Thank you for pointing this out and it works - as a work-around to the actual problem.
II easily found MKVs with other subtitles (VOBSUB or PGS, for example). These subtitles can be direct played on the Fire TV with the app subtitle setting set to “auto”. If I switch the setting to images only, the Fire TV starts to transcode these HEVC movies (and thus makes them unplayable - same reason as before with ASS).
Erm… how do I explain this to my wife?
“Please go to the Fire TV movie preplay screen and switch on the forced subtitle, try to play that video… if it hangs, abort this and go to the app setting screen (no not for the FireTV, but the app setting ON the FireTV), scroll down to find that subtitle setting and switch either “auto” or “images only”, whatever is not set ATM. But never set it to “always”. Oh, yes, find the movie again, make sure, the subtitle is still selected and play it again, be happy…No, I don’'t know the reason why they did it this way… Yes, I know the technical reason, but do you want to learn about ASS, PGS and VOBSUB, about SRT and SSA? Yes, I know you do not care, but do you want to see these or not? Okay… I will write them… they are nice guys. Perhaps they do something about it. The app probably knows that it runs on a FireTV and which types of subtitle can usually be direct play… I will ask them, but it could take a while… erm… no, not tonight… but I will ask. Yes, I know that this is too much computer-nerdy for your taste. Oh yes, I know this Plex stuff is supposed to make that digital home theatre thing family-friendly… that is the main idea behind it… what do you mean the kids? Ah, come on, the kids know that app setting thing better than I do… I will explain it to them. Not sure about the small one though… but her brother can help her… yes, my sweet princess… I will write them and ask… for sure.
No, I don’t find it complicated… these things are kind of complex… Now, let’s watch a movie - one without subtitles…”
I really hope that the subtitle “auto” setting of the Plex app on FireTV gets smarter soon or that such a setting can be set for each type of subtitle individually…
Thank you for listening…
