Best crime TV factual errors of all time

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The Missing picture

Show generally

Factual error: Although the regiment at the centre of the drama is fictitious, its cap badge looks like nothing that which would be worn by a British regiment. It includes no crown and looks more like a German cap badge.

Necrothesp

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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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Vincent picture

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.

Jeff Walker

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Sherwood picture

Show generally

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.

Necrothesp

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Rookie Blue picture

The Girlfriend Experience - S3-E8

Factual error: The group set up a sting for prostitution/solicitation, even though it isn't illegal in Canada. The unnamed city they patrol is Canadian, established in the "sister cities" they name, plus often referring to Rochester and New York as "across the border. As for prostitution, the only two times its illegal for adults in Canada is public solicitation (street walking) which doesn't apply for websites, or in running bawdy (cat) houses, neither of which apply here.

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Death in Paradise picture

Episode #4.7 - S4-E7

Factual error: Phony computer shenanigans happen when JP shows the rest of the gang the file he recovered from the trash; he plays a PX (Pixel32 file, unless it's meant to be some file for a fictitious app) like it's a full HD amazing video, straight from the bin without recovering it first. (00:33:05)

Sammo

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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.

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Elementary picture

One Watson, One Holmes - S3-E19

Factual error: In the scene in the hospital, the guy who drove his motorbike into a van has an IV canula in his right hand, but the IV pole and the IV bag are on the left side of the bed, which means the IV line has to be long enough to go up to the bedhead, then behind the bedhead and then up to the bag, leaving no way to check for air bubbles.

kh1616

More Elementary factual errors
Get Smart picture

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.

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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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Liar picture

Season 2 generally

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.

Necrothesp

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Luther picture

Show generally

Factual error: Throughout the series and credits, the ranks of Detective Superintendent and Detective Chief Superintendent are abbreviated as DSU and DCSU instead of the correct DSI and DCS.

Necrothesp

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Bonnie and Clyde picture

Night Two - S1-E2

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.

blooiris

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Happy Valley picture

Episode #1.5 - S1-E5

Factual error: Catherine is told she's been recommended for the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry. This has not been awarded since 1977, when it was replaced by the Queen's Gallantry Medal, which is still awarded.

Necrothesp

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Kojak picture

Siege of Terror - S1-E1

Factual error: The armed robbery is reported by the radio call as happening in "4014 Nostrand Avenue", which is a real street in Brooklyn. However, the first detectives to respond to the dispatch identify themselves as being from "Manhattan South" (makes sense, Kojak being a Lieutenant of the fictional 11th Manhattan South precinct), and the rest of the episode is set obviously in Manhattan. That's many miles away.

Sammo

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Eric picture

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.

bnemirow

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Ray Donovan picture

Yo Soy Capitan - S2-E1

Factual error: Terry calls Frances but he only dials 5 numbers. The minimum phone number especially in Los Angeles is 7 digits. (00:16:55)

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Kleo picture

Show generally

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.

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