Whale Wars

Whale Wars is a disturbing, thought-provoking reality series that isn't for the faint of heart. Even if you side with the freedoms invoked by the hunters over the fervency of the conservationists, it's still disconcerting to see the bloodied, splayed whale bodies and the footage of the killing process itself. This show doesn't shy away from presenting the good and the bad of every aspect of this longstanding face-off, and players on both sides of the fence at times come across as villains and as heroes as they make their cases and hold tight to their convictions, even when it means crossing the law. In this sense, the series does an impressive job of remaining unbiased and allowing the action to unfold in a truly realistic manner.

Of course, this being reality TV, the drama isn't limited to the whales' plight. There's plenty of interpersonal drama among friends and enemies, and subsequent seasons and spin-off specials like Whale Wars: Viking Shores allow more interaction between the activists and the whalers themselves. Not surprisingly this makes for plenty of heated exchanges and verbal and physical threats compiled with the ever-present dangers that exist among people who will stop at nothing for a cause that's near to their heart. In other words, it's not for families, but if your teens can stomach the content, this series offers plenty to discuss on the issues of conservation, personal freedom, and the balance between the two.