Best western TV mistakes of all time

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F Troop picture

Scourge of the West - S1-E1

Factual error: We see how the accident-prone Wilton Parmenter was a soldier at Appotomatox during the Civil War when he sneezed. Union soldiers mistook his sneezing for a call to regroup and charge, winning the battle. Wilton Parmenter was awarded the Medal Of Honour. Accident-prone, even in his moment of glory, when the medal was pinned on Wilton's chest it pierced his skin, drawing blood. Wilton was therefore awarded the Purple Heart, becoming "the only soldier in history to get a medal for getting a medal." This was not possible, for the "Purple Heart" (or "Badge Of Military Merit", to use its proper title) awarded to US soldiers wounded in action, was only instituted in 1932. (Before somebody corrects me, George Washington did institute the award for some distinguished combatants during the War Of Independence, but it was never awarded during the nineteenth century, and revived in 1932).

Rob Halliday

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Cheyenne picture

The Vanishing Breed - S7-E9

Continuity mistake: When the Indian agent is killed, a very 20th Century rubber-tread shoe print is visible in the dirt beside him. When Cheyenne arrives and finds the body, though, the footprint has disappeared.

Jean G

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1883 picture

The Crossing - S1-E4

Factual error: The Dutton camp as well as Shea Brennon and Thomas are using modern thin Teflon/non-stick coated coffee mugs/pot.

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Westworld picture

Kiksuya - S2-E8

Other mistake: The Lakota is attacking a small group of white men. One is face down on the ground, and he lifts his head to cut his throat. In the background are two cowboy actors joking and twirling their guns. One drops their gun and picks it back up. (00:20:43)

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Godless picture

Show generally

Factual error: Two women come into town somewhere around San Luis Valley, Colorado with ring-necked Pheasants. The pheasants were brought into US a few times (East coast, CA) but really did not get established until late 1880s and in Colorado likely in the late 1890s (eastern and southwestern). The problem is it supposedly depicts the year 1880. They would more likely may have found some Gunnisons Sage-Grouse nearby or rabbits. (00:16:10)

Hall Boy

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The Roy Rogers Show picture

The Kid from Silver City - S3-E10

Continuity mistake: Roy is visited by a deputy marshal who is looking for the son of a local storekeeper. When the two men leave to visit the storekeeper, Roy leaves his hat on the kitchen table, but when he enters the store the hat is on his head.

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Maverick picture

Family Pride - S4-E17

Continuity mistake: In the opening scene, rear-screen projection footage behind the stagecoach shows a landscape covered with trees. When Crippen points out the mountains, we see an expanse of completely treeless desert. In the next shot, the trees have returned.

Jean G

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Zorro picture

Señor China Boy - S2-E38

Plot hole: Diego instructs Bernardo to use sign language to talk to the Chinese. The problem is that Bernardo shows the Chinese things that he could not have known if he were really deaf and dumb (where the Chinese came from, for example). All this in front of Sergeant Garcia.

Big Game

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Streets of Laredo picture

Show generally

Factual error: In this final made-for-TV mini-series of the 'Lonesome Dove' franchise (the one with James Garner as Woodrow Call), they show the crazy renegade teenage killer hanging Judge Roy Bean from the beams outside the front of his own store/courthouse. Bean died peacefully in his bed on March 16, 1903, after a bout of heavy drinking in San Antonio.

roy sandefur

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The Magnificent Seven picture

Wagon Train: Part 1 - S2-E5

Character mistake: When the gang is watering the horses, Chris walks over to meet Mary's man friend (whom she introduces as an old friend of the family) and the mystery man tells Chris that he'd proposed to Mary long before 'Frank' when Mary's late husband was Steve.

eaglegrad16

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1923 picture

The War Has Come Home - S1-E3

Continuity mistake: During the ambush, young Jack, on horseback, takes off after the wagon which is carrying his wounded fiancé. The chase is long including a cut away and yet the wagon winds up only yards away from the ambush where the chase began.

bnemirow

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