Ep 6. No Second Chances
- December 19, 2019
Whale Wars: Watson's Last Stand takes viewers on a harrowing journey as they watch the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society attempt to stop Japanese whaling vessels from killing these magnificent creatures in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. In season 1 episode 6 titled "No Second Chances," tensions are high as the crew of the Bob Barker attempts to intercept the Nisshin Maru, a massive factory ship which processes the whales the other vessels harpoon.
As the episode begins, the Bob Barker is in a perilous position. The Nisshin Maru has spotted them on radar and is closing in fast. Captain Peter Hammarstedt makes the call to all hands on deck, instructing them to prepare for an imminent collision. Crew members scramble to make sure the ship's water cannons are operational, as they may be the only line of defense against the Nisshin Maru's giant steel hull.
The Bob Barker is dwarfed in comparison to the Nisshin Maru, and the crew knows they cannot win a direct confrontation. However, they are determined to prevent the factory ship from transferring any slaughtered whales from harpoon ships into its cavernous belly. This will make it difficult for the whalers to continue their grisly slaughter.
As the Nisshin Maru grows closer, the tension onboard the Bob Barker becomes palpable. Crew members prepare for the impending impact with gritted teeth, their eyes fixed steadily on the horizon. Suddenly, a harpoon ship comes into view, and all eyes are trained on the "Yushin Maru #2," the ship responsible for carrying dead whales to the factory ship. The Bob Barker immediately alters course, attempting to place itself between the Yushin Maru #2 and the Nisshin Maru.
A few tense moments pass as the Bob Barker maneuvers to cut off the Yushin Maru #2, and the Nisshin Maru grows closer all the while. Suddenly, the Nisshin Maru's helicopter takes to the air, and the Bob Barker crew prepares for an all-out assault. The helicopter darts toward the Sea Shepherd vessel, swooping back and forth and seemingly attempting to distract them.
Through sheer skill and determination, the Bob Barker manages to evade the helicopter and tail the Yushin Maru #2 all the way back to the Nisshin Maru. In a daring move, they manage to park their vessel directly in front of the Yushin Maru #2, effectively blockading the transfer of whale carcasses.
As the harpoon ship tries to maneuver its way around the Bob Barker, a blast from the Sea Shepherd's water cannon sends it careening away. Another Sea Shepherd vessel, the Sam Simon, appears on the horizon and comes to the Bob Barker's aid. Together, the two manage to hold off the whaling vessels, preventing any further grisly slaughter in the sanctuary waters.
As the episode comes to a close, viewers are left on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next. Will the whaling vessels manage to outmaneuver the Sea Shepherd crew? Will the whales ever truly be safe from harm in the Southern Ocean? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain--the crew of the Bob Barker and their allies will stop at nothing to prevent any more senseless slaughter.
