Best crime TV factual errors of all time

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Queen of the South picture

Cuarenta Minutos - S1-E2

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.

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The Rockford Files picture

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)

Sammo

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NCIS: Los Angeles picture

The Livelong Day - S5-E7

Factual error: When the stolen freight train is braking, the air pipe becomes disconnected. This should trigger the brakes on the train, but the train keeps going with no brakes. When the train is being slowed with no brakes working, why are there sparks coming from all wheels on the train? (00:32:00 - 00:38:00)

M1CGP

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The Missing picture

Show generally

Factual error: When the man who ran down Olly made an emergency call and then hung up there would have been a record of the call and his number could have been tracked. The police would investigate if any emergency calls were made. And the emergency services would have informed the police even if they didn't. An incomplete emergency call in the hour/area a child went missing and no-one would have reported it? Yeah right.

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Millennium picture

19:19 - S2-E7

Factual error: Broken Bow is in the southeastern corner of Oklahoma. US 60 is shown here, but actually cuts across the northern part of the state. (00:09:30)

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The Good Fight picture

The Gang Goes to War - S4-E5

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)

toroscan

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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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Adam-12 picture

Sunburn - S6-E20

Factual error: 19 1/2 minutes in. They pull over a car and run the plate. Malloy tells the driver the car is registered to a Volkswagen. He should have said the plate is registered.

terry s

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Death in Paradise picture

Flames of Love - S5-E8

Factual error: When JP shows the article from the Cowbridge Gazette, it is the Wednesday 22.01.16. January the 22nd was a Friday in 2016. Following article's date; Wednesday 2.2.2016. Actual 2.2.2016: a Tuesday. (00:15:25)

Sammo

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Tin Star picture

All Roads - S3-E5

Factual error: When Detective Inspector Sara Lunt's photograph in uniform is shown on the TV news she is wearing a double row of silver lace below her hat badge. Only chief constables wear this insignia, well above the rank of inspector.

Necrothesp

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The Following picture

Pilot - S1-E1

Factual error: The FBI agent introduces himself and says "Mike Weston - I did my thesis on Joe Carol at the academy." FBI agents are required to have a university degree, but they don't write thesis' at the academy. A person is either in a university or at Quantico getting trained. They are not writing papers at Quantico. They need the degree beforehand to get in. (00:10:30 - 00:11:30)

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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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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

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Reacher picture

In a Tree - S1-E4

Factual error: When Reacher talks on the phone with Secret Service agent Molly Beth Gordon, she is using a Huawei phone, which has been banned from all agencies since 2019.

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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

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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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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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