If you thought a miracle mushroom was the hardest thing to keep alive, try trust. Common Side Effects Episode 6, “In the System,” slams the brakes on hope and twists the knife. It’s about betrayal, control, and what happens when you finally get what you wanted—only to realize the cost.
Locked Up and Running Out of Options
Marshall Cuso is behind bars. The genius who uncovered the Blue Angel mushroom now sits in a jumpsuit, surrounded by grim faces and fluorescent lighting. He’s been charged with arson in New York, but anyone paying attention knows this is bigger than a fire.
He tries to post bail. But no dice. The judge won’t budge. And it’s no mystery why—powerful people want him right where he is. Silenced. Contained.
Meanwhile, the world keeps spinning outside.
Frances Has a Choice. She Makes It.
Frances Applewhite has the Blue Angel mushroom. That alone could change everything. Marshall told her to wait. To hold it close. To keep it safe.
But then her mother speaks up.
Sonia, fully recovered from her mysterious illness, encourages Frances to think bigger. To share the miracle. To take it back to Reutical Pharmaceuticals, where it could “do the most good.” Frances listens. And then she acts.
She walks into Rick Kruger’s office, puts the mushroom on the table, and names her price. A promotion. A raise. Job security. He doesn’t hesitate. He sees profit. She sees protection. But what they’re both trading is trust.
Marshall Starts Connecting Dots
Still in jail, Marshall gets a visitor—Hildy. She drops hints, subtle but sharp. Something’s off. Frances isn’t where he thinks she is.
So he does some digging. From inside a prison cell.
And then it hits him: Frances is now working for Reutical. That same old machine. That same old monster. The realization lands like a punch to the gut.
He isn’t just angry. He’s betrayed. By the one person he thought he could count on.
Copano and Harrington Hit a Dead End
Over in government-land, our favorite duo—Agents Copano and Harrington—aren’t doing much better. They report to Cecily, their no-nonsense superior. They lay out the case: Marshall’s in custody. The mushroom is missing. They’re close to blowing it wide open.
But Cecily shuts it down. Case closed. Just like that.
Back at the office, Harrington gets the news. He’s reassigned. No more partnership. Copano and Harrington are officially broken up. Another trusted relationship, gone.
Themes Bubbling Under the Surface
This episode isn’t loud. It doesn’t need to be. Its tension simmers. The drama is human, and so are the stakes.
- Trust vs. survival: Frances betrays Marshall, but she does it to protect herself—and her mother.
- Systemic power: Marshall’s imprisonment shows how quickly truth can be buried under bureaucracy.
- Moral compromise: Everyone wants to do good—but doing good in a corrupt system? That’s another story.
Visually Stark, Emotionally Sharp
The show’s animation continues to match its mood. The prison scenes are cold and claustrophobic. Reutical’s offices look bright, but there’s something sterile and fake about them.
Characters’ faces are drawn tighter. Their eyes don’t rest. You can feel the anxiety in every frame.
And then there’s the mushroom. Still glowing. Still powerful. Still out there.
Where Does That Leave Us?
Marshall is stuck. Frances has made her deal. The agents are sidelined. Everyone’s splintered.
But nothing’s resolved.
This episode is all setup. It’s the deep breath before the plunge. And it hurts because it’s meant to.
Because sometimes the biggest damage isn’t done by enemies. It’s done by the people you trusted most.
Onward, friends. Things are about to blow wide open.
