Best TV factual errors of 2017

Please vote as you browse around to help the best rise to the top.

SEAL Team picture

Fracture - S2-E1

Factual error: The briefer on the oil platform mission says the platform is 12 stories, and 80 million square feet. Doing the math, that makes it half a mile per side if completely square. It is nowhere near that size as shown. The largest oil rig in the world - Berkut in Russia's Far East - has a combined deck area of only 342,000 square feet. (00:13:35)

toroscan

More SEAL Team factual errors
Young Sheldon picture

A Baby Tooth and the Egyptian God of Knowledge - S3-E20

Factual error: Georgie removes his stash of cash from the air vent in his bedroom (envelope with a photo of a mustang taped to it) and the cash ($20 bills) have a serial # starting with the letter "C" which is a series of bills that were not printed until 2001. (00:15:14)

More Young Sheldon factual errors
Imposters picture

Maybe/Definitely - S2-E5

Factual error: In the opening sequence when Maddie is supposedly driving from Michigan through Ohio and back to Pennsylvania, you can very briefly spot the reflection of a "TD Canada Trust" in the car window. This is because the show is actually shot in Vancouver. In the United States the company is simply known as "TD Bank", which doesn't operate any branches in either Michigan or Ohio. (00:01:55)

More Imposters factual errors
Taboo picture

Episode #1.7 - S1-E7

Factual error: Lorna uses the word 'okay'. The first recorded usage of this word in America was not until 1839 and in Britain not until the 20th century. The series is set in 1814 and generally uses language contemporary to its setting.

Necrothesp

More Taboo factual errors
More The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel factual errors
The Handmaid's Tale picture

Show generally

Factual error: In several different episodes characters are escaping on foot to Canada, as evidenced by Ontario license plates. But the show is set in New England, and the only way to get to Ontario through the Eastern United States is by crossing a major body of water: The St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, The Niagara River, or Lake Erie. You can't walk there.

More The Handmaid's Tale factual errors
Manhunt: Unabomber picture

Lincoln - S1-E7

Factual error: The show has a BMW X5 (2007 - 2012) appearing when the media goes to the brother's house. (00:27:50)

More Manhunt: Unabomber factual errors
More Mindhunter factual errors
The Chosen picture

Show generally

Factual error: In season 1, there is an Egyptian woman wearing ornate jewellery around her head. Unfortunately, at least 3 components are old UK currency coins from the latter half of the 20th century. Clearly visible are copper 2p pieces and one old silver 10p coin. (00:38:40)

More The Chosen factual errors
13 Reasons Why picture

Bye - S2-E13

Factual error: In the disturbing assault scene, after having his head smashed into a mirror and banged against the sink multiple times, there is no way Tyler would be conscious for the rest of the scene.

TyPage

More 13 Reasons Why factual errors
Liar picture

Season 2 generally

Factual error: DI Renton is a Metropolitan Police officer 'parachuted' into Kent to solve a big case. This hasn't happened for many decades. Local police forces investigate their own crimes without help from the Met.

Necrothesp

More Liar factual errors
Little Boy Blue picture

Show generally

Factual error: ACC Pat Gallan wears the ribbon of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. The medal was issued in 2012. Her medals would be correct for 2017 when the series was made, but not 2007 when it is set.

Necrothesp

More Little Boy Blue factual errors
Valor picture

Show generally

Factual error: Every Time the Shadow Raiders deploy to Somalia, they use a Blackhawk nicknamed "Adele" for their missions. I can understand the helos being transported via fixed-wing aircraft, but on their last mission they leave Georgia, and reach Somalia the same day, flying in the Blackhawks. It would take them some 15-20 hours not including fuel stops. Yet the mission is completed in the time it takes to find a bomb in downtown Atlanta.

goofyfoot

More Valor factual errors
The Good Fight picture

The Gang Goes to War - S4-E5

Factual error: A general court-martial is being held. A general court-martial, the highest level of military court, consists of a trial counsel, defense counsel, a military judge, and a panel that must have at least five officers. An enlisted accused can request a panel composed of at least one-third enlisted personnel. In this TV show episode there were only two officers and five enlisted personnel on the panel. (00:40:50)

toroscan

More The Good Fight factual errors
More Jamestown factual errors
Mysteries of the Abandoned picture

Pompeii's Gate to Hell - S4-E8

Factual error: This episode includes a segment about an abandoned dry dock in San Francisco. At one point, one of the commentators several times refers to the U.S.S. Ward as a "battleship," and marvels that it was built in 17 days. The Ward (DD-139) was a 1200-ton destroyer, not a battleship, and was launched after only 17 days, but then took another two months to complete. By way of comparison, the California (BB-44), an actual battleship of 32,000-tons built during the same time period, too nearly five years to complete.

mdwalker

More Mysteries of the Abandoned factual errors
More Fearless factual errors
The Last Post picture

Show generally

Factual error: Sergeant Baxter seems to be the senior NCO of the company. There appear to be no company sergeant major or staff sergeants. This is very odd, but particularly odd in the Royal Military Police, which is very NCO-heavy.

Necrothesp

More The Last Post factual errors
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

More Godless factual errors
Tin Star picture

All Roads - S3-E5

Factual error: When Detective Inspector Sara Lunt's photograph in uniform is shown on the TV news she is wearing a double row of silver lace below her hat badge. Only chief constables wear this insignia, well above the rank of inspector.

Necrothesp

More Tin Star factual errors

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.