The Peppercorns

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.

First Air Date: 1999-12-27

Last Air Date: 2025-04-26

Number of Seasons: 21

Number of Episodes: 273

Created By: Katharina Mestre

Networks: NDR Fernsehen, KiKa, Das Erste

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Aglaja Brix as Vivi Overbeck
Elyza Silber as Philippa „Pippa“ Flynt
Luna Winter as Louise „Lou“ Flynt
Tim Tiedemann as Laurenz Krogmann
Aurelia Stern as Emma Krogmann
Bruno Alexander as Max Paulsen
Carolin Garnier as Nina Pellicano
Otto von Grevenmoor as Till Petersen
Piet Puddu as Ramin Dschami
Marlene von Appen as Kira Dierksen

Seasons

Season 01 (1999) - (13 Episodes)

Season 02 (2001) - (13 Episodes)

Season 03 (2003) - (13 Episodes)

Season 04 (2004) - (13 Episodes)

Season 05 (2008) - (13 Episodes)

Season 06 (2009) - (13 Episodes)

Season 07 (2010) - (13 Episodes)

Season 08 (2011) - (13 Episodes)

Season 09 (2012) - (13 Episodes)

Season 10 (2013) - (13 Episodes)

Season 11 (2014) - (13 Episodes)

Season 12 (2015) - (13 Episodes)

Season 13 (2016) - (13 Episodes)

Season 14 (2017) - (13 Episodes)

Season 15 (2018) - (13 Episodes)

Season 16 (2019) - (13 Episodes)

Season 17 (2021) - (13 Episodes)

Season 18 (2022) - (13 Episodes)

Season 19 (2023) - (13 Episodes)

Season 20 (2024) - (13 Episodes)

Season 21 (2025) - (13 Episodes)

Season 01 (1999)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Abgezogen (1999-12-27)

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.
Ep. 2: Wer ist Jeremy? (1999-12-28)

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?
Ep. 3: Schlange im Rohr (1999-12-29)

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?
Ep. 4: Die Schimmelprinzessin (1999-12-30)

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.
Ep. 5: Cem und Rachel (1999-12-31)

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.
Ep. 6: Bombenstimmung (2000-01-03)

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.
Ep. 7: Das teuerste Fahrrad der Welt (2000-01-04)

Cem is being used as a drug courier without his knowledge. Dealers secretly hide drugs in his bicycle. Fiete wants to catch the dealers.
Ep. 8: Bladerflucht (2000-01-05)

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?
Ep. 9: Starallüren (2000-01-06)

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.
Ep. 10: Ätzende Kanister (2000-01-07)

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.
Ep. 11: Der rote Mantel (2000-01-10)

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.
Ep. 12: Das Johannisfest (2000-01-11)

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.
Ep. 13: Der Schatz vom Kannengießerort (2000-01-12)

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?