Adult Swim’s Common Side Effects is a dark-humored conspiracy thriller that ties in the bleak reality of the American healthcare industry while also expanding into the realm of science fiction. The new animated series comes from Joseph Bennett (a co-creator of “Scavengers Reign”) and Steve Hely (a writer on “Veep” and “The Office”). The show follows former high school lab mates Marshall (Dave King) and Frances (Emily Pendergast) as they unravel a conspiracy involving big pharma and the government to suppress knowledge of a rare fungus that may contain the solution to cure all the world’s diseases.
The show relies on dry slapstick humor which helps offset the unsettling familiarity of the show’s world, with no joke coming short or wearing out its welcome. In parallel to Marshall and Frances’s story, are DEA agents Capano (Joseph Lee Anderson) and Harrington (Martha Kelly). The two are whimsical feds that could’ve easily waltzed out of a 90s comedy, both sharing a light-hearted chemistry as they dig into Marshall’s past as an award-winning scientist and avid environmentalist. Following orders, though becoming skeptical of their assignment in the process.
Common Side Effects is invitingly digressive, not taking itself too seriously while also creating an enticing drama that often leaves you reflecting on the fate of the cast. My only complaint is that there isn’t enough of it — each episode is cut short at an average of twenty-one minutes. Nevertheless, each minute is well spent as the animation in the show, though some characters appearing a bit silly (Marshall Cuso an example), is well-crafted and sneaks in quite a few visually stunning scenes.
Overall, Common Side Effects is a hilarious, deep, and enticing drama that digs into the flaws of our world and, ‘them’, using witty humor and thrilling scenes. With animation borrowing from Scavengers Reign, drama akin to Breaking Bad, and humor you can expect from Adult Swim and Joseph Bennett, I’ll have to give the show (or the four episodes currently released), a rating of 8.7/10.
Common Side Effects releases new episodes Sundays at 11:30 p.m. ET on Adult Swim and HBO Max.
