The Casual Vacancy Bbc1

[trt]

Is it me,

I couldn't understand what the hell it was about?

[maggiebee]

Was watching Mr Selfridge so plan to watch this on the iplayer.

[Zacs-Master]

It isn't about anything yet but surely you could tell that it's going to be about the power struggles involved in filling the casual vacancy?
I thought it was a load of cliched rubbish with stereotypical characterisations from 1970s murder mysteries.

[Mamyalynne]

It was rather clichéd but watchable - the usual faux (or is it) portrayal of the Village Committee mentality.

[maggiebee]

Enjoyed the book, but will reserve judgement on the TV drama till I watch Episode 1.

[wired]

Hope you're feeling better even if somewhat perplexed.
No, I don't understand it but it looks interesting, after all they're not going to have Rory Kinnear killed off so early without some follow on, I hope.

[lynbrown]

I have just read the book but needed a note pad to hand to keep track of all the characters. Its hard work.

[Caran]

I watched it but not sure if I will carry on next week. Hard to get to grips with whose who, also why some people were behaving as they did.

[DaisyNonna]

Obviously not a village one would clamour to inhabit.

[Svejk]

3 hour party political broadcast for Labour. (going by the first hour) And then switch to BBC2 'Welcome to Mayfair' for another one.

[pastafreak]

I've not read the book,but I quite enjoyed tonights episode. I wouldn't call it bleak,but there's a definite "atmosphere".

[losgigs]

I enjoyed it but was surprised that the Rory Kinnear character came to an early demise. Then read (in DM article) that he appears in episodes 2 & 3 in flashback scenes. He's a great actor.

[jaynethepain]

I watched it but not sure if I will watch again next week. Maybe give it one more try.

[Maydup]

I enjoyed it more than I expected to. The characters developed well and it grew on me. I will watch it again as it made a change to the over long period drama series which are the usual Sunday evening fayre.

[quizzywig]

I read it (mainly because I loved the Harry Potter books) but I didn't enjoy it - found it a depressing book. So, even though the ending has apparently been changed, I won't be watching.

[Butterbun]

After reading these comments, I'm glad I stuck with Mr Selfridge.

[scooping]

Just a slice through village life - snobbery and deference, corruption, influence peddling, cruelty and weakness, drug abuse and greed tempered only by occasional acts of goodness.

[hellywelly4]

I'm curious about the comments from Rory Kinnear right at the end. I wasn't enjoying it at all but those few words made me think there was more to it after all. The characters are absolutely obnoxious, particularly the half-brother. Fancy damaging your own son's bike!

[AliceTickband]

I was looking forward to this after all the hype which, it turns out, was completely misplaced. IMHO it was like trying to swim through treacle and I gave up 3/4 of the way through.

[jourdain2]

Gave up and watched Julie Walters instead - that was at least interesting in the background

[brainiac]

Absolute drivel. Embarrassing to watch actors like Michael Gambon and Keeley Hawes phoning in their performances.