History Main / ClueEvidenceAndASmokingGun

-->'''Van Helsing:''' Whatever it is, it appears to be human. I'd say he's a size 17. Around 360 pounds. 8.5 to 9 feet tall. He has a bad gimp in his right leg and three copper teeth.

* ''Fanfic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse:'' In the non-cannon side-story, ''Dinky & the Blanks'', the BigBad tries performing a SherlockScan on the Element Bearers, only for Trixie to quickly shut him down by pointing out ''anyone'' can see that Ditzy has strabismus, or that Lyra's a musician, or that Carrot Top is a farmer.

* '''Film/TrueRomance''' has a protracted torture scene where mobster Don Vincenzo inquires about Clarence by torturing Clarence's father, who denies any knowledge until Don Vincenzo explains [[LivingLieDetector he knows when somebody lies]], meticulously. Eventually all the explanation, clues, misinformation and time spent becomes immediately useless when the mobsters find Clarence's whereabout pinned on a pice of paper right there.

* In ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'', Michael hooks up with a lawyer without realising she's blind until the morning after. The narrator notes that Michael "[[FlashbackMontageRealization suddenly recalled]] some {{Non Sequitur}}s from the night before": In the first one she mentions having ocular retinoblastoma (He assumes it's "law talk"), in the second she mentions not being able to "see anyone ever" (he was talking about dating) and in the third one she just yells "I'm blind!" to which he responds "I'm wasted!"

** Parodied in "Aerodynamics of Gender," where Joshua the gardener makes some seemingly innocuous remarks to Troy and Jeff that turn out to have double meanings later...the [[spoiler:swastika tattoo]] probably should have tipped them off.

* ''{{Series/Dollhouse}}'' had a light, comical version. When Caroline first meets Bennett in college, she guesses Bennett is a neuroscience major. Bennett is shocked she guessed that so easily and asks how she figured it out. Caroline says it's because Bennett is eating a tuna sandwich, and fish is brain food...and also because Bennett is carrying a large stack of neuroscience textbooks.

* In the season 3 premiere of ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', Howard announces that Sheldon has run away providing the following evidence: he won't answer any calls, he quit his job and he sent a text to Howard saying "I'm running away".

** Used in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0819.html this]] strip when Tarquin explains the reasons why he is sure Nale hasn't left the city after his latest scheme fell through: because Nale is a cautious planner and thus wouldn't leave the city without replacements for the men he lost, because Nale has a massive ego and thus wouldn't leave until he knew what Elan and Tarquin had to say about his stunt...and because Tarquin is wearing a ring of True Seeing and thus can see the invisible Nale standing right next to them. Cue massive OhCrap from the latter.

'''Abe:''' Good question! On one of my frequent trips to the ground, I noticed Malloy wore sneakers...for sneaking. My next clue came yesterday at the museum. We felt slighted by your age-bashing, and started home. Malloy said, "I'll catch up with you." ''[Malloy throws a grappling hook at the museum roof and starts climbing]'' I couldn't quite put my finger on it. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint There was something strange about the way he walked -- much more vertical than usual.]] And finally, Malloy, unlike most retired people, has the world's largest cubic zirconia on his coffee table.
** In "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday", Wally's Superbowl tickets are revealed to be fakes because the hologram is missing, there's no such team as the Spungos, and they seem to be printed on some kind of cracker. Which is still edible.

* There is a quite famous anecdote about Doctor Joseph Bell who was supposedly the real life inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. When presented with a patient in front of his students he asked them to use deduction for finding the patient's problem. When nobody found it, he explained the process thus: use clues to make an assumption (red nose and pimples that would suggest alcoholism) and then support that theory with hard evidence (whereupon he pointed at a bottle of brandy in the patient's pocket).

* In "[[Series/{{Monk}} Mr. Monk and the Smoking Gun]]":

Compare SherlockCanRead, AsymmetricDilemma. Has some similarity with ArsonMurderAndJaywalking (or BreadEggsMilkSquick) but with weak arguments leading up to one strong one (and used as a deduction).

[[folder: Radio]]

->''"The battery was a lithium thionyl chloride nonrechargeable. I figured that out from some subtle clues: the shape of the connection points, the thickness of the insulation, and the fact that it had "[=LiSOCl2=] NON-RCHRG" written on it."''

-> "The battery was a lithium thionyl chloride nonrechargeable. I figured that out from some [[SarcasmMode subtle clues]]: the shape of the connection points, the thickness of the insulation, and the fact that it had "[=LiSOCl2=] NON-RCHRG" written on it."

-->--'''Mark Watney''', Literature/TheMartian

* The final sketch in ''Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid'''s sixth DVD special has Tohru do this while playing the part of Franchise/SherlockHolmes, pointing out that Lucoa just came out of the bath because of her wet hair, sweaty body, [[ShamelessFanserviceGirl and complete lack of clothing]].

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** is the victim of a SatchelSwitcheroo, Vonnie explains how she ran the contents of the thief's bag through several departments of the city's VastBureaucracy and finally managed to narrow down his identity... while a caption points out that one of said contents was a teacher's ID card with his name and address on it. This kind of myopia is entirely in keeping with Nephilopolis' culture of preferring by-the-numbers scientific literature review to direct observation of ''anything''.

* When Kim in ''Webcomic/DresdenCodak'' is the victim of a SatchelSwitcheroo, Vonnie explains how she ran the contents of the thief's bag through several departments of the city's VastBureaucracy and finally managed to narrow down his identity... while a caption points out that one of said contents was a teacher's ID card with his name and address on it. This kind of myopia is entirely in keeping with Nephilopolis' culture of preferring by-the-numbers scientific literature review to direct observation of ''anything''.

See also StatingTheSimpleSolution, when the deductor is so wrapped up in the cleverness of their reasoning that they entirely miss the smoking gun, which has to be pointed out to them.

-->--'''Mark Watteny''', Literature/TheMartian

-> "The battery was a lithium thionyl chloride nonrechargeable. I figured that out from some [[SarcasnMode subtle clues]]: the shape of the connection points, the thickness of the insulation, and the fact that it had "[=LiSOCl2=] NON-RCHRG" written on it."

* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2008-08-21 this]] is how Susan figures out that Elliot transformed into a girl. The way she does it is a bit of a BatDeduction (Elliot lampshades this).
--> [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=956 "How the hell did you figure that out?"]]

* In ''Literature/{{Thud}}'', the LemonyNarrator describes the architectural features that tell a visitor they've entered Ankh-Morpork's [[FantasticGhetto dwarf district,]] before adding that all the [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame short people with beards and axes]] are a bit of a clue as well.

* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', this is how Susan figures out that Elliot transformed into a girl. The way she does it is a bit of a BatDeduction (Elliot lampshades this).

--->'''Abe:''' He was right under my nose the whole time. He lives in my retirement home. His name is Malloy.
--->'''Lisa:''' Wow! How'd you track him down, Grampa?
--->'''Abe:''' Good question! On one of my frequent trips to the ground, I noticed Malloy wore sneakers...for sneaking. My next clue came yesterday at the museum. We felt slighted by your age-bashing, and started home. Malloy said, "I'll catch up with you." ''[Malloy throws a grappling hook at the museum roof and starts climbing]'' I couldn't quite put my finger on it. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint There was something strange about the way he walked -- much more vertical than usual.]] And finally, Malloy, unlike most retired people, has the world's largest cubic zirconia on his coffee table.

* A variation in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
-->'''Amy:''' Aww, Bender, didn't your mom ever tell you [[TheTalk where robot babies come from]]?
-->'''Bender:''' No. She was a religious fundamentalist. Plus she didn't have a mouth. [[note]][[ContinuityNod "She" being the factory arm that assembled him]].[[/note]]

'''Robin:''' It was through a series of clues and observations, with a few inferences thrown in for good measure. Oh, and there was also that... ''(points to the word "Empress" burned into the ground)''

* UrExample is probably found in ''Literature/TheHoundOfTheBaskervilles'' where Holmes is able to deduce that Mortimer's dog ''must'' be a curly-haired spaniel... by seeing it coming up with its master.
* In ''Literature/QuidditchThroughTheAges'', the fictional author describes the discovery of round metal balls believed to be bludgers, and not cannonballs, based on very subtle indents made by beaters' bats, the perfect symmetry only achievable by magic, and the fact that the balls started flying around trying to hit the discoverer when removed from their case.

* In ''Literature/{{Thud}}'', the LemonyNarrator describes the architectural features that tell a visitor they've entered Ankh-Morpork's [[FantasticGhetto dwarf district]], before adding that all the [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame short people with beards and axes]] are a bit of a clue as well.

** Parodied in "Aerodynamics of Gender," where Joshua the gardener makes some seemingly innocuous remarks to Troy and Jeff that turn out to have double meanings later... The [[spoiler:swastika tattoo]] probably should have tipped them off.

** In the third episode, "The Great Game", Holmes deduces that Molly's new boyfriend Jim is gay because of vague traces of make-up, subtle hints in his clothing, and slipping Sherlock his phone number. [[spoiler: Jim helpfully provides the SmokingGun so that Sherlock will miss the fact that his last name is Moriarty.]]

** In "A Deadly Game", Castle and Beckett get the victim's lover, a Long Island housewife, to confess that she was having an affair. However, while [[RuleOfCool a dramatic scene]], the confession is unnecessary: they already have both the murder weapon and physical evidence putting the killer at the scene of the crime.
** In "A Chill Runs Through Her Veins", Castle and Beckett identify the killer based on a chance conversation with a witness. They don't have any physical evidence or witnesses, so to close the case the authors nicely have the killer volunteer a hypothetical confession so the viewer can feel satisfied that C&B have their man.
** In "Famous Last Words", Castle must unravel the meaning of the lyrics for victim's final hit single to solve the murder. Only then can he and Beckett confront the killer and clear the name of the innocent suspect. Except... the key physical evidence was texts sent on the innocent suspect's phone, which were far more explicit about what actually happened than the song, and which the police were already going through. This evidence on its own identified and proved who the killer was, so the business with the song was only important because Castle and Beckett [[IdiotBall hadn't read the texts yet]]. Castle even mentions "It's a good thing we subpoenaed your phone records when I had this crazy lyric idea," even though the lyrics had nothing to do with getting the phone records in the first place. It was mentioned that they were coming before he started combing through lyrics.
* ''{{Series/Dollhouse}}'' had a light, comical version. When Caroline first meets Bennett in college, she guesses Bennett is a neuroscience major. Bennett is shocked she guessed that so easily and asks how she figured it out. Caroline says it's because Bennett is eating a tuna sandwich, and fish is brain food.... and also because Bennett is carrying a large stack of neuroscience textbooks.

** Harris had caught a serial killer who was leaving bodies in garbage bags. He tells Barney how exhilarating it was following the clues, and "getting into the killer's mind."

* There's a short ''Series/TheTwoRonnies'' sketch in which Ronnie Barker plays a detective. He is given a pound note and proclaims that it's a counterfeit. When asked how he knew, he gives a series of very subtle clues that only someone with a trained eye would have been able to spot (like the letters being just a fraction of an inch lower than they should be, or the shading getting dark too fast)... then turns it over and points out that it says "Bank of Toyland" on the back.
* Inverted in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' when it is revealed to the audience that Captain Holt is gay, and has been out since the 1970s, yet the team of NYPD detectives now under his command [[FailedASpotCheck missed all the clues]]. Some are more subtle, like certain mannerisms or the pride flag in his office. Others, like the framed article in his office with a picture of him and the headline "NYPD Appoints First Openly Gay Captain", are less so.

* In the GrandFinale of ''Radio/CabinPressure'', Carolyn describes a picture in her office as being of a dogfight between two Spitfires. Martin points out one of the planes is not a Spitfire, citing the wings, fuselage, markings, and the fact Spitfires didn't fight each other.

* In ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'', AdventurerArchaeologist Beckett manages to pinpoint the local headquarters of a secret society of vampire hunters by [[GPSEvidence examining the hue and texture of a pinch of beach sand, the distinct yet subtle aroma of a whiff of incense]] ...[[HighAltitudeInterrogation and the testimony of a vampire hunter dangled over a balcony by his ankle]]. ([[DeadpanSnarker Beckett is well known for having a dry whit.]])

--> '''Phoenix:''' (Shouldn't that statement have come first!?)
* In ''VisualNovel/VirtuesLastReward'', [[spoiler:Luna]]'s innocence is proven this way during SummationGathering. Sigma first explains how he thinks everyone involved had died, while adding clues that support his theories, and when he's done, [[spoiler:Luna]] insists that it's just a theory and doesn't prove she is innocent. Sigma then drops the final piece of evidence: [[spoiler:Luna couldn't have killed anyone, because as an android, she's ThreeLawsCompliant.]]

* An early ''Webcomic/LeftoverSoup'' page has Jamie [[http://leftoversoup.com/archive.php?num=7 deducing]] Ellen is a Tauren ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' player. Her fridge magnets spell "fuck the alliance," her oven mitts and shakers have a cow pattern, and she hadn't logged out.
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', this is how Susan figures out that Elliot transformed into a girl. The way she does it is a bit BatDeduction (Elliot lampshades this).

--->'''Abe:''' Good question! On one of my frequent trips to the ground, I noticed Malloy wore sneakers...for sneaking. My next clue came yesterday at the museum. We felt slighted by your age-bashing, and started home. Malloy said, "I'll catch up with you." ''[Malloy throws a grappling hook at the museum roof and starts climbing]'' I couldn't quite put my finger on it. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint There was something strange about the way he walked -- much more vertical than usual]]. And finally, Malloy, unlike most retired people, has the world's largest cubic zirconia on his coffee table.

* The ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Not Without My Anus" opens with Terrance on trial for the murder of a Dr O'Dwyer. The prosecutor, Scott, provides as evidence a piece of Terrance's shirt, the hammer used in the murder, and a haiku Terrance penned:[[note]]Despite the evidence, Terrance walks, because of Phillip's statement that he "likes puppies and hates mean things".[[/note]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'' Mikey asks Donatello how he knew a Kraang substance was explosive. Donny gives a technobabble explanation about its molecular structure, [[VisualPun which goes in one ear and out the other]], before concluding by pointing to a Danger: Explosive sign on it.

* In the "Take My Life Please" episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfJuniperLee'', after June relinquishes her title to Ashley:

-->'''Cletus:''': A fifth level incubus is about to release a demon from an interdimensional portal!

-->'''June:''' Okay, okay, now you guys are just acting girlie. All they do is eat dandelions.

'''Numbuh One:''' [[FlatWhat Wha, what do you mean?]]\\
'''Second Reporter:''' Oh, haven't you heard? Numbuh 363 is going after the item [[GoldenSnitch worth the most points ever]]!\\

** In "Our A-Story is a D-Story", he deduces that [=BoJack=] stole the D from the Hollywood sign by following a series of clues, using deduction, puzzle solving skills, and forensics... and the fact that [=BoJack=] left him a drunk voicemail saying that he did it.
** Then, in "Let's Find Out", he confronts [=BoJack=] about kissing Diane after their engagement. He claims to have found this out via security camera footage along the freeway, talking to his friends on the highway patrol, and that ''she told him''.