By Michael McKee
Correspondent
For a long time, it has seemed like the only animated television shows for adults were “Family Guy”-inspired comedies defined by excessive raunchiness and incredibly similar art styles. This is exactly what makes Adult Swim’s new animated project, “Common Side Effects,” so refreshing.
“Common Side Effects” was created by Joseph Bennett and Steve Hely and follows the discovery of the blue angel mushroom, which can cure any sickness or injury. This results in attempts by the government and pharmaceutical company Reutical to cover up its existence by any means necessary.
In terms of tone, “Common Side Effects” mostly focuses on the drama created by its plot and characters, with the occasional bit of comic relief, making it more similar in tone to “Breaking Bad” than “Paradise P.D.” Comic relief is found in the interactions between different characters, ranging from lighthearted banter to eccentric oddness.
The show’s main hero is Marshall Cuso, a brilliant yet awkward fungi scientist who discovered the mushroom in South America and has to go into hiding to escape from the forces of the Reutical. Frances Applewhite is an assistant to a Reutical executive and Marshall’s old high school lab partner. She takes the role of the everywoman, new to this strange and conspiratorial world. On top of that, she has to hide her Reutical employment from Marshall, hide her friendship with Marshall from her employers and take care of her dementia-riddled mother.
Through all of this, Marshall is being chased by a duo of DEA agents whose dynamic chemistry pops off the screen and makes the audience fall in love with them, despite being secondary antagonists.
Topping off the major characters are the main antagonists, the Chief Executive Officer of Reutical Rick Kruger and Swiss board member Jonas “the wolf” Backstein. Rick is Frances’ incompetent boss who is consistently anxious about losing his job. Jonas is the most influential businessman at Reutical and the ruthless main antagonist of the series. Despite being the main antagonists, Rick and Jonas are portrayed with humanity, with Rick in particular being well meaning and genuinely caring about Frances and his other employees.
Also important to note is the show’s animation, which adds much to it as a whole. Each of the characters have understated and realistic movements with an almost rotoscope-like quality, which grounds the world in reality. The psychedelic sequences that play whenever a character eats a mushroom are colorful, beautifully animated and add so much to the visual language of the show.
With all this in mind, “Common Side Effects” is a welcome addition to the world of adult animation and is well worth a recommendation. The characters, animation, plot and comedy are all great, as well as the voice acting and themes. The fact that it has been renewed for a second season is welcome news to its fans. If you are looking for an animated show with the right blend of comedy, drama and its relevant themes about the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, then “Common Side Effects” is up your alley.
