Factual error: The detective constable is addressed as "Sir" by uniformed constables. They actually hold the same rank. Detectives do not outrank uniformed officers in Britain.
Factual error: In the scene where Bonnie gives Clyde the unloaded pistol through the jail bars, that gun was not manufactured until after 1972. It is a Bauer .25 ACP semi-automatic stainless steel pistol. Bonnie and Clyde's reign of lawlessness ranged from 1931 to 1934.
Factual error: When Susan is sorting Ruth's things, she finds Gordon's iPhone wrapped in a newspaper from 1994 with her voice-mail to him and realizes he went back in time, where Ruth killed him and took the phone from his corpse. Even if the phone had been turned off, after 16 years idle, the battery would have died long ago, but we see the phone is on with her message waiting. (00:55:50 - 00:56:45)
Factual error: Almost all the people being shown skydiving have no experience doing it, but the instructor allows them to jump out of the plane unassisted after only giving a theoretic introduction into the subject. First time skydivers are always assisted in some fashion, usually through a tandem-jump or a parachute opened by a line attached to the plane.
Factual error: Donna jumps off the bridge (which is relatively low down), into shallow water. She then narrowly avoids being hit by a huge ocean liner. There's no way such a huge ship would be in such shallow water - for starters, it couldn't cross under the bridge, being far too big. (00:03:12)
Factual error: Cars in Thailand drive on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right, unlike the ones shown in the episode.
Factual error: A number of times throughout the season they refer to LSD being found in dead bodies and LSD being matched with other LSD found in other (living or dead) bodies. LSD starts a chain reaction in the brain which requires about an hour to take a noticeable effect. And, by that time, it has completely broken down and no longer exists as LSD in the body - before the person even begins to get high. There is no test for LSD even in the most bombed living individual, let alone a dead body years later.
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.
Factual error: Many elements of Marlott's trial and execution are incorrect. The judge sits with two assessors (a European practice, not a British one). He is addressed as 'Your Honour' instead of the correct 'My Lord'. He instructs the jury to find Marlott guilty and then goes straight to sentencing, which would never happen; a judge can instruct a jury to acquit, but not convict. He puts the black cap on himself, instead of an attendant doing it. The form of words for the death sentence is incorrect. The chaplain (who appears to be Catholic, not Anglican) gives a speech at the scaffold.
Factual error: The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has red fabric within the crowns on his rank insignia. This would be correct for most British police forces, but the Metropolitan Police uses blue fabric instead.
Factual error: The series takes place during the 1930s prohibition era. The $50 bill projected on screen is series 1953A with signatures of Ivy Baker Priest and Robert Anderson.
Factual error: DI Renton is a Metropolitan Police officer 'parachuted' into Kent to solve a big case. This hasn't happened for many decades. Local police forces investigate their own crimes without help from the Met.
Factual error: When they're traveling to the farm to rescue her friend, (when a drone is filming from above following the truck down the road) there is light snow on the ground. Throughout the series in different parts, when they speak they're blowing mist/fog from it being cold. It isn't cold, snowing or any fall leaves in Mexico. Nor do those things hardly ever occur in southern Texas either.
The Countess - S1-E4
Factual error: Two cops (the bowtie guy that cuffs Rockford and the one that watches him being taken away from his trailer) report to HQ saying that the protagonist is a suspect for a 157, to which Rockford reacts saying he did not murder anyone (and it is in fact what he is accused of). But homicide is in CA police code 187, not 157. A 157 is an entirely different felony. (00:21:00)
Factual error: The German series is set in 1987 in Berlin before the wall came down. It shows a suitcase going through airport security that wasn't set up until after 2001.
Episode #1.6 - S1-E6
Factual error: In Episode 6, Vincent comes out of his apartment building and before he reaches the curb, and has a chance to hail a cab, one is waiting for him. There was no ability to book a yellow cab in the 1980s.
Factual error: A general court-martial is being held. A general court-martial, the highest level of military court, consists of a trial counsel, defense counsel, a military judge, and a panel that must have at least five officers. An enlisted accused can request a panel composed of at least one-third enlisted personnel. In this TV show episode there were only two officers and five enlisted personnel on the panel. (00:40:50)
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)
Episode One - S2-E1
Factual error: During this episode, Vincent is remanded to prison for suspected murder. At one scene he is seen working on the wing. Remand prisoners are not expected or allowed to carry out work duties in British Prisons.
Closely Watched Planes - S4-E3
Factual error: If there really was a hatch leading into mid-air in the airplane bathroom, instead of being soundless like shown, it would be incredibly loud and Max would have noticed. Also, the sudden pressure change would have sucked him out no matter what he did to stop it.