Watch The Casual Vacancy

The Casual Vacancy is a dramatic miniseries on BBC One based on the novel of the same name by J.K. Rowling. Set in the fictional town of Pagford, the show follows the aftermath of the death of Barry Fairbrother, a popular parish council member who suddenly passed away, leaving a casual vacancy on the council.

At the center of the story are two families, the Mollisons and the Fairbrothers, who are at odds with each other over the future of a local council estate called the Fields. The wealthy Mollisons, led by Howard Mollison (Michael Gambon), want to sell the Fields to a nearby city council, while the poorer Fairbrothers, including Barry's wife Mary (Emily Bevan) and their friends, want to keep the Fields as it is and improve it.

The Mollisons are a dysfunctional family consisting of Howard, his wife Shirley (Julia McKenzie), their son Miles (Rufus Jones), and Miles' wife Samantha (Keeley Hawes). They are obsessed with maintaining their status in Pagford and are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want, even if it means manipulating and even blackmailing their fellow council members.

On the other hand, the Fairbrothers are a tight-knit group of friends who are passionate about their community and want to make a positive difference in the town. Mary is devastated by her husband's death and is determined to continue his legacy by fighting for the Fields and the less fortunate residents of Pagford.

Tess Wall (Monica Dolan) and her husband Colin (Simon McBurney) are also prominent characters in the show. Tess is a social worker who works with the families in the Fields, while Colin is the headmaster of an independent school in Pagford. They both get caught up in the drama surrounding the council election and the battle over the Fields.

As the election for the casual vacancy on the council approaches, tensions rise and secrets are revealed. The characters all have their own personal struggles and issues that they must confront, such as drug addiction, infidelity, mental illness, and bullying. The show tackles serious themes such as poverty, classism, and racism, and does not shy away from portraying the ugly side of human nature.

The acting in The Casual Vacancy is excellent across the board, with standout performances from Emily Bevan as the grieving Mary Fairbrother and Michael Gambon as the conniving Howard Mollison. Keeley Hawes also shines as Samantha Mollison, who gradually becomes disillusioned with her husband's and mother-in-law's schemes.

The show is visually stunning, with gorgeous cinematography that captures the natural beauty of the English countryside. The score by Solomon Grey is hauntingly beautiful and adds to the emotional impact of the story.

Overall, The Casual Vacancy is a gripping and thought-provoking drama that explores the complexities of human relationships and the harsh realities of life in a small town. The show does justice to J.K. Rowling's novel, and even surpasses it in some ways. It is definitely worth watching for anyone who enjoys well-written and well-acted dramas.

The Casual Vacancy is a series that ran for 1 seasons (3 episodes) between February 15, 2015 and on BBC one