"The Casual Vacancy" is a three-part miniseries adaptation of the novel by J.K. Rowling. The story is based on the lives of the residents living in the fictional English village of Pagford. It's home to a market square and ancient abbey, but what lies behind the idyllic surroundings is a community at war over the legacy of Sweetlove House. Parish Council Chairman Howard Mollison argues for an end to the legacy but is opposed by council member Barry Fairbrother, whose impassioned speech outlines Sweetlove's importance. When Fairbrother suddenly dies, the "casual vacancy" on the council soon becomes the catalyst for a clash that rocks the village.