TV pick: The Casual Vacancy

Michael Gambon and Julia McKenzie in The Casual Vacancy.

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".

If you're planning on watching, it might be best to ignore the Wall St Journal, whose reviewer said she "wanted to stick a fork in my face" once it was finished. And be warned: if you're a fan of the book, a few changes have been made for TV.

What: A suburban dream becomes a nightmare
When: Wednesday, 8.30pm; encores Friday at 9.30pm
Where: SoHo

Also

• If you've been following How To Get Away With Murder (Tuesday, 8.45pm, TV2), you'll be adept at suspending your disbelief. But as the final showdown approaches, in two-hour finale, viewers should prepare for things to get even more impossibly unfeasible. More unfeasible than a lawyer being allowed to defend a client who's been framed for murder by her adulterous husband. Or was she? Prepare to be shocked.

• Heartfelt comedy Modern Family returns for season six this week (Friday, 8pm, Prime) with more haphazard family antics. Alex is away on a humanitarian trip and the rest of the family is getting along swimmingly, but Alex's return causes a kerfuffle. Mitch and Cam have returned from honeymoon. And Gloria decides to give Jay a taste of his own medicine.

• And if you're feeling withdrawal from the lack of home renovation shows on the box at the moment, you can celebrate the return of Grand Designs this week (Thursday, 7.30pm, TV3). Kevin McLeod returns to investigate far-fetched dreams and outlandish plans.

- TimeOut