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The Best Episodes of Whale Wars

Every episode of Whale Wars ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Whale Wars!

Binge this in 2h 0m•Peaking at 8.6/10

Whale Wars is a weekly American documentary-style reality television series that premiered on November 7, 2008 on the Animal Planet cable channel. The program follows Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, as

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Whale Wars Season 3 Episode 6 - Sliced In Two
    8.6/10(20 votes)

    #1 - Sliced In Two

    S3:E6

    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 Shepherds' prized speedboat.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Whale Wars Season 3 Episode 13 - To the Ends of the Earth
    8.2/10(14 votes)

    #2 - To the Ends of the Earth

    S3:E13

    The whalers attempt to lose their attackers in an ice field.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Whale Wars Season 7 Episode 1 - The Devil's Den
    8.0/10(24 votes)

    #3 - The Devil's Den

    S7:E1

    The Sea Shepherds kickoff their 10th anti-whaling campaign in the Antarctic (Operation Relentless). As the long range icebreaker Bob Barker gets underway, Captain Peter Hammarstedt knows that the Japanese whalers most likely will be more aggressive than ever (he reflects on last year's campaign, Operation Zero Tolerance, when on February 20th, 2013, the Nisshin Maru rammed the Bob Barker and nearly capsized it while attempting to refuel from its bunker ship, the Sun Laurel). But this year, the Sea Shepherds are going on this campaign without their founder, Captain Paul Watson (who's back on land in an undisclosed location). So leading this campaign will be Captain Peter Hammarstedt, while Captain Sid Chakravarty commands the Steve Irwin, and commanding the Sam Simon is an American, Adam Meyerson. The Steve Irwin and Bob Barker will be patroling in the Ross Sea (Captain Peter is taking a gamble that the whalers will only be in this area and avoid Australia-Antarctic territorial waters because at the same time the campaign is going on, the International Court of Justice is reviewing an action against the Japanese whalers by the Australian government, challenging the claim that the whalers are doing scientific research), while the Sam Simon during this campaign will remain in a holding pattern 400 miles due north of Ross Sea acting as a refueling vessel. Three days into the whaling season, the Steve Irwin's new helicopter nicknamed "Sea Wasp", spots the factory ship Nisshin Maru and one of the three Yushin Maru harpoon ships. Unfortunately, the Nisshin's flensing deck is covered in red and has three minke whales on its deck, meaning four whales are dead. The Bob Barker is only 30 miles away and immediately heads for the factory ship as the helicopter heads back to the Steve Irwin. But in his rush, Captain Peter pushes the Barker's aging engine beyond its limits, and is forced to stop down as the Nisshin gets away. Meanwhile, the Irwin encounters the security ship Shonan Maru No.2 (the same ship that rammed the speedboat Ady Gil four years earlier). The small boats Delta and Humber engage the Shonan by first trying to plug the water cooling vents, but that doesn't work. So they drop prop fouler lines and stop the Shonan, allowing the Irwin to escape.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Whale Wars Season 1 Episode 6 - Ladies First
    7.9/10(19 votes)

    #4 - Ladies First

    S1:E6

    After noticing that the suspicious ship Fukuyoshi Maru № 68 has found and followed the MV Steve Irwin again, Watson unsuccessfully attempts to send four female crewmembers to board the vessel to deliver a warrant. This leads to a man's injured thumb and a woman's injured pelvis (Incidents not related). The Steve Irwin detects the Nisshin Maru on radar. At dusk, the entire ship experiences a power outage, leaving it drifting through an iceberg field without operating engines.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Whale Wars Season 2 Episode 7 - The Desire to Fling Things
    7.9/10(15 votes)

    #5 - The Desire to Fling Things

    S2:E7

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Whale Wars Season 3 Episode 7 - Revenge Is Mine
    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #6 - Revenge Is Mine

    S3:E7

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Whale Wars

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  7. Whale Wars Season 3 Episode 11 - Fire in the Sky
    7.9/10(10 votes)

    #7 - Fire in the Sky

    S3:E11

    The whalers face new attacks from the Sea Shepherds as they mount an attack with both the Bob Barker and Steve Irwin.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Whale Wars Season 2 Episode 8 - Bait and Switch
    7.8/10(16 votes)

    #8 - Bait and Switch

    S2:E8

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Whale Wars Season 2 Episode 11 - Overlooking a Forlorn Shore
    7.8/10(16 votes)

    #9 - Overlooking a Forlorn Shore

    S2:E11

    Season Finale.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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Whale Wars Season 6 Episode 1 - A Commander Rises
    7.8/10(32 votes)

    #10 - A Commander Rises

    S6:E1

    The Sea Shepherds face a difficult 2013 campaign with the Brigitte Bardot and their helicopter unavailable. The fleet introduces a new ship, the Sam Simon. Former captain of the Steve Irwin, Paul Watson, is forced to step down due to an injunction preventing him from coming within 500 yards of Japanese whaling fleet. All four of the fleet's main ships feature a new captain, with Watson serving as an observer. The Steve Irwin remains to coordinate the operation. The Bob Barker is sent to search for the whaling fleet and finally locates the Nisshin Maru near the western edge of the whaling ground. However, they sit helplessly as the Japanese successfully kill and load a whale onto the factory ship. The Sam Simon is sent to search for the bunker ship Sun Laurel and finally locates it along with 2 Japanese whaling ships. They attempt to block the refueling, but fail when the rookie captain pulls away, not willing to risk his crew. After hunting, the Nisshin Maru turns east. Realizing that the factory ship is trying to also refuel, the Sea Shepherds send all their ships to interfere. 30 hours later, the ships prepare for the showdown. The 500-tons Bob Barker blocks the 5000-tons Nisshin Maru by parking right next to the Sun Laurel. The Japanese warns the Bob Barker to move but captain Peter Hammarstedt refuses to comply. The Nisshin Maru then pushes the Bob Barker with their bow, damaging the ship and causing it to list dangerously. After a standoff, the Nisshin Maru backs away while the Sun Laurel abandons the operation. Days later, the whaling fleet leaves for Japan with only 103 kills.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Whale Wars Season 1 Episode 1 - Needle in a Haystack
    7.7/10(23 votes)

    #11 - Needle in a Haystack

    S1:E1

    Paul Watson is allegedly shot by the Japanese whaling crew during a confrontation between the whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru and the Sea Shepherd vessel MV Steve Irwin. The episode then flashes back to the maiden launching and departure of the vessel from homeport three months earlier.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Whale Wars Season 2 Episode 1 - The Sound of Ice
    7.7/10(18 votes)

    #12 - The Sound of Ice

    S2:E1

    The series starts with a dramatic encounter with the Japanese Whaling fleet. The episode then flashes back to the maiden launching and departure of the vessel from homeport three months earlier. 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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Whale Wars Season 3 Episode 1 - Surrounded by Spies
    7.7/10(15 votes)

    #13 - Surrounded by Spies

    S3:E1

    The Sea Shepherds embark on another dangerous campaign as whaling season begins in the Antarctic; a donation from former game-show host Bob Barker allows the group to purchase a former Norwegian whaling vessel.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Whale Wars Season 1 Episode 2 - Nothing's Ideal
    7.6/10(16 votes)

    #14 - Nothing's Ideal

    S1:E2

    After weeks of searching, the 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 crew members to board the vessel and deliver a letter telling them to stop the killing of whales. He hopes to create an international incident, but his plan sparks a safety debate that divides the crew. Two volunteers enlist for the mission — Ben Potts and Giles Lane — and the crew braces for the worst as the men jump over the railing of the enemy ship. They are immediately tied up by the Japanese fishermen, and the Yushin speeds away with the two Shepherds still aboard.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Whale Wars Season 1 Episode 7 - Boiling Point
    7.6/10(17 votes)

    #15 - Boiling Point

    S1:E7

    After power was restored to part of the ship, the MV Steve Irwin finally finds, follows, and comes face to face two times with the Japanese whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru, which Watson considers the "most evil" vessel in international waters. A pod of whales swims between the two "warring" ships, which eventually engage in a ship-to-ship "battle." The captain of the Nisshin Maru warned on a recorded message sent multiple times through a horn that "If you dare board this vessel, you will be taken into custody." Recruited Sea Shepherds are the first to strike, throwing stink bombs with Butyric acid onto the decks of the Nisshin Maru, which dwarfed the Steve Irwin in size, while its crew watches and films the Steve Irwin. The Japanese whalers claim that three of their crewmembers were injured by the stink bombs. When the two ships meet the second time, the Steve Irwin crew strikes first again while the Nisshin Maru crew, in return, threatens to use tear gas grenades and throws flash bombs. Watson fishes a metallic fragment from his vest and claims to have been shot. As Watson concluded that the second leg of the mission was successful, the Sea Shepherds claimed that they have saved about 500 whales. The Steve Irwin returns to Melbourne again before running out of fuel.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Whale Wars Season 2 Episode 2 - The Flexibility of Steel
    7.6/10(14 votes)

    #16 - The Flexibility of Steel

    S2:E2

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Whale Wars Season 2 Episode 5 - The Unintimidatables
    7.6/10(15 votes)

    #17 - The Unintimidatables

    S2:E5

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Whale Wars Season 2 Episode 6 - With a Hook
    7.6/10(16 votes)

    #18 - With a Hook

    S2:E6

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Whale Wars Season 4 Episode 1 - Battle Cry
    7.6/10(16 votes)

    #19 - Battle Cry

    S4:E1

    The Sea Shepherds depart on their 2010/2011 ant-whaling campaign with a new, fast interceptor vessel. Early on, they find two harpoon ships before the whaling fleet has killed a single whale. Could they be set up for their most successful campaign ever?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Whale Wars Season 5 Episode 2 - Games of Chance
    7.6/10(11 votes)

    #20 - Games of Chance

    S5:E2

    A plan to intercept the whaling fleet before it reaches the whaling grounds is nearing a critical point. The new helicopter pilot, Gary, spots a ship on the horizon; If it is the whalers' factory ship, this may be Sea Sheparhd's the earliest victory ever.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Whale Wars Season 1 Episode 5 - Doors Slamming and Things Breaking
    7.5/10(17 votes)

    #21 - Doors Slamming and Things Breaking

    S1:E5

    The MV Steve Irwin experiences several technical difficulties, including a damaged engine, hydraulic crane, and helicopter. Running on only one engine, the ship must return to port at Melbourne, Australia to make repairs while the whaling continues. Some crewmembers decide to party and leave the operation. Upon arrival, they were welcomely greeted and cheered by the citizens, and by the police. Pottsy and Giles become instant celebrities on homecoming. After recruiting new members, the crew travels without its recon chopper and returns to the Southern Ocean only to find that the suspicious ship is still following them.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Whale Wars Season 3 Episode 8 - Ready To Snap
    7.5/10(10 votes)

    #22 - Ready To Snap

    S3:E8

    With low oil and drinking water, and a damaged helicopter, the Sea Shepherds' 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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Whale Wars Season 3 Episode 12 - Vendetta
    7.5/10(10 votes)

    #23 - Vendetta

    S3:E12

    The former captain of the Ady Gil goes for a boarding attempt and one of the Sea Shepherd vessels goes dead in the water.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Whale Wars Season 4 Episode 10 - Delivering the Final Blow
    7.5/10(14 votes)

    #24 - Delivering the Final Blow

    S4:E10

    In the fourth-season finale, Watson claims a major victory after 30 years of fighting, while he and the crew reaffirm their commitment to stopping the whaling fleet.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Whale Wars Season 5 Episode 1 - Setting the Trap
    7.5/10(14 votes)

    #25 - Setting the Trap

    S5:E1

    In the Season 5 premiere, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society responds to Japan's 2011 announcement to resume its whaling operations in the Antarctic and the government's promise to beef up the fleet's security.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Sliced In Two" is the best rated episode of "Whale Wars". It scored 8.6/10 based on 20 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 7/16/2010. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "To the Ends of the Earth".