Plex is not showing the right episode artwork

[squishy]

Server Version#: 4.34.4
Player Version#: 1.20.0.1406-f47a81b7

Hello there peoples

What I am trying to do

I am simply trying to add local episode artwork for each episode in a series.

What the official guide says

According to this support article:

Each episode can have its own artwork. /…/ The artwork to display for an episode can be specified using an image file named identically to the episode file and placed alongside it.

/TV Shows
   /Heroes
      /Season 01
         Heroes - s01e01 - Genesis.mp4
         Heroes - s01e01 - Genesis.jpg

What I am doing

I have done exactly as the documentation says. That is, I have placed the video and the image file in the same folder with the exact same name (except for the extension of course) like this:

/TV SHOWS
   /Sample TV Show
      /Season 01
         Sample TV Show - S01E01.mkv
         Sample TV Show - S01E01.png

What I expect to happen

I expect the episode to appear with the episode artwork I placed in the season folder.

What happens

What happens is that Plex instead generates an episode artwork from a point in the video and completely ignores that I have placed a custom episode artwork in the folder.

I know this because I can see it in the edit menu:

What I have tried to solve the problem

Nothing else than following the guide.

What should I do? Any help is much appreciated

[SE56]

Did you refresh the metadata

[squishy]

Yes I have. I suspect that Plex might be using the MKV embedded cover art , but I will have to check that tomorrow.

[squishy]

Nope, the MKV file doesn’t seem to have a cover art attached. At least this is what I get from mkvpropedit.exe:

mkvpropedit.exe "Sample TV Show - S01E01.mkv" --delete-attachment mime-type:image/jpeg

The file is being analyzed.
Warning: No attachment matched the spec 'mime-type:image/jpeg'.
No changes were made.

mkvpropedit.exe "Sample TV Show - S01E01.mkv" --delete-attachment mime-type:image/png

The file is being analyzed.
Warning: No attachment matched the spec 'mime-type:image/png'.
No changes were made.

[OttoKerner]

Plex ignores most metadata from MKV files.

Does your sidecar episode picture appear, if you edit the episode inside Plex and go to the ‘Poster’ tab?

[squishy]

I am not sure what you mean by sidecar episode picture, but if you look at the screenshot I provided you can see that the episode artwork does show up. It’s just that Plex doesn’t actually select that as the image for the episode.

I would rather not have to manually go into edit mode and set the episode artwork every time, if you know what I mean.

[OttoKerner]

How is your Agent setup?
Is Local Media Assets at first position?

Is the series matched to an agent at all? (look at the content of the guid="... property in the Plex XML info of an episode)

[squishy]

Yes Local media Assets is on top. Though I changed this after I added the media. However I did do a library scan and refresh media.

[OttoKerner]

@squishy

Though I changed this after I added the media.

Then I recommend you to perform the Plex Dance

[squishy]

That seemed to do the trick! That is; following your “plex dance” guide:

• move all files for the show out of ‘sight’ of Plex
• do a Scan Library Files in the web app (not ‘Refresh all’)
• Empty Trash
• “Clean Bundles”
• double check naming schema and move files back
• Scan Library Files again

Although I never understood what you meant by “Clean Bundles”. I read the linked article but I didn’t find anything like that in the text.

[OttoKerner]

Clean Bundles is essential. You can find it under
Settings - Server - Manage - Troubleshooting

[squishy]

Thanks a lot dude!

This should really be in the official docs in my opinion. I hope the developers take notice.