Summary
Episode 6 rounded off the story to this intriguing mystery, giving all the answers the audience needs to provide a satisfactory ending.
This recap of Netflix series The Woods season 1, episode 6, “Long Way Home” contains significant spoilers.
Access the recaps of all episodes.
How does The Woods season 1, episode 6, “Long Way Home” open?
Episode 6 opens up with Pawel being wheeled into the hospital — he remembers his mother waking him up in the middle of the night and leaving him when younger. And then there’s a scene between Daniel and Kamila kissing on the beach — Malczak is watching from afar. Malczak then wants to speak to Monika privately.
No longer a suspect
In the present day, in hospital, Inspector Jork tells Pawel that he’s no longer a suspect and ballistics confirm that Dawid Goldsztajn killed Marek Kowalski (Atur). Jork says the man blew his brains out so it is case closed. Pawel asks the hospital to discharge him immediately. The Woods season 1, episode 6, “Long Way Home” gives this feeling that Pawel is fed up of being under the microscope. Meanwhile, Laura is distraught and is drinking with Leon — he asks her if she loves Pawel. She says she doesn’t know — Leon asks Laura not to leave him. The ending gives Laura a choice to make.
Pawel wants more DNA testing
The forensic scientist gives Pawel an update — the woman found in the woods had given birth. Pawel says, “It doesn’t mean she wasn’t related to me,” and asks for a DNA kit. He swabs himself.
Help…
Kuba tells Pawel that if he doesn’t help, Gosia will end up in prison. Pawel tries to get the case file for his sister-in-law — he asks the woman (presumably a prosecutor) how her husband’s ‘legal’ business is doing. She gives him the case file for two minutes. The Woods season 1, episode 6, “Long Way Home” is doing a no-f*cks approach since he nearly died.
Bozena has the keys to the truth
Pawel then heads to Bozena’s house and gives her DNA that results for her and the deceased, leaving no doubt that Marek was her son (Artur) and accuses her of lying to him. He asks Bozena if his sister survived. She admits she did back then but that she hasn’t seen her for 25 years.
It’s storytime
Bozena tells her story and brings the audience back to the past; Artur and Kamila are following Malczak for a “surprise”. He shows Daniel and Monika having sex; Kamila is upset and Artur is furious. Malczak has a plan to teach them a lesson; he plans to do a bonfire next to the lake after the dance. At the bonfire, it is Daniel, Monika, Artur, Kamila and Malczak. Malczak suggests going into the lake naked.
As Daniel and Monika get into the lake naked, Artur and Kamila take their clothes stating that they know they are sleeping together. They get out of the lake and get their clothes back — Monika calls Kamila a munter and both girls fight; Kamila strangles Monika briefly and as the fight stops, Malczak slices Monika’s neck which horrifies them.
Daniel, Kamila and Artur run away in the woods. Artur freaks out in the woods as he hears someone run up behind him so he stabs them repeatedly. It was Daniel — he killed him by accidentally thinking it was Malczak. The Woods season 1, episode 6, “Long Way Home” provides a series of events that shaped the story.
The big decision
Artur and Kamila return to the camp to Bozena (Artur’s mother) and Natalia (Pawel’s mother). The parents want to know what happened. Artur repeatedly says they are dead. In the present day, Bozena explains how she and Natalia were worried; who would believe Artur that it was an accident and Kamila was beating and strangling Monika before her neck was sliced by Malczak — they hid them for 48 hours but then they realised they had to hide Artur and Kamila forever. Pawel asks Bozena why his mother left him with his father but there is no answer.
Concluding the rape case and the DNA results
Pawel is a busy man in the final episode; he has a meeting with Janek Falkowski, the third man involved in Klaudia’s rape case. He states that if Janek testifies, Klaudia will be grateful. Iza confirms that Janek signed his testimony and has given up the video of Bartosz Marancz and Emil Dunaj-Szafranski raping Klaudia. Pawel has won the case for Klaudia and justice will be served but he’s more bothered that Laura’s phone is off. Iza also tells Pawel that the pathologist called — Pawel already knows the news: “The woman found in the woods was my mother”. The last episode gives another twist.
There’s no evidence
Pawel is bleeding so he needs to return to the hospital. After he is patched up he confronts Kryzstof Dunaj-Szafranski and says, “I know you’re behind the blackmail about my wife’s death”. He tells Kryzstop that there’s not a shred of evidence that he helped his wife die.
Finally
Laura finally shows up. Pawel is upset because he has messaged and called her and she didn’t answer — “I lose everybody I love. My sister, my mother, my wife and you”. The pair embrace emotionally and kiss.
Resignation
Pawel shows his boss the indictment for Klaudia’s case and his resignation — he wants her to sign it and then for her to file the indictment in court. He explains that Kryzstof Dunaj-Szafranski won’t let him off the hook — he plans to save his wife’s foundation. Pawel meets the press and stands down as prosecutor — he claims that he stole the foundation money and that he used the cash to pay for his wife’s treatment and that he plans to pay it back after he has served his sentence — he announces that his sister-in-law is innocent. The Woods season 1, episode 6, “Long Way Home” turns Pawel into the Dark Knight, taking the blame for something he did not do.
Kamila
Bozena meets Pawel in his office and gives him a brown envelope — “The letter came about two months after the kids went missing”. It’s from Kamila — it’s addressed to Bozena.
Bozena read the letter; Kamila says how she feels the situation is exceptional and that she’s living with strangers and she feels alone. Pawel grabs the letter angrily to stop her from reading. Bozena states that Kamila and Artur stayed in touch for years and supported each other. Bozena asks Pawel to not blame her or Natalia — they went to great lengths to protect their children. Pawel asks who killed his mother and Bozena makes a guess — she reckons when Natalia told her husband she’s leaving without Pawel, he killed her.
How does The Woods season 1, episode 6, “Long Way Home” end?
Pawel asks one more question; where is his sister living. Afterwards, Pawel and Laura walk around the camp and woods and reminisce over their time there — sad and happy moments. Pawel wonders if his time with Laura is a second chance. Time has weathered them both by clutching on to the past. Laura walks away which could be symbolic that they cannot be together; Leon asked her not to leave but it leaves it unanswered for the audience.
As the episode ends, Pawel visits a monastery and approaches one of the nuns and says “Kamila” as the nun starts to turn around and then the credits roll. Episode 6 rounded off the story to this intriguing mystery, giving all the answers the audience needs to provide a satisfactory ending.
