Every so often, Adult Swim sneaks a show onto its lineup that feels like a fever dream you accidentally tuned into at 3 a.m. and “Common Side Effects” is exactly that — but in the best way possible.
A true hidden gem in the network’s treasure trove of absurdist brilliance, the animated thriller blends sci-fi paranoia with deadpan humor and spins a web of conspiracy theories so ridiculous they start to feel uncomfortably plausible, while pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling in the adult animation medium.
Having been a decade-long fan of Adult Swim’s sheer ludicrousness, I was pleasantly surprised to find out “Common Side Effects” rides that wave of inanity but keeps things grounded with sharp, unsettling truths about the healthcare industry. Beneath the layers of surreal humor and deceptive chaos, the show taps into real anxieties about Big Pharma, corporate greed and the questionable ethics of experimental medicine.
The series is the brainchild of surrealist animator Joe Bennett (“Scavengers Reign”) and Emmy-winning comedy writer Steve Hely (“The Office,” “30 Rock” and “American Dad!”) so it didn’t come as a surprise to me when it debuted with a fresh Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 100%.
The plot revolves around former high school lab mates Marshall Cuso (Dave King) and Frances Applewhite (Emily Pendergast) as they unravel a conspiracy involving the government and a pharmaceutical company to suppress knowledge of a rare fungus that may contain the solution to cure all the world's diseases.
Marshall, having discovered a rare Peruvian mushroom called "Blue Angel" with miraculous healing properties capable of curing any ailment and even reversing death, not only sees it as a scientific breakthrough but a personal mission to make healing accessible to all. His altruistic goal, however, places him at odds with pretty much everyone and trust becomes a commodity. Oh, and he has a pet turtle named Socrates.
Frances, on the other hand, works as an assistant to Rick Kruger, the CEO of Reutical Pharmaceuticals. She is depicted with a blend of naiveté and ambition, walking a tight rope of corporate bureaucracy while grappling with ethical dilemmas. Her internal conflict intensifies as she becomes entangled in Marshall's mission, torn between her obligations to Rick and the potential to revolutionize healthcare.
Rick is portrayed as a New Yorker cartoon strip of the bumbling yet menacing corporate executive. Often shown to be more clueless than malevolent, Rick's character serves as a satire of corporate greed and incompetence. Among many such moments, his obsession with mobile games during critical moments highlights his detachment from the real-world consequences of his company's actions.
DEA agents Copano and Harrington add much-needed layers of complexity and comic relief. Their dynamic is characterized by light banter and moments of unexpected depth, humanizing the often-vilified law enforcement. As they weave together the bizarre developments in the case, they challenge the binary perception of good versus evil, illustrating the moral ambiguities prevalent in the war on drugs.
At its core, "Common Side Effects" serves as a critique of the for-profit healthcare system in the U.S. The discovery of the Blue Angel mushroom alludes to the potential for universal healthcare solutions. The aggressive attempts by pharmaceutical companies and government agencies to commandeer it only highlight the systemic barriers that prioritize profit over patient well-being.
The series does not shy away from depicting the injustices inherent in the current healthcare model. Through darkly comedic scenarios and brutal action sequences, it shows the lengths to which corporations will go to maintain monopolies on treatment and the complicity of governmental bodies in perpetuating these injustices.
The season-long narrative resonates with real-world frustrations and provides a rebellious yet optimistic perspective on the possibility of creating a more equitable system. It’s smart, it’s weird and it’s the kind of show that makes you question whether the FDA is hiding something in your breakfast cereal.
“Common Side Effects” was renewed for a second season ahead of its finale and the first season is available to stream now on Adult Swim and Max.
