Best mystery TV revealing mistakes of all time

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The Event picture

Face Off - S1-E15

Revealing mistake: Episode 15, "Faceoff": When the agent fires the hook to get to the roof of the church, it does not reach the balcony. However in a following shot you can see the agent climbing there. (00:10:05)

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Law & Order picture Law & Order mistake picture

Patient Zero - S14-E3

Revealing mistake: When Briscoe and Green investigate the auto yard with the stolen, blue SUV, Briscoe handcuffs the owner. When he cuffs him, he turns him, showing his back and his hands behind his back. You can see the actor isn't cuffed, just holding the handcuffs as he walks. (00:06:35)

Matdan97

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Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries picture

The Green Mill Murder - S1-E3

Revealing mistake: When the band in the nightclub performs the made up song "Mr. Music Man", the suave Mr. Stone, the musician Miss Fisher ends up dancing with, is doing one heck of an hilariously incompetent job at faking to play an instrument, basically playing air-banjo strumming about 3 inches above where the chords are, and wildly off tempo. In the closing bit of the song (as the singer sings "To sin") he even moves his hand at the side of the strings and not above them. (00:03:30)

Sammo

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The Sixth Sense picture

With This Ring, I Thee Kill! - S1-E7

Revealing mistake: In the hospital, a male nurse stands by as Rhodes talks to the patient, keeping an eye on all the beeping vital-signs monitors. But there's nothing attached to the man in the bed - no wires, no leads, not even an IV.

Jean G

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Haven picture

Fear & Loathing - S2-E2

Revealing mistake: When Nathan and Audrey are sitting at the table in The Grey Gull, the extra in the background can be seen bringing a loaded fork inches short of his mouth then fake chewing. This happens a few times before cutting to the ending credits. (00:40:05 - 00:40:55)

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Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency picture

Show generally

Revealing mistake: Mr Knight shoots Suzie Boreton - after the muzzle flashes and sounds stop the bolt of his MK14 EBR continues to move back and forth as if it's still firing. (00:30:30)

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Broadchurch picture

Episode #1.4 - S1-E4

Revealing mistake: The tabloid story with the plight of the Latimers just came out, and various characters are looking at it. In the bit when David Tennant tosses on the desk his copy of the Herald, the second paragraph of the second column goes "Sitting in the family home, surrounded by pictures and mementos of Danny" etc. It is the same text that was at the very beginning of the article when the store owner was looking at it. The newspaper is a prop with the same text in a loop. (00:35:00 - 00:36:30)

Sammo

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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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Stranger Things picture

Chapter One: MADMAX - S2-E1

Revealing mistake: When Bob and Joyce have lunch, Bob pops open a can of soda (which is period appropriate). The scene cuts to Joyce, then back to Bob. It is clear from how he is holding the can, and how he pretends to drink from it, that his newly opened soda is actually empty.

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The New Avengers picture The New Avengers mistake picture

Obsession - S2-E5

Revealing mistake: Our heroes arrive at an RAF base. Purdey hears a loud aircraft noise and looks up to the sky - cut to shot of a fighter jet. For a few frames after the cut, a caption that reads "The Engineer in the RAF" is just visible. It would seem they 'borrowed' some material from an RAF training film. (Indeed, a later shot of shells exploding was obviously taken from a videotaped TV programme, judging by the 'lag' effect caused by the tube camera that would've been used).

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JAG (1995)

JAG picture

Trinity - S2-E6

Revealing mistake: As Harm & Mac are returning to the US, we are told they are flying out of London Heathrow. But the stock footage of an airport used is actually London Gatwick, identified by its distinctive control tower, and not Heathrow.

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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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