Tv series metadata mismatch - need to fix naming

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
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So i noticed i’m getting some weird metadata mismatch things in my libraries after i rebuilt some stuff. i know this is not a plex issue, i need to rename my stuff!
this might be a dumb question for everyone, but i was looking for confirmation before i go and start renaming things and get it wrong…
I couldn’t find an answer by searching the forums, hope this isn’t a repost!

my metadata mismatches happen for tv series that have been rebooted a few times. For example, my directory named ‘The Tick’ could be 3 different series!

looking at this - https://support.plex.tv/articles/naming-and-organizing-your-tv-show-files/, I need to name the series as ‘[Show Name] ([Year])’.

How would the ‘Year’ value be determined?
Is this simply the year that the first EPISODE was aired? or the year of the first COMPLETE SEASON was aired? Say, if a pilot episode #1 comes out in 2015, and it gets picked up for a full season in 2016 - would the year be 2015 or 2016?

I also assume that the Year would be taken from the FIRST episode air date, and not something else, for seasons that go fall 2015 - spring 2016 for example.

Lastly, what is the source of this data? Should i be looking for it on TVDB? TMDB?

thanks in advance!

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I use Download - tinyMediaManager TMM will take care of all of that for you, and you can use thetvdb (My preferred source)

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Look it up here:

Then click on the relevant show, and if the one from 2016 then name the show folder like:

The Tick (2016) {tmdb-67487}

In above the number 67487 can be seen in the url of your browser

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thanks! i like how tmdb displays the year clearly on the series’ page. the tvdb page doesn’t show it so clearly - except apparently in the search results (?!).

i was only planning on adding the year to each show title. do you think it necessary to also add the tmdb/tvdb id tag as well? i kinda don’t really like the look of it :sweat_smile:
kinda wish that there was a metadata file i could just drop in each series’ folder that could be something like The Tick (2016).xml containing <tmdb_id=“67487”> or something along those lines.
I’m sure there are plugins to get it to work like that, but i just don’t have the time to mess with it right now.

I gave the TMM link a try. shoved my The Tick series into it, and seemed to like season 2, but mangled the names for seasons 1 & 3. I’m guessing it is also unsure which The Tick series it is as well. I like the idea of just renaming what i already have, so i’ll probably go that route.

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Well, you are human, and only see this in the file system

When looking at your Plex player, you don’t see it, and to avoid future matching problems, I strongly suggest to use it :wink:

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TMM should allow you to search for and select the proper match (search and scrape at the show level) I will note that I have seen shows go thru several episode re-orderings so your E04 might be E08 on TVDB

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i had to talk myself into adding the Year code to all of them! gotta give myself time to think over adding the id tag :thinking:
i’ll probably just have to bite the bullet.

thanks everyone!

1 Like
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ok, so many hours of renaming things manually…
I am STILL having a problem with plex picking up The Tick (1994).

My files are named as such:
TV_Series/The Tick (1994) {tmdb-14540}/Season 01/<13 episodes>
TV_Series/The Tick (1994) {tmdb-14540}/Season 02/<13 episodes>
TV_Series/The Tick (1994) {tmdb-14540}/Season 03/<13 episodes>

i got the year 1994 and the tmdb id 14540 from this link:

you can see the tmdb id in the URL linked there, and clicking the link will show the title as " The Tick (1994)".
this show is STILL getting broken up!
season 1 & 3 → The Tick (2016)
season 2 → The Tick (1994)

I just deleted my library and re-made it. this time i checked the box for “Prefer local metadata” (i am pretty sure this was not checked before).
this time it came up correct!

i’m guessing this is a configuration requirement. i had assumed local metadata would be a file of some kind, but i guess the directory names would count too!

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You might have to do the Plex Dance on that show, in order to clear out old cached data

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Don’t. Just don’t.
Checking it was not responsible for the success. Removing and recreating the library was, which is in effect a Plex Dance.

1 Like
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