Der Ranger - Paradies Heimat: Zusammenhalt (2022)

Jonas and Emilia, together with their temporary ranger Leon, watch as an injured red kite crashes down toward the Fechner family farm. Leon’s sister Marie has seen it too and has already tended to the bird by the time the others arrive. They suspect it was injured by a wind turbine. Shortly afterward, a second bird crashes down, but nothing can be done for it. Jonas tells Marie that another wind farm is soon to be built near their farm. He has been asked to prepare an assessment. Marie is shocked, because the turbines are supposed to be built on her land. While Jonas and Leon are checking wildlife cameras in the forest, Leon slips and tumbles down the slope. Fortunately, he has only a graze on his head and mild pain in his leg. Marie works for Karl Nollau at the hotel, but because she arrives late for work due to the incident, Karl tells her she is fired at the end of the month. Since Marie has been looking after her siblings since their mother died, she depends on the job. She is actually a trained falconer, but can no longer work in that profession. She wants to resume grazing livestock on the farm with her brother Leon. At Monika’s birthday party, the whole family learns that Karl is behind the new wind farm, after his plan for a biogas plant fell through. The next morning, Leon has trouble with his leg: suddenly he can’t walk and can’t feel either leg. Jonas immediately calls an ambulance. Karl turns up at Marie’s farm and offers to forget about firing her, even promising her a raise. But he has an ulterior motive: he wants to persuade her to lease him the land for the new wind farm. Marie doesn’t take the offer, though, because she needs the pastures herself and is fundamentally opposed to wind farms, since birds keep getting injured. At the hospital, it turns out that Leon has suffered an injury to his lumbar spine and a nerve is trapped. Karl wants to be elected the sole new chairman of the tourism association, which Rike does not like. So she also runs for the position. Karl then tries to use Monika to influence her children, but the attempt fails miserably. Karl makes another attempt with Marie after learning that Leon may need care for a long time, and offers her €60,000 for the lease. This time she agrees and takes the money. Jonas finds out and tries to change Marie’s mind. She blames him for the situation because he was there when Leon was seriously injured. She is also afraid that her two younger siblings, Greta and Ben, will be taken away from her. During a visit to the hospital, Marie and Leon argue when she admits that she intends to lease the land to Karl. Leon tells her Jonas isn’t to blame for his accident, but she won’t accept that. Jonas looks for a way to help Marie, since he suspects his assessment will prevent the wind farm and leave her without the money. Emilia also has no luck with Marie; all her arguments fall flat. The police bring Lukas and Tim to Karl at the hotel after catching them smoking a joint by the Elbe. When Karl takes them to Rike, it turns out they have been growing cannabis at the sawmill. Karl immediately tries to use the situation to his advantage and accuses Rike of neglecting her duties as a mother because of the election campaign. While Jonas looks after Greta and Ben and has a barbecue evening with them, Emilia takes Marie out, something she hasn’t done in four years. Marie doesn’t even notice that an attractive man is watching her until Emilia points him out. The next morning, Greta has disappeared after arguing with Marie. Marie has an idea where Greta might be and asks Jonas and Emilia for help. They find Greta there, but Marie falls off a cliff. Jonas manages to rescue her from her predicament. Karl’s words continue to weigh on Rike, and she wants to withdraw her candidacy. Jonas and Monika talk her out of it by assuring her of their support. Sure enough, she wins the election against Karl. When Monika cheers, Karl immediately starts questioning everything again. She makes it clear to him that family comes first. Jonas has a frank talk with Lukas and Tim and hits them with a hefty punishment. When Leon’s operation is successful, Marie also realizes that she attacked Jonas unfairly. But later, when Jonas explains to Marie on site that his assessment will scupper the wind farm, their argument flares up again. Marie wants him to wait to submit the assessment until she has signed the lease. Jonas finally has a solution: the national park will lease Marie’s meadows for ten years. Karl is naturally furious and makes threats in every direction. In a private conversation, Karl asks Jonas why he is always stabbing him in the back. Jonas replies that they both have to stand up for their own interests, and that this comes before family. At the opening of Rike’s new holiday apartment, everyone makes up again. Even Marie’s admirer is there, and he dares to dance with her.