Newly Added Episodes on Plex Only Fetching a Single Screenshot Instead of All

[CharlesLTH]

Server Version#: 1.32.7.7621
Player Version#: Web UI

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out for assistance with an issue I’ve recently encountered on my Plex Server (version 1.32.7.7621). This problem has surfaced unexpectedly, although the system was functioning smoothly before.

Environment Details:

• Running on Synology DSM 7.2.1-69057 Update 1
• Media Type: TV Series
• Metadata Agent: themoviedb

The Issue:
When adding an episode of a TV series to my media library, Plex only fetches a single screenshot out of the several available for that episode.
This limitation is quite inconvenient as it hinders my ability to select and switch between different screenshots in the editing interface, compelling me to add other images manually.
However, it’s worth noting that all other metadata, such as episode titles, summaries, release dates, and tags, are correctly fetched and displayed.

Attempts to Resolve:
I’ve tried manually adding screenshots via URLs, which worked successfully.
This suggests that the connectivity between my local Plex Server and themoviedb is not at fault.

I would greatly appreciate any insights, suggestions, or solutions from the community to resolve this peculiar issue with screenshot fetching.

Thanks in advance for your help!

some logs:

Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.449 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799]  * Found episode s01e06
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.449 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Migrating metadata settings from local://15551 -> com.plexapp.agents.themoviedb://217755/1/6?lang=zh
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.451 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Item 15551 (怪人云集的圆桌会议) Scanning metadata graphic elements in XML file "seasons/1/episodes"/6.xml
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.454 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Item 15551 (怪人云集的圆桌会议) Scanning metadata graphic elements in XML file "seasons/1/episodes"/6.xml
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.460 [140198797380408] DEBUG - [Req#1799/HCl#14f] HTTP requesting GET http://127.0.0.1:33820/system/agents/media/get?guid=com%2Eplexapp%2Eagents%2Ethemoviedb%3A%2F%2F217755%2F1%2F6%3Flang%3Dzh&mediaType=4&url=metadata%3A%2F%2Fseasons%2F1%2Fepisodes%2F6%2Fthumbs%2Fcom%2Eplexapp%2Eagents%2Ethetvdb_44351bd46212d37642765ebab6050c943b3e65c0
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.486 [140198843177784] DEBUG - [HttpClient/HCl#14e] HTTP/1.1 (0.0s) 200 response from GET http://127.0.0.1:33820/system/agents/media/get?guid=com%2Eplexapp%2Eagents%2Ethemoviedb%3A%2F%2F217755%2F1%2F5%3Flang%3Dzh&mediaType=4&url=metadata%3A%2F%2Fseasons%2F1%2Fepisodes%2F5%2Fthumbs%2Fcom%2Eplexapp%2Eagents%2Ethemoviedb_da6b68812fc0b366db8c95dca8e0924608bcc114 (reused)
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.487 [140198765804344] DEBUG - [Req#1799/Req#17e5] Calculated media file path for path [metadata://seasons/1/episodes/5/thumbs/com.plexapp.agents.themoviedb_da6b68812fc0b366db8c95dca8e0924608bcc114]: ["/var/packages/PlexMediaServer/shares/PlexMediaServer/AppData/Plex Media Server/Metadata/TV Shows/3/e894f8ce55722c7234005647a43dfc74d6a161c.bundle/Contents/_combined/seasons/1/episodes/5/thumbs/com.plexapp.agents.themoviedb_da6b68812fc0b366db8c95dca8e0924608bcc114"]
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.487 [140198765804344] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Calling back into ourselves for photo to transcode, optimizing the process (status: -1)
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.487 [140198765804344] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Photo cache obtained 104467 bytes from /library/metadata/15454/thumb/1699856043
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.487 [140198765804344] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Saving original media file to /var/packages/PlexMediaServer/shares/PlexMediaServer/AppData/Plex Media Server/Cache/PhotoTranscoder/a6/a69858bb67217b732c564f77ddba9792cc352809.jpg
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.494 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Calling back into ourselves for photo to transcode, optimizing the process (status: 404)
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.505 [140198765804344] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Created thumbnail of size 100x56, has pixels: 1
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.521 [140198765804344] DEBUG - [Req#1799] BlurHashManager: Generated for item 15454 thumb in 82 ms.
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.522 [140198765804344] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Photo transcoder: Request for url [/library/metadata/15454/art/1699856043] (is local: 1 upscaled: 0)
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.531 [140198765804344] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Calling back into ourselves for photo to transcode, optimizing the process (status: 404)
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.991 [140198843177784] DEBUG - [HttpClient/HCl#14f] HTTP/1.1 (0.5s) 200 response from GET http://127.0.0.1:33820/system/agents/media/get?guid=com%2Eplexapp%2Eagents%2Ethemoviedb%3A%2F%2F217755%2F1%2F6%3Flang%3Dzh&mediaType=4&url=metadata%3A%2F%2Fseasons%2F1%2Fepisodes%2F6%2Fthumbs%2Fcom%2Eplexapp%2Eagents%2Ethetvdb_44351bd46212d37642765ebab6050c943b3e65c0 (reused)
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.992 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Brought media local (metadata://seasons/1/episodes/6/thumbs/com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb_44351bd46212d37642765ebab6050c943b3e65c0) in 531ms.
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.992 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Loading information from media bundle for part ID 18520 from "/var/packages/PlexMediaServer/shares/PlexMediaServer/AppData/Plex Media Server/Media/localhost/1/a16468d6feae95c28835c33405a3f8a0dd51a48.bundle/Contents"
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.992 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] There was a change for metadata item 15551 (怪人云集的圆桌会议), saving.
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:03.992 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Updating metadata item (save) (怪人云集的圆桌会议) with ID 15551
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.004 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Loading season 1 from "/var/packages/PlexMediaServer/shares/PlexMediaServer/AppData/Plex Media Server/Metadata/TV Shows/3/e894f8ce55722c7234005647a43dfc74d6a161c.bundle/Contents/_combined/seasons/1".
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.005 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Item 15231 (Season 1) Scanning metadata graphic elements in XML file "seasons"/1.xml
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.007 [140198797380408] DEBUG - [Req#1799/HCl#150] HTTP requesting GET http://127.0.0.1:33820/system/agents/media/get?guid=com%2Eplexapp%2Eagents%2Ethemoviedb%3A%2F%2F217755%2F1%3Flang%3Dzh&mediaType=3&url=metadata%3A%2F%2Fseasons%2F1%2Fposters%2Fcom%2Eplexapp%2Eagents%2Ethemoviedb_1535182e4c50f85785067854837c2d5d73a760aa
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.015 [140198843177784] DEBUG - [HttpClient/HCl#150] HTTP/1.1 (0.0s) 200 response from GET http://127.0.0.1:33820/system/agents/media/get?guid=com%2Eplexapp%2Eagents%2Ethemoviedb%3A%2F%2F217755%2F1%3Flang%3Dzh&mediaType=3&url=metadata%3A%2F%2Fseasons%2F1%2Fposters%2Fcom%2Eplexapp%2Eagents%2Ethemoviedb_1535182e4c50f85785067854837c2d5d73a760aa (reused)
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.016 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Brought media local (metadata://seasons/1/posters/com.plexapp.agents.themoviedb_1535182e4c50f85785067854837c2d5d73a760aa) in 8ms.
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.016 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Item 15231 (Season 1) Scanning metadata graphic elements in XML file "seasons"/1.xml
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.018 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Doing expensive tags write for '家里蹲吸血姬的郁闷' because something changed.
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.030 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Doing expensive tags write for '家里蹲吸血姬的郁闷' because something changed.
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.033 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Loaded metadata for 家里蹲吸血姬的郁闷 (ID 15230) in 1198ms
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.033 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] There was a change for metadata item 15230 (家里蹲吸血姬的郁闷), saving.
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.033 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Updating metadata item (save) (家里蹲吸血姬的郁闷) with ID 15230
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.035 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Photo transcoder: Request for url [/library/metadata/15230/thumb/1699856044] (is local: 1 upscaled: 0)
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.036 [140198818515768] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Done with metadata update for 15230
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.037 [140198872734520] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:53806] 200 GET /:/metadata/notify?guid=com.plexapp.agents.themoviedb%3A%2F%2F217755%3Flang%3Dzh&path=TV+Shows%2F3%2Fe894f8ce55722c7234005647a43dfc74d6a161c.bundle&force=1&queueSize=0&id=15230&success=1&async=1 (3 live) #1799 GZIP 1204ms 166 bytes
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.048 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799/Req#1800] Calculated media file path for path [upload://posters/43839324831fad304d9169831de4c84d38b6068c]: ["/var/packages/PlexMediaServer/shares/PlexMediaServer/AppData/Plex Media Server/Metadata/TV Shows/3/e894f8ce55722c7234005647a43dfc74d6a161c.bundle/Uploads/posters/43839324831fad304d9169831de4c84d38b6068c"]
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.048 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Calling back into ourselves for photo to transcode, optimizing the process (status: -1)
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.068 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Photo cache obtained 465951 bytes from /library/metadata/15230/thumb/1699856044
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.068 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Saving original media file to /var/packages/PlexMediaServer/shares/PlexMediaServer/AppData/Plex Media Server/Cache/PhotoTranscoder/28/28cb3c29ad73d49011a714ece4f6f887a177b942.jpg
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.116 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Created thumbnail of size 67x100, has pixels: 1
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.126 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] BlurHashManager: Generated for item 15230 thumb in 90 ms.
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.126 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Photo transcoder: Request for url [/library/metadata/15230/art/1699856044] (is local: 1 upscaled: 0)
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.129 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799/Req#1804] Calculated media file path for path [upload://art/68c137fdb04bf997595d8390b02c260254873cd7]: ["/var/packages/PlexMediaServer/shares/PlexMediaServer/AppData/Plex Media Server/Metadata/TV Shows/3/e894f8ce55722c7234005647a43dfc74d6a161c.bundle/Uploads/art/68c137fdb04bf997595d8390b02c260254873cd7"]
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.129 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Calling back into ourselves for photo to transcode, optimizing the process (status: -1)
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.149 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Photo cache obtained 1208929 bytes from /library/metadata/15230/art/1699856044
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.149 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Saving original media file to /var/packages/PlexMediaServer/shares/PlexMediaServer/AppData/Plex Media Server/Cache/PhotoTranscoder/8d/8d5d556a2699477c34b5953c978d470074bfb20a.jpg
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.200 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] Created thumbnail of size 100x56, has pixels: 1
Nov 13, 2023 14:14:04.208 [140198835620664] DEBUG - [Req#1799] BlurHashManager: Generated for item 15230 art in 82 ms.

[anon5074910]

I think the show you are talking about is this one The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess (TV Series 2023- ) — The Movie Database (TMDB) and if so then looking at the change log for s01e06 https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/217755/season/1/episode/6/changes then I can see thumbnails were uploaded on the 11th Nov, approx 2 days ago.

Plex uses its own back-end cache for metadata which it scraps from multiple sources like tmdb. Your local server does not directly query tmdb when doing a metadata refresh, instead it refreshes off the plex back-end cache. It can take 24-72 hours for changes at these sources (tmdb in this example) to make it to their back-end cache but I have seen it take up to 5 days on rare occasions.

So, give it a few days and then the additional episode thumbnails should appear.

BTW… if your using “Metadata Agent: the movie database” then I’d also suggest you switch to the plex series agent which is the new modern scanner/agent for plex. Any other options are legacy code which plex is no longer updating and not really supporting.

[CharlesLTH]

Thank you for the reply.

I tried adding a new library and set the agent to Plex Series, which correctly retrieved all the information including all screenshots.

However, when I tried adding an older episode with the agent set to themoviedb, I encountered the same issue of only the first screenshot being captured. This might indeed be a bug.

But if Plex team no longer supports this old method, I guess I’ll have to switch to Plex Series, even though this means I might need to reselect the most suitable covers and backgrounds for all of my over 200 TV series.

Thank you for the patient and detailed response in the previous post.