Whale Wars

This stunning and dangerous limited series spotlights both the controversial Japanese whaling trade and the tactics that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and its staff and volunteers use to cripple it.

Genre: Documentary, Reality-TV

Cast:Chris Aultman , Paul Watson , Peter Hammarstedt , Benjamin Potts , Giacomo Gorgi , Laurens de Groot , Michael May , Laura Dakin , Luke Van Horn , Pete Bethune , Alex Cornelissen , Lockhart Maclean , Jason Hildebrandt , Fiona McCuaig , Amber Paarman , Chad Halstead , Campbell Holland , Malcolm Holland

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ Needle in a Haystack

Fri, Nov 7, 2008

Paul Watson is captain and founder of Sea Shepherd, a radical environmental group made up of self-proclaimed eco-pirates who fight for marine conservation. Their mission is to confront and stop Japanese fishing vessels from killing whales in Antarctica.

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ Nothing's Ideal

Fri, Nov 14, 2008

Sea Shepherds finally spot a Japanese whaling ship, the harpoon vessel Yushin Maru #2. Captain Paul Watson devises a dangerous plan for two of his crewmembers to board the Yushin fleet and deliver and letter telling them to stop the killing of whales.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ International Incidents R Us

Fri, Nov 21, 2008

With Ben and Giles of Sea Shepherd being held hostage aboard the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru #2, Captain Paul Watson is pleased at the international media storm he has created, and rejects an offer from whalers to release the hostages.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ We Are Hooligans

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

After three long days, Pottsy and Giles are transferred back from the Yushin Maru and become instant celebrities with the media. Just as they are settling back in, the crew is concerned when they discover an unknown ship has been following them!

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ Doors Slamming and Things Breaking

Fri, Dec 5, 2008

The ship's engineer reports that one of two engines is broken. Now they will be unable to keep up with the Japanese whalers and are forced to return to Melbourne for repairs. While heading back, they have to navigate through a massive oceanic storm.

6Season 1

S1.E6 ∙ Ladies First

Fri, Dec 12, 2008

Armed with new volunteers, the Sea Shepherds head out to sea to find the Japanese whaling ships. After they pinpoint the fleet's location, the Captain raises the stakes and plans for another boarding. This time it will be an all-female boarding team!

7Season 1

S1.E7 ∙ Boiling Point

Fri, Dec 19, 2008

The Sea Shepherds have finally found the most important ship in the Japanese whaling fleet, the Nisshin Maru factory ship. Everything has led to this moment and despite warnings from the Japanese whalers, the Sea Shepherds strike.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ The Sound of Ice

Fri, Jun 5, 2009

Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherds head back down to Antarctica for what promises to be their most intense anti-whaling campaign yet. However, no sooner does the ship leave port than the ship's Gyro breaks,and they hit a massive storm the size of Australia

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ The Flexibility of Steel

Fri, Jun 12, 2009

A huge weather system moves in and the Steve Irwin is forced to take shelter behind a large iceberg. By morning, they are surrounded by ice so thick they can no longer move. The ice begins to push against the aging ship's fragile hull, denting it inwards.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ As Bad as Our Bark

Fri, Jun 19, 2009

The Sea Shepherd gather intel on the fleet's location, they realize that they are low on fuel. As they weigh whether or not to head back to port, they come across the entire Japanese fleet searching for one of their crewmembers that has fallen overboard.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ Yum Yum Eat Crow

Fri, Jun 26, 2009

The Sea Shepherds have come across the entire Japanese fleet searching for one of their crewmembers that fell overboard. Paul orders his crew to stand down, and they agonize over being so close to their target, yet unable to attack.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ The Unintimidatables

Fri, Jul 10, 2009

The Steve Irwin is quarantined in Hobart and the crew anxiously waits to find out if they have been exposed to Anthrax. Finally they get the all clear and 1st mate Peter Brown wastes no time leaving the ship after having quit the campaign.

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ With a Hook

Fri, Jul 17, 2009

Surrounded by the Japanese whaling fleet, the Sea Shepherds ready themselves for their biggest day of battle to date on the campaign. Helicopter pilot Chris flies up and confirms the crew's fears - all of the whaling vessels are equipped with LRAD weapons

7Season 2

S2.E7 ∙ The Desire to Fling Things

Fri, Jul 24, 2009

Captain Watson is in pursuit of the Nisshin Maru when all three Japanese harpoon ships suddenly appear on out of the fog. The Sea Shepherds are completely outnumbered.

8Season 2

S2.E8 ∙ Bait and Switch

Fri, Jul 31, 2009

As the Sea Shepherds prepare for their fourth straight day of engagement with the Japanese whaling fleet, Andy and Simon ague with Dan over the best strategy for attack.

9Season 2

S2.E9 ∙ The Crazy Ivan

Fri, Aug 7, 2009

Low on fuel, the small boats head toward the Steve Irwin, but in order to get them on board safely, Paul must employ a dangerous military strategy, "The Crazy Ivan," circling at a high speed to try and create calm water for the little boatsto return.

10Season 2

S2.E10 ∙ The Stuff of Nightmares

Fri, Aug 14, 2009

The Sea Shepherds shock turns to fury when the Japanese fleet pulls a dead whale onto Nisshin Maru for slaughter. Paul Watson instructs the crew to prepare for battle.

11Season 2

S2.E11 ∙ Overlooking a Forlorn Shore

Fri, Aug 21, 2009

The Sea Shepherds continue to attempt to disrupt the whaling fleet's operations. When the Yushin 3 tries to transfer a dead whale to the Nisshin Maru, Captain Watson maneuvers his ship to block the transfer resulting in a full-speed collision.

1Season 3

S3.E1 ∙ Surrounded by Spies

Fri, Jun 4, 2010

As whaling season begins in the Antarctic, the Sea Shepherds embark on another dangerous campaign. With each boat launching from a different port, Captain Paul Watson now faces the daunting task of being the admiral of a fleet.

2Season 3

S3.E2 ∙ Crossing Danger

Fri, Jun 11, 2010

After repeated attempts to outrun and engage his pursuers, Captain Paul Watson makes a dangerous decision. Meanwhile, the Sea Shepherd's speedboat, Ady Gil, has returned to dock to repair their damaged radar.

3Season 3

S3.E3 ∙ From Hell's Heart

Fri, Jun 18, 2010

The Sea Shepherd's have been relentlessly followed by the whaling reconnaissance vessel for 2 weeks. They find themselves in a full-on engagement on the high seas as the Captain orders a massive butyric acid bottle attack on his nemesis.

4Season 3

S3.E4 ∙ Stealth Attack

Fri, Jun 25, 2010

The Sea Shepherd's stealth boat, the Ady Gil, launches a sneak attack on the Japanese whaling reconnaissance vessel in an effort to break free of the tail and find the rest of the whaling fleet.

5Season 3

S3.E5 ∙ The Thrill of the Chase

Fri, Jul 9, 2010

After nearly a month of searching, the Sea Shepherds have finally found their ultimate target, the world's only whale factory ship, the Nisshin Maru.

6Season 3

S3.E6 ∙ Sliced in Two

Fri, Jul 16, 2010

At the bottom of the world, a collision has just devastated one of the Sea Shepherds' vessels. The crew on the other vessel stand helpless on their deck, watching in horror as the Japanese vessel barrels through the Sea Shepherd's prized speedboat.

7Season 3

S3.E7 ∙ Revenge Is Mine

Fri, Jul 23, 2010

In the aftermath of the devastating loss of their stealth vessel, the Sea Shepherds have returned to the campaign with renewed passion and intensity. Now the two remaining ships are back on the hunt for the Japanese fleet.

8Season 3

S3.E8 ∙ Ready to Snap

Fri, Jul 30, 2010

With low oil and drinking water, and a damaged helicopter, the Sea Shepherd's hunt for the Japanese whaling fleet has been brought to a halt. While on their way back to port, the radar shows two colossal storms that they can't avoid.

9Season 3

S3.E9 ∙ A Bloody Trail

Fri, Aug 6, 2010

As the Sea Shepherd's approach the Nisshin Maru, they are suddenly surrounded by four whaling vessels. Suddenly, one of the Japanese vessels moves in dangerously close and as the deck crew quickly braces themselves, the ships violently collide.

10Season 3

S3.E10 ∙ Zero Hour

Fri, Aug 13, 2010

The Sea Shepherd's refuse to be bullied by the Japanese fleet even though they're out numbered. The deckhands repel over the side of the ship to assess the damage from the collision and realize there is a gash in the steel hull and water is pouring in.

11Season 3

S3.E11 ∙ Fire in the Sky

Fri, Aug 20, 2010

This is the beginning of the most massive engagement on the campaign. The Sea Shepherd crew deploys new tactics in their efforts to stop the Japanese whalers.

12Season 3

S3.E12 ∙ Vendetta

Fri, Aug 27, 2010

Under the cover of darkness, Pete Bethune attempts to board one of the Japanese whaling vessels. Meanwhile, things go terribly wrong on one of the Sea Shepherd vessels. The engine is fried and the ship is dead in the water.

13Season 3

S3.E13 ∙ To the Ends of the Earth

Fri, Aug 27, 2010

Sea Shepherd crew continue to engage the Japanese whaling fleet leading to a chase in an all encompassing ice field. After a massive engagement, both Sea Shepherd vessels decide to head back to port, signifying the end of their campaign for this season.

0Season 4

S4.E0 ∙ Road to the Showdown

Fri, Jun 3, 2011

Journey through the past three season of Whale Wars, where the volunteer activists of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society risk their lives in the most brutal conditions on planet earth to battle the Japanese whaling fleet.

1Season 4

S4.E1 ∙ Battle Cry

Fri, Jun 3, 2011

2Season 4

S4.E2 ∙ No Escape

Fri, Jun 10, 2011

After engaging the harpoon ships using the small boat teams, Paul makes the call to abandon the harpoon ships and go in search of the factory vessel. After a few hours of sailing, the tables have turned - two harpoon ships begin tailing Sea Shepherd.

3Season 4

S4.E3 ∙ Ghosts in the Machine

Fri, Jun 17, 2011

Tailed by a harpoon ship, the Steve Irwin enlists the help of the Gojira in an attempt to break free. Meanwhile, the Bob Barker crew spots a large blip on their radar, and believe it could be their ultimate target, the Nisshin Maru.

4Season 4

S4.E4 ∙ The Devil's Icebox

Fri, Jun 24, 2011

When damage happens to one of the small boats, and the Bob Barker 5 hours away, the crews realize they will have to spend a night at sea. But the crew is wet and freezing already and early symptoms of hypothermia begin to set in.

5Season 4

S4.E5 ∙ Tracking the Enemy

Fri, Jul 8, 2011

The Bob Barker desperately searches for their two small boat crews who were lost at sea in the aftermath of a daring mission. Meanwhile, the Gojira locates the whalers' refueling vessel and Locky plays a dangerous game of "chicken" with the massive ship.

6Season 4

S4.E6 ∙ Race to Save Lives

Fri, Jul 15, 2011

New Zealand's Navy contacts the Steve Irwin to respond to an emergency distress signal where five crew members from a Norwegian sailboat have gone missing. Now the Sea Shepherds must risk their lives in a dangerous mission to find the missing mariners.

7Season 4

S4.E7 ∙ Enemy in Their Grasp

Fri, Jul 22, 2011

As the first leg of their campaign comes to a close, the Sea Shepherds battle physical and mental exhaustion, especially pilot Chris Aultman. Thanks to an anonymous tip, the Steve Irwin finally locates the whalers' factory ship, the Nisshin Maru.

8Season 4

S4.E8 ∙ Battle Stations

Fri, Jul 29, 2011

The Bob Barker and Gojira launch an ambitious assault on the harpoon ship that has been following them and manage to completely disable the whaling vessel. Now free of its tail, the Barker continues searching for their ultimate target, the Nisshin Maru.

9Season 4

S4.E9 ∙ The Giant Enemy

Fri, Aug 5, 2011

After months of grueling searching, the Sea Shepherd's have found their ultimate target, the whaler's factory vessel. But the behemoth factory ship is intent on escaping from the carbon-fiber Gojira in the deadly Antarctic ice.

10Season 4

S4.E10 ∙ Delivering the Final Blow

Fri, Aug 12, 2011

Captain Paul Watson's crew of volunteers refuses to back down from the whalers, vowing to follow the fleet to the ends of the earth. Finally, after 30 years, Watson sees his life's work paid off with the ultimate victory.

11Season 4

S4.E11 ∙ War Stories

Fri, Aug 12, 2011

Add a plot

1Season 5

S5.E1 ∙ Setting the Trap

Fri, Jun 1, 2012

After seven years of intense battles at sea, the Sea Shepherds believe they have finally driven the Japanese whaling fleet from the Southern Ocean. But now, Japan promises to return to Antarctica to resume its hunt, and the stakes are higher than ever.

2Season 5

S5.E2 ∙ Games of Chance

Fri, Jun 8, 2012

The crew of the Steve Irwin spot a ship on the horizon that they suspect is the Japanese whaler's factory ship. Meanwhile, already short on fuel, the Bridgitte Bardot is struck by a rogue wave and her crew prepare to abandon ship.

3Season 5

S5.E3 ∙ Dead in the Water

Fri, Jun 15, 2012

The terrified crew aboard the damaged Brigitte Bardot issue a distress call to, but help is still 20 hours away. As raging seas continue to pound the fragile craft, the frightened crew begins to fall apart, fearing they will not survive the night.

4Season 5

S5.E4 ∙ Into the Belly of the Beast

Fri, Jun 22, 2012

With the Japanese fleet's security vessel looming on the horizon, the captain of the badly damaged Brigitte Bardot orders his crew to evacuate the boat. Meanwhile, in Antarctica, the Bob Barker deploys the small boats team to disable a harpoon ship.

5Season 5

S5.E5 ∙ Crossing the Line

Fri, Jun 29, 2012

The exhausted crew of the Brigitte Bardot scramble to evacuate the ailing vessel. And Captain Paul Watson goes on the offensive, sending a team to board the heavily armed security vessel: the Shonan Maru.

6Season 5

S5.E6 ∙ Never Say Die

Fri, Jul 6, 2012

With three activists aboard the Japanese security vessel, Capt Paul Watson hopes the media frenzy will force the Shonan Maru 2 to back off. Meanwhile, the crew of the Steve Irwin are plunged into their most violent battle yet.

7Season 5

S5.E7 ∙ Counterstrike

Fri, Jul 13, 2012

When a massive target is detected on their radar, Sea Shepherd sends out their new helicopter pilot to ID the mystery vessel. But as the helicopter reaches the limits of its fuel range, it abruptly disappears, crashing into radio silence.

8Season 5

S5.E8 ∙ Target Acquired

Fri, Jul 20, 2012

They finally see the Nisshin Maru and are only 8 nautical miles away but between the sea shepherds and Their prime target lie 2 harpoon boats which are ready to make the 8 mile journey one of their toughest