Inconsistent handling of multi-episode files (kid shows)

I’m no expert. I just know how to name and structure files initially so they create the least pain and suffering (work like I want them to). I use FileBot, but even then, sometimes it takes a bit of coaxing to thwart Plex’s never ending attempts to inject pain and suffering into something that was once so easy - use the name TVDB uses <---- well those were the good old days - these are the new, not so good old days:
https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/254362/tv-series-name-matching-research
(Plex dreams up pain and suffering in order to make Plex DVR work and borks TVDB for the vast majority in the process… read all about it)
…meanwhile - back at the ranch…

Injecting the year field (I do that automatically with FileBot) and leaving out the episode names (I just didn’t feel like it) I created some test files:

As expected (hoped more like it - when dealing with Plex you just hope it’s gonna work the way you want it to), and with a fresh load of these shows (Plex has never seen them before) and with what I thought might be what Plex expects to see - I got the intended (hoped for) result:

Note:

The ONLY reason to use this ‘conjoined twins naming nightmare’ is so that Plex will get the info for both the episodes from TVDB. Having done that (if it works) Plex is going to mishandle the bejebus out of these episodes in a way that will make you crazy - or at least make you have to jump through hoops every time you (well, your offspring) watch them.

Plex will dutifully play both episodes - it really can’t do anything else, can it?
Then Plex will want you to watch the second episode - that you just watched.
Your 4 year old might not mind - or there could be trouble brewing on the home front. I don’t know which.
You (or your 4 year old) will have to manually mark the second episode as watched - even though you just watched it.

Yep - that’s why most of us just skip the second episode and hand edit it’s info into the first episode if it’s annoying us.

Again - for accuracy - Here’s The Plex Dance® - 'cause if you leave out some steps you may as well not even do it:

The Plex Dance®:

  1. remove show/movie from library
  2. rescan library files
  3. empty trash
  4. clean bundles
    https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200392106-Library-Actions <— scan library files, empty trash, clean bundles
  5. bring names and structures into compliance/Move LMA/etc
  6. replace corrected show/movie into library
  7. rescan library files

All Steps. In Order. No Shortcuts.

Forgive my attitude - I’ve been working on it for well over 60 years and have it just about the way I want it…

B)

BTW - you shouldn’t disable LMA… you might need it for something (subtitles, local artwork, etc), but it can do what it has to from the bottom of the list and not cause undue amounts of pain and suffering that it surely will from the top.

TMDB looks the same - but TMDB is in the lead with TVDB running a close second.