Best crime TV factual errors of all time

Please vote as you browse around to help the best rise to the top.

Quantico picture

Kudove - S2-E1

Factual error: The shoulder patch on the U.S. customs and Border Protection officer's uniform is wrong. The real patch doesn't state Dept of Customs and Border Protection and United States Homeland Security in a smaller circle on the patch. The real patch just states U.S. Customs and Border Protection - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is not a department. Also, the officer doesn't have a name tag on over the right pocket. (00:04:00)

Snag.1

More Quantico factual errors
More Wicked City factual errors
Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: Unless he'd exhaled before falling in the water, then he'd sink.

Overweight people usually float. Thin people and heavily muscled people sink.

Leicaman

More Jessica Jones factual errors
The Good Wife picture

Landing - S7-E19

Factual error: The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are wearing ties with tie clips. Real officers wear a badge tie tack. (00:01:35)

Snag.1

More The Good Wife factual errors
More Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders factual errors
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

More And Then There Were None factual errors
The F.B.I. picture

Flight - S5-E7

Factual error: At the start of this episode you see the terminal at Washington Reagan National Airport, but when Mr. Haslett picks up his ticket you hear an announcement stating it is the Seattle, Washington Airport. (00:00:20)

Regulus

More The F.B.I. factual errors
Aquarius picture

Revolution 1 - S2-E4

Factual error: Hodiak is having breakfast at a dinner. There is a sign for breakfast with a price of $4.95. In 1967 the price for breakfast would have been around $1.25 or less. Minimum wage was $1.60 an hour and the price of a big Mac, for example, was $0.50 and fries $0.10. So a $4.95 price for breakfast is just ridiculous.

ppdixx

More Aquarius factual errors
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

More Ironside factual errors
More The Missing factual errors
Death in Paradise picture

Show generally

Factual error: The fictional island of Saint Marie where the series takes place is a British territory - after all, the whole gig is about fish-out-of-water British cops in the tropics. Specifically the Commissioner explains the history of the island to DI Richard Poole driving him to the station the first time and says that it was a French territory but in the mid 70s they handed it back to the British. Despite that, throughout the whole series the police and almost every local drive (on the left) vehicles with French registration plates, specifically with the 971 code of Guadeloupe, where the series is shot. In the first seasons the British police also routinely sends evidence and other critical parts of the job to labs in Guadaloupe, effectively out of the country. Seems quite absurd that in 40 years the British wouldn't have established vital parts of administration and rely entirely on French neighbours.

Sammo

More Death in Paradise factual errors
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

More Little Boy Blue factual errors
Bull picture

Free Fall - S1-E16

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.

Tanngrisnir

More Bull factual errors
More Fearless factual errors
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)

More Ray Donovan factual errors
Ozark picture

Trouble the Water - S4-E12

Factual error: The judge rules in favor of Wendy's father despite not hearing any testimony from his primary witness, who fails to appear. The judge states on the record that he is making this ruling because of the Byrdes' "reputation" rather than any testimony. This is absolutely ludicrous. A judge is not allowed to make a ruling on a child custody case based entirely on his opinion of the litigants, which he doesn't even elaborate upon, rather than any evidence or testimony before him.

BaconIsMyBFF

More Ozark factual errors
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

More Happy Valley factual errors
More The Untouchables factual errors
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)

More The Return of Sherlock Holmes factual errors
More Waco factual errors