diff --git a/internal/metadata/match_candidates.go b/internal/metadata/match_candidates.go
index 4b9acaa3..345b2c0c 100644
--- a/internal/metadata/match_candidates.go
+++ b/internal/metadata/match_candidates.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package metadata
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
 	"math"
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
@@ -342,7 +344,117 @@ type scoredMatchCandidate struct {
 	score     float64
 }
 
-func selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints *MatchHints, candidates []MatchCandidate) (*MatchCandidate, bool) {
+// candidatesAreSingleDistinctShow reports whether every scored candidate refers
+// to the same show as best — same year, an exact normalized title match, and no
+// conflicting provider IDs. This is true when the search effectively returned
+// one distinct title, possibly as separate per-source rows (e.g. a TVDB row and
+// a TMDB row that weren't merged because each carries only its own provider's
+// ID). Candidates that share a canonical provider key but carry different values
+// are considered distinct shows and cause the function to return false.
+// Candidates with Year == 0 are treated as year-mismatched (a provider that
+// omitted the year yields false here) — conservative by design.
+func candidatesAreSingleDistinctShow(best MatchCandidate, scored []scoredMatchCandidate) bool {
+	// Year==0 means the provider didn't supply a release year, so we cannot
+	// claim the candidates refer to the *same* show via year-equality. Without
+	// this guard, two no-year candidates from different providers would satisfy
+	// the multi-source corroboration arm of the lone-result rule and get
+	// auto-accepted, which over-accepts ambiguous matches.
+	if best.Year == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	// Track the first non-empty value seen per canonical provider key across
+	// best AND every scored candidate. If any key ends up with more than one
+	// distinct value, the tie group spans multiple shows — including the case
+	// where `best` lacks a key but two non-best candidates carry conflicting
+	// values for it.
+	seenIDs := make(map[string]string, len(canonicalCandidateIDKeys))
+	for _, key := range canonicalCandidateIDKeys {
+		if v := strings.TrimSpace(best.ProviderIDs[key]); v != "" {
+			seenIDs[key] = v
+		}
+	}
+	for _, c := range scored {
+		if c.candidate.Year == 0 || c.candidate.Year != best.Year {
+			return false
+		}
+		if inferTitleSimilarity(best.Title, c.candidate.Title, best.Year) != 1 {
+			return false
+		}
+		for _, key := range canonicalCandidateIDKeys {
+			cv := strings.TrimSpace(c.candidate.ProviderIDs[key])
+			if cv == "" {
+				continue
+			}
+			if existing, ok := seenIDs[key]; ok {
+				if existing != cv {
+					return false
+				}
+			} else {
+				seenIDs[key] = cv
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// topTieGroup returns the highest-scored candidate plus every candidate within
+// the 15-point tie window of it — i.e. the set of candidates that are not
+// clearly beaten. Assumes scored is sorted descending by score.
+func topTieGroup(scored []scoredMatchCandidate) []scoredMatchCandidate {
+	if len(scored) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	group := []scoredMatchCandidate{scored[0]}
+	for _, c := range scored[1:] {
+		if scored[0].score-c.score < 15 {
+			group = append(group, c)
+		}
+	}
+	return group
+}
+
+// pickByProviderPriority returns the group candidate whose Sources include the
+// highest-priority provider (providerPriority is ordered highest-first, e.g. the
+// library's chain order). Falls back to the top-scored candidate when there is no
+// priority info or no source matches.
+func pickByProviderPriority(group []scoredMatchCandidate, providerPriority []string) *MatchCandidate {
+	for _, prov := range providerPriority {
+		for i := range group {
+			for _, s := range group[i].candidate.Sources {
+				if strings.EqualFold(s, prov) {
+					return &group[i].candidate
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return &group[0].candidate
+}
+
+// distinctSourceCount returns how many distinct providers (case-insensitive
+// Sources values) appear across the candidate group — i.e. how many independent
+// providers returned this show.
+func distinctSourceCount(group []scoredMatchCandidate) int {
+	seen := make(map[string]struct{})
+	for _, c := range group {
+		for _, s := range c.candidate.Sources {
+			s = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(s))
+			if s != "" {
+				seen[s] = struct{}{}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return len(seen)
+}
+
+// absYearDelta returns the absolute difference between two release years.
+func absYearDelta(a, b int) int {
+	if a > b {
+		return a - b
+	}
+	return b - a
+}
+
+func selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints *MatchHints, candidates []MatchCandidate, providerPriority []string) (*MatchCandidate, bool) {
 	if len(candidates) == 0 {
 		return nil, false
 	}
@@ -358,6 +470,32 @@ func selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints *MatchHints, candidates []MatchCandidate)
 		return scoredCandidates[i].score > scoredCandidates[j].score
 	})
 
+	if slog.Default().Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
+		// hints can be nil on some callers (scoreMatchCandidate tolerates it).
+		// Guard the debug log so DEBUG-enabled runs don't panic on a nil deref.
+		hintTitle, hintType := "", ""
+		hintYear := 0
+		if hints != nil {
+			hintTitle = hints.Title
+			hintYear = hints.Year
+			hintType = hints.Type
+		}
+		for rank, sc := range scoredCandidates {
+			slog.Debug("match candidate scoring",
+				"hint_title", hintTitle,
+				"hint_year", hintYear,
+				"hint_type", hintType,
+				"rank", rank,
+				"candidate_title", sc.candidate.Title,
+				"candidate_year", sc.candidate.Year,
+				"candidate_type", sc.candidate.ContentType,
+				"sources", strings.Join(sc.candidate.Sources, ","),
+				"provider_ids", fmt.Sprintf("%v", sc.candidate.ProviderIDs),
+				"score", sc.score,
+			)
+		}
+	}
+
 	best := scoredCandidates[0]
 	if trustedHintIDsPresent(hints) {
 		if candidateMatchesTrustedIDs(hints, best.candidate) {
@@ -369,6 +507,47 @@ func selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints *MatchHints, candidates []MatchCandidate)
 	if best.score < 55 {
 		return nil, false
 	}
+	// A search that resolves to a single distinct show (one candidate, or the
+	// same title+year returned once per source) whose year matches the parsed
+	// year is high-confidence even when the fuzzy title score sits in the 55-69
+	// band (short/numeric/alternate titles). Accept the top-ranked candidate
+	// without lowering the score thresholds.
+	// We check only the TOP tie-group (candidates within 15 pts of best) so that
+	// low-score noise from unrelated shows below the group does not veto a clear
+	// cross-source agreement. When the top group is one distinct show, pick the
+	// winner by the library's metadata-provider priority (falls back to top-scored).
+	// Residual risk: two different shows with an identical title+year and no
+	// provider IDs would both pass; accepted as low-risk given the title+year+type
+	// corroboration.
+	if candidateTypeMatchesHint(hints.Type, best.candidate.ContentType) {
+		topGroup := topTieGroup(scoredCandidates)
+		if candidatesAreSingleDistinctShow(best.candidate, topGroup) {
+			yearCorroborated := hints.Year != 0 && best.candidate.Year == hints.Year
+			// Cross-source agreement (the same title+year returned by 2+ distinct
+			// providers, which candidatesAreSingleDistinctShow already verified) is
+			// strong independent corroboration — it stands in for a missing hint year
+			// (folders without a "(YYYY)"). A lone single-source no-year result is NOT
+			// accepted here and stays subject to the single-candidate >=70 gate.
+			multiSourceCorroborated := distinctSourceCount(topGroup) >= 2
+			// An exact normalized-title match on a sole distinct show is strong
+			// corroboration on its own, even when the folder year is off by a year
+			// or two (festival vs wide-release date, regional release) — e.g.
+			// "Dead Reckoning (1947)" vs TMDB's 1946, "17 Blocks (2021)" vs 2019.
+			// Bounded to ±2 years so same-title remakes decades apart still require
+			// a year or multi-source match. Uses the same normalizer as title scoring
+			// so "exact" here means a perfect title-similarity component.
+			titleCorroborated := hints.Year != 0 && best.candidate.Year != 0 &&
+				absYearDelta(best.candidate.Year, hints.Year) <= 2 &&
+				normalizeTitleForScoring(best.candidate.Title) == normalizeTitleForScoring(hints.Title)
+			// Year or source-count corroboration is only meaningful when the winning
+			// candidate is at least title-coherent with the scanner hint. Otherwise a
+			// high source/provider score can auto-accept an unrelated same-year result.
+			hintTitleCoherent := inferTitleSimilarity(hints.Title, best.candidate.Title, hints.Year) > 0
+			if (hintTitleCoherent && (yearCorroborated || multiSourceCorroborated)) || titleCorroborated {
+				return pickByProviderPriority(topGroup, providerPriority), true
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	if len(scoredCandidates) == 1 {
 		if best.score < 70 {
 			return nil, false
@@ -459,7 +638,7 @@ func selectRefreshMatchCandidate(existing *models.MediaItem, candidates []MatchC
 		TvdbID: existing.TvdbID,
 		ImdbID: existing.ImdbID,
 	}
-	return selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, candidates)
+	return selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, candidates, nil)
 }
 
 func trustedHintIDsPresent(hints *MatchHints) bool {
diff --git a/internal/metadata/match_candidates_select_test.go b/internal/metadata/match_candidates_select_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..699c94e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/metadata/match_candidates_select_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+package metadata
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_LoneResultYearMatchBelow70(t *testing.T) {
+	// Exact title, matching year, NO sources, NO provider IDs => score 45+20 = 65 (<70).
+	// Old behavior rejected this (single candidate <70); the new rule accepts it.
+	hints := &MatchHints{Title: "1201", Year: 1993, Type: "movie"}
+	cands := []MatchCandidate{{Title: "1201", Year: 1993, ContentType: "movie"}}
+	got, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, nil)
+	if !ok || got == nil || got.Title != "1201" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected lone year-matching result to be accepted, got ok=%v cand=%+v", ok, got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_SameShowAcrossTwoSources(t *testing.T) {
+	// Same title+year returned once per source (TVDB-only and TMDB-only, no shared ID
+	// so they were NOT merged). Old behavior: tie-break bails -> nil. New: accept best.
+	hints := &MatchHints{Title: "Blue Lock", Year: 2022, Type: "series"}
+	cands := []MatchCandidate{
+		{Title: "Blue Lock", Year: 2022, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tvdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tvdb": "404404"}},
+		{Title: "Blue Lock", Year: 2022, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tmdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tmdb": "120089"}},
+	}
+	got, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, nil)
+	if !ok || got == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected same-show-across-sources to be accepted, got ok=%v cand=%+v", ok, got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_LoneResultYearMismatchStillRejected(t *testing.T) {
+	// Exact title but year mismatch, one source => score 45+12 = 57 (in [55,70), no year bonus).
+	// Year does NOT corroborate, so the new rule must NOT fire; single candidate <70 => reject.
+	hints := &MatchHints{Title: "1201", Year: 1993, Type: "movie"}
+	cands := []MatchCandidate{{Title: "1201", Year: 1990, ContentType: "movie", Sources: []string{"tmdb"}}}
+	if got, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, nil); ok {
+		t.Fatalf("expected year-mismatch lone result to be rejected, got cand=%+v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_CorroborationRequiresHintTitleCoherence(t *testing.T) {
+	// Same-year, multi-source candidate scores above the 55 floor via provider
+	// evidence, but the title is not coherent with the scanner hint. The lone
+	// result rule must not rescue it just because the year/source evidence is
+	// strong enough to reach the corroboration branch.
+	hints := &MatchHints{Title: "Hotel Transylvania Puppy!", Year: 2017, Type: "movie"}
+	cands := []MatchCandidate{
+		{
+			Title:       "Puppy!",
+			Year:        2017,
+			ContentType: "movie",
+			Sources:     []string{"tmdb", "tvdb", "imdb"},
+			ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tmdb": "222"},
+		},
+	}
+	if got, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, []string{"tmdb", "tvdb", "imdb"}); ok {
+		t.Fatalf("unrelated same-year candidate must not be auto-accepted, got %+v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_TwoDifferentShowsUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
+	// Two genuinely different shows that BOTH score >=55 (so the new rule IS evaluated,
+	// not short-circuited by the <55 floor): candidatesAreSingleDistinctShow must return
+	// false (titles differ), so the new rule does NOT fire and behavior falls through to
+	// the existing tie-break (which returns nil here because DetailScore is 0). Guards
+	// against over-accepting distinct results.
+	//
+	// Each candidate shares 7 tokens with the hint plus one distinct trailing word, so
+	// each is coherent with the hint (Jaccard 7/8 = 0.875 >= 0.85 => sim 0.8 => +28) and
+	// scores 28 + 20(year) + 24(2 sources) + 5 + 1(1 id) = 78 (>=55, reaches the guard).
+	// The two candidates differ from each other (Jaccard 7/9 = 0.78 < 0.85 => sim 0), so
+	// candidatesAreSingleDistinctShow returns false. Equal scores => gap 0 < 15 => tie-break.
+	hints := &MatchHints{Title: "The Real History of the World War", Year: 2010, Type: "series"}
+	cands := []MatchCandidate{
+		{Title: "The Real History of the World War Europe", Year: 2010, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tvdb", "tmdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tvdb": "1"}},
+		{Title: "The Real History of the World War Pacific", Year: 2010, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tvdb", "tmdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tvdb": "2"}},
+	}
+	if _, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, nil); ok {
+		t.Fatalf("two distinct shows must not be auto-accepted by the lone-result rule")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_ConflictingProviderIDsNotAccepted(t *testing.T) {
+	// Same title+year but different tmdb IDs => two distinct shows; must NOT auto-accept.
+	// Each scores 65 (45 exact title + 20 year) + 5 + 1(richness) = ... actually
+	// 45+20+5+1 = 71 (no sources, one provider ID), well above the 55 floor, so the new
+	// branch is reached. candidatesAreSingleDistinctShow must return false because the two
+	// candidates carry the same canonical provider key (tmdb) with conflicting values.
+	hints := &MatchHints{Title: "Alpha", Year: 2022, Type: "movie"}
+	cands := []MatchCandidate{
+		{Title: "Alpha", Year: 2022, ContentType: "movie", ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tmdb": "111"}},
+		{Title: "Alpha", Year: 2022, ContentType: "movie", ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tmdb": "222"}},
+	}
+	if _, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, nil); ok {
+		t.Fatal("conflicting tmdb IDs must not be auto-accepted")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_CrossSourceNoHintYearAcceptedByMultiSource(t *testing.T) {
+	// Hint has NO year (0). Both providers return the same show (year 1999), tied.
+	// Multi-source agreement substitutes for the missing hint year.
+	hints := &MatchHints{Title: "100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd", Year: 0, Type: "series"}
+	cands := []MatchCandidate{
+		{Title: "100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd", Year: 1999, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tvdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tvdb": "72450"}},
+		{Title: "100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd", Year: 1999, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tmdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tmdb": "6518"}},
+	}
+	got, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, []string{"tvdb", "tmdb"})
+	if !ok || got == nil || got.ProviderIDs["tvdb"] != "72450" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected tvdb winner via multi-source corroboration, got ok=%v cand=%+v", ok, got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_CrossSourceNoCandidateYearNotAccepted(t *testing.T) {
+	// Both providers return the same title but neither carries a release year.
+	// Year-equality between two 0-years is meaningless, so
+	// candidatesAreSingleDistinctShow must reject and the multi-source
+	// corroboration arm must NOT fire — otherwise two no-year cross-source
+	// results would auto-accept, over-accepting ambiguous matches.
+	hints := &MatchHints{Title: "Untitled Show", Year: 0, Type: "series"}
+	cands := []MatchCandidate{
+		{Title: "Untitled Show", Year: 0, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tvdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tvdb": "111"}},
+		{Title: "Untitled Show", Year: 0, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tmdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tmdb": "222"}},
+	}
+	if got, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, []string{"tvdb", "tmdb"}); ok {
+		t.Fatalf("no-year cross-source candidates must not be auto-accepted, got %+v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_LoneNoYearSingleSourceNotAccepted(t *testing.T) {
+	// Single candidate, no hint year, single source: no year corroboration AND only
+	// one source -> must NOT auto-accept (falls to the single-candidate >=70 gate).
+	hints := &MatchHints{Title: "Some Obscure Show", Year: 0, Type: "series"}
+	cands := []MatchCandidate{
+		{Title: "Some Obscure Show", Year: 1999, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tvdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tvdb": "999"}},
+	}
+	if got, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, []string{"tvdb"}); ok {
+		t.Fatalf("lone no-year single-source result must not be auto-accepted, got %+v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_CrossSourceTieResolvedByProviderPriority(t *testing.T) {
+	// "100 Days Wild" (2020, series, no shared IDs): TVDB and TMDB each return the correct
+	// show (score 83 each: 45 exact title + 20 year + 12 source + 5 has IDs + 1 richness).
+	// Two noise candidates (unrelated title/year) score 18 — well outside the 15-pt tie
+	// window of 83, so topTieGroup contains only the two correct candidates.
+	// candidatesAreSingleDistinctShow passes (same title/year, no conflicting IDs),
+	// and pickByProviderPriority selects the winner by the library's chain order.
+	hints := &MatchHints{Title: "100 Days Wild", Year: 2020, Type: "series"}
+	cands := []MatchCandidate{
+		{Title: "100 Days Wild", Year: 2020, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tvdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tvdb": "386908"}},
+		{Title: "100 Days Wild", Year: 2020, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tmdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tmdb": "109476"}},
+		{Title: "Some Other Show", Year: 2026, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tvdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tvdb": "476741"}},
+		{Title: "Live to 100", Year: 2023, ContentType: "series", Sources: []string{"tvdb"}, ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tvdb": "437829"}},
+	}
+
+	// tvdb ranked first in provider chain -> tvdb candidate wins
+	got, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, []string{"tvdb", "tmdb"})
+	if !ok || got == nil || got.ProviderIDs["tvdb"] != "386908" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected tvdb winner (386908), got ok=%v cand=%+v", ok, got)
+	}
+
+	// tmdb ranked first in provider chain -> tmdb candidate wins
+	got, ok = selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, []string{"tmdb", "tvdb"})
+	if !ok || got == nil || got.ProviderIDs["tmdb"] != "109476" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected tmdb winner (109476), got ok=%v cand=%+v", ok, got)
+	}
+
+	// nil priority -> still accepts (fallback to top-scored, i.e. first in sorted order)
+	got, ok = selectInitialMatchCandidate(hints, cands, nil)
+	if !ok || got == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected nil-priority to still accept a match, got ok=%v cand=%+v", ok, got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/metadata/match_candidates_test.go b/internal/metadata/match_candidates_test.go
index acb5c37e..2e206dfa 100644
--- a/internal/metadata/match_candidates_test.go
+++ b/internal/metadata/match_candidates_test.go
@@ -25,12 +25,85 @@ func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_IgnoresLocalContentIDForTrustedSelection(t
 				Sources:     []string{"tmdb"},
 			},
 		},
+		nil,
 	)
 	if !ok || winner == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected local content_id not to force trusted-ID matching")
 	}
 }
 
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_SoleExactTitleYearOffByTwoMatches(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// Sole distinct candidate, exact title, year off by 2 (e.g. "Stasi FC (2023)"
+	// vs TMDB's 2025). Scores in the 55-69 band — below the single-candidate >=70
+	// gate — but the exact title on a lone result should now match via title
+	// corroboration without lowering any threshold.
+	winner, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(
+		&MatchHints{Title: "Stasi FC", Year: 2023, Type: "movie"},
+		[]MatchCandidate{
+			{
+				Title:       "Stasi FC",
+				Year:        2025,
+				ContentType: "movie",
+				ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tmdb": "111"},
+				Sources:     []string{"tmdb"},
+			},
+		},
+		nil,
+	)
+	if !ok || winner == nil || winner.ProviderIDs["tmdb"] != "111" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected sole exact-title year-off-by-2 candidate to match, got ok=%v winner=%+v", ok, winner)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_SoleExactTitleYearOffByThreeRejected(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// A 3-year gap exceeds the ±2 bound: a same-title film three years apart is
+	// not corroborated and stays subject to the single-candidate >=70 gate.
+	winner, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(
+		&MatchHints{Title: "Stasi FC", Year: 2023, Type: "movie"},
+		[]MatchCandidate{
+			{
+				Title:       "Stasi FC",
+				Year:        2026,
+				ContentType: "movie",
+				ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tmdb": "111"},
+				Sources:     []string{"tmdb"},
+			},
+		},
+		nil,
+	)
+	if ok || winner != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected year-off-by-3 sole candidate to be rejected, got ok=%v winner=%+v", ok, winner)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_SoleDifferentTitleExactYearStillFloored(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// "Hotel Transylvania Puppy!" vs TMDB's "Puppy!" (same year) scores below the
+	// 55 floor on title similarity, so it must stay rejected — title corroboration
+	// must not rescue a low-similarity title just because the year matches.
+	winner, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(
+		&MatchHints{Title: "Hotel Transylvania Puppy!", Year: 2017, Type: "movie"},
+		[]MatchCandidate{
+			{
+				Title:       "Puppy!",
+				Year:        2017,
+				ContentType: "movie",
+				ProviderIDs: map[string]string{"tmdb": "222"},
+				Sources:     []string{"tmdb"},
+			},
+		},
+		nil,
+	)
+	if ok || winner != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected low-similarity sole candidate to stay rejected, got ok=%v winner=%+v", ok, winner)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSuppressTitleYearFallbackForTrustedIDs_IgnoresMetadb(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
@@ -377,6 +450,7 @@ func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_AcceptsSinglePunctuationEquivalentCandidate
 						Sources:     []string{"tmdb"},
 					},
 				},
+				nil,
 			)
 			if !ok || winner == nil {
 				t.Fatalf("expected lone punctuation-equivalent candidate to be accepted")
@@ -411,6 +485,7 @@ func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_AcceptsProviderTitleWithRepeatedYear(t *tes
 				Sources:     []string{"tmdb"},
 			},
 		},
+		nil,
 	)
 	if !ok || winner == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected provider title with repeated release year to be accepted")
@@ -445,6 +520,7 @@ func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_UsesDetailScoreForDuplicateProviderTie(t *t
 				DetailScore: 46,
 			},
 		},
+		nil,
 	)
 	if !ok || winner == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected richer duplicate TMDB candidate to be accepted")
@@ -479,6 +555,7 @@ func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_RejectsDuplicateTieWithoutClearDetailGap(t
 				DetailScore: 34,
 			},
 		},
+		nil,
 	)
 	if ok || winner != nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected duplicate tie without clear detail gap to remain unmatched")
@@ -508,6 +585,7 @@ func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_UsesProviderOrderForExactCrossProviderTie(t
 				Sources:     []string{"tmdb"},
 			},
 		},
+		nil,
 	)
 	if !ok || winner == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected exact cross-provider tie to use provider order")
@@ -540,6 +618,7 @@ func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_ProviderOrderTieRequiresExactTitleYear(t *t
 				Sources:     []string{"imdb", "metadb", "tmdb", "xattr"},
 			},
 		},
+		nil,
 	)
 	if ok || winner != nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected non-equivalent cross-provider tie to remain unmatched")
@@ -571,6 +650,7 @@ func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_DetailScoreDoesNotOverrideDifferentTitleTie
 				DetailScore: 80,
 			},
 		},
+		nil,
 	)
 	if ok || winner != nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected richer different-title candidate to be rejected")
@@ -600,6 +680,7 @@ func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_DetailScoreRequiresDatedDuplicateCandidates
 				DetailScore: 46,
 			},
 		},
+		nil,
 	)
 	if ok || winner != nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected duplicate detail tie-breaker to reject candidates without matching years")
@@ -631,6 +712,7 @@ func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_DetailScoreRequiresHintCompatibleType(t *te
 				DetailScore: 46,
 			},
 		},
+		nil,
 	)
 	if ok || winner != nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected duplicate detail tie-breaker to reject candidates with hint-incompatible type")
@@ -653,6 +735,7 @@ func TestSelectInitialMatchCandidate_RejectsWeakSingleCandidate(t *testing.T) {
 				Sources:     []string{"tmdb"},
 			},
 		},
+		nil,
 	)
 	if ok || winner != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("expected weak lone candidate to be rejected")
diff --git a/internal/metadata/service.go b/internal/metadata/service.go
index f90fb81a..3879ea8d 100644
--- a/internal/metadata/service.go
+++ b/internal/metadata/service.go
@@ -886,6 +886,12 @@ func (s *MetadataService) processInternal(ctx context.Context, req ProcessReques
 					"provider", p.Slug(), "error", err)
 				continue
 			}
+			slog.Debug("metadata: provider search result",
+				"provider", p.Slug(),
+				"query_title", searchQuery.Title,
+				"query_year", searchQuery.Year,
+				"result_count", len(results),
+			)
 			for _, result := range results {
 				if searchResultConflictsWithTrustedIDs(accumulatedIDs, result.ProviderIDs) {
 					slog.Warn("metadata: skipping conflicting search result",
@@ -902,7 +908,17 @@ func (s *MetadataService) processInternal(ctx context.Context, req ProcessReques
 		}
 
 		candidates := NormalizeCandidates(allResults, contentType)
-		if winner, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(req.Hints, candidates); ok && winner != nil {
+		slog.Debug("metadata: search candidates assembled",
+			"query_title", searchQuery.Title,
+			"query_year", searchQuery.Year,
+			"raw_results", len(allResults),
+			"candidates", len(candidates),
+		)
+		providerPriority := make([]string, 0, len(itemChain))
+		for _, p := range itemChain {
+			providerPriority = append(providerPriority, p.Slug())
+		}
+		if winner, ok := selectInitialMatchCandidate(req.Hints, candidates, providerPriority); ok && winner != nil {
 			for k, v := range winner.ProviderIDs {
 				if v != "" {
 					accumulatedIDs[k] = v
diff --git a/internal/metadata/worker.go b/internal/metadata/worker.go
index 72785f9b..bec12554 100644
--- a/internal/metadata/worker.go
+++ b/internal/metadata/worker.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package metadata
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"log/slog"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/Silo-Server/silo-server/internal/catalog"
 	"github.com/Silo-Server/silo-server/internal/models"
 )
 
@@ -837,10 +839,21 @@ func (w *MatchWorker) processSeriesRoot(ctx context.Context, job models.SeriesRo
 				}
 			}
 			if err := w.service.ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks(ctx, representative.ContentID); err != nil {
-				if updateErr := w.seriesClaimer.UpdateError(ctx, job.MediaFolderID, job.ObservedRootPath, truncateSeriesQueueError(err.Error())); updateErr != nil {
-					return 0, updateErr
+				if errors.Is(err, catalog.ErrItemNotFound) {
+					// The series item was concurrently merged into another (provider-ID
+					// dedup moves its seasons+episodes to the survivor, then deletes the
+					// source row). The episodes are already reattached, so there is nothing
+					// to link here — benign; finish normally instead of failing the batch.
+					slog.Info("metadata: series item gone during episode-link ensure (likely concurrent merge); skipping",
+						"content_id", representative.ContentID,
+						"folder_id", job.MediaFolderID,
+						"observed_root_path", job.ObservedRootPath)
+				} else {
+					if updateErr := w.seriesClaimer.UpdateError(ctx, job.MediaFolderID, job.ObservedRootPath, truncateSeriesQueueError(err.Error())); updateErr != nil {
+						return 0, updateErr
+					}
+					return 0, fmt.Errorf("ensuring series episode links for %s: %w", representative.ContentID, err)
 				}
-				return 0, fmt.Errorf("ensuring series episode links for %s: %w", representative.ContentID, err)
 			}
 		}
 		if err := w.seriesClaimer.Delete(ctx, job.MediaFolderID, job.ObservedRootPath); err != nil {
@@ -933,10 +946,17 @@ func (w *MatchWorker) processSeriesRoot(ctx context.Context, job models.SeriesRo
 	}
 	if strings.TrimSpace(finalContentID) != "" {
 		if err := w.service.ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks(ctx, finalContentID); err != nil {
-			if updateErr := w.seriesClaimer.UpdateError(ctx, job.MediaFolderID, job.ObservedRootPath, truncateSeriesQueueError(err.Error())); updateErr != nil {
-				return 0, updateErr
+			if errors.Is(err, catalog.ErrItemNotFound) {
+				slog.Info("metadata: series item gone during episode-link ensure (likely concurrent merge); skipping",
+					"content_id", finalContentID,
+					"folder_id", job.MediaFolderID,
+					"observed_root_path", job.ObservedRootPath)
+			} else {
+				if updateErr := w.seriesClaimer.UpdateError(ctx, job.MediaFolderID, job.ObservedRootPath, truncateSeriesQueueError(err.Error())); updateErr != nil {
+					return 0, updateErr
+				}
+				return 0, fmt.Errorf("ensuring series episode links for %s: %w", finalContentID, err)
 			}
-			return 0, fmt.Errorf("ensuring series episode links for %s: %w", finalContentID, err)
 		}
 		if _, ok := w.service.confirmedOwnershipItem(ctx, finalContentID); ok {
 			w.service.claimConfirmedSeriesRootOwnership(ctx, job.MediaFolderID, job.ObservedRootPath, finalContentID, groupFiles)
diff --git a/internal/metadata/worker_test.go b/internal/metadata/worker_test.go
index 867d3f44..0ecb4d15 100644
--- a/internal/metadata/worker_test.go
+++ b/internal/metadata/worker_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/Silo-Server/silo-server/internal/catalog"
 	"github.com/Silo-Server/silo-server/internal/models"
 )
 
@@ -1200,3 +1201,276 @@ func TestWorkerProcessBatchByFolderAndPathPrefix_MovieQueueClaimsOnlyOncePerScan
 		t.Fatal("expected queue error to be recorded")
 	}
 }
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Tests for concurrent-merge ErrItemNotFound tolerance (hotfix 2026-05-27)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+// TestProcessSeriesRoot_Site1_ErrItemNotFoundIsToleratedNotFailed verifies that
+// when ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks returns catalog.ErrItemNotFound at Site 1
+// (the "all files already linked" fast path), the batch succeeds instead of
+// failing. This covers the concurrent-merge case where the source series row
+// was deleted after its episodes were moved to the survivor.
+func TestProcessSeriesRoot_Site1_ErrItemNotFoundIsToleratedNotFailed(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newTestHarness()
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// Need a series-type folder so queueUsageForFolder enables the series queue.
+	h.service.folderRepo = &fakeWorkerFolderRepo{
+		folders: map[int]*models.MediaFolder{
+			10: {ID: 10, Type: "series", Enabled: true},
+		},
+	}
+
+	// Pre-populate the item as "matched" so reusableQueuedMovieSkeleton
+	// returns false (matched is not skeleton-like), bypassing the re-process
+	// block and falling through directly to ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks.
+	const contentID = "series-gone-after-merge"
+	if err := h.itemRepo.Upsert(ctx, &models.MediaItem{
+		ContentID: contentID,
+		Status:    "matched",
+		Title:     "Example Show",
+		Type:      "series",
+		Studios:   []string{},
+		Networks:  []string{},
+		Countries: []string{},
+		Genres:    []string{},
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("upsert item: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// All files are already linked — hasUnlinkedGroupFile returns false.
+	file := &models.MediaFile{
+		ID:               1,
+		MediaFolderID:    10,
+		FilePath:         "/media/shows/Example Show/Season 01/Example.Show.S01E01.mkv",
+		ObservedRootPath: "/media/shows/Example Show",
+		GroupKeyVersion:  1,
+		ContentGroupKey:  "v1|series|example_show|2024",
+		ContentID:        contentID,
+	}
+	h.fileRepo.setGroupFiles(10, 1, "v1|series|example_show|2024", file)
+	h.fileRepo.contentIDs[file.ID] = contentID
+
+	// Hook ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks to simulate the source row being gone.
+	h.service.hooks.ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks = func(_ context.Context, _ string) error {
+		return fmt.Errorf("loading series item: %w", catalog.ErrItemNotFound)
+	}
+
+	queueRepo := newFakeSeriesQueueRepo(models.SeriesRootMatchJob{
+		MediaFolderID:     10,
+		ObservedRootPath:  "/media/shows/Example Show",
+		SampleFilePath:    file.FilePath,
+		ObservedFileCount: 1,
+	})
+
+	worker := NewMatchWorker(h.service, h.fileRepo, 1, 10, 0)
+	worker.SetSeriesRootClaimer(queueRepo, true)
+	processed, err := worker.ProcessAllByFolderAndPathPrefix(ctx, 10, "/media/shows/Example Show", time.Time{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected no error for ErrItemNotFound (benign concurrent merge), got: %v", err)
+	}
+	if processed != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("processed = %d, want 1", processed)
+	}
+	// Queue row must be deleted on normal completion.
+	if _, ok := queueRepo.deleted["10:/media/shows/Example Show"]; !ok {
+		t.Fatal("expected queue row to be deleted on normal completion")
+	}
+	// No error must have been recorded in the queue.
+	if queueRepo.errors["10:/media/shows/Example Show"] != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected no queue error, got %q", queueRepo.errors["10:/media/shows/Example Show"])
+	}
+}
+
+// TestProcessSeriesRoot_Site1_NonNotFoundErrorStillFails verifies that a
+// genuine (non-ErrItemNotFound) error from ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks at Site 1
+// still fails the batch — the fix must not swallow real errors.
+func TestProcessSeriesRoot_Site1_NonNotFoundErrorStillFails(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newTestHarness()
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	h.service.folderRepo = &fakeWorkerFolderRepo{
+		folders: map[int]*models.MediaFolder{
+			10: {ID: 10, Type: "series", Enabled: true},
+		},
+	}
+
+	const contentID = "series-link-failure"
+	if err := h.itemRepo.Upsert(ctx, &models.MediaItem{
+		ContentID: contentID,
+		Status:    "matched",
+		Title:     "Example Show",
+		Type:      "series",
+		Studios:   []string{},
+		Networks:  []string{},
+		Countries: []string{},
+		Genres:    []string{},
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("upsert item: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	file := &models.MediaFile{
+		ID:               1,
+		MediaFolderID:    10,
+		FilePath:         "/media/shows/Example Show/Season 01/Example.Show.S01E01.mkv",
+		ObservedRootPath: "/media/shows/Example Show",
+		GroupKeyVersion:  1,
+		ContentGroupKey:  "v1|series|example_show|2024",
+		ContentID:        contentID,
+	}
+	h.fileRepo.setGroupFiles(10, 1, "v1|series|example_show|2024", file)
+	h.fileRepo.contentIDs[file.ID] = contentID
+
+	// Return a genuine (non-not-found) error.
+	linkErr := errors.New("database connection reset")
+	h.service.hooks.ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks = func(_ context.Context, _ string) error {
+		return linkErr
+	}
+
+	queueRepo := newFakeSeriesQueueRepo(models.SeriesRootMatchJob{
+		MediaFolderID:     10,
+		ObservedRootPath:  "/media/shows/Example Show",
+		SampleFilePath:    file.FilePath,
+		ObservedFileCount: 1,
+	})
+
+	worker := NewMatchWorker(h.service, h.fileRepo, 1, 10, 0)
+	worker.SetSeriesRootClaimer(queueRepo, true)
+	_, err := worker.ProcessAllByFolderAndPathPrefix(ctx, 10, "/media/shows/Example Show", time.Time{})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error for genuine link failure, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "ensuring series episode links") {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error message: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestProcessSeriesRoot_Site2_ErrItemNotFoundIsToleratedNotFailed verifies that
+// when ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks returns catalog.ErrItemNotFound at Site 2
+// (the new-skeleton / enrichment path), the batch succeeds.
+func TestProcessSeriesRoot_Site2_ErrItemNotFoundIsToleratedNotFailed(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newTestHarness()
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	h.service.folderRepo = &fakeWorkerFolderRepo{
+		folders: map[int]*models.MediaFolder{
+			10: {ID: 10, Type: "series", Enabled: true},
+		},
+	}
+
+	// File has no ContentID yet → hasUnlinkedGroupFile returns true →
+	// proceeds through createOrFindSkeleton + enrichment path (Site 2).
+	file := &models.MediaFile{
+		ID:               1,
+		MediaFolderID:    10,
+		FilePath:         "/media/shows/Example Show/Season 01/Example.Show.S01E01.mkv",
+		ObservedRootPath: "/media/shows/Example Show",
+		GroupKeyVersion:  1,
+		ContentGroupKey:  "v1|series|example_show|2024",
+		BaseTitle:        "Example Show",
+		BaseType:         "series",
+	}
+	h.fileRepo.setGroupFiles(10, 1, "v1|series|example_show|2024", file)
+
+	const skeletonID = "skeleton-series-id"
+
+	h.service.hooks.createOrFindSkeleton = func(_ context.Context, _ *models.MediaFile, _ int) (*skeletonResult, error) {
+		return &skeletonResult{
+			ContentID:  skeletonID,
+			IsNew:      true,
+			ItemStatus: "pending",
+			Type:       "series",
+		}, nil
+	}
+	h.service.hooks.process = func(_ context.Context, _ ProcessRequest) (*ProcessResult, error) {
+		return &ProcessResult{Updated: true}, nil
+	}
+	// Simulate the concurrent-merge: ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks finds the source gone.
+	h.service.hooks.ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks = func(_ context.Context, _ string) error {
+		return fmt.Errorf("loading series item: %w", catalog.ErrItemNotFound)
+	}
+
+	queueRepo := newFakeSeriesQueueRepo(models.SeriesRootMatchJob{
+		MediaFolderID:     10,
+		ObservedRootPath:  "/media/shows/Example Show",
+		SampleFilePath:    file.FilePath,
+		ObservedFileCount: 1,
+	})
+
+	worker := NewMatchWorker(h.service, h.fileRepo, 1, 10, 0)
+	worker.SetSeriesRootClaimer(queueRepo, true)
+	processed, err := worker.ProcessAllByFolderAndPathPrefix(ctx, 10, "/media/shows/Example Show", time.Time{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected no error for ErrItemNotFound (benign concurrent merge), got: %v", err)
+	}
+	if processed != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("processed = %d, want 1", processed)
+	}
+	if _, ok := queueRepo.deleted["10:/media/shows/Example Show"]; !ok {
+		t.Fatal("expected queue row to be deleted on normal completion")
+	}
+	if queueRepo.errors["10:/media/shows/Example Show"] != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected no queue error, got %q", queueRepo.errors["10:/media/shows/Example Show"])
+	}
+}
+
+// TestProcessSeriesRoot_Site2_NonNotFoundErrorStillFails verifies that a genuine
+// error from ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks at Site 2 still fails the batch.
+func TestProcessSeriesRoot_Site2_NonNotFoundErrorStillFails(t *testing.T) {
+	h := newTestHarness()
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	h.service.folderRepo = &fakeWorkerFolderRepo{
+		folders: map[int]*models.MediaFolder{
+			10: {ID: 10, Type: "series", Enabled: true},
+		},
+	}
+
+	file := &models.MediaFile{
+		ID:               1,
+		MediaFolderID:    10,
+		FilePath:         "/media/shows/Example Show/Season 01/Example.Show.S01E01.mkv",
+		ObservedRootPath: "/media/shows/Example Show",
+		GroupKeyVersion:  1,
+		ContentGroupKey:  "v1|series|example_show|2024",
+		BaseTitle:        "Example Show",
+		BaseType:         "series",
+	}
+	h.fileRepo.setGroupFiles(10, 1, "v1|series|example_show|2024", file)
+
+	const skeletonID = "skeleton-series-id-2"
+
+	h.service.hooks.createOrFindSkeleton = func(_ context.Context, _ *models.MediaFile, _ int) (*skeletonResult, error) {
+		return &skeletonResult{
+			ContentID:  skeletonID,
+			IsNew:      true,
+			ItemStatus: "pending",
+			Type:       "series",
+		}, nil
+	}
+	h.service.hooks.process = func(_ context.Context, _ ProcessRequest) (*ProcessResult, error) {
+		return &ProcessResult{Updated: true}, nil
+	}
+	linkErr := errors.New("db timeout")
+	h.service.hooks.ensureSeriesEpisodeLinks = func(_ context.Context, _ string) error {
+		return linkErr
+	}
+
+	queueRepo := newFakeSeriesQueueRepo(models.SeriesRootMatchJob{
+		MediaFolderID:     10,
+		ObservedRootPath:  "/media/shows/Example Show",
+		SampleFilePath:    file.FilePath,
+		ObservedFileCount: 1,
+	})
+
+	worker := NewMatchWorker(h.service, h.fileRepo, 1, 10, 0)
+	worker.SetSeriesRootClaimer(queueRepo, true)
+	_, err := worker.ProcessAllByFolderAndPathPrefix(ctx, 10, "/media/shows/Example Show", time.Time{})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error for genuine link failure at site 2, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "ensuring series episode links") {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error message: %v", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/naming/folderid.go b/internal/naming/folderid.go
index af5f7a3f..d977648a 100644
--- a/internal/naming/folderid.go
+++ b/internal/naming/folderid.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package naming
 import (
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
+	"unicode"
 )
 
 // folderIDPattern matches patterns like [tmdbid-27205], {tmdb-27205},
@@ -12,15 +13,16 @@ var folderIDPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`[{\[](tmdb|tmdbid|imdb|imdbid|tvdb|tvd
 var trailingImdbIDPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)(?:^|\s)(tt\d{7,8})$`)
 var trailingNumericIDPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`(?:^|\s)(\d+)$`)
 
-// ParseStructuredFolderIDs extracts only explicit structured provider IDs from
-// a folder or file name, such as {tmdb-27205} or [imdbid-tt1375666}. It does
+// bracketedBareImdbPattern matches a bare IMDb id wrapped in brackets without a
+// provider prefix, e.g. [tt10011226] or {tt0095016} (Plex/Kodi-style tags). A
+// tt-prefixed number is unambiguously IMDb.
+var bracketedBareImdbPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)[{\[](tt\d{7,8})[}\]]`)
+
+// ParseStructuredFolderIDs extracts only explicit provider IDs from a folder or
+// file name, such as {tmdb-27205}, [imdbid-tt1375666], or [tt1375666]. It does
 // not consider trailing bare IDs or folderType-based heuristics.
 func ParseStructuredFolderIDs(name string) *FolderIDHints {
 	matches := folderIDPattern.FindAllStringSubmatch(name, -1)
-	if len(matches) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-
 	hints := &FolderIDHints{}
 	for _, m := range matches {
 		provider := strings.ToLower(m[1])
@@ -36,6 +38,10 @@ func ParseStructuredFolderIDs(name string) *FolderIDHints {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if m := bracketedBareImdbPattern.FindStringSubmatch(name); m != nil && hints.ImdbID == "" {
+		hints.ImdbID = strings.ToLower(m[1])
+	}
+
 	if hints.TmdbID == "" && hints.ImdbID == "" && hints.TvdbID == "" {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -66,12 +72,30 @@ func ParseFolderIDs(folderName string, folderType string) *FolderIDHints {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	// A bare trailing number is only an ID when appended to a real title. If the
+	// name has no letters (e.g. "86", "22 7"), it's a numeric title, not an ID.
+	// Trade-off: a folder named ONLY a bare provider id (e.g. "81189") with no
+	// title text now returns nil rather than that id — acceptable because
+	// Sonarr/Radarr never produce bare-number folders.
+	if !containsLetter(trimmed) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if strings.EqualFold(strings.TrimSpace(folderType), "series") {
 		return &FolderIDHints{TvdbID: id}
 	}
 	return &FolderIDHints{TmdbID: id}
 }
 
+func containsLetter(s string) bool {
+	for _, r := range s {
+		if unicode.IsLetter(r) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 func looksLikeYear(value string) bool {
 	return len(value) == 4 && value >= "1800" && value <= "2100"
 }
diff --git a/internal/naming/folderid_numeric_test.go b/internal/naming/folderid_numeric_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5e0e61be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/naming/folderid_numeric_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package naming
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestParseFolderIDs_NumericTitleIsNotAnID(t *testing.T) {
+	// Numeric-only anime titles must NOT be parsed as a bare trailing tvdb/tmdb id.
+	if got := ParseFolderIDs("86", "series"); got != nil {
+		t.Errorf(`ParseFolderIDs("86","series") = %+v, want nil`, got)
+	}
+	if got := ParseFolderIDs("22 7", "series"); got != nil {
+		t.Errorf(`ParseFolderIDs("22 7","series") = %+v, want nil`, got)
+	}
+
+	// A real bare trailing id with title text must still be parsed.
+	got := ParseFolderIDs("Some Show 81189", "series")
+	if got == nil || got.TvdbID != "81189" {
+		t.Errorf(`ParseFolderIDs("Some Show 81189","series") = %+v, want TvdbID="81189"`, got)
+	}
+
+	// Structured tags must still win regardless of letters.
+	got = ParseFolderIDs("{tmdb-27205}", "movies")
+	if got == nil || got.TmdbID != "27205" {
+		t.Errorf(`ParseFolderIDs("{tmdb-27205}","movies") = %+v, want TmdbID="27205"`, got)
+	}
+
+	// Non-Latin (CJK) title with a trailing real id must still parse —
+	// unicode.IsLetter covers kana/kanji, so this is treated as title + id.
+	got = ParseFolderIDs("進撃の巨人 73743", "series")
+	if got == nil || got.TvdbID != "73743" {
+		t.Errorf(`ParseFolderIDs("進撃の巨人 73743","series") = %+v, want TvdbID="73743"`, got)
+	}
+
+	// Numeric-only title for a movies library is also not an id.
+	if got := ParseFolderIDs("86", "movies"); got != nil {
+		t.Errorf(`ParseFolderIDs("86","movies") = %+v, want nil`, got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/naming/folderid_test.go b/internal/naming/folderid_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..45960787
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/naming/folderid_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+package naming
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestParseFolderIDs_BracketedBareImdb(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name, folder, wantImdb string
+	}{
+		{"square brackets", "17 Blocks (2021) [tt10011226]", "tt10011226"},
+		{"curly braces", "Some Show {tt1234567}", "tt1234567"},
+		{"8-digit tt", "Movie (2024) [tt12345678]", "tt12345678"},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		got := ParseFolderIDs(c.folder, "movie")
+		if got == nil || got.ImdbID != c.wantImdb {
+			t.Errorf("%s: ParseFolderIDs(%q) = %+v, want ImdbID=%q", c.name, c.folder, got, c.wantImdb)
+		}
+	}
+	// must NOT change existing behavior:
+	if got := ParseFolderIDs("Movie [imdb-tt1375666]", "movie"); got == nil || got.ImdbID != "tt1375666" {
+		t.Errorf("structured imdb regressed: %+v", got)
+	}
+	if got := ParseFolderIDs("Some Movie (2020) [BB]", "movie"); got != nil {
+		t.Errorf("non-tt bracket tag must not parse as id, got %+v", got)
+	}
+	if got := ParseFolderIDs("17 Blocks (2021)", "movie"); got != nil {
+		t.Errorf("no-id folder must return nil, got %+v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseStructuredFolderIDs_BracketedBareImdb(t *testing.T) {
+	got := ParseStructuredFolderIDs("17 Blocks (2021) [tt10011226]")
+	if got == nil || got.ImdbID != "tt10011226" {
+		t.Fatalf("ParseStructuredFolderIDs bare imdb = %+v, want ImdbID tt10011226", got)
+	}
+
+	got = ParseStructuredFolderIDs("Some Movie {tmdb-12345} [tt7654321]")
+	if got == nil || got.TmdbID != "12345" || got.ImdbID != "tt7654321" {
+		t.Fatalf("ParseStructuredFolderIDs mixed ids = %+v, want tmdb+imdb", got)
+	}
+
+	got = ParseStructuredFolderIDs("Some Movie [imdb-tt1375666] [tt7654321]")
+	if got == nil || got.ImdbID != "tt1375666" {
+		t.Fatalf("structured imdb should win over bare imdb, got %+v", got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/naming/provider_token_test.go b/internal/naming/provider_token_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9dde9de8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/naming/provider_token_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package naming
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestStripInferProviderTags_HandlesBrokenSonarrTokens(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		in   string
+		want string
+	}{
+		{"A Girl & Her Guard Dog [tvdb-{TvdbId}]", "A Girl & Her Guard Dog"},
+		{"A Raven in the Harem [tvdb-{TvdbId}]", "A Raven in the Harem"},
+		{"A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics {imdb-}", "A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics"},
+		{"Coronation Street {imdb-}", "Coronation Street"},
+		// well-formed tags must still be stripped:
+		{"Some Show [tvdb-81189]", "Some Show"},
+		{"Some Show {tmdb-27205}", "Some Show"},
+		// no tag: unchanged:
+		{"Cowboy Bebop", "Cowboy Bebop"},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		if got := stripInferProviderTags(c.in); got != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("stripInferProviderTags(%q) = %q, want %q", c.in, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/naming/root_inference.go b/internal/naming/root_inference.go
index e0095cdc..f5db7672 100644
--- a/internal/naming/root_inference.go
+++ b/internal/naming/root_inference.go
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ var (
 	inferSeasonDirRe       = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)^Season\s+(\d{1,4})(?:\s.*)?$`)
 	inferNumericSeasonRe   = regexp.MustCompile(`^\d{1,4}$`)
 	inferSpecialsDirRe     = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)^(?:specials?|extras?)$`)
-	inferProviderTagRe     = regexp.MustCompile(`\s*[{\[](?:tmdb|tmdbid|imdb|imdbid|tvdb|tvdbid)-[\w]+[}\]]`)
+	// Matches a well-formed tag ([tvdb-81189]), an unsubstituted Sonarr token
+	// ([tvdb-{TvdbId}]), or an empty token ({imdb-}). The id part is either a
+	// {...} placeholder or zero-or-more word chars.
+	inferProviderTagRe = regexp.MustCompile(`\s*[{\[](?:tmdb|tmdbid|imdb|imdbid|tvdb|tvdbid)-(?:\{[^}]*\}|[\w]*)[}\]]`)
 )
 
 type RootAssignment struct {