Emma Holland’s title of her show “ dog dies at the start” immediately had me questioning what I was about to watch.
Honestly, what could possibly be funny about a dog dying? As someone who loves their dog as much as, if not more than, certain family members, I went in expecting something either deeply uncomfortable or completely ridiculous. Instead, I found myself completely drawn in from the very beginning.
The subject matter is emotional and at times quite heavy, but Holland has a way of telling the story that feels natural, honest and incredibly engaging. She does not rely on constant punchlines or cheap laughs. Instead, she allows the humour to appear in small moments that catch you off guard and feel genuinely earned. Those moments of laughter are what make the story work so well because they sit alongside the grief rather than distract from it.
What I enjoyed most was how relatable the show felt. Anyone who has ever loved a pet will recognise the emotions behind the story. Holland captures the strange mix of heartbreak and humour that comes with any loss in a way that feels authentic rather than performative.
Although I did not spend the entire show laughing, I was invested the whole way through and genuinely wanted to know how it would end. Holland takes a topic that could easily alienate an audience and handles it with quirky humour and finesse. By the end, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I connected with it.