Christoph, 31, a good-looking but frustrated single man and proud owner of a Renault Twingo, dreams of a grandiose career as a writer. But so far he hasn't managed to write more than a few penny dreadful novels for the publishing house "Kemper und Bergmann", which publishes the crime series about the hero Nick Sturm. And since there's not enough money to go around, he has to hire a car from the car rental...

Ari and Oona go to the same school. Lolita-like Ari, is blonde, pouting and lives in a world of bright colours, frustrated by her mother still treating her as a child, while arty Oona dresses in black and is treated as an adult by her artist father. When Oona’s father commits suicide after his wife has an affair with his brother Lukas, Oona starts to self-harm, but finds and unlikely friendship with Ari. Ari’s enthusiasm for exerting her sexuality rebounds when she starts an affair with Oona’s uncle, who has recently moved in with Oona’s mother.

Journalist Sophie Bergmann is working on a legacy study on the effects of Hartz IV on society. She is increasingly reluctant to report on the symptoms of the labor market reform in isolation from its causes. At an EU conference in Brussels, she witnesses the German finance minister being put under pressure by a stranger. When she accidentally sees the same man getting into the car of the editor-in-chief of her newspaper, Sophie is irritated. With the help of Matti, the IT specialist from the editorial office, she begins to investigate.

17-year-old Paul likes strange things: stealth trails and abandoned buildings, whispered conversations and left-behind bags. Besides that, he seems to be a young man without qualities. His mysterious nature catches the eyes of his classmate Dala and his art-loving teacher Mr. Bulwer, both seemingly driven by hidden desires. Then a boy’s dead body is discovered in the forest...

While searching for an ancient burial chamber in Cologne, Dr. Bea Valori has suppressed the fact that she is a very lonely romantic at heart. This seems to change when colleague Michael Burger introduces her to the charismatic Jürgen Wiedener. He teaches minnesong at the university and has very specific ideas about a life for two. At first, Bea feels flattered by Jürgen's declarations of love. But then his courtship becomes more and more insistent. He is prepared to give everything for Bea. Even if it costs him his life...

August 1961: To earn a bit of West German money, East Berlin "plaselayer" Hans Kuhlke smuggles scrap metal to his friend Erwin Sawatzke in West Berlin. One evening, he and his wife are invited to the Sawatzkes' house. Meanwhile, their son Paul stays with a friend in East Berlin. On this summer night, the political situation in Berlin comes to a dramatic head: the borders are closed and the construction of the Wall is initiated. The disappearance of his parents leaves 14-year-old pioneer Paul torn between family ties and loyalty to the party. At the last second, he sees through his role in the system and is taken in by his piano teacher. Together they plan their escape to the West - but it turns into a race against time.

10-year-old Lucy is basically too good for this world. She is well-behaved, kind and perfect in every situation. Her best friend Rima and she herself want to make the world a little better with every little action. But then disaster threatens: Lucy’s parents run an ice cream parlor, and when the expensive ice cream machine breaks down, the parlor is threatened with closure. Lucy wants to prevent this at all costs. However, after much deliberation, she sees only one way to get money quickly: a bank robbery. To prepare for her big coup, she makes a deal with the class gangster Tristan. Under the code name “Operation Lucyfer”, he is supposed to teach her how to be mean and ruthless. So Lucy gets tutored in stealing, lying, cheating and blackmailing – and proves to be an amazingly docile student. Lucy barely recognizes herself. Her transformation from nerd to crook, however, causes many problems.

A chemical engineer of foreign origin faces discrimination and bullying at work, plunging him into an identity crisis.

Robin is eight when his mother Sabine becomes pregnant again. Because Sabine is overwhelmed with her child, new boyfriend and pregnancy, Robin has to go into care. When he returns home three months later, the situation has by no means improved. His mother's new boyfriend drinks, his little sister screams and the adults are constantly arguing. Then the woman from the youth welfare office turns up at the door, Robin is alone at home and his sister starts to cry...

Anita and Fred have been a couple for 50 years, and happily married for nearly as long. They have two grown children, and their grandchildren are finishing school. Both can look back at a fulfilling past, but their lives are still rich and vibrant. The fact that Fred is terribly ill has been hidden from the family. For the first time in all these years, Fred takes some liberties, which his wife interprets as an affront. Never before has she felt so abandoned. Although she starts to question her relationship, a love like theirs cannot end so easily. Indeed it should never end.