Best TV continuity mistakes of all time

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Downton Abbey picture

Christmas Special 2012 - S3-E9

Continuity mistake: In this episode, Cora tells Mr. Gregson that she started reading "The Sketch" when Edith began to write for him. In Season one, episode one, Carson tells William to iron "The Sketch", because "her ladyship only ever reads the Sketch."

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Family Matters picture

Show generally

Continuity mistake: From the outside of the house, you can see the staircase and door are to the far left of the house. But from inside the house, you have a fireplace and the staircase to the right of the door. So you know it's not the same house they use in the show.

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

Suggested correction: This series is not meant to be taken in exact chronological order. Most episodes have no dates or time of the year set. Unless we have reference to a date or time period of the year; we have no way of knowing if the continuity is truly off as this series is meant for the episodes to be taken within a generalized time. Not in any specific chronology except for a few where the time period is specific. Neither this episode or the one before it has reference to a date in time.

Suggested correction: While the other correction is wrong, the real reason this isn't a mistake is because the episodes were aired out of order they were produced, which means it's not a mistake within the context of the show. "Bend It Like Baxter" (production code 315) was filmed before the previous episode, "Double Vision" (production code 318).

Bishop73

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Sherlock picture Sherlock mistake picture

The Blind Banker - S1-E2

Continuity mistake: When Sherlock is backstage at the circus and finds the yellow spray paint, he draws a line on the mirror. In the next shot, the line he drew is completely different (and in fact is more of a squiggle). (01:07:40)

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Foyle's War picture

Enemy Fire - S3-E2

Continuity mistake: In episode 2-4 "The Funk Hole " which takes place in the fall of 1940, Andrew states to Sam that his mother died when he was eight years old. In this episode (Feb to June 1941), Foyle is looking at his wife's grave; it shows his mother died in 1932, which would have meant Andrew was born in 1924, and only 16 in 1940, far too young to be a Spitfire pilot. Also, his commanding officer states "the younger pilots look up to you, Andrew", before one of the "younger" pilots (age 19) is badly burned in a crash in Andrew's plane.

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Three's Company picture

Strange Bedfellows - S2-E4

Continuity mistake: When Mr. Roper tries to explain to the girls and his wife what he was doing in Jack's bedroom, watch over Mr. Roper's left shoulder on the shelf. The number of yellow cans on the shelf keep alternating between one and two cans throughout several minutes. In addition, also notice the suitcase on the floor under the shelf as well. Whenever one yellow can is shown, the suitcase is by itself and whenever two yellow cans are shown, there is a square silver bag in front of the suitcase.

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And Then There Were None picture

Episode #1.3 - S1-E3

Continuity mistake: Vera fires the gun several times, and later tells Justice Wargrave that the gun is empty, meaning that all the cartridges in it would be spent. When the judge loads his one bullet into the chamber, he does so in a gun where all five cartridge svisible are unspent.

Twotall

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White Collar picture

Home Invasion - S1-E11

Continuity mistake: In the scene explaining the history of the missing jade elephants, they are described as being given to ambassadors by the emperor Zhu Di of China when the Forbidden City (in China) was first opened to foreigners in 1421. When the elephants are all brought together, the representative Daichi Yoshida from the Japanese embassy comes to pick them up, describing them as "a priceless piece of our history."

Rachel Weldon

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Hey Arnold! picture Hey Arnold! mistake picture

Girl Trouble / School Dance - S3-E18

Continuity mistake: Besides the fact that when Helga is sharpening her pencil, the desk arrangement changes, one of the students visible when she looks at Arnold is... Helga. This happens because the shot is taken from the episode "Helga's Love Potion."

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Stranger Things picture

Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers - S1-E1

Continuity mistake: When Will is being chased by the monster and runs into his garage, he pulls down his .22 rifle hanging on a wall rack. After he loads a few rounds aiming it at the door, the monster appears behind him. After Will and the monster disappear, the scene shows his rifle is back on the wall rack in its original spot. Did Will or the monster place it back on the wall rack while Will was being abducted? (00:07:25 - 00:08:10)

Dr. Thomas

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Hell on Wheels picture

Bleeding Kansas - S4-E11

Continuity mistake: Ruth is seen in a flashback. The young Ruth has a mole on the left side of her face, as does the adult Ruth. But in one shot, when she is slapped by her father, the mole appears on the right side. (00:20:00)

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Angel picture

Judgment - S2-E1

Continuity mistake: Right after Cordelia has her vision, Wesley goes to the whiteboard. In the "Case" column he writes "N.D.U.O." Underneath what looks like "CARYNSS" crossed out. But once they find out that it is a Prio Motu demon and Angel writes it on the whiteboard, "N.D.U.O." disappears even though Angel did not rub it off.

THGhost

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Gunsmoke picture

Where'd They Go - S5-E27

Continuity mistake: When Matt and Chester get up in the morning, Chester is in a chair with a blanket covering him up to his chin. Camera shot changes to Matt's point of view and Chester has no blanket as he speaks. Camera shot changes back to the prior viewpoint and the blanket has reappeared. (00:21:40)

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