Plex playing wrong file for a specific episode

[endeler]

Server Version#: 1.22.0.4163
Player Version#: 4.51.3

I have a problem with playing an episode of a series recently. Whenever I play a certain episode PLEX plays another episode from another season. This seems to happen for just the one episode playing always the other exact same episode (S00E01 always plays S01E31). When I delete S01E31 the episode S00E01 plays correctly. I did remove the 2 episodes and the whole PLEX Dance thing, but as soon as I readd the 2 episodes the problem is back. This is not client-related as the problem occurs on iOS, AppleTV and in Chrome.

I have checked the naming of the episodes and everything seems to be correct as metadata looks fine.

Please let me know if you need any further information on how to fix that.

Thanks for any hint/trick and advice!

[JuiceWSA]

@trumpy81

please show a screenshot of your file naming and organisation, the series name etc.

including the file extension - mkv/mp4/etc.

Like our old friend Ernie Dingo says:

(set your file manager to show extensions)

[endeler]

Thanks for your quick reply. Yes, that’s correct: when I click on S00E01, S01E31 is played instead. I do not use any playlists or playqueues. The NAS is a Synology 918+ (DSM 6.2.3-25426 Update 3).

Thank you

[endeler]

I haven‘t installed VideoStation or MusicStation.

[endeler]

OK, I didn’t know that and I am puzzled as I created the folders my myself and have been using PLEX on this NAS and its predecessors for years without any issues so far. However, good to know thank you. I doubt that this is the culprit though. I removed the 2 episodes from plex (with the whole PLEX dance) and placed the two episodes on another share. I then created a new series library with that folder. It is the exact same behaviour: when clicking on S00E01 episode S01E31 will be played instead.

Please let me know if you need some more screenshots or any other information.

[LindaKreyg_outlook_com]

Thanks for information, it is solve my issue

[endeler]

Thanks for your post @LindaKreyg_outlook_com, but it did not resolve my issue.

[JuiceWSA]

If there is a Title Field in that MP4 file - I’d remove it, or perform The LMA Hack:

Video File Naming

With LMA in priority, Embedded Titles within MP4/M4V files are preferred - even over a perfect file name. Local Media Assets should - AT ALL TIMES - remain enabled (unless specifically instructed to turn it off). Local Media Assets should be ‘Demoted’, to the bottom of the stack of active agents under ALL tabs in Shows and Movies, but should NOT be disabled. Local Media Assets is needed for many things - it doesn’t need to be given Tip-Top-Priority (as Plex has so hatefully placed it as it’s …

If you’re using the new and improved TV Show Agent - you’ll need advanced support to tell you how to tell Plex to STOP preferring embedded metadata in MP4/M4V files - 'cause I don’t have a clue.

[endeler]

Thanks for your tip. I do have LMA enabled for TV/Movies, just with a low priority. I don’t use the new TV agent (yet). This problem is extremely weird as I am using PLEX for so so many years now and never had an issue like that…

[endeler]

I just setup a PLEX server in VMWare in order to check whether there is something wrong with my database. It is the same… I simply don’t get it! Is there something I completely oversee?

[chrisjust98]

I’m having this issue as well. I reverted to an older version of PMS and the special season files play correctly. Updated to the most recent version again and it does the same thing. There’s definitely an issue with the newer versions of PMS that’s causing it.

[endeler]

Glad to read I’m not the only one… thank you for conforming the issue. Let’s just wait an hope the PLEX crew identifies it as a bug instead of a handling error on our part.

[engelplex]

I’ve had this issue myself for about a week now on one show of mine. Hopefully it will be addressed soon.

[horde666]

Following this now as I’m suffering the same issue - just affecting a couple of files

[endeler]

I just upgraded to the latest version 1.22.1.4228, removed the affected episodes (with the PLEX-dance), reimported them. The problem persists, so no cure so far unfortunately.

[horde666]

This started happening to me the other day - as I stated earlier - obviously one of the updates has broken something that used to be working (that must be a first).

The solution for me was to go into the settings/agents/Programmes and put Local Media Assets as the last entry in the list. That worked for me.

My symptoms were that I could do getinfo on a file and the location was fine (and the episode would play ok in VLC) but when I clicked on the episode in plex to play it would play a different episode. The LMA XML file looked ok and didn’t reference the wrongly played file.

Of course this may not be your issue if you haven’t got everything named correctly

From what you are saying LMA isn’t being used so not sure what your issue would be

[smccombe]

OMG! I’m having exactly the same issue with my DS918+ - it’s driving me bonkers!

[endeler]

Thank you for the tip; I’ve “played” around with turning LMA on and off and set the priority accordingly. Unfortunately that didn’t work in my case.

[ChuckPa]

If I may add ?

Changing the LMA priority or enabled/disabled status is only part of the process.

If its priority is changed, Rescanning & Refreshing All Metadata for all libraries is required.

Doing this makes certain PMS has the correct pointers for TVDB / TMDB / IMDB and not those provided by the LMA.

[engelplex]

Experimented and thought I’d share in hopes of finding a solution. From PMP embedded on an Intel NUC or the plex web app, the wrong file plays. I tried playing from my Roku stick and a Fire tablet and both play the correct file. From the Roku I stopped the show in the middle so it would appear in the continue watching section. When I attempt to continue watching from the NUC, it still plays the wrong file.