The Problem with Max Richman | An Essay in Five Parts

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist is one of my favorite shows on television right now. But as the show enters its second season, there's one flaw that I can't overlook, and it has to do with a fan favorite character. Watch at your own risk -- this is The Problem with Max Richman.
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[@Nathan-ti9pm]

I don’t like how in a couple of episodes Max says he hates how Zoey has an access to his head/ feelings through heart songs when 1) She never asked for this power to begin with 2) She has no control over them and she has explained this to Max

[@pumakittycat]

watching this post-me finally finishing s2 because my watching enjoyment plummeted as the season went on lol and i must say. a great video essay. a shame they ignored you ! i fucking hated the "max gets zoeys powers" twist. i don't wanna see where they go with it. max spent for-fucking-ever shitting on zoey for having them. i don't wanna see him learning to accept zoey for her uncontrollable traits only after they've begun benefitting *him*. and also, s2 really felt like it was waffling with no clear goal most of the time. s1 had a clear arc, a solid story to tell. s2 was a jamble. making max the primary villain would have really helped the story imo, and i think that a combo of max assholery and zoey figuring out how to open up to simon about her powers after max fucked her up would have been just... so good. of all people, i really feel like she needed to tell simon. the writers simply did not handle simon well at all which was. incredibly frustrating. (also it was SO fucking annoying- as an aro person- to see people keep framing zoey and max being friends doing friend things like not wanting your bff of 6 years to move away because you'll miss them as something that must be romantic. and actually i agree with zoey ! max shouldn't have lied to her about her getting the job ! like !! what the fuck !!!)

[@dhsproductions1889]

i’m glad u liked the video and yeah it sucks they didn’t listen to me :( honestly every character in the final half of the season was put at a disadvantage solely to prop up max more, and i have so many opinions about it that i could write another video essay but for now i’m just disappointed with everyone else. and im with you. that plot twist sucked

[@trulyselah671]

i do agree, but imagine having someone you like reading your inner-most thoughts at all time.. that would be really wack. it was wrong of him, but i can see where he was coming from. idk if you've seen the movie since then, but he apologizes and feels really guilty for shitting on zoey about her powers.

[@comicrater2179]

I agree completely. I’ve never been able to be team Max because the show almost never makes him pay for his mistakes or recognize his flaws. Even Simon is better at this point. Also, him not apologizing in season 1 made literally no sense. Zoey had feelings for another guy, which I guess is bad? Yet Max ignored her wants, got mad at her, got mad for her having two crushes at once (when he literally dated autumn while liking Zoey), doubted her powers, tried to get revenge, and stole the 4th floor ideas, possibly damaging their careers, and Zoey is apologizing? It was so messed up to me. It also makes me wonder if the show is intentionally trying to not make us like Max so we’ll root for someone else.

[@alexanderklepp]

I hate this double standard for the two of them. Zoey does something wrong, people treat her like she's the devil. Max does something wrong and no one cares. I just had to deal with some insane members where all I asked was a simple question about why her taking drugs made her unlikable and they told me that I wasn't respecting other's opinions because she made a bad choice. Once again, what gives Max a free pass? I hate the fanbase of this show so much mostly the Max stans. They need to take a chill pill.

[@GingyGina]

I never thought I would see Max hate but I love it. I used to like Max but this season my opinion has changed completely. It doesn't even seem like him and Zoey are friends anymore, so how can I root for them?

[@shannon5051]

Also what kind of psychopath tells a person who's father is dying that they have a crush on them with a very public flash mob??!! That was so cringe.

[@comicrater2179]

And he got annoyed when Zoey didn’t reciprocate (when Zoey isn’t someone to react with big gestures or anything)

[@iriss.parker8842]

Thank you for putting into comprehensive words as to why Max's "nice guy best friend" thing just never sat right with me.

[@Nathan-ti9pm]

I honestly want Mo or Simon to call out Max on all his bullshit and make him realize how selfish he is and for him to get out of his high school mentality

[@alexanderklepp]

I really liked this video especially since I'm continually frustrated with Max's fanbase. They keep acting like he's an innocent victim when he's really not. They say that they like when he confronts his flaws but he doesn't especially since it seems like the narrative is blind to them. Like when Mo said that Zoey's reaction to the flash mob was bad. No, Mo. Her reaction was something that any girl would have but Mo kept playing it like she was entirely in the wrong. Also, it comes off as very insensitive that Max just expects her to be okay with constantly wanting her to talk about their potential relationship when he knows about her father slipping away. Also, his moralizing really gets me. Declaring himself as a good person and always seeing himself in the right is one pet peeve I have with a lot of people. Finally, his unethical nature in the workplace. What disgusted me was how many people were on his side when again if this were the real world, they'd see him as a jerk. Good job on the video. I don't dislike Max but I do dislike his fanbase and they make it hard for me to enjoy the show.

[@pinkopat]

I caught up with season 2 and I came back to watch this, you're so right! Max acts like a little shit all the time and it's never acknowledged. Skylar Astin is the only reason why Max is kinda likeable

[@imzadisphantom]

I almost wish this video was longer, it was perfect!!! Max wouldn't be as annoying as he is if the show just recognized his faults but alas such is the case with most mediocre male love interests. Really though, I've been thinking about making a video about him but you put it into words way better than I could have so good job!!!

[@sigh824]

I think most of Max’s problems stem from the fact that he took maybe as a maybe when relationship-wise you should take anything that’s not an enthusiastic yes as a no. Why would you want to be in a relationship with someone who’s not sure about you from the get-go? And then he spent the rest of the season trying to railroad her into loving him. But boo that’s not how things work??? And Zoey, poor girl, with the trauma of her dad plus her just terrible social skills and low empathy (it’s not a bad thing but it’s the reason she’s having so much trouble w her powers), she tries to force herself to like Max bc he likes her and she likes him as a friend and she thinks he’s hot so why not date him? When all she really needed was support. Now here imo is where Max gets kinda shitty bc he sees all these positive vibes from Zoey and instead of thinking “she’s been acting weird as shit, she’s zoning out all the time, her dad is dying maybe she just needs extra support?”, he jumps on the chance bc it’s what he really wanted. And he knows that Zoey might not be ready for a relationship, bc he responds with grand gestures hoping to seal the deal, change the maybe into yes. So when Zoey, who’s been dealing with one big change after another, who is obviously confused and in a terrible headspace, leans towards someone who’s sweet, attentive, doesn’t ask much of her, and understands what she’s going through, Max gets to feel like the good guy. Bc obviously she’s been lying about not being ready for a relationship and it’s just him. When this all could’ve been avoided if he was honest with himself, realized this wasn’t 500 days of summer, and took the maybe as a no. Aaaand ugh, tbh I started this rant much more neutral towards Max, but I think I hate him again?

[@salvamarquez]

Both Summer and Zoey strung their "friends" along in some way. Don't go back to Tom's apartment to make up after the bar fight, don't invite Max to movie night like an innocent hang and send mixed messages.

[@sigh824]

@@salvamarquez and that’s why you shouldn’t take anything but a yes as a yes, so u don’t end up getting upset over mixed signals.

[@salvamarquez]

@@sigh824 reality is never like expectation with misleading characters...

[@dhsproductions1889]

@@salvamarquez zoey and max have allegedly been friends for years. inviting him over to watch a movie does NOT mean she’s necessarily encouraging romantic feelings and certainly does not give him justification to act hostile towards her when she doesn’t reciprocate

[@salvamarquez]

@@dhsproductions1889 Then, why does Mo call out Zoey after movie night and the mixed signals she could be sending to Max? Max was very hurt by Zoey not being honest with him about Simon. Suggesting Max was only promoted for something other than being a good coder was a low blow that warranted hostility. It was his code after all, and in the real world, it would be up to the company's management to decide what is best for the company. Max is not perfect but neither is Zoey nor Simon. Max would have been a great villain... I'll pause here since the season is now over and I shouldn't spoil what is not addressed on your essay.

[@JosiahRobert14]

I watched the entire show for the first time this week and I was Team Simon from the start.

[@ilovelucasg4eva]

DUDE! I am on the same mental wavelength as you! When I saw the "Bye, Bye, Bye" clip and Max and Lief on the elevator together, I was SO sure they were gonna go the villain route with Max. There would have been an AMAZING contrast there between Zoey and Simon working together through their problems and grief and coming together naturally because of that and Max who was only bonding with Zoey on a cliched and superficial level and stormed off every time he didn't get his way with her. Max has been shown to be such a lame ass love interest and friend to Zoey from the start, especially when compared to Moe and Simon, people who are diverse in terms of their identities, their individual chemistry with Zoey (as well as other characters) and in terms of the stories the show can and does explore with them. Max would serve so much better as a twist villain. Imagine if the show could play around with Moe having to confront the idea of breaking away from another business partner but this time with a legitimate reason for doing so and how to reconcile with that. I'm glad that as of the last episode I watched, it looks like Zoey and Simon are getting together, and I genuinely hope it gets to stay that way because they just mesh better together and more interestingly than Zoey and Max ever did.

[@jbbelenkokoro2673]

I always hated the character of Max and Season 2 made me feel exhausted in every scene is in aside from Skylar's singing.

[@kavid365]

I wholeheartedly agree with everything in this video. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one noticing Max’s gaslighting tendencies and narcissistic behavior towards Zoey and others.

[@surreptitiousbox6903]

Just got shown this video and top tier analysis honestly. I would talk about this stuff with friends and once pointed out, it stands out to them, but its not talked about enough and I wish the writers would've done more to criticize these behaviors. A shame s2 didn't go into it and honestly the s2 finale is such a prime setup to focus on his character flaws, that it's frustrating especially given it would be criticism only after he was effected. Also Team Tobin, Tobin would've been a way better love interest.

[@waterstar86]

This is well done

[@harveythepooka]

I don't really agree with a lot of this. It feels like you just don't like him and so you're blowing his obvious flaws out of proportion. He's not a perfect guy, he has a lot of flaws, but he's not terrible. But I am really annoyed with his behavior towards Zoey recently, like telling her he'd "always" be there for her and support her through her grief. Then telling her he doesn't want to have anything to do with her anymore because she freaks out that he's going to leave and refuses to even listen to her apology. After that, he can fuck off as far as I'm concerned. But more importantly, he just doesn't accept her unconditionally. She can't help that she has her powers and if he can't accept that, then he can fuck off again. They'll never work if he can't accept who she is. But I also don't want her with Simon, he's just boring imo.

[@mccouples7030]

I totally agree with this and I think their relationship with change a lot since in season 3 (if there is one) he will finally understand what Zoey is going through and not get mad at her anymore for something she can't control.

[@christine_notchristina]

yeah, i get some of the uploader's sentiments but i agree that it does feel exaggerated. i guess i'll have to rewatch the series.

[@pinkopat]

Does this contain spoilers for season 2? Should I come back to watch this when I'm all caught up?

[@dhsproductions1889]

yes it does include season two 💖

[@pinkopat]

@@dhsproductions1889 Alright, I'll save it in my watch later then, thank you for replying 💕