i dont see anyone talk about this and i think its a shame. the opening sequence where we learn about the flock is so nicely done and so so fucking important to me. in knives out, the cast is introduced in the interviews. a fairly simple, classic way of introducing the suspects. in glass onion, we're introduced to them through the puzzle miles sends them aka they're introduced through miles. their story begins and ends with miles. (the only exception is andi, who we get to know through helen, the only person in the world who loves her. im fine) but in wake up dead man we've come to know the flock through jud's conversations with them. jud's first thought upon arrival is to sit down with them and get to know their life story. yeah obviously he's a priest, he should know about the people he's supposed to guide spiritually but the WAY he does it is so unique. and its because he cares. he cares so fucking much he wants to build a new cross on his probably second day there. when he hears about the harlot whore his first thought is to ask martha about it. even after hearing the name "harlot whore" he doesn't go in with any judgement. martha reasons she was a whore bc she dressed in an outgoing way and knew 'her brands'. the way jud reacts to this is extremely telling. plainly, he finds it ridiculous. you can see the disbelief on his face. and even after hearing grace's story there's no actual judgement from him. he's shocked, absolutely, but he never ever participates in the name calling and shaming the other's do. and then we learn about the flock. he's so gentle throughout these conversations, you can tell he cares so fucking much, that he wants to make this work, that he wants to be good priest for them. what he doesn't realize, is that he already is, simply by hearing their story, by trying to form that prayer group. i also can't help but think of the places these conversations take in. they're in the refectory with martha, the only place martha ever called home, the place she can't escape from. he's in sam's place, drinking coke exactly like he is. that simple detail catches my eye every time i watch that scene. jud is just so inherently thoughtful. he's in vera's home, the house she's been trapped in since cy showed up, accepting tea but ultimately focusing on vera and how she feels about all of it. when she says she hopes her father is looking down at her and is pleased, he doesn't believe her, or well, i would say he's able to emphatize with people so much he knows it's not the whole truth. with cy, they're outside, showing how cy never saw vera's house the home she tried to make it for him. jud's still emphatic, still not turning away from cy even after seeing how unchristian he's being. he tries to help him and cy misunderstands him completely. he's in the bar with nat, with a water in front of him bc he doesn't drink, but he's still THERE bc he WANTS to connect with nat. he's in lee's house, his fortress, bc that's where lee feels safe. he reads his BOOK. that's so important to me, why does no one talk about it, THAT'S how dedicated he is to these people, he's willing to sit through a book he finds hard to swallow just so he could understand lee more. he's in simon's house, the house which wicks trapped her in with his manipulation, surrounded by smoke, gentle and kind, not commenting about the smoke in his face even once, there only to be a listener. they all trust him enough immediately to tell their story and they're met with absolute acceptance and kindness and they don't CARE. they never notice how much jud gives them bc they're so caught up in wicks's manipulation. and still, jud doesn't resent them for this, the only person he's angry with is wicks. that should tell you everything you need to know about him and i'm sure it told benoit absolutely everything HE needed to know.
