Best crime TV plot holes of all time

John Doe - S2-E14

Plot hole: In this episode, Kellerman insists that there is no way of identifying Stedman. The brothers ask about DNA, dental records, etc. Kellerman states that they were erased. However, Stedman's DNA can always be tested and compared to that of the presidents. DNA will show that they are siblings. There is no "erasing" that.

Mr. Monk Goes to Jail - S2-E16

Plot hole: It is unrealistic that a prison cook who did not punch out would not be missed or found until the next day, especially after a lock-down scenario as portrayed in this episode, where a meal has been poisoned - likely in that very kitchen.

Berlin: Conclusion - S1-E22

Plot hole: At the end of this episode Red takes off his shirt revealing his burned back, which leaves us to think that he might be Elizabeth's dad. However, this particular mark should have been noticed and written down in Red's prisoner file when he was taken into custody the first time (Episode 1). In that case Elizabeth would already know that Red is burned and could have asked some questions about it.

...About Last Night - S5-E4

Plot hole: In this episode, the Duboises make such a big deal about Ariel being old enough to finally learn to drive. However, two episodes previously ("Things to Do in Phoenix When You're Dead") Ariel drove herself to school and Joe complimented her on her prowess.

Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office - S2-E1

Plot hole: In this episode Tony tells Janice that he has just put their mother's house on the market. In season one, the house had already been sold.

Bad Words - S4-E19

Plot hole: A central plot device in this episode is that there is no six letter word made up of the letters EXVIN, so the murdered man cheats at the word game by playing a word he knew to be inadmissible - exvin, a wine connoisseur who no longer drinks. Since he is supposed to be a stone cold killer player at this word game, don't you think he would have thought of Vixen? Sara Sidle points that word out later - why wouldn't a world champion word game player have figured it out, using a safe, common word and avoiding a possible challenge?

Volcano - S1-E2

Plot hole: How could Ned shoot Kenny by accident when he was unable to shoot Scuzzlebutt because he had run out of ammo?

Day 2: 7:00 A.M.-8:00 A.M. - S2-E24

Plot hole: Peter Kingsley is shot and killed by a man in a helicopter just as he is about to kill Jack. Kingsley would definitely have heard the helicopter approaching.

Season 8 generally

Plot hole: 8-22 "Love Thy Neighbor, Take His Wife": The police cars speed to Tanaka's house with their sirens screaming, warning him in plenty of time to allow him to escape. Apparently these guys never heard of the law-enforcement standard "silent approach."

The Man in the Fallout Shelter - S1-E9

Plot hole: At first the victim (Careful Lionel) is described as not returning to pick up his new shirt in November 1958, and possessing love letters dated from 1957 through early winter (November) 1958. Booth reports the fallout shelter where Lionel's body was discovered was sealed in 1958. Later Lionel is described as reported missing by his boss in January 1960, and the illegitimate child he fathered was born in 1960 as well. That would mean his boss didn't notice he was gone for over a year, and his pregnant girlfriend was with child for at least 14 months.

Father Figure - S1-E14

Plot hole: When the two henchmen who break into Nick's loft to kill Lisa are captured, the case is closed. But the two thugs were reporting back to a boss who wasn't caught, and who surely would have sent more hitmen after Lisa. So the case shouldn't have been closed.

Surf's Up! Joker's Under! - S3-E10

Plot hole: An amazingly precognizant Dick Grayson is already wearing his surfing togs before Commissioner Gordon calls to say that Joker has invaded the surfing community. (00:04:30)

The Fall - S1-E17

Plot hole: The CSIs catch a murder suspect putting down a drink can when reviewing security footage of a robbery, and immediately realise they didn't see it at the scene so assume one of the first cops on the scene must have removed it. Thing is though, the murderers shot out the security camera before the actual shooting occurred, meaning there was loads of time off-camera for the killers to take the can with them, but the CSIs never even consider this - they jump to the conclusion a cop took it even though there's no actual evidence for that.

Jon Sandys

Take It Personal - S1-E10

Plot hole: They only take out the shrapnel from the gut shot - they never deal with the shrapnel in his shoulder at all. (00:04:25 - 00:05:00)

Show generally

Plot hole: In episode 5-2 Shrink WrapThe man plays his last nickel and wins the jackpot. You have to play the maximum number of coins to hit the huge jackpot which on that machine states is 5 coins.

Victory for Humanity - S1-E19

Plot hole: At the beginning Sam stated that the missing teacher comes to work by subway every day. But in the flashback of his conversation with the drug dealer, he's about to get into his car. (00:13:00)

After Hours - S5-E8

Plot hole: Beckett and Castle lose their cell phones and wallets and are being chased by the mob. Beckett steals a cell phone from a car but can't use it, since it is locked and then shut off remotely. Any cell phone can always dial 911, whether locked or blocked from service.

Thou Shalt Not Steele - S1-E5

Plot hole: Laura successfully knocks out both bad guys, steals their van and crashes through the warehouse doors. The van doesn't stall, but inexplicably, she stops it, gets out and runs away on foot, even though the baddies are coming to and coming after her. Not the option you'd expect a kidnap victim to choose: most people would floor it and keep on driving. (00:23:40)

Everest Was Also Conquered - S1-E8

Plot hole: Bodie says that Cowley had ordered him and Doyle to stay away from Turvey before CI5 operative Tony Miller was killed. In fact it was AFTER Miller was assassinated.

Dead Freight - S5-E5

Plot hole: Preparing to steal methylamine from the train, Walt, Jesse and Mike measure off a predetermined distance from the railroad crossing, which happens to coincide with a handy arroyo, where they bury their tanks. Problem is that they couldn't have known that distance (calculated by knowing the position of the methylamine tanker car in the train) until Lydia told them. But she didn't call that info in until the night after they'd already buried the tanks.