Netflix’s Hound’s Hill takes viewers on a dark and twisted journey into the secrets of a small Polish town, intertwining a gripping murder mystery with themes of guilt, redemption, and the heavy burden of unresolved truths. Mikolaj Glowacki, a famous writer, returns to his hometown for his father Tomasz’s birthday, only to confront the long-buried secrets surrounding the murder of his girlfriend, Daria, 18 years ago. As Mikolaj grapples with his past, he becomes entangled in his father’s covert plans to exact justice on those responsible for Daria’s death.
Who Killed Daria?
Eighteen years before the events of the series, Daria Glowacki was brutally raped and murdered in an incident that shook the small town to its core. Her intellectually disabled brother, Sebastian, was quickly framed for the crime. Despite his gentle and kind nature, Sebastian’s disability made him an easy target for prejudice, and he was unable to defend himself during the investigation and trial. He was convicted and sent to an asylum, where he later died by suicide.
In truth, the crime was committed by Jarecki, Macius, and Bernat, three of Mikolaj’s friends, who were with Sebastian on the night of Daria’s death. They had drugged Sebastian with LSD at an underground club before abducting Daria. The trio assaulted and killed her, with Macius delivering the fatal blow. When Sebastian stumbled upon the scene, the men fled, knowing his altered state would make him an unreliable witness. The next day, authorities found Sebastian near Daria’s body, leading to his wrongful conviction.
Who Killed Filip Bernat and His Son, Marek?
The responsibility for avenging Daria’s murder fell to Tomasz, Mikolaj’s father, after he learned the truth through a confession from the town priest. Years earlier, the priest had learned about the crime during confessions from the perpetrators but chose to remain silent. When Tomasz suffered a near-fatal heart attack, the priest, believing Tomasz was unconscious and dying, confessed everything to him. However, Tomasz survived and resolved to bring justice in his own way.
Tomasz began by targeting Filip Bernat, one of the fathers of Daria’s murderers, who was complicit in the town’s corruption. Filip’s son Marek had already been killed as part of Tomasz’s revenge plot, his disappearance conveniently masked by his habit of traveling between London and Poland. Filip, who betrayed the Romani community by supporting the mayor’s corrupt development projects, became another casualty in Tomasz’s quest for vengeance.
What Happened to Jarecki, Macius, and the Priest?
After taking care of Bernat and Marek, Tomasz turned his attention to Jarecki, Macius, and the priest. Jarecki and Macius, directly involved in Daria’s death, were next on his list. The priest, who had withheld the truth for years, was also a target for his complicity in the miscarriage of justice. Tomasz did not act alone; he had the support of his older son and several trusted townspeople who helped execute his plans.
Mikolaj eventually learned the full truth, including his father’s involvement in the murders of the guilty men. He was particularly shaken to discover that Tomasz had deliberately distanced the family from him after learning of Mikolaj’s indirect role in the events—providing Sebastian with LSD. Overwhelmed with guilt and rage, Mikolaj confronted Macius and, in an act of vigilante justice, shot him dead, cementing his place in Tomasz’s cycle of retribution.
Do Mikolaj and Justyna Break Up? Does He End Up With Kaska?
Mikolaj’s relationship with his wife, Justyna, an investigative journalist, deteriorates over the course of the series. Justyna becomes intrigued by the town’s corruption and starts uncovering the truth about Daria’s murder. However, her pursuit of justice clashes with Tomasz’s covert operations, and tensions between her and Mikolaj reach a breaking point. Mikolaj also discovers that Justyna had been unfaithful, further straining their already fragile relationship.
In the end, Justyna decides to leave the town, returning to Warsaw to focus on her career. She writes an exposé on the town’s corruption but omits any mention of Tomasz’s revenge killings. Despite winning an award for her work, she is haunted by the moral complexities of the situation and her estranged relationship with Mikolaj. Meanwhile, Mikolaj finds solace in Kaska, Daria’s sister, who had initially sent him cryptic postcards challenging his version of events. Their shared grief and quest for the truth bring them closer, and they enter into a relationship.
Does Mikolaj Die?
While Mikolaj appears to find a semblance of redemption by avenging Daria’s death and aligning himself with Tomasz’s cause, the weight of his guilt and trauma remains unbearable. He blames himself for giving Sebastian LSD that night, believing his actions indirectly led to Daria’s death. Additionally, the dissolution of his marriage with Justyna and the responsibility of continuing his father’s legacy of justice compound his mental anguish.
In the final scene, Mikolaj is shown lying beside a toilet, having injected himself with drugs. At first glance, it seems like a relapse into his old vices, but a closer look reveals that he has overdosed. His lifeless eyes and the appearance of Daria’s ghost suggest that he has succumbed to his guilt and inner demons, taking his own life. Despite avenging Daria and uncovering the truth, Mikolaj could not find peace, and his tragic death underscores the series’ themes of unresolved trauma and the cost of vengeance.
Conclusion
Hound’s Hill is a dark and intricate tale of justice, guilt, and the enduring scars of the past. Mikolaj’s journey is one of self-destruction, as he confronts his role in a decades-old tragedy and grapples with the moral complexities of his father’s quest for revenge. While Tomasz successfully dismantles the corrupt power structures in the town and avenges Daria’s murder, his son’s death serves as a sobering reminder of the personal toll of their actions. As the town turns a new page under Tomasz’s leadership, Mikolaj’s tragic end leaves a lingering sense of melancholy, highlighting the enduring impact of past mistakes and the limits of redemption.