The Shannara Chronicles

Although on the surface MTV's Original Series "The Shannara Chronicles" - Season One looks like just another teen-angst post-apocalyptic test of wills, set in amidst an epic landscape...and it is! A very precocious Elvin Princess name Amberle (Poppy Drayton) fancies herself destined for greatness and unleashes a turbulent force in the form of Manu Bennett of "Arrow" fame. After successfully championing a warrior's trial, Amberle places her hand on an ancient tree and sees a terrible vision - a future where her world is overrun by demons!

Fearing for the welfare of her people, Amberle sets off on a journey. Unbeknownst to her, Wil (Austin Butler) an Elf-Human, has also embarked on a mission to learn the truth about his origins. Joining them will be the thieving Human Rover named Eretria (Ivana Baquero) as they traverse a planet Earth long laid waste and overgrown with tribes of elves, trolls and unimaginable monsters. Perhaps Amberle's vision will lead them on the right path, lest an evil reclaim the planet and destroy the new world, one that nature has taken thousands of years to create.

The series is not remarkably acted. The cast of very-pretty-people is perfectly suited to appeal to the MTV audience demographic, but it is impressively paced and interestingly adapted. An ambitious production, the television drama is based on the series of fantasy-adventure novels by novelist Terry Brooks, "The Shannara Chronicles" are MTV's answer to the primetime cable hit "Game of Thrones." Not as intricately textured as that tale of fire and ice, for fans of the Seven Kingdoms, this is still an entertaining alternative - albeit lite.

Now Allanon (Bennett) is dedicating himself to forging this trio into a formidable force utilizing ancient battles to help defend the living against the demons that threaten to ruin the civilizations that have risen in the wake of modern man. "The Shannara Chronicles" is available now in a 3-disc DVD set featuring all 10 Season One episodes, and is packed with bonus features revealing the behind-the-scenes action including an interview with the author of the book series, and a visit to the set in New Zealand.

The series itself is produced by the same team that brought "Smallville" to life and is executive produced by Jon Favreau, who directed the blockbuster "Marvel's Iron Man." Based on a series of 26 books, you can bet this Season One collection is only the beginning of this epic.

"The Shannara Chronicles" Season One
available now on DVD
$29.99
www.mtv.com