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There’s no doubt that Marvel and DC have drastically changed our pop culture landscape. Characters and stories that were once considered niche interests now dominate our blockbusters. However, there is one final frontier superhero shows haven’t been able to conquer — awards season. FX’s first superhero series, Legion, may be able to change that.

Marvel and DC have gotten some larger awards nods for their shows, but for the most part, superhero shows have been excluded from the exclusive halls of major Emmy Awards and the Golden Globes. Bothe Marvel and DC have earned three People’s Choice nominations a piece as well as nods from TCA, the Critic’s Choice Awards, and GLAAD (for Supergirl). Marvel has unsurprisingly fared a little better on the awards front, having received three Primetime Creative Arts Emmy nominations and one win (for Marvel’s Jessica Jones). However, no recent superhero show has been able to move past Primetime Emmy consideration — possibly until now.

Legion genuinely has a chance at a major awards nomination or even a win. The series is directed by Noah Hawley, who has been an awards favorite since Season 1 of Fargo, and it’s packed by an all-star cast. The X-Men series stars Aubrey Plaza in a role that flirts between charming and unhinged, Rachel Keller as one of the most memorable and developed femme fatales in recent TV history, and Jean Smart, who reprises another badass leader following her role on Fargo Season 2. Also, the whole series is connected to by of the most dynamic and underrated actors currently working, Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, The Guest). Even if you remove the fact that Legion watches less like a hero origin story and more like a mental illness tale — a format that will likely be more palpable to viewers who don’t enjoy traditional superhero fare — this show is practically destined to dominate awards conversation, especially since Game of Thrones is not eligible for an Emmy this year.

But let’s forget awards consideration for a minute and focus on the question you’re really interested in: Is Legion worth watching? Absolutely. Noah Hawley’s X-Men interpretation is crazy good.

Legion follows the story of David Haller, one of the most powerful and unhinged mutants in the X-Men universe, who also happens to be Charles Xavier’s son. David almost has a switchboard of different powers, each of which are tied to a different personality that resides in his body. Legion opens with our tortured antihero in a mental institution, unaware of the X-Men or the extent of his powers. The series isn’t a strict adaptation of David Haller’s story, instead focusing on who David is as a character and expanding from there to create its own warped universe. Viewers who didn’t read the comics won’t be missing anything, and if early reviews are any indication, diehard fans should also be happy with the show.

It’s difficult to talk about Legion from an artistic standpoint because it takes place in a world where anything is possible though nothing should be. The antihero we’re first introduced to is a trapped animal. He has very few rights and no dreams, just a steady stream of pills. However, by the middle of its first episode, David falls in love and takes part musical number in a scene that shouldn’t make sense. However, the world Hawley has created is so unstable, both of these things are equally plausible and carry equal narrative weight. Many of these warped elements can be tied to Hawley’s choice to create a series through, not about, his disturbed protagonist. We’re seeing the world the way David sees it, and David sees a lot of things that aren’t there.

That’s the beauty of Legion. This is a superhero series that’s willing to take big, artistic risks without holding its audience’s hand. Legion is unafraid to leave viewers with a laundry list of questions, trusting that its characters are so interesting and its central love story is so compelling, you’ll keep watching. It’s that confidence that makes this series remarkable, both now and come awards season.

The first episode of Legion premieres on FX and FXNOW Wednesday, February 8 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Stream Legion on FXNOW