Munich – September 11, 2026 -- RTLZWEI airs a new double episode of its social documentary series "Hartz, Rot, Gold" on September 8, 2026, at 8:15 p.m., with the episode available seven days earlier on RTL+.
Jessica and Olaf face a health scare ahead of their second child's birth
The Hamburg couple already has a crib for their baby, thanks to a furniture donation, and 55-year-old Olaf plans to build a shelf himself. He is also considering a job at the Hamburg Dom fair. But a visit to the gynecologist brings alarming news: doctors detected a lump on the baby's heart. Jessica tries to stay calm while Olaf grows increasingly worried.
Punk Paddy applies for a vacant house in Altenburg, considering a move east
Traveling alone through eastern Germany, Paddy spends time in Altenburg and starts weighing a fresh start there. He has already applied for an empty house in the town. What a potential move would mean for his relationship with partner Jasmin is something he has not yet confronted.
Mike lands a security job in Witten after a long stretch of unemployment
The father has found new work, but a separate problem persists: his car's control unit was damaged during an attempted theft. He has already sourced the replacement part but has been waiting weeks for an electrician to install it.
Dieter gets a meeting to learn about his biological parents
In Gelsenkirchen, an adoption agency in Herzogenrath near Aachen invites Dieter to a personal appointment. His close friend Rena will accompany him as he seeks answers about his origins.
Elke holds onto vacation plans despite losing her Gelsenkirchen apartment
Her lease has been terminated and she has not yet found a new home, but Elke still intends to take a second trip to Tunisia with her friend Dagmar. In Bremerhaven, two new participants join the series: Bina, who lives alone in a sparsely furnished apartment and hopes to move soon, and her friend Sabine, who supports her despite having little money herself.
The series is produced by Madame Zheng and follows residents of some of Germany's poorest regions, including the Ruhr area and the Bremen-Bremerhaven region.