Heweliusz (TV Mini Series 2025) on Netflix is a gut-wrenching Polish drama that reimagines the tragic, still-controversial sinking of the Heweliusz ferry. The series chronicles the events leading up to the disaster and the harrowing aftermath, focusing not only on the sailors but also on their families left to navigate a system rife with bureaucracy and self-interest. The military and officials, desperate to protect their reputations, often work against those they should be helping, revealing the darker side of human nature. “Heweliusz” unfolds as a slow-burning drama, meticulously capturing grief, fear, and resilience, leaving viewers haunted and reflecting on the real-life human cost long after the credits roll.
This article contains spoilers.
Heweliusz (TV Mini Series 2025) “Netflix” Recap:
Episode 1:
The series re-imagines the real-life capsizing of the Heweliusz ship. It opens with Captain Piotr sending a distress call as the ship faces trouble. Soon after, bodies are seen floating in the Baltic Sea. In the middle of the night, Piotr reaches the Harbour Master’s Office and realizes the Army is involved in the investigation. Major Ferenc interrupts him with his own theories, creating immediate tension between them. Piotr struggles to understand how Heweliusz was cleared to sail despite an approaching storm, though the weather seemed fine when it departed. Ferenc raises the possibility of sabotage or even terrorism and hints at the involvement of Captain Ulasiewicz, provoking Piotr to storm out in anger.
At sea, officers on a lifeboat rescue Witek from the water. When asked about the Captain, they reveal Ulasiewicz stayed on the bridge. As a rescue helicopter arrives, Waldek, without a life jacket, is sent up first, but the rope snaps, dropping him into the water. He finds a dead sailor’s life jacket and climbs aboard a German ship, alerting the crew to a lifeboat at sea. Back at the office, the Deputy Minister orders rescue boats immediately and invites Piotr to join the operation.
Will Waldek survive the stormy waters of the Baltic Sea?
The crew spots the lifeboat and maneuvers as close as possible, but only Witek is pulled aboard. The Captain decides to head for port immediately, knowing the others would not survive the delay. In the cabin, Waldek resigns himself to his fate and asks Witek to tell the truth once they reach land. Meanwhile, Witek’s wife anxiously seeks news, but the officers, lacking clarity, send her home. By the time the German ship reaches port, Waldek has already died. Physician Veronika attends to Witek, who survives the ordeal. On the Polish side, rescue teams continue recovering bodies, and Piotr is soon called to identify them.
Aga and Jola leave the house together. After dropping Aga at school, Jola visits her husband Captain Ulasiewicz’s brother. There, she learns of Heweliusz’s capsizing. Jola’s sister-in-law goes to pick up Aga from school, but the girl refuses to accept that her father may be dead. In Germany, Witek receives treatment. Dr. Veronika urges him to rest, but Witek asks her to stay by his side, saying it is the only way he can find any peace. At the Polish Navy port, the bodies of the officers are brought in for families to identify. The series closes on a somber note, with relatives searching for their loved ones and breaking down as they recognize the deceased.
Episode 2:
The episode opens in a flashback, sixteen minutes before the sinking. The ship begins to tilt, and Captain Ulasiewicz orders the crew to start evacuation procedures. One of the shaft generators has failed, and the radar is down. Ulasiewicz contacts the ship Karkonosze, giving Captain Kubara an estimated location. Without radar, Karkonosze cannot find Heweliusz amid the storm. As the situation worsens, Ulasiewicz sends an SOS Mayday. Before any help can arrive, the ship begins to sink.
Meanwhile, Witek wakes and finds the Heweliusz ferry room empty. Veronika delivers grim news: Waldek has died of a heart attack. In Warsaw, Mrs. Kaczkowska and her son are walking home when the police inform them that her husband survived the disaster. Back at the office, Piotr meets Mirek. Though shaken, the Chairman asks him to break the news of Ulasiewicz’s death to Jola. At home, she listens to Ulasiewicz’s last message describing the severe weather and malfunctioning propulsion. When Piotr arrives, he offers comfort, but Jola warns that she will not stay silent if anyone tries to blame her husband.
Are there other survivors from Heweliusz?
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Ferenc holds a meeting with a few officials. Their directive is clear: avoid blaming the ship owner, who provides benefits. The simplest scapegoat becomes Captain Ulasiewicz. Captain Kubara resists, having trained Ulasiewicz and knowing his capabilities. To pressure him, Mirek hints at some illegal activities on Karkonosze, eventually convincing Kubara to go along with blaming Ulasiewicz. In Germany, one of the ambassador’s aides visits Witek, photographs him, offers liquor, and promises to return him to Poland the following day. That night, Witek dreams of the sinking ship. Back in Poland, Piotr arrives at the office to find Kosiorek and the Deputy Minister waiting for him.
The officials try to persuade Piotr to serve as a lay judge alongside Kubara, subtly suggesting he blame Ulasiewicz for the sinking. Piotr, however, asks for time to consider the offer. At home, he seeks his father’s advice, who warns him not to get involved in the controversy. In Germany, Witek wakes from a nightmare and meets Veronika for a cigarette. As they talk about the disaster, Witek recalls how so many perished without a word of reassurance. Veronika comforts him, offering a quiet presence.
The next day, Mrs. Kaczkowska and her son are brought to the naval base to see her husband. Meanwhile, Witek is discharged from the hospital and learns that the Germans rescued several other officers as well, all headed back to Poland. At the bus stop, Witek searches the arriving passengers. Simultaneously, Mrs. Kaczkowska looks for her husband and, spotting Witek, initially mistakes him for someone else. When the officers identify him as her husband, she screams, insisting the man is not her spouse.
Episode 3:
The episode opens with a flashback to 19 hours before the Heweliusz capsizing. In the office, Kosiorek asks Ania to travel on Heweliusz to discuss funding for a new ferry, suggesting her presence on a Polish vessel will make a stronger impression. Outside, Ania runs into Piotr, and they head to a bar where she invites him to join her for the sailor’s ball.
Later, Ania gives Piotr her house keys, asking him to feed their cat, hinting at a past romantic connection. As Ania boards Heweliusz, Piotr gives her a bracelet meant to protect people at sea, and they share a brief kiss. Meanwhile, Witek is at home with his infant. Frustrated by the baby’s crying. He leaves, ignoring his wife’s questions and insisting he needs to be alone.
At school, Aga’s friends warn her to stay away from Alek, Marek’s son, who holds a grudge. Aga’s teacher offers support, which only aggravates her. In the office, the Deputy Minister and lawyers plan to pin the blame on Ulasiewicz. Piotr appears to agree to serve as a lay judge, with Janusz as the presiding judge. The next day, Ferenc meets Witek for a statement, but Witek defends Ulasiewicz.
Later, Witek collects his belongings, finding Marek’s watch. Piotr meets him outside and takes him for a drink. Unaware of what happened on the bridge, Witek remains in the dark. Elsewhere, Kubara gives Jola documents for identifying Ulasiewicz’s body, warning her he is likely to be blamed. Meanwhile, Alek and his friends bully Aga, demanding money the next day and threatening her with violence.
Why is no one ready to represent Ulasiewicz in court?
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Later, Witek visits Mrs. Kaczkowska (Marek’s wife) to return the watch. The misunderstanding is cleared—officers had thought Witek was Marek because of the watch. Mrs. Kaczkowska is furious, accusing Witek and the others of stealing from graves and failing to help rescue people, even though it was their duty.
In a flashback, four minutes before the sinking, some crew members are asleep when the Captain’s message wakes them. Chaos erupts, but the crew manages to get passengers into lifeboats. The ship Kempen awaits orders to assist those in the water, but the delay costs precious time. Meanwhile, the crew lifts a wounded body from the sea, only for the Captain to order it back into the water, notifying their base that they are returning due to the storm’s severity. A rescue helicopter arrives, but the rope gets stuck on a lifeboat. Cutting it causes the lifeboat to topple, killing the passengers.
At a church, Mrs. Kaczkowska donates funds for Marek’s funeral. The priest urges her to speak with Jola, who shares her grief, but she walks away. Marek had leased a truck for a side business, leaving debts now falling on Mrs. Kaczkowska, straining the family financially. During the funeral, Aga loses control when the priest prays for Ulasiewicz as well.
Until Ulasiewicz’s body is found, Aga cannot accept her loss. Later, Jola searches for a lawyer and meets Temida, who explains that few will take the case due to the Deputy Minister’s influence. She turns to Piotr for help, who consults his father. Breaking news reports that Ulasiewicz’s body has been found on the bridge, confirming he stayed until the end. Piotr’s father provides the name of a lawyer, Ignacy, who operates outside the Deputy Minister’s network.
Episode 4:
The episode opens with a flashback to ten minutes after the Mayday call. The message reaches Darlowo, where three helicopters are ready for the rescue mission but are waiting for orders before take-off. On the ship, Ulasiewicz instructs Celej to take Ania to safety. Along the way, Celej encounters a military courier seeking rescue. When Celej reaches Ania’s room, she refuses to leave, insisting there will be no help for them. As the ship tilts further, Witek brings a life jacket for Ulasiewicz, who refuses to abandon the vessel. In Darlowo, authorities are ordered to abort the mission, as Germany has assumed responsibility for rescuing Heweliusz’s passengers and crew.
Ulasiewicz continues attempting to contact nearby ships and dies on the bridge. Meanwhile, Jola wakes from a nightmare to find Aga watching homemade videos of Ulasiewicz. In the cemetery, Mrs. Kaczkowska is the only one paying respects to her husband, while Ulasiewicz receives a state farewell opposite Marek’s grave. Newspapers quickly create a narrative blaming the Captain and crew for negligence. At the funeral, Witek is furious that survivors are summoned as interested parties in court and urges Piotr to fight for justice. Meanwhile, Mrs. Kaczkowska pawns her belongings to manage financially, as the state provides no support after her husband’s death.
What does Celej reveal to the court?
Elsewhere, Witek’s wife, frustrated with their financial situation, visits the Chairman to request funds for a new boiler. At Aga’s school, Jola is shocked when the headmistress informs her that Aga has not attended classes for several weeks. At home, Jola confronts Aga, who reveals she is being bullied by Alek and mistreated because people blame Ulasiewicz for the crew members’ deaths. Jola then visits Mrs. Kaczkowska, asking her to keep Alek away from Aga. Mrs. Kaczkowska responds by highlighting the unfairness of her own situation—struggling to make ends meet while Ulasiewicz receives a proper send-off. Soon after, Jola meets Ignacy, who warns her that the trial will be difficult, as Ulasiewicz is likely to be blamed for everything.
On the day of the trial, the Chairman gives a statement emphasizing his concern for all lives lost and asserting that the ferry itself should not bear the blame. The first witness, Celej, provides his account, noting that the ship was overloaded due to military requirements, which also caused delays. When Ignacy or Piotr attempts to probe further, Judge Janusz adjourns the session and later removes Celej’s testimony from the official record. Meanwhile, Ferenc pressures Mrs. Kaczkowska into testifying against Ulasiewicz, threatening to expose Marek’s alleged illegal activities. Piotr examines the loading details and finds an excess of 30 tons. When he confronts the Chairman, who is busy giving press interviews, the Chairman denies any knowledge, asserting that the state owns the ferry.
Episode 5:
The episode opens with a flashback to 22 hours before the Mayday call. Marek wakes up and spends time with his family before leaving to pick up his truck for a delivery. He works for the military, transporting goods as needed on the ships. Meanwhile, Mrs. Kaczkowska is called to testify against Ulasiewicz. She loses her composure, insisting that the truth does not matter and that the focus is only on assigning blame. She adds that the families of victims will receive no compensation and implies that her testimony is being manipulated for a specific agenda.
Next, a toxicology expert testifies that one of the crew members had alcohol in their system, but there were no traces in Ulasiewicz’s body. When Ferenc testifies, he mentions a crew member who had recently undergone eye surgery and was unfit to sail. Kubara betrays Jola when Ferenc presents Ulasiewicz’s previous dismissal. Although doctors had cleared Ulasiewicz to sail, Kubara kept the document to use against him.
Outside, Piotr argues with Kubara, insisting that Ulasiewicz should not be ridiculed. Later, Janicki is called to testify. During questioning by Ignacy, Janicki confirms that Ulasiewicz did not endanger anyone by sailing, despite the overload of goods. Janicki also notes that he had authorized the departure, even though the Germans had warned of a severe storm.
Kubara undermines himself by telling Ignacy that his own ship sailed without incident that night, despite the storm. The obvious question arises: why didn’t Kubara warn Ulasiewicz? The court takes a break. Outside, the Deputy Minister discovers that Piotr introduced Jola to Ignacy and becomes furious. When Witek takes the stand, he struggles under questioning, with his answers implicating either himself or Ulasiewicz. The judges focus heavily on Witek’s drinking and his recent promotion, using both against him.
Afterward, Piotr asks Witek why the ship had to take this route. Witek tells him to check the German radio Ostsee recordings. The next day, Piotr reviews the logs and discovers that Heweliusz was on a collision course with the ship Kempen. He informs Ignacy and prepares to submit the evidence in court. However, the proceedings are postponed when Piotr dies in a car crash the previous night. A flashback reveals a truck waiting for Piotr’s car, striking it at the precise moment. The car also contains the critical recordings from Kempen.
Heweliusz (TV Mini Series 2025) “Netflix” Ending Explained:
Who Was Truly Responsible for the Sinking of the Heweliusz Ferry?
After this, Jola gives up and rushes home. In a flashback, Ferenc meets Ulasiewicz to request that he take a shipment on Heweliusz and delay the departure. As it is a military order, Ulasiewicz has no choice. A crew member asks about a storm reported by the Germans. When Ulasiewicz checks with the master’s chambers, he is given clearance. Since the ship is leaning, those in the loading area request that it be straightened to continue work.
After resolving this, Ulasiewicz heads to bed, leaving Waldek to take watch, followed by Witek. When Witek takes over, the small ship Kempen appears on a collision course. Witek slows down, causing the ship to jerk. Ulasiewicz regains control. He instructs the crew to move the water anti-heeling tank to starboard, but the controls are jammed. He calls for evacuation and Mayday.
In court, Ignacy explains that in storm conditions, a smaller ship may not appear on radar, and multiple external factors, including flaws in the ferry, contributed to the tragedy. Kubara asks for evidence. Ignacy reports it was destroyed in Piotr’s car. The court rules that Heweliusz sank due to Ulasiewicz’s negligence and the crew’s failure to conduct proper safety checks.
Jola delivers the news to Aga at school. At sea, Witek jumps from the ship, killing himself. In the final scene, Jola, Aga, Alek, and Mrs. Kaczkowska cross paths and remain cordial. The incident reinforces that the captain has the final say on a ship’s departure. In 2005, sailors’ widows won a case against Poland. The European Court of Human Rights found the maritime chambers had not handled the case impartially.
Jolanta, the captain’s widow, refused to participate in the trial. The Heweliusz tragedy remains controversial. While Ulasiewicz allowed excess weight and delayed departure, his actions were constrained by military orders. The clearance despite the weather was questionable, and military coordination between Poland and Sweden, including weapons transport, added complexity. Kubara also failed to search for the ship despite having a general idea of its location. The primary fault lies with bureaucracy and those in power. Ultimately, ordinary people bear the consequences of decisions made by authorities. The series demonstrates that responsibility cannot rest on one individual. Though re-imagined, it reflects the ongoing controversy surrounding the tragedy.
