Ep 3. China Dolls

The show Sea Patrol season 3 episode 3 is titled "China Dolls." This episode is a drama series that follows the daily lives of a Royal Australian Navy patrol boat crew. The episode is set on a patrol boat HMAS Hammersley, which is patrolling the waters of the Australian coastline.

In this episode, the crew of HMAS Hammersley is tasked with a sensitive mission to collect intelligence from a Chinese fishing vessel that is allegedly spying on the Australian Navy. The fishing vessel, named China Doll, is located in the Northern Australian waters. The crew members have to make contact with the captain of China Doll, who speaks no English, to gather evidence that proves the fishing vessel's illegal activities.

When HMAS Hammersley reaches the Chinese fishing vessel's location, the crew tries to make contact with the captain but encounters difficulty due to the language barrier. The only means of communication is a translator, who is a young Chinese woman named Mei, who is on board China Doll. However, the crew's efforts to use Mei's translating skills to gather intelligence begin to fall apart when it becomes apparent that her motives may not be entirely true.

As the crew of HMAS Hammersley tries to gather evidence of China Doll's illegal activities, the tension between the two groups begins to mount. The situation is made worse when the HMAS Hammersley crew discovers that China Doll is not just spying on the Australian Navy, but also smuggling a dangerous cargo of drugs.

The episode takes its viewers on an edge-of-the-seat journey as the crew of HMAS Hammersley attempts to uncover the truth behind China Doll's activities while dealing with the pressure of the situation. The language barrier creates additional challenges, as the crew must work with Mei to uncover the truth while navigating around her potential hidden agendas.

"China Dolls" is a brilliant episode of Sea Patrol, showcasing the exciting action and suspense that is typical of this series. The show's ability to layer multiple storylines makes for an entertaining and engaging viewing experience. The characters are well developed, and the tension is palpable, keeping viewers guessing until the very end. Overall, this episode does an excellent job of showcasing the challenges and complexities of naval operations while keeping viewers hooked with its tense storyline.