Adult Swim has always been a haven for the bizarre, a place where animation can explore the surreal and the unsettling. “Common Side Effects” continues this tradition with a conspiracy-fueled narrative that’s as funny as it is freaky. In this Sunday’s episode, “Star-Tel-Lite,” Frances and Marshall’s survival plan hits a snag, proving that even in a world of psychedelic mushrooms and government cover-ups, mundane problems still exist.
Our intrepid duo is busy trying to cultivate the last of their mushroom supply – the very mushrooms at the heart of the vast conspiracy involving big pharma and a government determined to suppress the truth about their healing properties. Meanwhile, Copano and Harrington, the ever-vigilant surveillance team, find themselves facing a rather unexpected threat: a local BMX gang. One imagines their training didn’t quite cover this particular scenario.
As Frances and Marshall’s mushroom supply dwindles, their plan to cultivate more becomes increasingly crucial. The episode seems to be setting up a classic struggle for survival, albeit one with a distinctly Adult Swim flavor. Will our heroes outsmart the BMX bandits and maintain their supply of miracle mushrooms? Or will their conspiracy-fueled existence go up in smoke (or spores)?
“Star-Tel-Lite” airs Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 11:30 PM ET on Adult Swim.
