Whale Wars (Animal Planet)

common sense media says

Intense reality of extreme conservation work.


parents & educators say
  • 33% say there are positive role models
  • 33% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this often-intense reality series includes many scenes of whales being harpooned, dragged aboard ship, and dismembered, which could upset young children (especially those too young to have their own opinions on the show's stance/politics). Injuries among the activists are common, too, including both gunshot wounds and ailments from the frigid elements. While the conservationists are unquestionably devoted to their cause, not everyone will agree with their their methods -- which include tailing the ships to throw stink bombs at them and attempting to board uninvited. There's also a fair bit of tension and confrontation among the people featured on the show.

Positive messages: The people featured on the show risk their lives for their cause, but not everyone will agree with their opinions or their tactics (which include stink bombs and using other, non-life-threatening ammunition against the crews of ships who claim to be killing whales legally for research).
Positive role models: Lots of interpersonal tension among the Sea Shepherds. Captain Paul
Watson often speaks harshly of Greenpeace volunteers, whom he claims
shy away from real conservation work.
Violence: Whales are harpooned and dragged aboard ship (some blood). Some scenes show them being dismembered and their meat cut up for sale. Confrontations between the Sea Shepherds and the Japanese whalers often turn violent, and the crews hurl stink bombs and tear gas grenades at each other. In one segment, a main crew member is shot, and two others are taken hostage by the whalers. Constant mention is made of the dangers the crew faces from enemies -- as well as the elements at sea.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Common use of "hell," but anything stronger ("s--t," "ass," and the like) is edited.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Crew members occasionally smoke cigarettes.

More on Whale Wars

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the show's messages. What does it want viewers to take away from watching? Do you agree with the point it's trying to make? Why or why not?
  • How do the cast members' personalities affect your response to their message?
  • Did this series change your feelings about conservation? How?

What's the story?

What's the story?
WHALE WARS chronicles the attempts of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to deter whale poaching and habitat destruction in the waters off the coast of Antarctica. Led by society founder Captain Paul Watson, the hardy group of volunteers is willing to risk their own lives to defend the whales that are being hunted by a Japanese crew that says they need the whales for research. For three months, Watson and his "eco-warriors" live aboard his ship, the Steve Irwin (named for the popular late conservationist), facing the brutal elements of the open sea to wage war on a six-ship Japanese whaling fleet. The show explores their conservation goals as well as the ins and outs of daily life aboard the ship.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Whale Wars offers an intense look inside conservation work that's so gritty it boasts only this small handful of volunteers. The people featured on the show put everything on the line and often face life-threatening danger for the chance to save just a few of the whales they're devoted to. Their tactics may seem radical to some viewers, but it's hard not to admire their whole-hearted devotion to their cause.

That said, this isn't a show that's meant to be shared by the whole family. The content is very mature, and images of dead and dying whales are likely to upset even some adult viewers. Some of the activists are injured in accidents aboard the ship or in physical exchanges with the whalers, and -- in at least one instance -- are taken hostage by the whalers. And, in the end, this is a reality show, so there's always plenty of interpersonal drama and tension among crew members to keep things heated.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: Animal Planet
Cast: Paul Watson, Peter Brown, Peter Hammarstedt
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Animal Planet

This review was written by Emily Ashby
 
 

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What parents & educators say

10
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say there are positive role models
  • 33% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

SeaShep97
teen, 15 years old
 
good overall, awesome for the right age group
THE BEST. I'd give it a six if I could, but I can't. This show inspired me, and I plan to become a Sea Shepherd myself. Only thing is that it IS pretty violent, and just plain gore-y (especially Season 2, Episode 9). There's also plenty of cussing, but other than that, this is a great show. It's definitely good if you're a guy, great if you're over 13, and awesome if you have a passion for the environment. If you're none of the above, it's still pretty cool.

Spex99
kid, 12 years old
 
PErfect for tweens and animal loooovers
I love this show because it is adventurous and the people save awesome animals...... DIE NISHAN MARU!

 
Perfect for teens and over.
This is the greatest series I've ever seen. Why? Because it shows real passion to protect and defend whales, that no other group is willing to do. After 20 years of the monotorioum on commercial whaling, Japan still freely kills 1000 whales every year, and no posturing and petitions will ever stop whaling. If stink bombs need to be thrown so be it! In Africa, poachers are killed on site...the japanese are lucky in this regard. There is some blood when whales get killed, but it is nessessary to see it otherwise people wont realise how much pain these beautiful creatures go through.

pen7777
teen, 15 years old
 
So Awsome!
This is one of my favorite shows! It shows people what really happens in the world. Kids should know this stuff.

mouse1
kid, 12 years old
 
hate it
it is not a good show for anybody.

 
GREAT!!!!!
I have got to say, it's great because it's about people trying to save endagered whales. But it might not be suitable for children because of some of the violence, like dead whales they find or something. But other than that, I'd say about 9+.

DavidBooth
kid, 13 years old
 
Good for Kid Activists
I love the show whale wars. Greenpeace co-founder and Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson is adie-hard activist againist all types of illegal animal killings. The show doctuments the illegal japannese killing of whales. I will never miss a show!!!!!!

 
Needs Parental Guidance & Internet research
This program confused my kids, It gave them the impression that vigilante action is an OK form of protest. I had to explain to them that if they tried any of the methods shown on TV (ie: trespassing., broken bottles of stink juice and slicking agent) on land they would go to jail. We then researched the SSCS and found out that the SS ships have been deflagged many times due to their violent actions and they are unwelcome in more than one country. Also, the Japanese have issued arrest warrants for some of the crew. *://*newyorker*/reporting/2007/11/05/071105fa_fact_khatchadourian *://*ens-newswire*/ens/aug2008/2008-08-20-01.asp

one_day15
teen, 16 years old
 
Good, just violent..
I love this show. It shows real life issuses that are currently happening and even though it is violent, it's a really interesting show...I really like it.

Beachgurl
kid, 11 years old
 
Please Commonsense
Oh please Commonsense!! Commonsense Is like overprotective parents- very annoying. It's on Animal Planet how bad can it be!? I absolutely LOVE Animal Planet I love to watch about amazing stories and just how awesome the Earth really is also I love crime shows!!

allyra99
teen, 15 years old
 
Scary!
Language is not censored.

basenjilove9
teen, 14 years old
 
INCREDIBLY AWESOME!!!
ALL of you people who say that this show is stupid, you are CRAZY. THIS IS A FACT. Paul Watson is soo awesome. He is my role model. The Japanese are stupid for killing the whales like that. The Sea Shepherds are the BEST!

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age