Best mystery TV revealing mistakes of all time

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Law & Order: Criminal Intent picture

Family Values - S8-E9

Revealing mistake: Paul Devildis calls the bank to discuss his restructuring plan. During the shots of the two bankers, on the desk is a notebook-sized, plain brown box. It is very distinctive as it is blank except for a single square white label on the front. Later in the episode Paul delivers his restructuring plan with the bomb inside to the bank. It is in this same box.

Guy

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Alfred Hitchcock Hour picture

Water's Edge - S3-E3

Revealing mistake: The murder victim's skeleton, which Rusty finds in the attic, has a clear cut all the way around its skull. It also has metal pins holding together what turns out to be rubber bones: one of the ribs wobbles up and down when Rusty brushes against it with the cash box. (00:42:00)

Jean G

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Elementary picture

The Woman - S1-E23

Revealing mistake: It's a valiant effort, but the scenes of Sherlock & Irene in a London street are shot in New York. Not only is the architecture wrong but you can see a U.S. pedestrian crossing signal over Irene's shoulder. (00:16:15)

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Batman: The Animated Series picture

Heart of Ice - S1-E3

Revealing mistake: When Batman - disguised as a security guard - opens his utility belt, the belt opens and shows a configuration of buttons and a split-second later, a key card materializes out of thin air in front of the buttons. (00:11:30)

Phaneron

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Carnivàle picture

Lonnigan, Texas - S1-E8

Revealing mistake: In brother Justin's padded cell, the far wall is obviously a painted backdrop. It even flutters when the orderly and doctor walk in! The only solid part is a couple of feet at the end, that Justin leans up against.

Twotall

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Quincy M.E. picture

Vigil of Fear - S6-E18

Revealing mistake: In the arcade the killer talks to his helper while playing a pinball machine. He plays very agitated and strongly. But if you look closer at the below end of the playfield you see that there is no ball and the flippers aren't moving. (00:23:50 - 00:24:48)

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Slasher picture

Show generally

Revealing mistake: As Sgt. Cain and Chief Lain stand by Marjorie's dead body lying on the hotel bed, discussing her death from an overdose, you can see her stomach rise and fall slightly, though she's supposed to be dead. (00:18:00 - 00:20:00)

eaglegrad16

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Warehouse 13 picture

Regrets - S1-E9

Revealing mistake: When Artie demagnetizes the lab coat, Claudia falls from a high altitude, but when the shot cuts to her landing on the raft, you can see that the actor jumped from a position much closer to the ground. (00:39:00)

Knever

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Beck picture

Monstret - S1-E6

Revealing mistake: As the RCV enters the gravel field with the bomb, you can see a person in shorts walking casually in the background, despite the area being sealed off.

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Lie to Me picture

The Royal We - S3-E2

Revealing mistake: On the RV of the guy being accused of molesting the girls, someone has written "PERVERT" in red spray paint. At a point you see Lightman next to a car, and the RV in the background, and the text is mirrored reading: "TREVREP", showing that during editing, this shot was flipped. (00:15:30)

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And Then There Were None picture

Episode #1.3 - S1-E3

Revealing mistake: When Lombard looks at Vera after realizing she stole his gun, the unruly wisps of hair are on his left temple, while in the rest of the scene they are on his right. The shot is mirrored, as you can see that suddenly it's like he's wearing a woman's shirt, with buttons on the left. (00:38:45)

Sammo

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Matlock picture

The Godfather - S8-E19

Revealing mistake: Ben Matlock is hosting a pre-wedding party for his goddaughter. Several cars are parked on both sides of the street in front of Ben's house. Each time the front door is opened, The View seen from inside the house looking out is the same matte painting used in every episode. It shows a house and trees but no cars.

Steven Lee

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Absentia picture Absentia mistake picture

The Emily Show - S1-E3

Revealing mistake: The scene is set in Boston, MA, USA, but at a murder location, a European-style circular power outlet is visible through the glass doors at the bottom of the concrete wall. (00:01:20)

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