Plex won't update TV posters

General Discussions
1

I think there may have been a renumbering on thetvdb at some point (because of a special episode). Plex is pulling down the updated metadata, but it won’t refresh the posters.

When I go to thetvdb, I only see one poster and it’s the one that’s displayed, but they match the episode there. I don’t even know where the other posters come from (I checked all the listed agents - didn’t see any other posters - where do they come from?). Is there any way to make it repull the posters so they match the episode?

2

If fanart has posters they will come in providing you enable it and give it some priority (raise it higher in the list, but NOT on top). I have mine in slot 3, for instance. The tabbed agent on top, the alternate agent 2nd, fanart 3rd and Local Media Assets at the bottom (if you use MP4/M4V files this is a must - more later). TVDB usually only has one poster, but if there are more than one they may come in, or be delivered according to it’s ‘rank’ determined by voting I guess. I haven’t paid much attention really.

You should be made aware that Public Enemy #1 for misbehaving TV Shows is poor naming and structuring. If you had provided the name of a problem show I could have tested it and given you a perfect example of same, but here’s the Handbook(s) for Plex Naming/Structuring:
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/categories/200028098-Media-Preparation
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200381023-Naming-Movie-files
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200220687-Naming-Series-Season-Based-TV-Shows <— particularly important
Failure to adhere to these guidelines will result in unpredictable behavior. Failure to follow the guidelines for TV Shows will result in absolute failure - absolutely. No doubt about it.

Example:

F:\MCEB-TV\ <— one of my TV Show Libraries
…Big Pacific\ <— name as it’s listed at TVDB. Acquired with FileBot (link in my signature), or done by hand.
…Season 01\ <— necessary season folder - can be named Season 1, if you just can’t find the zero.
…Big Pacific - S01E01 - Mysterious.mkv <---- episode name optional.
…Big Pacific - S01E02.mkv <---- valid file name without episode name.

As noted:
FileBot (link in my signature) can handle that for you automatically or manually in seconds.

What FileBot can’t do is remove possible embedded metadata in the Title Field of MP4/M4V files. Plex will read this info and prefer it over a perfect file name/structure (you may not have any of those yet - we don’t know), but you can combat that situation by moving Local Media Assets to the bottom of every agent list you can find. All tabs in Shows and Movies here:
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200241558-Agents
Just drag LMA to the bottom of the list and drop it.
If you do have embedded metadata this will cure the issue, if you don’t it won’t matter. LMA will do what it has to from the bottom.

Renaming/restructuring is best performed OUTSIDE the library and you’ll need to write a new bundle for the show so The Plex Dance® was invented:

The Plex Dance®:

  1. remove show/movie from library - the whole show, or movie and nested folders.
  2. update library
  3. empty trash
  4. clean bundles
    https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200392106-Library-Actions <— update library, empty trash, clean bundles
  5. bring names and structures into compliance, fiddle with Agents, check, double check.
  6. replace corrected show/movie into library
  7. update library

All Steps. In Order. No Shortcuts.

In the event you’ve done all the above in the order it is presented and you still have issues, Log Files Please:
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200250417-Plex-Media-Server-Log-Files
Drag zip file to message window and drop it.

Note:

You wouldn’t believe the number of people that can’t see that notice to the right.
Really.
You wouldn’t believe it.

And do also provide the name of mystery shows/movies and times of failures.
Batteries are dead in Crystal Ball.