‘Whale Wars’ makes for good TV

Does anyone else find the promotional material and overall approach of the Animal Planet’s upcoming “Whale Wars” series a bit obscene?

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. The reality show, which premiers its second season Friday night (9 p.m. Eastern), tracks activists on a mission to prevent Japanese whalers from killing their prey.

In some ways, it’s incredibly effective propaganda for a worthy cause. And to be that effective, it has to introduce us to the flawed heroes, the impersonal villains, and their bloodied victims.

For those who missed last season, “Whale Wars” follows the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ship (the Steve Irwin) and its crew as they harass Japanese whalers by getting between them and their prey, by videotaping their activities, and even by getting close enough to throw stink bombs that ruin the harvested whale meat. Last season, Captain Paul Watson came across as an erratic autocrat but not at the expense of the righteousness of his cause.

The whalers claim to be doing research, which allows them to exploit a loophole for “scientific” studies in the international whaling ban. They aren’t above using violence on people either; they pound the crew of the Steve Irwin with water cannons and direct audio weaponry that can damage human hearing.

Like all reality TV, the show is edited to heighten the drama. The promotional hook for Season 2: “This time they’ve gone too far … ”

The first season highlighted tension and controversy among the crew rather than teamwork. And it borders on vulgar when it shows clips of the endangered mammals being slaughtered. Says Katherine Nichols of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:

Like all reality television, it’s inevitable that a certain amount of staging is associated with some of the drama. But it’s impossible not to get swept along with people who believe so vehemently in what they are doing, as well as the international controversy they generate.

Overall, the first season made for compelling TV and the second season promises to be even more entertaining. Plus unlike other reality TV, this series actually carries some social value. Showing the blood, and showing Captain Watson and his crew with all their foibles, just makes it more real.

I do wonder, however, whether “Whale Wars” trivializes the issue and makes standing for something important feel like a game. But if there ever was a way for an environmental issue tailored to grab people’s attention, its on display in this series.

If only climate change and the battle against big coal and big oil made for such good TV.

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