The Peppercorns (1999)
Synopsis
Die Pfefferkörner is a German television series produced by Der Kinderkanal. The peppercorns are five friends from Hamburg: Jana Holstein Coutre, Natasha "Tascha" Jaonzäns, Philip "Fiete" Overbeck, Cem Gülec and Vivien "Vivi" Overbeck, Fiete's eight year old sister. After school, the young detectives meet at a high level of a spice warehouse of the company Overbeck & Associates, which belongs to Fiete and Vivi's parents in the first part, but is later given to Fiete and Vivi to look after. Here, in the historic warehouse district, the five friends have their headquarters. With smarts, combined delivery and support of the Internet, they find their cases here. The detectives convict polluters, animal dealers and drug smugglers. They also help each other with personal problems they encounter. Cem has lost his parents in a car accident and sometimes feels sad and lonely. Jana lives with her divorcee mother, a lawyer who is rarely at home. Natasha comes from Latvia. Her parents initially have very strict rules in terms of her education, that make Natasha unhappy. Fiete has problems showing his feelings and hides them behind grumpiness and hostility towards girls, until he falls in love with Natasha. Vivi is suffering from her role of the youngest member of the group. She believes that she must constantly struggle for recognition.
Network
NDR Fernsehen, KiKa, Das Erste
Episodes
Abgezogen
Natascha has money stolen from her, but she doesn't dare to tell anyone about it. Finally, the Peppercorns manage to figure it out and offer their help.
Wer ist Jeremy?
During a fire in the free port, the shed belonging to Fiete's parents burns down along with the fireworks stored there. A boy found at the scene is immediately suspected. But was he really responsible?
Schlange im Rohr
Cem and Fiete find a very rare snake and are certain that it was smuggled illegally into Hamburg. But the snake escapes from them. How can they now catch both the snake and the smugglers?
Die Schimmelprinzessin
Natascha has a dream: she wants to join the circus. After an argument with her mother, she sets off for France with her circus friend Rafael. The Peppercorns begin their pursuit.
Cem und Rachel
Cem keeps quiet even though he caught Rachel breaking in - he likes her too much. But then it comes to light that she was forced by her gang. The Peppercorns confront the thieves.
Bombenstimmung
Vivi is allowed to look after Cola, a friend's dog. But the dog runs away. During her desperate search, she gets dangerously close to a bomb disposal operation in the harbor.
Das teuerste Fahrrad der Welt
Cem is being used as a drug courier without his knowledge. Dealers secretly hide drugs in his bicycle. Fiete wants to catch the dealers.
Bladerflucht
Natascha is about to compete in her artistic gymnastics championship. Then she is knocked down by a rollerblader. In the fall, she breaks her arm. Was it a deliberate attack by her competitor?
Starallüren
Jana is allowed to go to a Michael Jackson interview with Celine, her father's girlfriend. Meanwhile, Celine's car gets stolen. The Peppercorns set out to search for it.
Ätzende Kanister
Vivi discovers a canister in the Elbe River. At first, the Peppercorns hope for a finder's reward, but the barrels contain toxic sulfuric acid. Lausen, a friend of Fiete's father, turns out to be the owner and environmental polluter.
Der rote Mantel
At the harbor, the Peppercorns discover a boy wearing Jana's stolen coat. However, the boy turns out to be a girl who is being beaten by her father. The gang gets involved and ensures that the girl doesn't have to live at home for the time being.
Das Johannisfest
The Peppercorns want to celebrate a Latvian Midsummer festival. But two rowdies destroy the festival grounds. The Peppercorns won't let themselves be discouraged by this.
Der Schatz vom Kannengießerort
Due to the Overbecks' financial problems, a warehouse and the Peppercorns' headquarters are to be sold. But then Vivi finds a belt buckle. Could it be the key to saving their headquarters?
Details
Original Title
Die Pfefferkörner
Status
Returning Series
Seasons
21
Episodes
273
Production
Studio Hamburg, Letterbox Filmproduktion, Studio Hamburg Filmproduktion