‘High Water’ Ending, Explained: Can the Protagonist Save the Town from the Flood?

Welcome to the Ending Explaind for High Water, the latest Polish limited series to arrive on Netflix. The miniseries tells the story of the Millennium Flood, a terrifying natural disaster that ended up killing hundreds of people and affected not only Poland but also some parts of the Czech Republic and Germany. The flood is seen as one of the most terrible natural disasters in the region and really served as a wake-up call for the authorities. Since then, the protocols for floods and other natural disasters have changed for the better.

The series not only tells the story of the natural event but also introduces a couple of characters and centers the narrative around them and their struggle to survive the flood. We are introduced to Jasmina and Jakub, two people who were part of each other’s lives at some point in the past and who now are on completely different paths. The tragedy of the flood will unite them once again as they also have another person to be responsible for, their daughter Klara, who at the beginning doesn’t know that Jasmina is her mother.

The following paragraphs contain spoilers for the entirety of High Water. Read at your own risk.

Can The Protagonist Save The Town From The Flood?

Sadly, no. The Millennium Flood ended up being one of the biggest disasters Poland ever faced in their history as a country. Only the destruction caused by the Second World War came close to the tragedy, which puts things into a very clear perspective. At least 40,000 people lost everything they had, and there were at least 59 dead just in the city. For a moment, the entire city was converted into water and the mud destroyed most properties. Those who lived on the upper floors of the buildings managed to be safe, at least for a while.

Rescue services from other countries came to Poland to help during the crisis, delivering water, food, and medicine to the people who were trapped inside their homes. They were also key in rescuing people from other places and those who sadly got stuck on the streets during the tragedy. The people from outside the city managed to defend their homes against the water, and even today the date is celebrated as a sort of victory against those who think they can thread the farmers out of their homes.

In the end, some responsible for the mismanagement of the situation was called to testify, but it seems like most of them were released without proper punishment. There were hearings, but, in the face of a natural tragedy like this, it is very hard to point fingers. The situation was indeed extraordinary, and the people making the decisions lacked the proper information to make the right choices. Jakub and Jasmina are among those called to testify, but it seems like they are released with a sentence.

The two of them find themselves one last time before the series ends, and it is there at court as they are getting ready to testify about what happened. In the end, the two part ways in a friendly manner, and Jasmina even gives Jakub the news that she is pregnant.

Does Klara Find Out Who Her Mother Is?

Outside the series dealing with the entire disaster, the other half of the narrative focuses on the characters of Jakub and Jasmina. Jakub is a middle-level politician, and sometimes he seems to be responsible for decisions that should be made by the major of the city, but the major is often doing some other things with his time. Jasmina on the other hand is a very prominent hydrologist, so when things get dangerous, Jakub knows that Jasmina is the one to talk to.

You see, the two of them were in a romantic relationship a long time ago. Klara, Jakub’s daughter, is actually also the daughter of Jasmina. Jasmina left her with Jakub because, at the time, Jasmina was an addict, and she wasn’t the person that she is now. Jasmina decided that it was better for Klara to have no mother than to have a bad one. Jakub then raised Klara all by herself. However, when Jasmina reappears along with the tragedy, Klara connects the dots, and she suspects that Jasmina is her real mother.

For a moment, Jakub loses Klara during the flood, and he fears for his life, even thinking for a time that she was fully dead. However, that wasn’t the case, and Klara found her way to Jasmina. The two of them escape the flooded city, and Jasmina brings her daughter to her father. Klara then asks for Jasmina to go home with them, and it is there that it becomes clear to the teen that Jasmina is her mother. Jasmina is in a much better place than before, and she wants to be part of Klara’s life, so she invites her to go to the Netherlands and visit her when she wants to.

Right at the end, Jasmina even manages to visit her mother and tell her that she won’t be disappearing for years anymore. She introduces Klara to her mother and the three have a heartwarming moment.