Having a photographic memory can be considered both a blessing and a curse. Known technically as an eidetic memory, someone with this condition can remember images in great detail, even after they only see them once. There are slight differences between the two terms, which are often used interchangeably. An eidetic memory refers to someone who can see an object for a short period after it is no longer present while true photographic memory is when someone can remember full pages of text or numbers in great detail.
While the idea of eidetic, photographic, or both types of memory have been depicted in plenty of television series and movies for decades (Rain Man immediately comes to mind), each has taken its own unique twist on the concept.
In reality, it's unclear if there is actually anyone in the world who possesses true photographic memory. Either way, how the concept is used in fictional shows throughout entertainment history is pretty exciting and mesmerizing.
Manifest (Eagan)
Introduced in the third season of Manifest, Eagan was one of the best survivors from Flight 828 who proved invaluable. He could remember every detail from the plane, including the names of every passenger and where they were sitting.
Plus, whenever The Returned got a calling, he also noticed critical details that others missed during the quick flash image. While Eagan didn't always use his special powers for good, his abilities were fascinating, even forcing Ben to work with Eagan, even when he didn't want to.
Suits (Mike Ross)
Much of the premise of Suits was based on Mike's photographic memory and how he used it to ace exams at Harvard. However, he also used his smarts to take tests for people for money in order to help pay for his education.
With his abilities, Mike could recall every small detail of various legal texts. This, in turn, helped him win cases. Yet, he still couldn't shirk the stigma that came with not actually having graduated law school. Despite the twisted way he became a lawyer, Mike remained one of the most likable characters on Suits.
The Big Bang Theory (Sheldon Cooper)
This little tidbit of information about Sheldon isn't discussed much on The Big Bang Theory, but he does indeed have an eidetic memory along with an IQ of 187. These two factors combine to make Sheldon very perceptive and able to recall plenty of details about his life and the lives of others.
There is also some speculation that he might also possess the neurological condition called synesthesia whereby one sense stimulates other senses. Sheldon told Raj in one episode that he could see prime numbers as red and that twin prime numbers show up as pink and smell like gasoline. One thing creators have confirmed is that, despite exhibiting some of the possible traits, Sheldon did not have Asperger's syndrome.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Angel)
Among Angel's many skills on Buffy the Vampire Slayer was that of a photographic memory, which is especially interesting for a character like him who is actually a centuries old vampire. This means he could remember everything about every moment throughout many lifetimes.
No doubt, Angel was able to leverage his photographic memory to make himself better and better at, well, just about anything. He could speak many languages, knew how to cook a variety of meals (despite his own liquid diet), and was even skilled at art. Combined with centuries of time to practice, Angel's photographic memory helped him recall much of the detail necessary to improve in many areas.
Doogie Howser, M.D. (Doogie Howser)
Most people remember this medical drama, which aired for four seasons from 1989 to 1993, for the fact that Neil Patrick Harris played the title character as a child actor, and that the role was that of a genius teenager who becomes a doctor.
But one detail fans forget is that, while Doogie was a genius on Doogie Howser, M.D., he also had an eidetic memory. Thus, it's no surprise that he got a perfect score on the SATs when he was just six years old, finished high school in just over two months, and graduated from Princeton at age 10. Doogie Howser, M.D. paved the way for many series about highly intelligent children that came after it, from Smart Guy to Young Sheldon.
Psych (Shawn Spencer)
Psych's Shawn works by helping out the police department, and he presumably inherited his eidetic memory from his mother. Like the others on the list, this condition led to him showing tremendous academic prowess. He passed the Police Academy exam with a perfect score when he was only 15 years old.
He started working with the police by calling in tips anonymously until he decided to officially use his knowledge, skills, and incredible memory and ability to observe to help them solve cases more directly. But the catch in Psych is that Shawn was also pretending to be a psychic when he really wasn't.
The X-Files (Fox Mulder)
Among the many details about Fox Mulder from the iconic series The X-Files that fans did not know is that he had an eidetic memory. It was interesting, then, that when it came to things like his sister's abduction and possible alien encounters, he did still have experiences he could not fully recall.
In addition to the eidetic memory, Fox Mulder on The X-Files is also so good at his job exploring the supernatural that he can very quickly process information and deduce logical conclusions from them.
Nash Bridges (Nash Bridges)
Way back in the '90s, Don Johnson played the title character – one of Johnson's most badass roles - in the police procedural Nash Bridges, which also starred Cheech Marin. They were both inspectors working with the police department's special investigations unit in San Francisco.
Nash's photographic memory helps him in his job even though, despite likely knowing everyone's real names, he still insisted on calling people either "Bubba" or "Sister." He also had a penchant for magic and handcuff tricks.
A.N.T. Farm (Olivia "Olive" Doyle)
The idea of an eidetic memory is presented in kid's shows as well. In the Disney Channel series A.N.T. Farm, Olive uses her eidetic memory to recall everything she sees and reads, which can sometimes prove challenging in everyday life since she comes across as lacking empathy or even being self-centered.
A.N.T. in this series stands for Advanced Natural Talent, a high school gifted program for pre-teens who excel in their crafts and thus can skip middle school and go straight to high school.
24 (Edgar Stiles)
Edgar was never a main character on 24, but he appeared in every episode of season four, despite only having a small supporting role. It was an important role, as Edgar worked side-by-side with Chloe O'Brien to help Jack Bauer through his various missions.
Edgar's death scene was one of the most emotional of the series, as he died during a nerve gas attack on the CTU building. He had plenty of skills as an intelligence analyst, but no doubt his photographic memory came in handy, too.