The scenes in this show are getting more and more ridiculous with each episode. I laughed when I saw the tribute in the back of that old truck. Two small boxes with what were suppose to be 6 cantaloupes each in them, sitting all by themselves in an otherwise empty bed. Would they have needed a semi if they would have had a full basket of fruits and veggies?

The last two Kingdom episodes have me wonder how they get off so light compared to other communities. A whole community only gives 12 cantaloupes? The long hair guy is an ass, but the leader is fairly reasonable. Not like what Alexandria gets at all.

@doesn0texist said:

The last two Kingdom episodes have me wonder how then get off so light. A whole community only gives 12 cantaloupes? The long hair guy is an ass, but the leader is fairly reasonable. Not like what Alexandria gets at all.

Who knows? Maybe Gavin loves cantaloupe, and the Kingdom's limited harvest is the only supply around, so he agreed to forego most of the produce that week in exchange for a dozen melons. I agree it's a light tribute even by their standards. Remember that one week, where they had to provide six full grown hogs? Walker fed pork ... yum yum. But clearly the Kingdom has gotten off easy compared to other communities where the Saviors come in, harass people, and take half of everything.

From what we've seen the Savior outposts have a lot of autonomy and Negan doesn't micromanage his lieutenants. Gavin (who's as close to a good guy as you're likely to find among the Saviors) is able to indulge his own firm but reasonable leadership style free of interference. Alexandria is the opposite end of the spectrum. Whereas the Kingdom was cooperative from day one, they've been nothing but trouble. So the terms imposed on them have been harsher and more punitive.

Seeing as the cantaloupes were in uncovered trays at the rear of the truck and there was like 5 people standing in the back of the truck I imagine the conversation all the way from the supermarket (with the shopping carts) right up to the meeting with the Saviours went something like this...

• Henchman A: "Richard, I think there's only 5 cantaloupes in that box!"
• Richard: "No, there's 6."
• Henchman B: "It really does look like there's only 5. There's 6 in the other."
• Richard: "There's 6, look 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.. 6"
• Fat Henchman: "You pointed at the fifth cantaloupe twice!"
• Richard: "No, it just rolled next to cantaloupe 6."
• Henchman A: "Bullcrap! They can't roll! 6 fits a box, sometimes 8 with two small ones in the middle spaces."
• Richard: "Look, shut up, I'm in charge and anyway here's the Saviours!"
• Henchman B: "No it's not, we've got 35 miles to go. Now stop squatting to hide the box, you can't need to take a dump already!"

@krashd said:

Seeing as the cantaloupes were in uncovered trays at the rear of the truck and there was like 5 people standing in the back of the truck I imagine the conversation all the way from the supermarket (with the shopping carts) right up to the meeting with the Saviours went something like this...

• Henchman A: "Richard, I think there's only 5 cantaloupes in that box!"
• Richard: "No, there's 6."
• Henchman B: "It really does look like there's only 5. There's 6 in the other."
• Richard: "There's 6, look 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.. 6"
• Fat Henchman: "You pointed at the fifth cantaloupe twice!"
• Richard: "No, it just rolled next to cantaloupe 6."
• Henchman A: "Bullcrap! They can't roll! 6 fits a box, sometimes 8 with two small ones in the middle spaces."
• Richard: "Look, shut up, I'm in charge and anyway here's the Saviours!"
• Henchman B: "No it's not, we've got 35 miles to go. Now stop squatting to hide the box, you can't need to take a dump already!"

The people in the back of the truck would've been more focused on keeping their eyes peeled for danger, looking at the terrain around them. Yes he was taking a little bit of a risk. It's always possible someone might have noticed. But even if they had they wouldn't have known why one was missing, and what would Ezekiel have done? Probably the same thing. Gone to the Saviors and told Gavin they'd have number twelve for them next time. And when you've already counted the cantaloupes why would you count them again on the way over - instead of watching the road or the areas to the side?

I don't take my eyes off cantaloupes, I don't trust any fruit that grows below waist level.

@krashd said:

I don't take my eyes off cantaloupes, I don't trust any fruit that grows below waist level.

I see.

I don't know either, but when Eugene got introduced to the place, they seemed to be rather close to self-sufficient too, so I'm guessing they might be asking for a tribute just for the sake of asking for a tribute, and to get extras they can't come by by themselves... To fatten themselves up and insure that someone will have their back if they end up missing something... ?

But I thought the same thing too. The whole foraging thing is also starting to be a bit ridiculous. I mean, come on, you've been scouting the same area for what, five years, and there are other groups... How many supplies can there still be without you having to go further and further ?

@krashd said:

Seeing as the cantaloupes were in uncovered trays at the rear of the truck and there was like 5 people standing in the back of the truck I imagine the conversation all the way from the supermarket (with the shopping carts) right up to the meeting with the Saviours went something like this...

• Henchman A: "Richard, I think there's only 5 cantaloupes in that box!"
• Richard: "No, there's 6."
• Henchman B: "It really does look like there's only 5. There's 6 in the other."
• Richard: "There's 6, look 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.. 6"
• Fat Henchman: "You pointed at the fifth cantaloupe twice!"
• Richard: "No, it just rolled next to cantaloupe 6."
• Henchman A: "Bullcrap! They can't roll! 6 fits a box, sometimes 8 with two small ones in the middle spaces."
• Richard: "Look, shut up, I'm in charge and anyway here's the Saviours!"
• Henchman B: "No it's not, we've got 35 miles to go. Now stop squatting to hide the box, you can't need to take a dump already!"

There were 12 cantaloupes in the two crates until they reached their destination. Once they arrived and departed the truck, Richard was the last one out and hid the cantaloupe under another box. I thought this was pretty clear to everyone that watched it?!

@velvet_roses said:

I don't know either, but when Eugene got introduced to the place, they seemed to be rather close to self-sufficient too, so I'm guessing they might be asking for a tribute just for the sake of asking for a tribute, and to get extras they can't come by by themselves... To fatten themselves up and insure that someone will have their back if they end up missing something... ?

But I thought the same thing too. The whole foraging thing is also starting to be a bit ridiculous. I mean, come on, you've been scouting the same area for what, five years, and there are other groups... How many supplies can there still be without you having to go further and further ?

That's what the other communities are for. The Saviors stay home while they go out further and further. And they never explicitly tell people scavenging is the only acceptable way to meet their obligations. Sooner or later everything you eat, wear, or use for any other purpose will have to made by you. Things that require a full factory to produce will be in shorter and shorter supply as time goes on and eventually run out. By then everything the Saviors collect will be products of the communities they've subjugated and not stuff brought back from foraging expeditions.

@chrisjdel said:

@velvet_roses said:

I don't know either, but when Eugene got introduced to the place, they seemed to be rather close to self-sufficient too, so I'm guessing they might be asking for a tribute just for the sake of asking for a tribute, and to get extras they can't come by by themselves... To fatten themselves up and insure that someone will have their back if they end up missing something... ?

But I thought the same thing too. The whole foraging thing is also starting to be a bit ridiculous. I mean, come on, you've been scouting the same area for what, five years, and there are other groups... How many supplies can there still be without you having to go further and further ?

That's what the other communities are for. The Saviors stay home while they go out further and further. And they never explicitly tell people scavenging is the only acceptable way to meet their obligations. Sooner or later everything you eat, wear, or use for any other purpose will have to made by you. Things that require a full factory to produce will be in shorter and shorter supply as time goes on and eventually run out. By then everything the Saviors collect will be products of the communities they've subjugated and not stuff brought back from foraging expeditions.

Absolutely ! But then again there must be other communities further away who already scavenged the other areas... So what ? The foragers providing for the saviors should do what exactly ? (I know, I know, rob the people, but still)... In any case I do see your point, and you are right about eventually having to produce everything. I was just pointing out that I find it hard to believe that there are still that many unscavenged places left. I mean, the US has 300M inhabitants. Even if only 1% of the population had survived the initial infection, that's still a relative lot of people who must have foraged a bit and likely moved further south (aka Georgia)because they could not live through the cold autumns/winters upper north... :/ Our folks would logically be in a relatively crowded area, hence more already foraged places, no ?

Am I overthinking this ? I think I might be. Hahah

@velvet_roses said: Absolutely ! But then again there must be other communities further away who already scavenged the other areas... So what ? The foragers providing for the saviors should do what exactly ? (I know, I know, rob the people, but still)... In any case I do see your point, and you are right about eventually having to produce everything. I was just pointing out that I find it hard to believe that there are still that many unscavenged places left. I mean, the US has 300M inhabitants. Even if only 1% of the population had survived the initial infection, that's still a relative lot of people who must have foraged a bit and likely moved further south (aka Georgia)because they could not live through the cold autumns/winters upper north... :/ Our folks would logically be in a relatively crowded area, hence more already foraged places, no ?

Am I overthinking this ? I think I might be. Hahah

You've got products in warehouses and retail outlets intended to provide for a nation of 330 million and a few hundred thousand survivors at most. I can't remember exactly how many. Robert Kirkman threw out a number at one point, of what fraction of those living before the ZA are currently still alive. Everyone keeps a low profile so there are more people around than it seems but still, the vast majority are now mindlessly staggering around looking for fresh meat. Storage facilities with poor signage in remote areas may still be intact. And of course, anyplace that's so overrun it's impossible to access. A coordinated effort to lead the walkers away in a big herd could empty such areas enough to finish clearing them the old fashioned way and then ... jackpot! But those lovely scores will be fewer and fewer as time goes by, until there's nothing significant left.

There are still some years remaining when you've probably got enough of the right talent still alive, and enough of the old factories are in working order (or fixable) that civilization could rise from the ashes. The longer it takes to get a big enough organization going and enough people together the harder that goal becomes though. Despite Negan's bold claims of the Saviors bringing civilization back to the world, all they really are is a bunch of looters and thugs. If someone does deliver on that promise it won't be them.

@krashd said:

Fat Henchman: "You pointed at the fifth cantaloupe twice!"

hahahahahahahahahahaha !!

@velvet_roses said:

How many supplies can there still be without you having to go further and further ?

If you are Rick and Michonne, plenty...especially if you need a convenient romantic getaway!

@velvet_roses said: I mean, come on, you've been scouting the same area for what, five years, and there are other groups... How many supplies can there still be without you having to go further and further ?

5 years? Not quite. It's been more like 2 years. Judith is still a toddler.