History YMMV / WhaleWars

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Most people who ever watch the show genuinely enjoy The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Bullets and Butterfly Wings”, finding it the only genuinely badass thing that appears in the show.

* RootingForTheEmpire: A somewhat literal case (given the fact that Japan is still technically an Empire), as you won't have to go long to find a few hundred pro-Japanese sites that are practically ([[VocalMinority and occasionally literally]]) screaming for the blood of those on the Steve Irwin. Even more with the Norse whalers, since they are doing subsistence hunting, thus not in it for profit, [[ForTheEvulz killing whales for Lulz]], or even [[ForScience cold-blooded research]].

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: This show seems to give the message that, instead of using diplomacy and enforcing regulations on whale hunting, having a hack team of environmentalists using violent and controversial means is more effective.

* SnarkBait: Another interpretation of the show, attracting viewers amused by the crews' bungling.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Though "eco-terrorism" is arguably not the best way of stopping it, whale poaching itself is a serious problem that menaces the very survival of several species.

* InternetBackdraft: When the work page says the show is controversial, ''it's not fucking kidding!'' The work page was locked for years because of the massive {{Flame War}}s that ensued upon its creation, from those for and against whaling, those who find the show casts a horrible exaggeration of an AnimalWrongsGroup, verging on [[EcoTerrorist terrorist territory]], and ''everywhere and anywhere in between''. It is ''not'' wise to bring this show up online, '''[[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and that's all we're saying about that.]]'''

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation:
** Well -- alternate ''show'' interpretation, really. Much like shows such as ''My Super Sweet Sixteen'', it's not entirely clear whether the program was made to glorify the people it stars and their actions, or whether it keeps its tongue firmly in its cheek, casts a knowing glance at the audience, and mouths, "Look how psychotic these folks are!"
** The ''Viking Shores'' previews even had Nordic whalers angrily asking the crew "Who's going to feed this nation? You?" to point out that some of the whale hunting done is done for reasons that people are more likely to approve of -- namely, ''feeding people.''

* InternetBackdraft: When the main page says the show is controversial, ''it's not fucking kidding!'' A major reason the main page is locked was because of the massive {{Flame War}}s that ensued upon its creation, from those for and against whaling, those who find the show casts a horrible exaggeration of an AnimalWrongsGroup, verging on [[EcoTerrorist terrorist territory]], those who feel their hearts are in the right place, but going about it in an incredibly terrible way, and ''everywhere and anywhere in between''. It is ''not'' wise to bring this show up ''anywhere'' on the net, '''[[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and that's all we're saying about that.]]'''

* RefugeInAudacity: On one occasion, when the whalers hear about Watson's claim that their presence stops them from killing and processing whales, so what do they do? They do it ''right in front of them''.

* InternetBackdraft: When the main page says the show is controversial, ''it's not fucking kidding!'' A major reason the main page is locked was because of the massive {{Flame War}}s that ensued upon its creation, from those for and against whaling, those who find the show casts a horrible exaggeration of an AnimalWrongsGroup, verging on [[EcoTerrorist terrorist territory]], those who feel their hearts are in the right place, but going about it in an incredibly terrible way, and ''everywhere and anywhere in between''. It is ''not'' wise to bring this show up ''anywhere'' on the net, '''[[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and that's all we're saying about that.]]'''

* InternetBackdraft: When the main page says the show is controversial, ''[[{{Understatement}} it's not fucking kidding!]]'' A major reason the main page is locked was because of the massive {{Flame War}}s that ensued upon its creation, from those for and against whaling, those who find the show casts a horrible exaggeration of an AnimalWrongsGroup, verging on [[EcoTerrorist terrorist territory]], those who feel their hearts are in the right place, but going about it in an incredibly terrible way, and ''everywhere and anywhere in between''. It is ''not'' wise to bring this show up ''anywhere'' on the net, '''[[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and that's all we're saying about that.]]'''

* UnfortunateImplications: The show was also criticized for painting a stereotypical view of Japan in that while yes whaling is still legal, it's not as popular as the show suggests.

** Well - alternate ''show'' interpretation, really. Much like shows such as ''My Super Sweet Sixteen'', it's not entirely clear whether the program was made to glorify the people it stars and their actions, or whether it keeps its tongue firmly in its cheek, casts a knowing glance at the audience and mouths, "Look how psychotic these folk are!"
** The ''Viking Shores'' previews even had Nordic whalers angrily asking the crew "Who's going to feed this nation? You?" to point out that some of the whale hunting done is done for reasons people are more likely approve of--namely, ''feeding people.''

* InternetBackdraft: When the main page says the show is controversial, ''[[{{Understatement}} it's not fucking kidding!]]'' A major reason the main page is locked was because of the massive {{Flame War}}s that ensued upon its creation, from those for and against whaling, those who find the shows casts a horrible exaggeration of an AnimalWrongsGroup, verging on terrorist territory, those who feel their hearts are in the right place, but going about it in an incredibly terrible way, and ''everywhere and anywhere in between''. It is ''not'' wise to bring this show up ''anywhere'' on the net, '''[[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and that's all we're saying about that.]]'''
* RefugeInAudacity: On one occasion, when the whalers hear about Watson's claim that their presence stops them from killing and processing whales, so what do they do? They do it right in front of them.
* RootingForTheEmpire: A somewhat literal case (given the fact that Japan is still technically an Empire), as you won't have to go long to find a few hundred pro-Japanese sites that are practically ([[VocalMinority and occasionally literally]]) screaming for the blood of those on the Steve Irwin. Even more with the Norse whalers since they are doing subsistence hunting, thus not in for profit, killing whales for Lulz, or even cold blooded research.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: though "eco-terrorism" is arguably not the best way of stopping it, whale poaching itself is a serious problem that menaces the very survival of several species.

* InternetBackdraft: When the main page says the show is controversial, ''[[{{Understatement}} it's not fucking kidding!]]'' A major reason the main page is locked was because of the massive {{Flame War}}s that ensued upon it's creation, from those for and against whaling, those who find the shows casts a horrible exaggeration of an AnimalWrongsGroup, verging on terrorist territory, those who feel their hearts are in the right place, but going about it in an incredibly terrible way, and ''everywhere and anywhere in between''. It is ''not'' wise to bring this show up ''anywhere'' on the net, '''[[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and that's all we're saying about that.]]'''

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Well - alternate ''show'' interpretation, really. Much like shows such as ''My Super Sweet Sixteen'', it's not entirely clear whether the program was made to glorify the people it stars and their actions, or whether it keeps its tongue firmly in its cheek, casts a knowing glance at the audience and mouths, "Look how psychotic these folk are!"

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop / WarpedAesop: This show seems to give the message that, instead of using diplomacy and enforcing regulations on whale hunting, having a hack team of environmentalists using violent and controversial means is more effective.

* RefugeInAudacity: One one occasion, when the whalers hear about Watson's claim that their presence stops them from killing and processing whales, so what do they do? They do it right in front of them.

* InternetBackdraft: When the main page says the show is controversial, ''[[{{Understatement}} it's not fucking kidding!]]'' A major reason the main page is locked was because of the massive {{Flame War}}s that ensued upon it's creation, from those for and against whaling, those who find the shows casts a horrible exaggeration of an AnimalWrongsGroup, verging on terrorist territory, those who feel their hearts are in the right place, but going about it in an incredibly terrible way, and ''everywhere and anywhere in between''. It is ''not'' wise to bring this show up ''anywhere'' on the net, and '''[[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and that's all we're saying about that.]]'''

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Well - alternate ''show'' interpretation, really. Much like shows such as ''My Super Sweet Sixteen'', it's not entirely clear whether the program was made to glorify the people it stars, or whether it keeps its tongue firmly in its cheek, casts a knowing glance at the audience and mouths, "Look how psychotic these folk are!"

* RefugeInAudacity: When the whalers hear about Watson's claim that their presence stops them from killing and processing whales, so what do they do? They do it right in front of them.

** One of the problems arises from the fact that the alleged poachers they are harassing either cannot and have not been proven to be poaching (int he case of the Japanese) or flatly are not (like the Norse), and that Watson has gone on the record excusing many actual cases of poaching (especially by indigenous locals).

* UnfortunateImplications: Due to the fact that the last 2 seasons of Whale Wars shows the SSCS harassing the Japanese whalers, it would probably lead, or has led, to a fair amount of people seeing the SSCS as a group of anti-Japanese racists. But on the other side of the same coin, it could also lead, or has led, people to think that [[StrawmanPolitical the Japanese are underhanded sneaks using science as an excuse to harvest whales in a wildlife sanctuary.]]
** And what is more, virtually every episode of season five has them taking increasingly great risks and taking advantage of their government, including putting activists on to Shonan Maru who are not Sea Shepherd despite working closely with them.

* RootingForTheEmpire: A somewhat literal case (given the fact that Japan is still technically an Empire), as you won't have to go long to find a few hundred pro-Japanese sites that are practically ([[VocalMinority and occasionally literally]]) screaming for the blood of those on the Steve Irwin. Even more with the Norse whalers since they are doing subsistence hunting, thus not in for profit or killing whales for Lulz.

* UnfortunateImplications: Due to the fact that the last 2 seasons of Whale Wars shows the SSCS harassing the Japanese whalers, it would probably lead, or has led, to a fair amount of people seeing the SSCS as a group of anti-Japanese racists. But on the other side of the same coin, it could also lead, or has led, people to think that the Japanese are underhanded sneaks using [[PaperThinDisguise science]] as an excuse to harvest whales in a wildlife sanctuary. The main reason why the SSCS fight Japan so much compared to other countries is that Japan as a whole likes seafood, which kind of goes against the SSCS's status as a Sea-based environmental group.

** The fact that diplomacy hasn't done much doesn't help it's case.

** Diplomacy is the reason they have so few countries to visit. Diplomacy could conceivably bring that number down to zero. Just getting people hurt probably won't.

** The latest promos indicate that the Sea Shepherds have every intention of doing their very best to force the whalers to kill them this season, including this time ''blatantly'' putting themselves right in the ships' paths.
** And what is more, virtually every episode of season five has them taking increasingly great risks and taking advantage of their government, including putting activists on to Shonan Maru who are somehow not Sea Shepherd despite ''being officially brought in to work for them.'' It does not help that the Whalers have taken a '''huge''' level in badass and cunning this season.

** The latest promos indicate that the Sea Shepherds have every intention of doing their very best to force the whalers to kill them this season, including this time ''blatantly'' putting themselves right in the ships' paths (much like they did with their trimaran).