Series synopsis
Black Gold, also known as Schwarzes Gold is a German drama western television series that premiered on Das Erste on December 22, 2025. It ended on December 29, 2025. It was created by Matthias Greving, Justin Koch. It stars Harriet Herbig-Matten, Aaron Hilmer, Tom Wlaschiha and Lena Urzendowsky.
Greed for power, betrayal and the dream of quick wealth: An oil boom breaks out in the Lüneburg Heath around 1900, transforming an entire region into a German „Wild West“. This series tells of this time, of the destructive power of boundless selfishness, but also of the courage to rebel against injustice.
Lüneburg Heath around 1900: The young farmer's daughter Johanna works as a maid to support her family. No one suspects that there is a treasure lurking beneath her family's fields – petroleum. ...
Premise
Greed for power, betrayal and the dream of quick wealth: An oil boom breaks out in the Lüneburg Heath around 1900, transforming an entire region into a German „Wild West“. This series tells of this time, of the destructive power of boundless selfishness, but also of the courage to rebel against injustice.
Lüneburg Heath around 1900: The young farmer's daughter Johanna works as a maid to support her family. No one suspects that there is a treasure lurking beneath her family's fields – petroleum. Only Richard, the son of the neighboring farmer Pape, knows about it and dreams of a future together with Johanna. Their forbidden love is put to the test when the unscrupulous oil trader Mr. Robertson appears and a fierce battle for power and wealth begins.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Harriet Herbig-Matten as Johanna Lambert
- Aaron Hilmer as Richard Pape
- Tom Wlaschiha as Wilhelm Pape
- Lena Urzendowsky as Luisa Pape
- Jessica Schwarz as Martha Lambert
- Henny Reents as Elisabeth Pape
- Slavko Popadic as Jakub Mazurak
- Daniil Kremkin as Max Jordan
Supporting cast
- Julius Nitschkoff
- Leo Knizka as Felix Lambert
- Marton Csokas as Tyler Robertson
- Peter Schneider as Georg Lambert
- Gwendoline Christie as Emma Robertson
- Hinnerk Schönemann as Friedemann Born
- Merlin Sandmeyer as Walter Schröter
- Stephan Kampwirth as Armin Thies
- Julius Busch as Paul Pape
- Liliom Lewald as Fritz
- Jakob Henri Garde as Oscar
- Bernhard Conrad as Ernst Pohl
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 7 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 7 | December 22, 2025 | December 29, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Source In 1900, the Lambert farming family falls into financial hardship. Twenty-year-old Johanna loses her job as a maid and is forced to leave her home for the city in search of new work. Her childhood sweetheart, Richard Pape, wants to prevent this. He suspects there is oil beneath the Lambert forest and intends to extract it. But a bitter feud hangs over the families, and Richard's father, Wilhelm Pape, harbors dark secrets. When Johanna's father dies under mysterious circumstances and Wilhelm seizes his forest, a dangerous suspicion grows within Johanna – and she risks being crushed in a web of love, greed, and betrayal. |
December 22, 2025 |
| 2 |
Vein Johanna wants to uncover the truth behind her father's death, but the corrupt police officer Theis is obstructing the investigation. Oil is gushing from the derricks for the first time in the Papes' ill-gotten forest, attracting international attention. British oil trader Tyler Robertson offers Wilhelm Pape a partnership, but Wilhelm refuses and appoints his son Richard as foreman. This is a devastating blow for Johanna, who was cheated out of the forest. Her doubts about Richard's loyalty grow. The desperate farmers organize, but Wilhelm responds with a bloody warning. |
December 22, 2025 |
| 3 |
Abyss The Papes' oil field is expanding rapidly. The workers are starving, and the farmers lack clean water. Richard wants to help and points Johanna to the auction of a lakefront property that could secure their fresh water supply. Johanna mobilizes the farmers and finds a close ally among the workers in Jakub. But a serious accident at work shakes Johanna and the village. Richard confesses to Johanna that he is responsible for her father's death. |
December 22, 2025 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Das Erste |
|---|---|
| First aired | December 22, 2025 |
| Last aired | December 29, 2025 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Status | ended |