Animation is rightly lauded as one of the most significant art forms of our time. Gifted writers bring to life entire worlds that reflect our own, while artists capture the beauty and imperfections that make life so fascinating. If ever there was a moment to commend a show for masterfully balancing comedy, anxiety, and artistry, it would be Adult Swim’s surreal animated series that delves into the intriguing story of a magic mushroom disrupting the Big Pharma industry.

The series, Common Side Effects, created by Joe Bennett (Scavengers Reign) and Steve Hely (Veep, The Office, 30 Rock), poses a profound, albeit fleeting, question with genuine sincerity: what would happen if the world stumbled upon a drug capable of curing any ailment? Similar to the mythological figure Prometheus, an animal-loving hippie named Marshall (Dave King) discovers blue mushrooms with the extraordinary ability to heal all physical injuries and diseases, ranging from bullet wounds to dementia. However, pharmaceutical companies, for obvious reasons, are not keen on his discovery becoming public knowledge and thus falsify records, framing him as a wanted criminal.

This development leads Marshall to confide in his former high school lab mate, Frances (Emily Pendergast), who, unbeknownst to him, works as the assistant to the head of Reutical Pharmaceuticals. The company’s inept CEO, Rick (Mike Judge), has his job riding on the success of a new commercial drug. What ensues is a suspenseful and intense cat-and-mouse chase where Marshall and Frances evade DEA agents, hitmen, and desperate individuals for their life-changing drug, whose mysterious side effects might not be worth the trouble in the long run.

What sets Common Side Effects apart as a unique animated series is the sincerity of its themes, coupled with its quirky, offbeat presentation. At one moment, it’s a dark espionage drama replete with political betrayals, undercover agents, and violent deaths. In the next, it transforms into a vibrant comedy where DEA agents dance to Harry Belafonte’s “Jump in the Line” and little alien characters perform cartwheels with their backsides exposed, all while the exhausted cast resembles walking bobbleheads. Despite the potential for its eerie and zany tones to clash, Common Side Effects finds harmony by balancing its diverse elements without losing sight of the pivotal question about the implications of a miracle drug on the world.

At its core, Common Side Effects transcends conventional critiques of the United States healthcare system. Rather than relying on a simplistic narrative where heroes triumph over an evil corporation and redistribute wealth, the show delves into a nuanced and compelling exploration of how hope can turn to despair. As each episode unfolds, Common Side Effects examines the crushing weight of deciding what to do with a universal cure-all drug that could eradicate copays, premiums, and debt-laden obstacles, affecting not just individuals but the broader societal structures. Both the show’s protagonists and its scheming antagonists find themselves overwhelmed as they grapple with the immense responsibility that comes with holding the fate of the world in their hands.

Similar to Scavengers Reign, Common Side Effects boasts lush and vivid background art, surreal and fluid animation, and shocking violence, all of which work in harmony with its suspenseful narrative. These elements culminate in a gut-wrenching finale that, unlike its predecessor, avoids a similar fate, leaving the possibilities for season two to delve even deeper into its gripping tale.

All 10 episodes of Common Side Effects are available to stream on Max.

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