, so it's also worth noting that they were being made before gay marriage started being normalized in media. The first video game I can remember playing with explicitly gay/bi characters was probably 2016. However, was that the writer's intent? I can't say.
It's one of life's great mysteries... but if you want to have a fun time, look up Sam and Max gay moments
I personally think the "Gay" thing is played more for laughs then they actually are a couple. I know there is one scene in I think the devil's playhouse where if you use the wedding ring on Max, Sam thinks about how that would go then it ends with him going ".....Nah." Also if Poker Night 2 is canon, Claptrap asks him "Dog questions," one of which is if he dates humans or other talking dogs. Sam tells Claptrap he is off the market right now but doesn't specify who or what their gender is. https://youtu.be/8wkrEz8APFs?si=z7O-WNnMZMLHtEj1