If you're wondering what J. K. Rowling did after finishing up with the Harry Potter franchise, here's your answer: she went to war.
Suburban warfare is the topic at hand in The Casual Vacancy, a Rowling novel that's been made into an acclaimed three-part miniseries by the BBC and HBO and premieres on SoHo next Wednesday.
Put the kids to bed for this one - there are no pointy hats or magic wands on display.
The Casual Vacancy is a decidedly adult attempt to showcase a series of conflicts in the picturesque setting of Pagford in England, arising from splits between rich and poor, parents and teenagers, wives and husbands, and teachers and pupils. Or, as the Los Angeles Times calls it, " ... a heartbreaking, thought-provoking if occasionally simplistic look at the tyrannical power of the picturesque".
Starring Sir Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes and Rory Kinnear, ratings have been good and reviews mostly positive, with the Kansas City Star saying it "bounces between tragedy and comedy with ease", while The A.V. Club said it "had a lot of potential ... but can't keep all its plates spinning fast enough to result in a true spectacle".
