Common Side Effects is Adult Swim’s newest animated TV show. Although you may hear that and think of the likes of Rick and Morty or Smiling Friends, Common Side Effects completely shatters any expectations you may have. A “comedy crime thriller.” Those are not exactly words you would hear on a channel that produces Robot Chicken. But the concept is straightforward: Marshall Cuso, our Protagonist, discovers a magical mushroom that can cure any illness and death, but his discovery leads to him being hunted down by the government and mercenary groups. He meets and informs his high school lab partner turned executive assistant, Frances Applewight of the Mushroom, who attempts to get it commercialized. The show follows both of these characters and the path this magical mushroom takes them on. It doesn’t seem too crazy, right? Well, this show takes that concept and runs with it, then goes above and beyond with it. Common Side Effects takes movie-quality storytelling and character writing and turns it into a 10-episode ADULT SWIM (crazy) animated television show. Although we are halfway through the season, I just had to write about it. 

I was introduced to Common Side Effects through an Instagram ad. The ad was a clip of two DEA agents from the show “Copano” and “Harrington” dancing in their car to “Jump In Line” by Harry Belafonte. It was hilarious. I then saw more ads showcasing the thrilling mystery of the “Blue Angel Mushroom” and the beautiful animation style. I was immediately hooked. And the ads don’t lie. The animation is simple yet has immense charm from the big heads of the characters, and when the trippy visualizers of the Blue Angel Mushrooms come into play, my goodness, are they a treat. Additionally, the political and pharmaceutical industrial conspiracies are written in such an intriguing and nerve-racking way. Finally, the characters are insanely well written, from the eccentricity of Marshall, the nonchalantness of Mike Judges “Rick Kruger” (CEO of the big bad pharmaceutical company), to the goofiness of Copano and Harrington, the show is always engaging, no matter who is on screen. 

Although Common Side Effects has just started and won’t end for many weeks, I highly recommend everyone jump on board this train with me so we can watch this beautifully thrilling show together.

New episodes of Common Side Effects premiere every Sunday on Adult Swim at 10:30 CT and stream the next day on Max.