Break Out the Blue Mushrooms: ‘Common Side Effects’ Will Return in January

At San Diego Comic-Con in July, we learned that Common Side Effects would be returning in early 2027. Adult Swim has made good on that promise by announcing at New York Comic Con that the trippy animated series about a mushroom with miraculous healing powers—and the chaos surrounding it—will premiere its second season on January 24. Common Side Effects comes from executive producers Greg Daniels and Mike Judge (King of the Hill; Judge also does one of the voices) and co-creators Joe Bennett (Scavengers Reign) and Steve Hely. When last we saw our ragtag heroes in the Peabody Award-winning show, Marshall (Dave King) and Frances (Emily Pendergast) had just reunited in the California desert—as fugitives on the run. But that surely won’t last long with DEA Agent Harrington (Martha Kelly) in hot pursuit. Meanwhile, Harrington’s partner, Agent Copano (Joseph Lee Anderson), is recovering from injuries suffered in a raid gone wrong on a farm secretly cultivating the “Blue Angel,” the mushroom discovered by Marshall that can heal any wound or sickness, including death. Of course, there are some… common side effects, which are definitely going to come into play in season two. The aftermath of that raid, and the clashing interests of everyone who wants to get their hands on the mushroom, are also poised for some ripe exploration. “At Adult Swim, we always put our faith not just in talented creators who are driven to push animation into new territory, but also in a fanbase that we know will show up and embrace the new without hesitation,” Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen said in a press release. “The second season of Common Side Effects continues to make possible new things not just for this series but for adult animation as a whole.” Added Bennett and Hely, “We remain committed to asking important questions, capturing life’s absurdity, telling surprising stories, and, whenever possible, advancing our long-term mission of healing humanity through mysterious mushrooms. So if you’re one of humanity’s ills, know this: your days are numbered.” Common Side Effects returns to Adult Swim on Sunday, January 24, at 11 p.m., streaming the next day on HBO Max. Want more io9 news? Check out the best movies and TV shows to stream this month and all the upcoming sci-fi, fantasy, and horror books that should be on your radar.