Common Side Effects

Common Side Effects is a compelling blend of suspense, spirituality, understated comedy, and just enough mystery dangling on the hook. And in a healthier television landscape, there would be more shows like this one, an original work that feels no pressure to be a loud spectacle.

Common Side Effects is definitely more thriller than comedy, but there are enough funny moments to lighten the mood as things get more complex and serious by the third and fourth episodes. Once we get to that point, though, it’s a surprisingly gripping thriller that keeps viewers engaged.

While the story could conceivably be told with live actors in real settings, it would likely be so exaggerated, so satirical, that the human element, paradoxically, might get lost. Animation keeps it humble, believable and meaningful. This is all a function of good writing and underplayed acting; the mood is largely deadpan.

Created by Steve Hely and Joseph Bennett, the animated series is a wry, stylized thriller about a murderous conspiracy against a disruptor of the status quo. Not an entirely new idea. But a cartoon take on corporate skullduggery and incompetent government investigations is fresh enough to grab you by the collar of your Hawaiian shirt—the wardrobe go-to of Marshall Cuso.

As a conspiracy thriller, “Common Side Effects” is decidedly an ordinary button mushroom. In the four episodes screened for critics, the action twists are familiar and the members of its shadowy cabal underdeveloped. What makes the series captivating is its style and deadpan voice.

We’ve only seen four episodes so far, but Common Side Effects has the potential to be one of the greatest Adult Swim shows of all time – as long as it can learn to calibrate a comedic sensibility that sometimes clashes with the seriousness of its subject matter.

An astounding black comedy and thriller about the dark underbelly of the pharmaceutical industry. Visually and narratively sublime. The season finale is a mind-bending marvel that finally embraces the story's most surreal essence (with scenes reminiscent of 'The Substance,' 'Men,' and 'Interstellar'). The best animated series nowadays.

What a treat of a show. Common Side Effects feels like a great mix of humor, very interesting storyline, and weirdness. On top of that the animation is so unique and well done. Anything Mike Judge has been attached to has been amazing and this is no different.

This is the best show on TV. Excellent on all levels. It is not afraid to get real. At the same time it is 100% entertaining and exciting. Everything Mike Judges touches is gold. This is another example, and maybe the best show he's involved in yet.

Just terrible. Being animated does nothing for the show. Voice acting is tolerable, but everything else is painful to experience. You may as well just listen to a conspiracy theorist's podcast instead because it's about the same thing.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]