#tjb interviews

Malex/Vlamburn, TotalShipShow, November 22

This is going to be WILD! 😂

Tyler about playing Alex 🥹

Malex fans came close to their royal wedding on Monday night’s episode of “Roswell, New Mexico,” but in the end, no nuptials occurred. The good news is, they probably still will! According to series stars Tyler Blackburn and Michael Vlamis, a wedding between Alex and Michael is something they’ve wanted as much as the fans have.

“It was about time. I definitely felt that,” Vlamis told TheWrap of learning about this particular storyline. “I’ve been wanting that for a long time secretly, on and off set with Tyler. And so finally, you know, getting it on the show!”

Jokes aside, both Vlamis and Blackburn were pleased to know that the fans would be getting what they want from the writers, one way or another — even if there were some hiccups along the way. Of course, one of those hurdles is a bit more terrifying than the others, considering that Alex was dying from radiation poisoning in the pocket dimension, only to make it out alive and be immediately taken hostage by Clyde. But even so, Blackburn has some words of comfort for the fans, about the wedding that can still be.

“If the writers made this really unhappy ending, I think I would be pissed myself,” he said. “So, I don’t think you have to be too worried.”

You can check out TheWrap’s full conversation with Michael Vlamis and Tyler Blackburn below.

Note: This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity

I do want to start with you, Tyler. I’ve got a little bit of a bone to pick with you. Because here’s the thing: you went missing for a couple episodes, we didn’t see you at all. You come back, and you’re dying. And now you’ve been taken hostage. So why are you trying to stress us out?

Blackburn: (laughs). You know, we just kind of keep it really, really exciting in Roswell. You know what I mean? I feel like that’s always the goal, and the intention is to keep the cortisol levels high.

Vlamis: High highs, lows. That’s the name of the show.

Blackburn: Yeah, I don’t know. I feel like our relationship has always been tumultuous. And it’s like, now that we’ve been living together and we’re actually together, how do we create that sort of uncertainty within the relationship, even though we’re together? I think it kind of helps in that in that way.

Well, you certainly do a great job of keeping the cortisol levels high. More seriously though, you do make it back alive, but radiation poisoning doesn’t just go away, right? So how worried do we actually need to be for Alex here?

Blackburn: I mean, you know, it’s a show of aliens. Anything’s possible. But no, I don’t think you have be too worried. I mean, I don’t — if the writers made this really unhappy ending, I think I would be pissed myself. So I don’t think you have to be too worried. It couldn’t be easy, you know? Nothing can be easy in this world.

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Michael, I do want to come to you, tell me your thoughts on this wedding. When you first heard that the engagement was even on the table, even if it is in a pocket dimension in the worst of scenarios, what was your reaction?

Vlamis: It was about time. I definitely felt that. I’ve been wanting that for a long time secretly, on and off set with Tyler. And so finally, you know, getting it on the show! No but, being serious, when I heard that, I just knew how much it would mean to the fans. I mean, there had been speculation that that was going to happen for so long. I’ve always wanted it to. I thought it’s what the relationship deserves you know? It’s been such a saga amongst these two guys. But yeah, I was just happy. It’s just what we deserved, and I had a feeling maybe it was going to be our last season so I was really excited about that, too.

Well, assuming this wedding is still in the plans, let’s talk wedding planning a little bit. What kind of cake will Malex be having?

Blackburn: I mean, I’m trying to think what Alex’s favorite cake would be. I know what mine is, think. I like a devil’s food cake. It also just feels like the genre, you know? No, I don’t know! I think we could get super creative, but I also kind of think they could be just like super simple, and classy together as well. But I don’t know.

Actually, you know, maybe they’re chocolate. Maybe it’s like a layer of chocolate and a layer of something else. Like a mixture of our personalities or something.

Vlamis: Yeah, he’s chocolate, I’m vanilla, but we still get along, you know?

Blackburn: Yeah exactly! We complement each other.

I mean, there’s layers to the relationship. There’s history!

Vlamis: Just like the cake. There we are. There we go, full circle.

Of course, what ends up happening is Guerin calls it off, because he refuses to marry Alex under the awful circumstances, and away from loved ones. It’s kind of this nice sense of security that it is going to happen. Michael, how do you feel about him really kind of making that final decision of like, “We’re going to be OK, so we’re not doing this now”?

Vlamis: I was excited about it primarily from an acting standpoint. It makes it even more interesting to know that you want to marry someone so badly, but deep down, you know it’s just the wrong way to do it. So that was really fun to play. Character-wise, it’s kind of the same thing. Like, give Guerin a mission, he’s gonna go off and have some fun. And that’s exactly what happens in this episode.

You guys touched on it a bit earlier but, I mean, the Malex fans. This is a rabid fanbase, they’re obviously gonna be happy for the engagement. What does it mean to you to be finishing out in this way for them and to have had them for as long as you have?

Blackburn: I think it’s incredible. I mean, as you know from watching “Pretty Little Liars,” I was part of a ship on that show that was really popular. And to feel like a similar magnitude, but with a gay relationship, has always been really exhilarating to me and comforting, actually, personally. So yeah, I think it’s incredible. And I think what Vlamis said earlier just about like, you know, this is what they wanted from the get go. And they’re getting it. You know what I mean? So it made me feel good. It made me feel like we did we did them proud.

Granted, Clyde is still standing in the way of this wedding — and really, everything, considering he now has the powers of every alien Bonnie’s ever kissed, including Michael and Max. What can you tease there?

Better order one last Little Green Men milkshake at the Crashdown Cafe, and get ready for a final close encounter with the "Pod Squad" during tonight's (Sept 5) series finale of Roswell, New Mexico.

From the very first episode, Roswell, New Mexico has featured queer characters. Even though the central relationship between Liz (Jeanine Masters) and Max (Nathan Parsons) was featured on the show's posters and billboards, #Malex is the couple the fans fervently tweet about when a new episode airs.

Ever since Michael Guerin [Michael Vlamis] and Alex Manes [Tyler Blackburn] shared a passionate kiss in the pilot, viewers have been shipping Malex, but fans were disappointed during this season when Alex sank into the liminal space dimension and disappeared for multiple episodes — leaving fans to wonder if the couple would blast off happily ever after.

Alex remained missing for most of Season 4 before finally reuniting with Michael in Episode 11, with Alex proposing to Michael and the two almost getting married in a makeshift ceremony in the alien alternate universe.

Now with the series finale about to air, Michael and Tyler spoke with Logo about their characters' cosmic love story, what it was like filming their epic reunion, how they never visited Roswell's gay bar, and if they would be up for a Malex spinoff.

The Malex reunion scene in Episode 11, what was it like filming that after all your time apart?

Michael: It was a long, long time coming. We picked up right where we left off. Tyler's just so open as a performer. So, there's never any rust when you show up to play off and work off him. It literally was just like, "About time you're back" and we just got right to it. I don't know, it was easy.

Tyler: Yeah. We really do just have a natural ability to snap each other into where we need to be. I mean, truly, it's one of my favorite people to do scenes with in my entire life. So, I agree. Super easy, and it felt momentous Also, Heather Hemmens [who plays Maria] was directing, and that was also very special. I remember we did one take of that scene, and Heather came over with a tear in her eye and she was like, "It's so good, it's so good." And I was just like, this feels good, this feels right.

I wanted to ask about Heather directing. That must have been nice to have someone you're so familiar with behind the camera when you were doing that scene.

Tyler: Yeah, absolutely. The thing with TV is a lot of times you don't get too many of the same directors more than once, but Heather had been part of the show as an actress throughout the entire series. So she really does know the story and the characters, and it just really did make it feel a little bit more grounded, in my opinion. Plus, I just found her energy to be so calm. She's such a calm person. She just is really good at being a human being, I would say actually.

Michael: And you want to do good work for her. You want to do your best for her.

You two have such good chemistry together. Was that always there from the beginning? Or was that from hanging out for these past few years?

Tyler: I think it was always there, you know? It's funny because I feel like the chemistry that we have on screen is actually more so because of how we allow each other to explore during scenes. When we're just hanging out or talking as friends, we're kind of just idiots together. I mean we get along really well, but the chemistry, I think, is just something that we can turn on because we're on the same page as far as what we want to do for our characters, and for each other as the characters. I think we both just knew exactly what needed to happen from day one. I feel like you [Michael] showed up knowing exactly what you needed to do and where you needed to go, and so did I. We had just made a decision. We barely even got to talk about it as two actors, we just showed up and it was like, here we go. And it was innate.

Michael: I always feel like chemistry just comes from people being open. When you have insecurities, when you're worried about how you look on screen or something like that in the moment, sure, we all want to look good, but once the camera is rolling, all that matters is you are here to act, you're here to receive what happens, doesn't matter how you look. It matters how truthful the scene is. So when two people who operate that way, Tyler and myself are together, no matter who the actors are, if they both operate that way, then they're going to be basically one. And that's when people do their best work. And Tyler's just, if I do something different, if I hit his shoulder, he's going to do something back to me like that. And he's just always ready, always on his toes. And I try to do the same thing, whatever you put up, or put down, I'm picking up, no matter what.

So Tyler, the night of the episode where Alex returns, you tweeted out about your health issues that kept you from being in a majority of Season 4. What was it like sharing that? And what was the reaction from the fans like?

Tyler: So really, I guess the reason I wanted to just be transparent was, obviously I was missing from much of this season, and I had just caught wind that a lot of fans were coming in pretty hard on the creators and the writers and stuff. And I found that to be pretty unfair, because this wasn't a choice that they made. They actually were trying to figure out how to create this season without my character, because I needed time. So, I wanted to just tweet out because I felt the need to absorb, I guess, a little bit of that responsibility, and it wasn't anyone else's decision. That was the main intention. And I'm not someone who looks at a lot of my comments and stuff, but I saw some really nice things, and that felt really great for me to feel supported, just like I did throughout the filming.

I also wanted to ask you about your tweet that said you're forever grateful to "the human beings who made this show." Why did you tweet that? I thought it was such a nice thing to say.

Tyler: Well, just because I was going through a tough time, and I never felt like I was not supported. And that really says a lot, to have people show up and be there for you. A lot of what I was dealing with was physical issues. I had to show up in pain a lot of the time and to have people accommodate me, or help me, or literally holding onto Vlamis' shoulder while walking to set to shoot. Those little things just make you feel... I'm going to get emotional. They make you feel safe. Because at the end of the day I wanted to uphold my responsibility and the agreement that I made on this show. And I had to fight through some shit, but I felt supported. And that was so important for me to validate, and let people know that what goes on behind the scenes is also really important too. And the humans on that show, I say humans almost jokingly, since this is a show about aliens, but seriously though, everyone was so great on that show.

And Michael, I'm guessing your social media for most of the season was just people asking, "Where's Alex, where's Alex?"

Michael: The whole time.

What's that been like for you?

Michael: Well, I felt bad because I knew that they were going to continue to ask, and they weren't going to get what they wanted. Just like I wanted more Alex. But I care about Tyler more than I care about Michael Guerin and Alex. And we end up having a great ending to this season and I think it all worked out the way it was supposed to and everything came together. I could just go on and on about how much I love working with Tyler. So I wanted it too. I was there feeling the same, "Oh, it'd be good to do a scene with Tyler today. Haven't done one with Tyler in a while." I honestly just felt bad for him, because I knew how long it was going to be. And I couldn't say anything and people have been asking for, they asked for eight or nine episodes straight, but that's what happens.

In last week's episode where you had the makeshift wedding ceremony with the "Malex Forever" banner behind you, what was it like filming that scene?

Michael: That scene was really cool. It was just fun being in that barn. It was fun to be at a wedding that you really want, but at the same time you have to deny. I was like, man, he's so close to this finally happening, and now I just got to do this. So, it was cool just to have [co-stars] Zoe [Cipres] and Quentin [Plair] there. I became close with both of them. And having Tyler back, it was a fun scene. It's fun to play in the turmoil of it all. I enjoy those scenes more sometimes than the really lighthearted ones.

And without giving much away or anything, can you tease what's ahead for the series finale?

Michael: Oh. What could we say to tease?

Tyler: I would say it's a happy ending. Let's just say that.

Michael: Yeah, I think that's a great thing to say. It's a happy ending. Finally.

When you were filming these episodes, did it feel like this could be the end? What was it like on set?

Michael: People weren't really acting that way, but I had this strange feeling. It was so weird, because every season you say bye to everyone. Some people give wrap gifts to each other. The actors, we usually get the cast and crew something. And when we were giving those out and saying our goodbyes, it felt like goodbye, goodbye. And I didn't really understand that. But part of me was like, well, the way the season ends, a lot of storylines... Yeah, there are some cliffhangers, but a lot of the storylines get to a place that people are going to be really happy about, and they're going to be comfortable with where we're leaving characters. So yeah, I felt like it was time. It was time that it was going to be done. I was still a little surprised when the cancellation happened, but I also wasn't. But once it happened, I thought back to those feelings I had on that last week of shooting. It was like, "Oh, I think this is it."

Tyler: But I think also too, one big difference was between [seasons] two and three, we knew before we've wrapped that we were going to be coming back. So then this was like, we didn't know. And we didn't know when we were going to know. It did feel a little bit ominous, but I'm a strong believer in ending something on a high note. I think for me, even if I was just viewing this show, I'd be like, I think this is the right time. I feel like it just felt right. I don't know if the writers wrote with that in mind. I think they had to, in case we didn't get picked up, they were like, we have to end this in some way that's really great. But I agree, I think everything is kind of wrapped up in a nice bow.

And Tyler, I'm guessing we aren't going to hear you sing on the show again?

Tyler: No, but it's great because I feel we each get our moment with music. You're [Michael] playing guitar in this last episode. I think it's fun that we shared that commonality as well as characters.

I was also sad that we didn't go back to the gay bar, Planet 7

Tyler: I never got to go there.

Michael: I was going to say, why didn't we get to go there?

Tyler: The two out, outwardly gay characters don't even go to the gay bar!

Michael: Ridiculous.

That should have been in Season 5.

Michael: We'll go with Kyle Valenti.

Tyler: Guerin could have been wearing only chaps and a cowboy hat. You have a nice ass.

Michael: Thanks, man. Appreciate that, you too.

When the show began, Liz and Max's relationship was the central love story, but as the seasons went on it seems like it became Malex. Was that talked about on set or between you and the other actors?

Michael: That's interesting. People on set did not talk about it. Of course, you get Liz and Max on the billboards around town and all that stuff. So you just think about that being the couple, that's the relationship. But from the beginning, social media has been going crazy [for Malex] in a way that was so surprising, and it was so fun for us. I don't know if it was surprising for Tyler, but for me, I had never experienced anything like this before. It has felt like we were always loved by the fans, and not that we were the number one ship on the show or anything like that, but that we were loved and supported. That has never felt like it's changed at all. Every year it just feels the same, and maybe it is growing and becoming more intense, but it's always been that way since the beginning. It is amazing how hard the fans came out immediately.

Tyler: I think that's just indicative of how times have changed too. The fact that a gay relationship is something to celebrate, and talk about, and root for. I think it came at the right time in television. So I think that has a lot to do with it. I think, how many times have you heard older actors say, "I wish there were more people out when I was growing up and had someone to look up to, it's like, now that exists." So you have a platform where all of these younger people, who are queer, can watch and celebrate. Then you have people who are not queer, who are watching and celebrating even, because they realize how valid it is, and how important it is. At the end of the day, you have two human beings who are so deeply in love. And if you're at all a normal human being, you know that feeling. So you watch two people on screen, and you feel that.

Michael: Yeah, no matter who they are.

Tyler: So I think there's a lot to it. But I was surprised. It was just celebratory, and sort of soothing for me, once I realized it was a really big deal. But you know what's funny, is in the pilot when we shot the scene where we kiss, do you remember all the people at video village were just like, cheering, literally cheering?

Michael: Yeah, I do remember that.

Tyler: As if they had already been watching this relationship, and it was like they were celebrating it already. This was the pilot.

Michael: That's a good point. Everybody was there because it was the last thing we shot I think.

Tyler: Yeah, yeah. So it was an interesting moment because I felt like, I don't know, maybe it was a little foreshadowing.

That chemistry.

Michael: That was the beginning, dude. That's crazy to think about.

Tyler: I know, I know.

Well, it must be cool because I think Malex is one of the great queer relationships on TV in recent years.

Tyler: I know. And I wonder sometimes too, and this is in no way a dig at all towards anyone, but I just wonder if this was a more, I don't know, adult network or show, would it have been a bigger deal even? I feel like a lot of people turn their nose up at the CW, or a show about aliens, and it's like, at the end of the day, we're pulling out some dope shit. We're fucking bringing it hardcore.

Michael: We did. There were times where I was just like, man, this scene is so fucking real. So truthful. This is happening on shows that are getting Emmy noms, and the scenes between us, the acting that we were doing, the chemistry that we had, the stuff that we were representing, I can only hope that more people find the show as it progresses, because it deserves that. Our scenes man, we put some stuff down where we were exhausted, we were sick, we were depressed. We felt... We made it real dude. We made it real, and I believe that deserves to be watched. But if it's never watched, we put it out there for us, and that's all that matters. So we'll see what happens.

Tyler: It lives on in this day and age though.

Michael: It lives on.

Tyler: It's somewhere. Yeah. But no, I mean, I agree with that so much. I think... And it's also a testament to the writers, and how they were able to really tap into the foundation of what the relationship was. I mean I just, I hope that people feel the importance of it for sure.

Michael: Shout out to [creator and former showrunner] Carina MacKenzie... Malex is her baby.

Well, hopefully, she likes how it ends, however it ends.

Michael: I think Carina will be happy too. We can tease that.

So is there a Roswell group chat going on, or are there any plans for a Roswell real-life reunion? Have you all been keeping in touch?

Michael: A bunch of the castmates are actually teaming up with us on our next Vlambase merch launch actually, which is cool. But other than that, there's still a fantasy football league that's going around. I don't know if you're in that Tyler, but I got that email.

Tyler: I literally don't know one thing about football.

My last question is: Is there anything that you want to say to these Malex fans now that the series is ending?

Tyler: I think that they should know they were pivotal in the way that we played the characters too because I think that we listened to what they were saying. I think the writers did as well. I think that they love the ship, they celebrate the ship, but the ship became what it is in large part to their support. So it's this cyclical dynamic that I hope they understand how important they were in that.

Michael: Yeah, I think straight up, the fans in a way, changed my life. That sounds pretty dramatic, but truly, over four years, you're going to change regardless, right? But they were always there supporting, pushing us, driving us in a way with love and care, and compassion to do the best work we can. So we just continued. I couldn't wait to see what people thought about scenes that I knew meant a lot to both of us. It was such a joy to know that I can go on Twitter, whether stuff is bad or good. I remember when the first trailer came out for Comic Con, and it was so funny. I got stoned and read all the comments. I had never been on TV before, and I'm just getting trashed as the new Michael Guerin. I thought it was awesome. I'm not offended by any of that stuff. Just bring it, I'm still going to do my thing. But the fact that you could go on Twitter and see what is resonating, see what they're turning into gifs and special moments. That was so cool, and so propelling for me specifically as a younger actor, new to the game, coming up. So it's just a big thank you to them.

I love that. Well, Michael, Tyler, I always love talking to you, and I guess this will probably be the last time, until there's a Roswell revival or something in 10 years.

Tyler: The Malex spinoff!

Tyler Blackburn and Michael Vlamis bring the beloved couple of Alex Manes and Michael Guerin to life on Roswell, New Mexico. The sci-fi drama premiered in 2019 and is currently finishing its final season. The series finale will air Monday, September 5 at 8pm ET/PT on The CW. This interview will include spoilers for episode 4×12, “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane.”

I had the incredible opportunity to chat with both actors about those emotional Malex reunion moments, what the couple’s dream ending would look like, Michael and Alex’s character arcs, the legacy they want the fan-favorite couple to have, and so much more. Keep reading for our discussion!

Tyler, we finally got you back! I’ve been waiting for you to be on my screen again, I’m so happy. I was just floored by your performance as well as Michael’s in the last episode. For both of you, which scene was the hardest or your personal favorite to film together for the reunion and why? Michael Vlamis: Oh, wow. I know that, I think, on set the day that we shot that scene where like I walk away from you on the truck after you tell me you’re dying, and I walk a little bit and I turn around, it’s like right before Bonnie and Dallas pull up, I remember that scene being so interesting because it was like, what is the ultimate joy? Very rarely do you experience the ultimate joy of what you want, out of your partner specifically too, and then the lowest of lows within like a second. So that was a really, I thought — I mean, I say fun, even though it was like a gut-wrenching scene, it was a fun scene to do because you get to go super, super deep. I mean, it’s kind of some of the most simple acting that I’ve done as Michael Guerin because he’s just like, there’s nothing, he’s stripped away in that moment, you know? I really enjoyed doing that. Tyler Blackburn: Yeah, that’s a good point that you brought up. I think that scene was interesting because I really hit you hard. I’m like, “I’m dying, let’s get married though,” you know what I mean? It’s like, “What the hell?” I think that was challenging even for me to navigate that trajectory and to watch you receive that, but I don’t know, I feel like it is funny to say, I mean, actors are ultimately like masochists in some ways, so I think to say we enjoy doing that is true because it’s the challenge. One thing I think you and I have in common, Vlamis, is we want to make things as real as possible and you know, we’re talking — we’re on a show in that heightened state, we’re in an alternate dimension, I’m dying, let’s get married though, and we still want to make it very real. I think we really got it quickly too, which was gratifying. It made me feel… it was like just really riding a horse, showing up on set, and all of a sudden we’re just pulling shit out like that. We’re just killing it, loved it.

In tonight’s new episode, you have those scenes in The Crashdown in the pocket dimension, and I was crying. What was that like to do acting-wise? You have Alex saying he’s not going to make it then you have Michael saying he’s going to get them home. How was it balancing those two different perspectives? Vlamis: I remember that was a very difficult scene to do. I remember that that day, where you’re like in the diner, me and Dallas are working and I run up to the — you know, I haven’t seen this episode yet, right? I watch it live, I have no idea if I even did a good job with that monologue. I remember it being like… we did it so many different ways, I kept doing it differently, but I just tried to stay on Tyler because you just look at Tyler and he clicks you in it. His eyes just connect and you give him what he needs. Blackburn: Yeah, that was intense. I mean, obviously pretending that you’re dying but trying to do the right thing for your partner, your loved one, that was challenging for sure. But I think it really — I don’t know, it was an opportunity for you to really like fight for me and fight for us. I remember on the set feeling like you were very invested every single take and stuff so I’m sure it came out great.

So I have to ask, were you both shocked when you found out it was Alex was who going to propose, circumstances aside? Did you have any guesses before of who would be the one to propose eventually? Vlamis: I don’t know if I actually… Blackburn: I didn’t really think about it either, to be honest. Vlamis: No, no, it kind of just seemed like something would happen. Blackburn: Nothing about our relationship is traditional. So it’s like we probably should have just gone to Vegas, Nevada. We should of just in the alternate universe, gone to Vegas. No, I don’t know, but I think it’s cool that Alex did that because, I mean, obviously the circumstances, he had to do it then, but I think in a lot of ways– I was gonna say Alex has been more passive, but I think throughout the four seasons, Guerin was always like, “show up, show up,” you know what I mean? And I was always just like, “I can’t do this.” I think it was great that Alex was like, “I know what I want now.” Obviously, when you’re dying, things probably click into perspective a little bit.

One thing that I really was laughing about in the best way and that I know the fans are gonna get a kick out of is that Malex forever banner at the wedding. What was your reaction when you saw it? Blackburn: This is actually my honest, honest take, when I got to that set, I was like, “I’m so glad that he’s stopping this wedding because this is gaud as fuck. This is like the worst-looking wedding ceremony ever.” I mean, the gesture is sweet but like, this is bad. So I’m glad that you stopped it, to be honest. Vlamis: They’ve never played into — have ever played into the ship name on the show actually up until that point?

No, I don’t think so. I was shocked. Blackburn: Oh, wait, was that the first time ever? Vlamis: Yeah, that’s why it was like kind of — I don’t know they kind of just went for it. Blackburn: That’s so hilarious, I don’t even know if I realized. Vlamis: That’s like if on Pretty Little Liars there was Haleb in the background. Can you imagine? Blackburn: They might have to be honest. I don’t even know, that’s such a crazy concept. The ship name thing. Vlamis: Yeah, but in the show? It’s insane.

I haven’t seen it on the show. I’ve seen it on others. But this is the first time and I was like, “Wow, what a way to make a statement.” Vlamis: I mean, it’s a fun thing, but it is kind of almost like breaking a certain wall, especially if no characters have ever said it before, but I’m not remembering. Maybe they have said it. I don’t know.

The fans will figure it out, they’ll let you know. No spoilers here so throw away what you know about the finale for a second. I’m personally, in my opinion, saying that Michael and Alex are getting married, whether it’s in the finale or future, they’re getting married eventually. So beyond marriage, beyond the finale, what is their happy ending? Do you see Malex having kids? Do you see them moving away from Roswell? In your head, what is their dream ending? Blackburn: Please let them move from Roswell. I don’t understand why anybody would want to stay in a town where all this crazy shit goes down. I just don’t understand. I mean, to be honest, I’m like, “We need to figure out a way to go to space together.” I feel like there’s someplace better. I feel like that’s the case. That’s what I would like and then we can have alien babies and maybe we could find — oh, I’m gonna get kind of gross, maybe on that planet, it’s possible for two dudes to get pregnant. Vlamis: To have a baby! We’re definitely going to have kids. I know that for a fact. Blackburn: Yes. Vlamis: How could we not? Blackburn: Oh, they’d be so hot.

I’m just so sad that we’re not gonna see it. I’m heartbroken. Blackburn: I challenge the fans to, in whatever format they want, create what they think our children would look like, whether it’s a drawing, a painting, digital. I think that would be cool, and they can just like put it on Twitter and tell us what they think our kids will look like. Vlamis: Great idea. What about a Malex movie? I challenge the fans to just pitch Malex movies. I want to hear your ideas.

Do you think we won’t? Blackburn: I’d do a movie. Vlamis: I’d do a movie, yeah.

Could you imagine them as dads though? Vlamis: That would be awesome.

I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with now with those challenges. Next, I have a fun question: there are a lot of times that people get introduced to a show by a simple scene or clip. So if you both could pick a clip or scene to show just how special Malex is to a person who has never seen Roswell, New Mexico, and has no idea who these characters are, which would you show them and why? Vlamis: Wow, that’s a really hard question. Blackburn: I mean, I do think it would be some of the earlier scenes, I just feel like those are the most charged, they were the most telling of our dynamic, you know? Vlamis: The “I never look away, not really” scene, when you like pull me into the trailer. Blackburn: Yeah, I love that one. Vlamis: That was a good scene.

Blackburn: There’s another one when I come to the junkyard, it’s mid-season, I come and… Vlamis: “What do you want to say, Alex?!” Blackburn: Yeah, exactly. I turn around and like, “No, I do have some shit to say.” I think that one is really… Vlamis: Dude, that’s a good call.

What advice would you personally give to Michael and Alex as they close this chapter and move on to the next chapter in their lives? Vlamis: Enjoy being happy. Allow yourself to be happy. Blackburn: My advice would be get out of Roswell and go find actual happiness. Keep loving each other, keep listening to each other, and keep showing up for each other. Vlamis: Keep listening, that’s right.

In these two episodes especially, but also just throughout the series, Malex have had such great callbacks and parallels to your earlier moments. Do you have a favorite that when you read it in the script you’re always excited to kind of play with? Vlamis: Oh, the pieces want to be together is the one that always gets brought up to the point where it’s almost like a running joke how much it gets brought up. Blackburn: Yeah, I don’t like that one. Vlamis: You’re done with it now. Blackburn: No, I don’t like how much it was used. Vlamis: I know, yeah, it got used so much. Blackburn: But I mean, I like the sentiment for sure and I think when it was first said it was pretty whimsical, but I don’t think it needed to be used that many times. I don’t know, I mean, I don’t think you said it that many times but “I don’t look away.” I think that one is simple cause I do think in relationships, it’s like you do have to remind each other why you’re there, you know what I mean? It’s like that at the root of our relationship, that’s what it is. It’s like, “I’m not gonna look away from this.” Vlamis: Yeah, that line was awesome.

What do you think either teenage or season 1, episode 1 Michael and Alex would think of how they end up in the finale? Would they believe it? Vlamis: They wouldn’t even think it. They wouldn’t even know it possible. Blackburn: Right, I mean, I do think as teenagers, I guess I could speak for Alex a little bit… Vlamis: Teens maybe. Blackburn: I feel like maybe Alex would definitely have that sort of fantasy or– not that you’d have to be young, but I do think when you’re young and you haven’t been extremely steamrolled by life yet, a lot seems possible. So I think, even if it’s in your own fantasy world, I feel like as a teenager, Alex would probably come up with that in his mind, but for it to actually happen, no, I don’t think he would really believe that. Vlamis: I would say the same thing. I think everything when you’re younger, you know, is a little bit more fantastical, even though it’s all real, it can happen, it doesn’t happen the way you think it will happen, especially when your boyfriend’s dad attacks you after… like, that changes how you approach life. Everybody has their trauma. Everyone’s been changed by their past events, but everybody deserves where Malex ends up and I think that’s the coolest thing about our growth. We had amazing arcs. We really did, we really had cool arcs.

Right? The hardships your individual characters went through outside of their relationship were just unreal. It’s so rewarding to see that they get to be happy in the end. I say this all the time, but you both have created something insanely special that I’m so grateful to see represented on screen. What do you want the legacy of their relationship to be for fans? Blackburn: I think just for it to be one step further into like normalizing a queer relationship and having it be really complex, beautiful, harsh, and all of the things that you’ve seen in all of the romantic movies throughout time, but it was always represented by a male and female. I mean, I’m watching a docu-series right now called, The Last Movie Stars, about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward and I’m watching all of their performances in these clips, and there’s all this like, intense love and hate for each other in some of their scenes, and I’m like, “oh, that’s Malex.” I think for it to be normalized and be a part of that on television, in entertainment, I think for me, that’s a really proud moment. I hope that that’s ultimately the legacy. Vlamis: Yeah, I think you said that perfectly. I mean, what do you want to leave people with? You want to leave them changed. You want to leave them different. You want to leave them better off than they were before, just like we’re better off than I think we were even before the show, right? So yeah, I think that we did some really cool things on this show that were groundbreaking in certain ways, even from like, I saw Harry Styles said that gay men aren’t having sweet, sensual sex in movies and film, that was in an interview that came out recently. I saw IndieWire was kind of going at him because they were like saying that he was wrong about it, and I have no comment on that at all, but just reading that made me think about me, like, sweetly caressing Alex’s leg, his missing leg. That was like — you never see that, not only do you not see queer men doing that, but you don’t see anybody showing a limb like that and in a loving way. I mean, that was pretty amazing. That was pretty wild, we’ve done some groundbreaking stuff in a way and that’s all on the writers and creators, and just grateful to be a part of it. So I hope people are just left with like, we did our best to honor the truth of love and make a difference.

I have to talk about the GONE TOO SOON Vlambase merch that is going to be taking all of my money. Seriously, I’m going to be completely broke on series finale day, so thank you for that. But tell me about doing that, especially the Malex collab. You’re really honoring all of the characters with this drop and I think it’s a beautiful thing. What is it like seeing the response to everything and sharing it with the world now? Vlamis: Oh, it’s so cool. They’ve heard me, they’ve seen — look, it’s all I wear, so it’s gotten to a point where everyone’s almost like sibling annoyed with me in a way and now that everybody wants to be a part of it, and seeing Lily’s design doing so well, Nathan’s a part of it, and we have other people that we haven’t even announced yet, but it’s so cool. I mean, Tyler and I, every time I do with Tyler, it’s more fun. I mean, everything from our photoshoots to whatever, it really feels like it’s a continuation of advertising for the show. We really like… they’ll see on our latest photoshoot what we did for the fans and they’re gonna enjoy it. You’re talking about what life is after the show, I mean, we have a lot of fun with this. I think more shows, more actors should be doing stuff like this. It’s so fun and the fans seem to really love it, you know? Blackburn: I mean, yeah, I definitely think what he’s saying is so true. It’s just a way to connect even further, outside of the parameters of the show, and kind of have people participate. There’s definitely reward in it, and our photoshoots are so psycho and funny. Also too, I think it’s really a great way to spend some time together off set. I mean, I enjoy it. I enjoy it for sure. The response is crazy, the number of people that buy that merch is astounding. It’s amazing.

I am so not ready for the photoshoot. While I am 100% behind the Malex movie, I need to know when you two are going to be on my screen again. Is there a dream project you would like to do next? Blackburn: That’s very hard for me to say. I think for me, I’m gonna take some time to really navigate what I want the next phase of my career to be. So I think I’ll probably be a little bit more patient and potentially picky. So I don’t know, I’m like really open to reading different types of scripts and you know, the majority of my career has been sort of in this YA genre. Roswell is not exactly YA but sort of and so I’m looking to, as a 35-year-old, actually graduate a little bit. I mean, I have a lot of things that I enjoy watching and reading, so hopefully, some of those will kind of, you know, I don’t know I can be in something along those lines, but I don’t know yet. I’m figuring it out.

But if Michael’s attached to a project, are you in? Blackburn: Yeah, absolutely. I think it’d be so fun to do something outside of Malex together. Vlamis: That would be cool, that would be very cool. Blackburn: And I mean, what if we played enemies in something? Vlamis: Man, it’d be so hard but fun.

I mean, they doesn’t have to last as enemies, you could do enemies to lovers. That’s a pretty popular trope. Vlamis: This is not the Malex movie! Blackburn: I know, that’s hilarious. It would be good, I know that. Vlamis: Damn right.

Vlamburn interviews

Vlamburn interviews

Vlamburn interviews

Vlamburn interviews

Vlamburn interviews