History Series / TheCrystalMaze

* BorrowedBiometricBypass: In series 5 of ''Series/TheCrystalMaze'', the contestant had to place a dead man's hand on a palm reader to open a safe, in a murder mystery game.

* OurGraphicsWillSuckInFuture: In the early series, the map of the Maze, based on James Dillon's hand-drawn design. Whenever the team entered a new zone, the 3D graphic of that zone would rotate on the screen, using 1990s technology. This was upgraded slightly for the later series.

* SafetyGearIsCowardly: At least, it was in the series from the 1990s, before health and safety culture became prevalent. Not many games required the contestant to wear safety gear: a notable exception was the three-dimensional maze in series 3, for which the contestant would be kitted up in a hard hat, gloves, elbow and knee pads. In the later series hosted by Richard Ayoade, safety gear was used far more, and in a gesture of LeaningOnTheFourthWall, Richard would say "we will edit a helmet on to your head when you go through the door".

* WireDilemma: Sometimes appeared as a challenge.

--> '''O'Brien''': I hope he doesn't bring a ladder round to my house, especially if I'm in the attic screaming "Help! Help!"

* POVCam: There were often shots seen from the contestant's view, such as when crawling through a maze. Cameras would often appear to be ''inside'' the equipment as well, showing a crystal rolling along a channel. Cameras were also attached to tools such as metal detectors, or to moving objects, such as a swinging pendulum.

* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: Contestants would often say "I'm in a room..." when they first entered the room. (They were instructed to describe what was in the room.)

** On more than one occasion, a contestant completely fails to understand their task, leading O'Brien to helpfully offer advice on what to do. When they ''still'' don't get it, O'Brien will offer the advice again... and again... and ''again''. He's clearly getting irritated at these utter morons! One episode had a contestant simply stand there with a dumbfounded look for the entire 5 minutes.

* FashionDissonance: The perms, mullets, and toupees sported by so many of the contestants certainly were a product of the time.

* SpecialEffectsFailure: In series 2, a snake slithering across the sand in the Aztec zone is clearly a rubber snake pulled by a string.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: Occasionally the contestants would do this when speaking to some guardians stationed in one the games in the Aztec zone.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Illicit behaviour between Mumsey and male contestants was sometimes hinted at.
** When a contestant was left locked in:
--> '''O'Brien''': Hey Mumsey, you've got yourself a toy boy! Bye bye, Phil.
** When Auntie Sabrina stood in for Mumsey:
--> '''Sabrina''': You look like a nice strong chap. Why don't you get locked in with me?

helping Mumsey with her aerobics, at least I think that's what they were doing.

---> '''O'Brien''': I hope he doesn't bring a ladder round to my house, especially if I'm in the attic screaming "Help! Help!"

---> '''O'Brien''': I bought the crackers in good faith!
---> '''Mumsey''': You should have bought them in Harrods.

---> '''Ed''': Hello, will you go out with me?
---> '''Barbara the computer''': Not until you get a haircut!
---> '''Ed''': (crestfallen, to himself) What sort of haircut does a twenty-fourth century computer favour?

---> '''O'Brien''': I went to the Les Dawson school of music.

* OffscreenCrash: At least once in the 2020 US version, Adam Conover tosses a crystal out of frame, apparently hitting a cat.

A U.S. version premiered on Nickelodeon in 2020 hosted by Adam Conover (of ''Series/AdamRuinsEverything'' fame). This version whilst also filmed on the UK set this time features teams of families, with the youngest family member being the team captain.

--> '''O'Brien''': Ralph!! Ralph!! Ralph!! (wanders round a corner) Oops! Sorry Mumsey, Sorry Ralph. Ralph was * GoldenSnitch:

---> '''O'Brien''': I hope he doesn't bring a ladder round to 'my' house, especially if I'm in the attic screaming "Help! Help!"

* ChristmasEpisode: Between seasons there were Christmas specials with child contestants.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: Richard did this frequently during the games, making humourous asides to the audience. In the first series, even the director did not know he was doing this, until they started editing.
--> '''O'Brien''': Now children, if you're playing with nuclear waste, be very very careful. It is dangerous, so I suggest you don't do it. You see, there are advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage of playing with nuclear waste is that you're gonna die. The advantage is you'll be very easy to find in the dark.

** Subverted for a while by Richard O'Brien who decided to make "Go for it!" his catchphrase, but whenever he used it would shortly after go off on a monologue [[BreakingTheFourthWall explaining to the audience]] that he had decided to make "Go for it!" his catchphrase.

* TheGhost: Richard frequently called out to Ralph the butler, who was never seen.