Best mystery TV character mistakes of all time

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More Broadchurch character mistakes
Without A Trace picture

The Line - S2-E14

Character mistake: While discussing an ex-con with Danny, Jack uses the redundant acronym "PO officer." Since, by definition, the phrase is redundant, his use of "officer" is unnecessary. (00:13:25)

Cubs Fan

More Without A Trace character mistakes
Numb3rs picture

Sabotage - S1-E6

Character mistake: In the epilogue, Charlie illustrates the relationship of mathematics to real life by discussing the golden ratio and its presence in a host of real-life situations, including the shape of a nautilus shell and the distribution of petals in a flower. These claims are disputed by some mathematicians (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio#Nature), and the one about the nautilus shell one is untrue (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_spiral#Spirals_in_nature). It's possible Charlie is just repeating what he has read or heard without investigating it for himself, but this is uncharacteristic of him.

paolog

More Numb3rs character mistakes
Surface picture

Show generally

Character mistake: When Rich refers to the film showing Davis (decades ago), he figures they were in "Asia... Mongolia or somewhere." However, the film cannister had "Tibet, 1937" written on it - important enough to show the audience, but not for the character to read? (00:40:25)

David R Turner

More Surface character mistakes
Cold Case picture

Devil Music - S5-E4

Character mistake: When they pulled the bullet out of the wall of the Five and Dime, Danny says that it was either a .40 or .45 caliber. The .40 caliber was not produced until 1990, 37 years after the date the crime took place. (00:30:00 - 00:35:00)

More Cold Case character mistakes
Forever Knight picture

I Will Repay - S1-E10

Character mistake: Nick asks Janette if she's ever turned anyone else into a vampire - an odd question, considering the fact that he already knows she has. He was there when she brought the baroness across in the 18th Century flashback sequence for "If Looks Could Kill." It's even odder that Janette tells him she's never done it, since she knows that Nick knows she has. Apparently, the only one not in the know here was the scriptwriter.

Jean G

More Forever Knight character mistakes
Diagnosis Murder picture

Murder at Midterm - S7-E4

Character mistake: Dr. Sloan and Quinn are in the victim's apartment. Right before Dr. Sloan opens the door for the old lady witness to ID Quinn, Dr. Sloan says, "saw a man visiting Holly the night before he died." Holly is a woman. Dr. Sloan should have said "she." (00:33:51)

More Diagnosis Murder character mistakes
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Relic Hunter picture

Smoking Gun - S1-E2

Character mistake: When the bad guys put the generator in front of the air vent, Nigel looks at the white smoke and pointing at it says "Carbon monoxide." Carbon monoxide is colorless, white smoke is mostly condensed vapor. (00:35:20)

Sammo

More Relic Hunter character mistakes
Crossing Jordan picture

Four Fathers - S1-E14

Character mistake: Mahershala said the child found in the cement had "osteoportrosis", instead of osteoporosis. Then the grief counselor repeated the same incorrect word.

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

Suggested correction: They said "osteopetrosis," which is a different medical condition from osteoporosis. Osteopetrosis is a genetic condition that causes overly dense, brittle, and misshapen bones starting in infancy.

More Crossing Jordan character mistakes
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Matlock picture

The Singer - S7-E5

Character mistake: Near the end, Matlock says that he can prove who killed KC. The burden of proof lies with the prosecution; as a defense attorney, Matlock doesn't have to prove anything.

Cubs Fan

More Matlock character mistakes
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Are You Afraid of the Dark? picture

The Tale of the Manaha - S5-E7

Character mistake: Near the beginning as the leader is about to set off with the boys, he says, "About face!" and turns to the left, and the boys follow suit. But "About face" means to turn 180°. He should have said "Left face" to get them to turn 90° to the left. (00:04:25)

Knever

More Are You Afraid of the Dark? character mistakes
Leverage picture

The Rundown Job - S5-E10

Character mistake: Upon finding the Spanish flu virus missing, Hardison freaks out about it killing 50m people 100 years ago, saying it would be even more deadly today due to the higher population. There's no reason to think so - the death toll in 1918 was massively exacerbated by the aftermath of WWI. Not to mention today we have vaccines, plus most deaths then were actually caused by bacterial pneumonia, which today is easily treated with antibiotics.

Jon Sandys

More Leverage character mistakes
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