Tonight, the new fantasy drama The Shannara Chronicles premieres on MTV. Make sure this one is on your radar.

Thanks to the complete overhaul of American television that’s taken place over the last decade, January has become a big month for premieres. Fall used to be the time when all the networks would release their big hit shows, ready for people to hunker down and waste the end of their year away in front of the TV.

But now with the way things currently stand (thanks to Netflix and Peak TV) we know we can find high quality programming starting at virtually every time of the year and on every network.

Which makes the task of curating a quality list of shows to watch that much harder.

It’s natural to overlook programs on networks or time slots you don’t typically browse. So we want to make sure this one doesn’t get overlooked even if you’re not an avid MTV watcher. It’s fair to say that MTV hasn’t always been a beacon of high quality dramatic programming. But their new show The Shannara Chronicles is about to raise the game and it’s our duty to make sure it’s on your radar.

The series is based on the best selling books by Terry Brooks that have spanned over 30 years of publications, which is a true testament to its vivid staying power.

Shannara is a high fantasy drama set in on an apocalyptic future earth. (Stay with me here, I promise it’s worth it.) The main cast is compiled of mostly young adult actors (there’s some things MTV simply can’t afford to lose) but the overall plot is quite mature and advanced for its audience.

This hero’s tale will be entertaining to a swath of generations.

Because it is high fantasy, going in totally blind might be a little difficult, so we encourage you to read the synopsis below, watch the trailers above, and perhaps read our in depth character guide before you jump in. That way, you can get carried along with the story and spend less time trying to learn who everyone is.

Episode 101/102 – ‘CHOSEN’ PARTS 1 AND 2

Thousands of years after the fall of Humankind, the Four Lands is in grave danger. The fate of the world rests on the shoulders of an unlikely trio: an Elvin Princess who dreams of a life outside of the palace walls, a beautiful, wild and wily Human Rover and a half-elf, who knows nothing of the great destiny that runs through his veins. Having seen an apocalyptic vision of the world’s destruction, Amberle leaves the palace in search of answers. But when Wil and Allanon realize that she is the key to saving the Four Lands, they set out to find the princess before the Dagda Mor’s Demons hunt her down.

If you missed some of our other featured Shannara articles you can find them here.

The two part Shannara Chronicles episode “Chosen” premieres tonight, January 5, at 10 p.m. on MTV.