Why isn’t Max in Firefly Lane season 2 part 1?

A big reason people enjoyed Firefly Lane season 1 so much is because of the romances; whether rooting for Kate and Johnny to find their way back together or indulging in the steamy chemistry of Tully and Max, there was a lot of relationships to enjoy in the show’s first batch of episodes.

Spoilers ahead for Firefly Lane season 2 part 1

Those who have watched the new season probably realized very quickly that some of the first season’s key players, like Max (Jon-Michael Ecker) and Travis (Brandon Jay McLaren), were not present in the show’s latest season. Here’s what we know about Max’s absence.

Why isn’t Max in Firefly Lane season 2 part 1?

Max and Tully broke up at the end of Firefly Lane season 1. In the aftermath of Tully’s miscarriage, she struggled to let Max get close to her, and the emotional duress put too much strain on their relationship for it to survive. Max suggested they get their marriage annulled. But Tully wasn’t quite ready to give up on Max.

She asked him to meet her at the gazebo where they got married if he would be open to a fresh start. Sadly, Max doesn’t show up, indicating he’s not prepared to try again. In Firefly Lane season 2, Max is only briefly mentioned once at the beginning of the season.

Tully confirms that she and Max had their marriage annulled. It seems the writers are ready to move on from the Max/Tully storyline, which might be disappointing to those who were rooting for the couple.

Who plays Max, and what is the actor up to now?

Jon-Michael Ecker played Max in the first season. Before Firefly Lane, Max was best known for playing Guero in Queen of the South. Since Firefly Lane season 1 started, Max has gone on to recur in Chicago Fire, and he starred in the Hallmark Christmas movie Gingerbread Miracle.

He has a few upcoming projects lined up, including a new Freeform drama series called The Watchful Eye. Considering he’s one of the lead characters in that show, scheduling conflicts might have prohibited him from returning to Firefly Lane. That said, it’s possible that we could still see Max again in Firefly Lane season 2 part 2, although it seems unlikely.

Were you disappointed Max wasn’t in Firefly Lane season 2 part 1?