Adult Swim has officially renewed Common Side Effects for a second season, just days before the first season finale. The animated series, which premiered in February 2025, has gained significant attention for its unique premise and talented creative team. Created by Joseph Bennett and Steve Hely, and executive produced by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, the show traces the story of Marshall Cuso and Frances Applewhite, two high-school lab partners and friends who discover a magical mushroom with the power to cure nearly any wound or illness. Their attempts to bring this life-altering medicine to the world are thwarted by powerful forces, including pharmaceutical companies and the government.
The series has been credited with breaking boundaries of storytelling and genre-defining work in adult animation. It has been praised by Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen, who commended the creators for their innovative work and commented that the series redefines what can be done with adult animation. He also acknowledged the fans for their ardent following, both on television and on social media websites.
The creators expressed that they were excited to carry on the story in a second season. They described how they wanted to push the limits of animation and storytelling as they explore more profound themes of humanity and transformation. They mentioned that being able to work on the show was like a “wonderful mushroom dream.”
Season 1 of Common Side Effects concludes this Sunday, March 30, with an episode titled “Raid,” airing at 11:30 p.m. ET on Adult Swim. The show is also available to stream on Max. Fans have been applauding its perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and good word-of-mouth buzz, which likely contributed to its renewal.
With its gripping storyline full of conspiracy theories, black comedy, and social commentary, Common Side Effects has become one of the best new shows of 2025. The second season is set to continue delving into the plight of Marshall and Frances as they try to survive in a world that is bent on silencing their revolutionary finding.
