History PlayingWith / KicktheDog

** ShootTheDog.

** If the writers' idea was to make sure Evulz [[HateSink was hated]], [[GoneHorriblyRight they did]] [[TheScrappy too good of a job]]. If the writers' idea was to showcase Evulz is still a villain (even if one that the audience was supposed to root for), [[GoneHorriblyWrong they also did]] [[DarknessInducedAudieneApathy too good of a job]].

** [[Film/ANewHope Tarkin]] [[EarthShatteringKaboom blows up Alderaan]] just to spite Leia, [[VillainBall ruining the Empire's reputation among billions.]]

** [[Film/ANewHope Tarkin]] [[EarthShatteringKaboom blows up Alderaan]] just to spite Leia, [[VillainBall generating massive amounts of support for the Rebellion.]]

** [[Film/ANewHope Tarkin]] [[EarthShatteringKaboom blows up Alderaan]] just to spite Leia, [[VillainBall generating massive amounts of support for the Rebellion and leading many to defect from the Empire.]]

** Evulz kicks a puppy to death, then cuts its head off and starts playing hackeysack with it in front of its owner. [[CrossesTheLineTwice And then he eats it]]. [[VillainBall Not only was it a completely worthless waste of time to do, but it actually hindered him]].
** MoralEventHorizon

** Evulz was [[KickTheSonOfABitch punishing the dog]] for an assault that [[EvenEvilHasStandards even Evulz found horrendous]].

** [[WhatTheHellHero The hero kicks a puppy]]
** [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold The villain pets a puppy]]

* '''Zig Zagged''': Evulz refuses to kick puppies, but that's because he happens to be a dog lover. He'll happily stomp on a passing kitten. Oh, wait, he didn't know the kitten was there. Actually, he did, and he also lied about it for no good reason.

** The dog (or whatever is standing for one) could have been an awesome, powerful weapon that would have allowed Evulz' forces to accomplish their final goal with great(er) ease... [[StupidEvil hadn't Evulz killed it strictly for the sake of]] [[ForTheEvulz being a colossal dick]] [[EvilIsPetty to the dog's owner, that he doesn't likes]] (or worse yet, '''just''' because he doesn't likes). Evulz' forces, as a result, lose a great many resources and men (probably to the point that they will inevitably lose) in confrontations that could have been prevented. But try and see if [[ItsAllAboutMe Evulz]] sees reason.

** The ''[[DesignatedHero hero]]'' kicks a puppy.

* '''Double Subverted''': Evulz kills a bystander, and later it turns out that the bystander had been trying to defeat him... but he didn't know that at the time, nor did he do it for any particular purpose.

** Bob the AntiHero was perfectly okay with Evulz giving him the JackBauerInterrogationTechnique in order to find out what he knew, as well as being called every racial epithet under the sun, have his car robbed, his wardrobe set on fire, his couch pissed on [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and his coffee spilled]] because it's nothing he hasn't suffered before, nothing he can't fix in a jiffy and (in his really twisted mind) considers it just business as long as it affects only him. Evulz kicking his dog, however, is just too much [[ItsPersonal and Bob makes him his sworn enemy]], [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge with all the collateral damage that ensues]].

** Bob the AntiHero was perfectly okay with Evulz giving him the JackBauerInterrogationTechnique in order to find out what he knew, as well as being called every racial epithet under the sun, have his car robbed and his coffee spit on because it's nothing he hasn't suffered before, nothing he can't fix in a jiffy and (in his really twisted mind) considers it just business as long as it affects only him. Evulz kicking his dog, however, is just too much [[ItsPersonal and Bob makes him his sworn enemy]], [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge with all the collateral damage that ensues]].

** ThrewMyBikeOverTheRoof

* '''Downplayed''': Slightly more than PokeThePoodle.

* '''Straight''': The villain kicks a puppy even though it would not serve him at all.

** The villain kicks a puppy to death, then cuts its head off and starts playing hackeysack with it in front of its owner. [[CrossesTheLineTwice And then he eats it]]. [[VillainBall Not only was it a completely worthless waste of time to do, but it actually hindered him]].

* '''Downplayed''': Slightly more than PokeThePoodle

** The Villain's entire motivation has no logical sense as he [[ForTheEvulz is a sadist]].
** The Villain was [[KickTheSonOfABitch punishing the dog]] for an assault that [[EvenEvilHasStandards even The Villain find horrendous]].

** The ''hero'' kicks a puppy.

** The villain kills a bystander, and later it turns out that the bystander had been trying to defeat the villain (and the villain knew this).

** The villain actively avoids kicking, or harming dogs in general, because they can't stand the whining dogs make.
* '''Double Subverted''': The villain kills a bystander, and later it turns out that the bystander had been trying to defeat the villain... but the villain didn't know that at the time Nor did he do it for any particular purpose.

** The villain has a compulsion to kick any puppy he sees, even if he has to drop whatever he's doing and chase it.
** A dog breed is mentioned to have been specially bred to "maximize kicking pleasure".
* '''Zig Zagged''': The villain refuses to kick puppies, but that's because he happens to be a dog lover. He'll happily stomp on a passing kitten. Oh, wait, he didn't know the kitten was there. Actually, he did, and he also lied about it for no good reason.
* '''Averted''': The villain's actions may be evil, but they all have purpose.

* '''Exploited''': The villain kicks a dog because it will anger the heroes who in their anger will make mistakes that he can take advantage of.

** The villain refuses to kick any puppies [[PragmaticVillainy without a good reason.]]
** The villain [[PetTheDog actually likes puppies]], and not only he would never dare to hurt them, but he kills anyone that tries to do so.

** The villain is a fairly realistic violent psychopath who genuinely can't pass by a helpless target without being compelled to hurt it. The misery and frustration it causes makes the villain become the focus of the story.
** The villain is killed by his {{pragmatic|Villainy}} superior.

** The villain's subordinates are horrified by his cruelty and defect to the heroes' side.

** The villain's act of petty cruelty is so gratuitous that it forces everyone to reevaluate his character, leading to big changes in how the cast react to him.
** The villain's superior is annoyed by his sadistic tendencies, but keeps him alive [[BunnyEarsLawyer because he does achieve results]] for Team Evil.
* '''Played Literally''': BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: The villain literally kicks dogs as his act of evil.

* '''Justified''': The Villain's entire motivation has no logical sense as he [[ForTheEvulz is a sadist]].

** TheDogBitesBack.

Oh look, a cute puppy. [[KickTheDog Let's kick it!]].

** The villain kicks a puppy to death, then cuts its head off and starts playing hackeysack with it in front of its owner. [[CrossesTheLineTwice And then he eats it]]. Not only was it a completely worthless waste of time to do, but it actually hindered him.

* '''Downplayed''': PokeThePoodle

* '''Exploited''': ???