How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog

The audience's emotional response to "How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog" is primarily driven by Humor, stemming from the absurdities of Peter McGowen's neurotic tendencies, the darkly comedic premise, and the frustrating situations he encounters. This is balanced by significant Sadness and Empathy, as viewers connect with Peter's decade of professional failures, his personal struggles with impotence, his wife's desire for a child, and the decline of his mother-in-law. A pervasive sense of Melancholy reflects Peter's overall state of being. Despite the struggles, there are moments of Joy and Happiness, particularly as the new neighbors and their child introduce potential for positive change. Anxiety arises from Peter's internal turmoil, the mysterious doppelganger, and the incessant barking dog, while Hope emerges as he works on his new play and interacts with the child, hinting at a possible turnaround in his life.