Best crime TV factual errors of all time

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Richard Diamond, Private Detective picture

The Hoodlum - S4-E1

Factual error: Diamond's car phone, quite a rarity in the 1950s, attracts a lot of attention. But the car should have a huge antenna attached to make the gadget work (it doesn't), and Diamond would not be getting direct calls - they'd have to go through a mobile operator first.

Jean G

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The Return of Sherlock Holmes picture

The Second Stain - S1-E3

Factual error: Holmes and Watson walks through a colonnade. Clearly visible in the background right over Watson's head is part of a 20th century circular red and white road sign. (00:34:18)

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Justified picture

Fire in the Hole - S1-E1

Factual error: When Walter Goggins fires a LAW at the church from next to the vehicle, the back-blast from the rocket would have shattered the car's windows, and flying glass fragments would likely have injured the occupant. The show depicts neither outcome.

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Magnum, P.I. picture

Two Birds of a Feather - S3-E19

Factual error: When Sam climbs on the plane to give chase to the baddies, the tail number is N64CE. When he takes off though, the control tower announces the clearance for "Sixty-four Charlie Lima." Should have been Charlie Echo. (00:41:35 - 00:42:30)

Sammo

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Sons of Anarchy picture

Huang Wu - S6-E10

Factual error: When Tara goes into her office there's dried blood on the carpet from her faked miscarriage. Considering it's a bio hazard that happened days ago it would've been cleaned up and sanitized since it's a hospital.

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: The blood is on carpet which is very difficult to clean as it's such an absorbent material. The carpet will keep the stain, but as long as it has been thoroughly sanitised there is no issue here. Yes, the carpet could have been replaced, but hospitals don't generally keep spare carpets laying about. Plus the fact that her office isn't a treatment area, there isn't much of a hazard anyway.

Doctor's office with a blood stain on the carpet? Highly unlikely.

Amy Emerick Tice

Highly unlikely doesn't make it a mistake.

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Little Boy Blue picture

Show generally

Factual error: ACC Pat Gallan wears the ribbon of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. The medal was issued in 2012. Her medals would be correct for 2017 when the series was made, but not 2007 when it is set.

Necrothesp

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And Then There Were None picture

Episode #1.1 - S1-E1

Factual error: Unlike Christie's novels, there is no explicit statement of the date - the original novel started on the August 8th, which is compatible with what is shown here; Vera is interviewed and the letters are all posted on August 2nd 1939, which would fit. However, there's a problem when Vera changes seats en route to Soldier's island. A passenger is reading the Daily Express, and the headline is from August 29th of that year. Too much time elapsed and it's the end of the Summer while the chat between Emily and Vera implies otherwise; it's also Tuesday but the doctor comments "It's been a long week" when he apologizes at dinner - the weekend feels a more appropriate time for a party and gathering as shown. (00:06:15)

Sammo

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American Crime Story picture

Alone - S2-E9

Factual error: You can see the Unicredit Tower on the Milan skyline - the episode should be set in 1997 but the unicredit tower was built in 2012. (00:31:00)

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Riverdale picture

Chapter Seventy-Nine: Graduation - S5-E3

Factual error: Archie revealed that he joined the Army to avoid repeating his senior year and was shipping to Basic Combat Training the following morning. Before leaving he would need to wait for his background and medical checks to be completed (including getting his dropped murder charge reviewed for suitability), which could take weeks. Also, the Army usually requires a diploma or GED to ship to basic. There were brief periods when the Army was accepting dropouts but it was not when this episode took place.

AD

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Jessica Jones picture

A.K.A A Lotta Worms - S3-E12

Factual error: Jessica receives a call from a prisoner at a State Institution. It shows up on her cell phone as "Unknown." All calls from prisoners are collect calls, and the receiver is asked if they will accept the charges. (00:41:20)

toroscan

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Perry Mason picture

Chapter Five - S1-E5

Factual error: Pete uses the term "throwing shade" when talking to Perry Mason in the middle of the episode. As this show is set in 1932, the phrase "throwing shade" did not yet exist (the phrase was first introduced in the 1990s). (00:35:00)

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: The phrase was not first introduced in the 1990's. While it did become popular in the 1980's, the idea of "throwing shade" as an idiom would have been around before then. A variation of the idiom is found in writings from the 1800's, for example "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen.

Bishop73

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Sister Boniface Mysteries picture

Show generally

Factual error: The police car used in this programme, which is set in the early 1960s, is an Austin 1100 Mark 2. However, the Austin 1100 Mark 2 did not start production until 1967.

eric 64

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Power picture

Reversal of Fortune - S6-E14

Factual error: Congressman Tate and his brother are on the shooting range. They are wearing high-tech electronic earmuffs that block harmful noise like gunfire while amplifying speech and other low-volume sounds. Although, they are wearing high-tech earmuffs, they both have an ear exposed so they can hear each other talk. (00:13:00)

Snag.1

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Wu Assassins picture

Misspent Youth - S1-E2

Factual error: Kai checks out his phone repeatedly and the date indicated is "Wed, Aug 22." Just a scene after, Jenny is shown with an August 2019 calendar in the background. August 22 2019 was a Thursday, not a Wednesday. (00:06:00)

Sammo

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Ironside picture

Force of Arms - S1-E16

Factual error: The chopper's main rotors are at a speed enough to cause rotor wash, but the men's coats or hair don't move at all, when they should have been buffeted around.

Movie Nut

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Babylon Berlin picture

Episode #4.9 - S4-E9

Factual error: Renate escapes from the prison in a Morris Ten Four, with the badge visible on the bonnet. However, this designation was not introduced until 1935 and the episode is set in 1931.

Necrothesp

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