diff --git a/src-tauri/src/mpv_render.rs b/src-tauri/src/mpv_render.rs
index 1fbef5d..19e2b24 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/mpv_render.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/mpv_render.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ const MPV_RENDER_PARAM_SW_SIZE: c_int = 17;
 const MPV_RENDER_PARAM_SW_FORMAT: c_int = 18;
 const MPV_RENDER_PARAM_SW_STRIDE: c_int = 19;
 const MPV_RENDER_PARAM_SW_POINTER: c_int = 20;
+const MPV_RENDER_UPDATE_FRAME: u64 = 1 << 0;
 
 const MPV_EVENT_NONE: c_int = 0;
 const MPV_EVENT_LOG_MESSAGE: c_int = 2;
@@ -405,6 +406,8 @@ impl MpvRenderer {
         renderer.set_option("terminal", "no")?;
         renderer.set_option("config", "no")?;
         renderer.set_option("vo", "libmpv")?;
+        #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+        renderer.set_option("gpu-api", "opengl")?;
         renderer.set_option("idle", "yes")?;
         renderer.set_option("keep-open", "yes")?;
         if let Err(error) = renderer.set_option("osc", "no") {
@@ -433,7 +436,6 @@ impl MpvRenderer {
         renderer.set_option("cache-secs", "30")?;
         renderer.set_option("demuxer-max-bytes", "150MiB")?;
         renderer.set_option("demuxer-readahead-secs", "10")?;
-        renderer.set_option("ytdl", "no")?;
 
         // Lower audio latency and proper app name for PulseAudio/PipeWire
         renderer.set_option("audio-buffer", "0.2")?;
@@ -652,7 +654,7 @@ impl MpvRenderer {
         let height = height.clamp(2, 1080);
         self.ensure_buffer(width, height);
 
-        unsafe { (self.api.mpv_render_context_update)(self.render_context) };
+        let update_flags = unsafe { (self.api.mpv_render_context_update)(self.render_context) };
 
         let mut size = [width, height];
         let format = CString::new("rgb0").unwrap();
@@ -694,7 +696,9 @@ impl MpvRenderer {
             *alpha = 255;
         }
 
-        self.frames_rendered = self.frames_rendered.saturating_add(1);
+        if update_flags & MPV_RENDER_UPDATE_FRAME != 0 {
+            self.frames_rendered = self.frames_rendered.saturating_add(1);
+        }
 
         Ok(PlayerFrame {
             width,
@@ -719,7 +723,7 @@ impl MpvRenderer {
             self.create_opengl_context()?;
         }
 
-        unsafe { (self.api.mpv_render_context_update)(self.render_context) };
+        let update_flags = unsafe { (self.api.mpv_render_context_update)(self.render_context) };
 
         // Linux/GTK: query the offscreen FBO that GTK's GLArea binds.
         // Windows/macOS: render into the default framebuffer (FBO 0).
@@ -759,7 +763,9 @@ impl MpvRenderer {
                 self.api.error_string(result)
             ));
         }
-        self.frames_rendered = self.frames_rendered.saturating_add(1);
+        if update_flags & MPV_RENDER_UPDATE_FRAME != 0 {
+            self.frames_rendered = self.frames_rendered.saturating_add(1);
+        }
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -909,7 +915,7 @@ impl MpvRenderer {
                     }
                 }
                 MPV_EVENT_COMMAND_REPLY if event.error < 0 => {
-                    log::warn!(
+                    log::debug!(
                         "mpv async command failed: {}",
                         self.api.error_string(event.error)
                     );
diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index 61ae964..eebba7d 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ export default function App() {
   const [detailInitialEpisode, setDetailInitialEpisode] = useState<Video | null>(null);
   const [detailAutoShowStreams, setDetailAutoShowStreams] = useState(false);
   const [detailResumeAt, setDetailResumeAt] = useState<number | undefined>(undefined);
+  const [detailPlaybackError, setDetailPlaybackError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [discoverInitialGenre, setDiscoverInitialGenre] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [globalSearchQuery, setGlobalSearchQuery] = useState('');
   const [searchFocusSignal, setSearchFocusSignal] = useState(0);
@@ -113,8 +114,10 @@ export default function App() {
   const stateRef = useRef<AppState>(DEFAULT_STATE);
   const lastNonSettingsRouteRef = useRef<NavRoute>('home');
   const lastNonSearchRouteRef = useRef<NavRoute>('home');
+  const episodePlaybackFailureRef = useRef<(meta: Meta, episode: Video, message: string) => Promise<void>>(async () => {});
   const artworkPrefetchRef = useRef<Promise<unknown> | null>(null);
   const windowFullscreenRef = useRef(false);
+  const handleEpisodePlaybackFailed = useCallback((meta: Meta, episode: Video, message: string) => episodePlaybackFailureRef.current(meta, episode, message), []);
 
   const overlayPrefs = useCallback((merged: AppState): AppState => {
     const prefs = storedPrefsRef.current;
@@ -195,8 +198,22 @@ export default function App() {
     activeProfile,
     updateState,
     onProfileUpdated: setActiveProfile,
+    onEpisodePlaybackFailed: handleEpisodePlaybackFailed,
   });
 
+  const openEpisodeSourcePicker = useCallback(async (meta: Meta, episode: Video, message: string) => {
+    await closePlayer();
+    setDetailInitialEpisode(episode);
+    setDetailAutoShowStreams(true);
+    setDetailResumeAt(undefined);
+    setDetailPlaybackError(message);
+    setDetailMeta(meta);
+  }, [closePlayer]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    episodePlaybackFailureRef.current = openEpisodeSourcePicker;
+  }, [openEpisodeSourcePicker]);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     let cancelled = false;
     let unlisten: (() => void) | null = null;
@@ -236,6 +253,7 @@ export default function App() {
     totalDuration?: number,
     sourceCandidates?: Stream[],
   ) => {
+    setDetailPlaybackError(null);
     const isP2P = !!(stream.isTorrent || stream.infoHash);
     if (!isP2P) {
       await handlePlay(stream, meta, episode, resumeAt, totalDuration, sourceCandidates);
@@ -699,6 +717,7 @@ export default function App() {
             onBack={() => { void closePlayer(); setDetailMeta(null); setDetailInitialEpisode(null); setDetailAutoShowStreams(false); setDetailResumeAt(undefined); }}
             initialEpisode={detailInitialEpisode}
             autoShowStreams={detailAutoShowStreams}
+            playbackFailure={detailPlaybackError}
           />
         )}
         <div style={{ display: !showDetail && activeRoute === 'home' ? 'contents' : 'none' }}>
diff --git a/src/components/ReactPlayerOverlay.tsx b/src/components/ReactPlayerOverlay.tsx
index 9991725..838f542 100644
--- a/src/components/ReactPlayerOverlay.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ReactPlayerOverlay.tsx
@@ -359,7 +359,16 @@ export function ReactPlayerOverlay({ closePlayer, onFirstFrame, initialTitle, in
           const pixels = new Uint8ClampedArray(binary.length);
           for (let i = 0; i < binary.length; i++) pixels[i] = binary.charCodeAt(i);
           ctx.putImageData(new ImageData(pixels, frame.width, frame.height), 0, 0);
-          if (!firstFrameFiredRef.current && onFirstFrame) {
+          const status = liveStatusRef.current;
+          const position = parseFloat(status?.timePos ?? '0');
+          const hasRenderedVideo =
+            status?.loaded &&
+            status.hasVideoTrack &&
+            status.voConfigured === 'yes' &&
+            status.framesRendered >= 2 &&
+            status.pausedForCache !== 'yes' &&
+            position > 0.15;
+          if (!firstFrameFiredRef.current && onFirstFrame && hasRenderedVideo) {
             firstFrameFiredRef.current = true;
             sendCmd('set pause no');
             onFirstFrame();
@@ -560,7 +569,6 @@ export function ReactPlayerOverlay({ closePlayer, onFirstFrame, initialTitle, in
       }
 
       if (!firstFrameFiredRef.current && onFirstFrame) {
-        const noVideoTrack = status.trackListReady && !status.hasVideoTrack;
         const hasVideoDimensions =
           (parseFloat(status.width ?? '0') || 0) > 0 &&
           (parseFloat(status.height ?? '0') || 0) > 0;
@@ -569,9 +577,9 @@ export function ReactPlayerOverlay({ closePlayer, onFirstFrame, initialTitle, in
           status.pause !== 'yes' &&
           status.pausedForCache !== 'yes' &&
           pos > 0.15;
-        const voReady = !noVideoTrack && status.voConfigured === 'yes' && status.framesRendered >= 2 && status.pausedForCache !== 'yes';
-        const activeVideoPlayback = !noVideoTrack && status.hasVideoTrack && hasVideoDimensions && playbackAdvancing;
-        if (playbackUrl && status.path === playbackUrl && !status.resuming && (voReady || activeVideoPlayback || noVideoTrack)) {
+        const renderedVideo = status.hasVideoTrack && hasVideoDimensions && status.voConfigured === 'yes' && status.framesRendered >= 2 && playbackAdvancing;
+        const activeAudioOnlyPlayback = status.trackListReady && !status.hasVideoTrack && playbackAdvancing;
+        if (playbackUrl && status.path === playbackUrl && !status.resuming && (renderedVideo || activeAudioOnlyPlayback)) {
           firstFrameFiredRef.current = true;
           sendCmd('set pause no');
           onFirstFrame();
diff --git a/src/components/detail/EpisodePanel.tsx b/src/components/detail/EpisodePanel.tsx
index c65957c..1be7b2e 100644
--- a/src/components/detail/EpisodePanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/detail/EpisodePanel.tsx
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ export function EpisodePanel({
   isLoadingStreams,
   isLoadingEpisodes,
   availableAddons,
+  playbackFailure,
   streamAddonCount,
   onBackToEpisodes,
   onEpisodeClick,
@@ -234,6 +235,7 @@ export function EpisodePanel({
   isLoadingStreams: boolean;
   isLoadingEpisodes?: boolean;
   availableAddons: string[];
+  playbackFailure?: string | null;
   streamAddonCount: number;
   onBackToEpisodes: () => void;
   onEpisodeClick: (ep: Video) => void;
@@ -309,6 +311,7 @@ export function EpisodePanel({
           streams={streams}
           isLoading={isLoadingStreams}
           availableAddons={availableAddons}
+          playbackFailure={playbackFailure}
           streamAddonCount={streamAddonCount}
           onBack={onBackToEpisodes}
           onPlay={onPlaySource}
diff --git a/src/components/detail/ModernDetailLayout.tsx b/src/components/detail/ModernDetailLayout.tsx
index a79378f..8a0f66f 100644
--- a/src/components/detail/ModernDetailLayout.tsx
+++ b/src/components/detail/ModernDetailLayout.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ export type ModernDetailProps = {
   selectedSeason: number;
   selectedEpisode: Video | null;
   showSources: boolean;
+  playbackFailure?: string | null;
   streams: Stream[];
   episodePlan: { seasonNumbers?: number[]; selectedSeason?: number; episodes?: Video[]; selectedEpisode?: Video | null } | null;
   similarItems: Meta[];
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ function GenreTag({ label, onClick }: { label: string; onClick?: () => void }) {
 
 export function ModernDetailLayout({
   displayMeta, bgUrl, isSeries, detail, meta, episodes, filteredEps, seasonNumbers,
-  selectedSeason, selectedEpisode, showSources, streams, episodePlan, similarItems,
+  selectedSeason, selectedEpisode, showSources, playbackFailure, streams, episodePlan, similarItems,
   displayTrailers, trailerMetadata, castMembers, directorLinks, peopleImages,
   watchedMap, progressMap, continueWatchingEntry, isInWatchlist, isDropped, isCompleted,
   omdbRatings, fanartArtwork, availableAddons, streamAddonCount, poster,
@@ -679,7 +680,7 @@ export function ModernDetailLayout({
       {showSources && selectedEpisode && isSeries && (
         <div style={MS.overlayBackdrop} onClick={onBackToEpisodes}>
           <div style={MS.overlaySheet} onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
-            <InlineSourceList episode={selectedEpisode} meta={displayMeta} streams={streams} isLoading={!!detail.isLoadingStreams} availableAddons={availableAddons} failedAddons={detail.failedAddons ?? []} streamAddonCount={streamAddonCount} onBack={onBackToEpisodes} onPlay={onPlaySource} onAddonChange={(addon) => onDispatch(JSON.stringify({ type: 'detailSelectedAddonChanged', addon }))} onRetryFailed={onRetryFailed} />
+            <InlineSourceList episode={selectedEpisode} meta={displayMeta} streams={streams} isLoading={!!detail.isLoadingStreams} availableAddons={availableAddons} failedAddons={detail.failedAddons ?? []} playbackFailure={playbackFailure} streamAddonCount={streamAddonCount} onBack={onBackToEpisodes} onPlay={onPlaySource} onAddonChange={(addon) => onDispatch(JSON.stringify({ type: 'detailSelectedAddonChanged', addon }))} onRetryFailed={onRetryFailed} />
           </div>
         </div>
       )}
@@ -687,7 +688,7 @@ export function ModernDetailLayout({
       {showSources && !isSeries && (
         <div style={MS.overlayBackdrop} onClick={onBackToEpisodes}>
           <div style={MS.overlaySheet} onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
-            <MovieSourcePanel meta={displayMeta} streams={streams} isLoading={!!detail.isLoadingStreams} availableAddons={availableAddons} failedAddons={detail.failedAddons ?? []} streamAddonCount={streamAddonCount} onPlay={(stream) => onPlay(stream, displayMeta, null, undefined, streams)} onAddonChange={(addon) => onDispatch(JSON.stringify({ type: 'detailSelectedAddonChanged', addon }))} onClose={onBackToEpisodes} onRetryFailed={onRetryFailed} />
+            <MovieSourcePanel meta={displayMeta} streams={streams} isLoading={!!detail.isLoadingStreams} availableAddons={availableAddons} failedAddons={detail.failedAddons ?? []} playbackFailure={playbackFailure} streamAddonCount={streamAddonCount} onPlay={(stream) => onPlay(stream, displayMeta, null, undefined, streams)} onAddonChange={(addon) => onDispatch(JSON.stringify({ type: 'detailSelectedAddonChanged', addon }))} onClose={onBackToEpisodes} onRetryFailed={onRetryFailed} />
           </div>
         </div>
       )}
diff --git a/src/components/detail/SourcePanel.tsx b/src/components/detail/SourcePanel.tsx
index c0e1b30..1902715 100644
--- a/src/components/detail/SourcePanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/detail/SourcePanel.tsx
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ export function MovieSourcePanel({
   isLoading,
   availableAddons,
   failedAddons,
+  playbackFailure,
   streamAddonCount,
   onPlay,
   onAddonChange,
@@ -138,6 +139,7 @@ export function MovieSourcePanel({
   isLoading: boolean;
   availableAddons: string[];
   failedAddons?: string[];
+  playbackFailure?: string | null;
   streamAddonCount: number;
   onPlay: (stream: Stream) => void;
   onAddonChange?: (addon: string | null) => void;
@@ -199,6 +201,7 @@ export function MovieSourcePanel({
       {!isLoading && !!failedAddons?.length && (
         <FailedAddonsNotice count={failedAddons.length} onRetry={onRetryFailed} />
       )}
+      {playbackFailure && <PlaybackFailureNotice message={playbackFailure} />}
 
       <div key={selectedAddon ?? 'all'} style={EP.inlineSources}>
         {isLoading && visibleStreams.length === 0 && <div style={SS.center}><div style={spinnerStyle} /></div>}
@@ -236,6 +239,15 @@ function FailedAddonsNotice({ count, onRetry }: { count: number; onRetry?: () =>
   );
 }
 
+function PlaybackFailureNotice({ message }: { message: string }) {
+  return (
+    <div style={{ padding: '0.625rem 1rem', margin: '0.375rem 1rem 0', background: 'rgba(255,94,94,0.12)', border: '1px solid rgba(255,94,94,0.32)', borderRadius: '0.375rem' }}>
+      <div style={{ color: '#FF9A9A', fontSize: '0.75rem', fontWeight: 700 }}>{t('player.playback_error_title')}</div>
+      <div style={{ color: 'rgba(255,255,255,0.72)', fontSize: '0.75rem', lineHeight: 1.4, marginTop: '0.1875rem', whiteSpace: 'pre-wrap' }}>{message}</div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 export function InlineSourceList({
   episode,
   meta,
@@ -243,6 +255,7 @@ export function InlineSourceList({
   isLoading,
   availableAddons,
   failedAddons,
+  playbackFailure,
   streamAddonCount,
   onBack,
   onPlay,
@@ -255,6 +268,7 @@ export function InlineSourceList({
   isLoading: boolean;
   availableAddons: string[];
   failedAddons?: string[];
+  playbackFailure?: string | null;
   streamAddonCount: number;
   onBack: () => void;
   onPlay: (stream: Stream) => void;
@@ -324,6 +338,7 @@ export function InlineSourceList({
       {!isLoading && !!failedAddons?.length && (
         <FailedAddonsNotice count={failedAddons.length} onRetry={onRetryFailed} />
       )}
+      {playbackFailure && <PlaybackFailureNotice message={playbackFailure} />}
 
       <div key={selectedAddon ?? 'all'} style={EP.inlineSources}>
         {isLoading && visibleStreams.length === 0 && <div style={SS.center}><div style={spinnerStyle} /></div>}
diff --git a/src/hooks/usePlayer.ts b/src/hooks/usePlayer.ts
index 859c753..c6aefe6 100644
--- a/src/hooks/usePlayer.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/usePlayer.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ function debugLog(msg: string) {
   void invoke('debug_log', { msg }).catch(() => {});
 }
 import {
+  type EmbeddedMpvStatus,
   embeddedMpvAddSubtitle,
   embeddedMpvApplyPreferences,
   embeddedMpvSetHttpHeaders,
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ interface UsePlayerOptions {
   activeProfile: UserProfile | null;
   updateState: (s: Partial<AppState>) => void;
   onProfileUpdated?: (profile: UserProfile) => void;
+  onEpisodePlaybackFailed?: (meta: Meta, episode: Video, message: string) => Promise<void> | void;
 }
 
 interface UsePlayerResult {
@@ -88,7 +90,7 @@ interface UsePlayerResult {
   playerPlaybackError: string | null;
   playerSubtitleWarning: string[] | null;
   dismissSubtitleWarning: () => void;
-  handlePlay: (stream: Stream, meta?: Meta, episode?: Video | null, resumeAtSeconds?: number, totalDurationSeconds?: number, sourceCandidates?: Stream[]) => Promise<void>;
+  handlePlay: (stream: Stream, meta?: Meta, episode?: Video | null, resumeAtSeconds?: number, totalDurationSeconds?: number, sourceCandidates?: Stream[], openSourcePickerOnFailure?: boolean) => Promise<void>;
   closePlayer: () => Promise<void>;
   notifyFirstFrame: () => void;
   flushProgressOnQuit: () => Promise<void>;
@@ -116,7 +118,7 @@ function streamRequestHeaders(stream: Stream): Record<string, string> | undefine
   return headers;
 }
 
-export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdated }: UsePlayerOptions): UsePlayerResult {
+export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdated, onEpisodePlaybackFailed }: UsePlayerOptions): UsePlayerResult {
   const [playerUrl, setPlayerUrl] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [playerTitle, setPlayerTitle] = useState<string | undefined>();
   const [playerEpisodeTitle, setPlayerEpisodeTitle] = useState<string | undefined>();
@@ -148,6 +150,9 @@ export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdat
   const playingNextEpisodeRef = useRef<Video | null>(null);
   const prefetchedNextEpRef = useRef<{ episodeId: string; stream: Stream } | null>(null);
   const playerUsesTorrentRef = useRef(false);
+  const lastPlaybackStatusRef = useRef<EmbeddedMpvStatus | null>(null);
+  const openSourcePickerOnFailureRef = useRef(false);
+  const firstFrameHandoffPendingRef = useRef(false);
 
   const playerLoadingOverlayRef = useRef<PlayerLoadingOverlayState | null>(null);
 
@@ -362,13 +367,9 @@ export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdat
     void playerClearChapters();
     void playerClearEpisodes();
     try {
-      const status = await withCloseTimeout(embeddedMpvStatus(), 700).catch(() => null);
+      const status = await withCloseTimeout(embeddedMpvStatus(), 700).catch(() => null) ?? lastPlaybackStatusRef.current;
       if (!status && captureMeta) {
-        debugLog('closePlayer: embeddedMpvStatus timed out, final progress save skipped');
-        Sentry.captureMessage('closePlayer: final progress save skipped (status timeout)', {
-          level: 'warning',
-          extra: { metaId: captureMeta.id },
-        });
+        debugLog('closePlayer: embeddedMpvStatus timed out and no cached playback status is available');
       }
       if (captureMeta && captureStream) {
         await persistLastPlaybackSource(captureMeta, captureStream).catch(() => undefined);
@@ -505,6 +506,7 @@ export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdat
       attemptedSourceKeysRef.current = new Set();
       lastResumeAtSecondsRef.current = undefined;
       lastTotalDurationSecondsRef.current = undefined;
+      lastPlaybackStatusRef.current = null;
     }
   }, [stateRef, updateState]);
 
@@ -516,6 +518,7 @@ export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdat
     const captureStream = playingStreamRef.current;
     const status = await embeddedMpvStatus().catch(() => null);
     if (!status) return;
+    lastPlaybackStatusRef.current = status;
     const timePos = parseFloat(status.timePos ?? '0');
     const duration = parseFloat(status.duration ?? '0');
     if (!(timePos > 30 && duration > 0)) return;
@@ -557,6 +560,7 @@ export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdat
     resumeAtSeconds?: number,
     totalDurationSeconds?: number,
     sourceCandidates?: Stream[],
+    openSourcePickerOnFailure = false,
   ) => {
     debugLog('handlePlay:start');
     setPlayerPlaybackError(null);
@@ -564,6 +568,7 @@ export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdat
     try {
     const generation = ++playGenerationRef.current;
     const isCancelled = () => generation !== playGenerationRef.current;
+    openSourcePickerOnFailureRef.current = openSourcePickerOnFailure;
     setPlayerUrl(null);
     setPlayerUsesTorrent(streamIsP2P(stream));
     const currentStreamKey = streamKey(stream);
@@ -615,7 +620,11 @@ export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdat
       const nextSource = nextRetrySource(stream, message === t('player.torrent_no_peers') || message === t('player.torrent_too_slow'));
       if (nextSource && meta && !isCancelled()) {
         setLoadingStatus(t('player.status_trying_next_source'));
-        await handlePlay(nextSource, meta, episode, resumeAtSeconds, effectiveTotalDuration);
+        await handlePlay(nextSource, meta, episode, resumeAtSeconds, effectiveTotalDuration, undefined, openSourcePickerOnFailure);
+        return;
+      }
+      if (openSourcePickerOnFailure && meta && episode && onEpisodePlaybackFailed) {
+        await onEpisodePlaybackFailed(meta, episode, message);
         return;
       }
       if (!isCancelled()) await failPlayerLoading(message);
@@ -730,6 +739,14 @@ export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdat
         } else if (status.pausedForCache === 'yes') {
           const pct = Math.round(parseFloat(status.cacheBufferingState ?? '') || 0);
           setLoadingStatus(pct > 0 ? t('player.status_buffering_percent', pct) : t('player.status_buffering'));
+        } else if (
+          !status.hasVideoTrack ||
+          status.voConfigured !== 'yes' ||
+          status.framesRendered < 2 ||
+          (parseFloat(status.width ?? '0') || 0) <= 0 ||
+          (parseFloat(status.height ?? '0') || 0) <= 0
+        ) {
+          setLoadingStatus(t('player.status_connecting_source'));
         } else {
           setLoadingStatus(t('player.status_starting_playback'));
         }
@@ -885,9 +902,13 @@ export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdat
     })();
     } catch (err) {
       debugLog(`handlePlay:FATAL ${err instanceof Error ? `${err.message}\n${err.stack}` : String(err)}`);
+      if (openSourcePickerOnFailure && meta && episode && onEpisodePlaybackFailed) {
+        await onEpisodePlaybackFailed(meta, episode, err instanceof Error && err.message ? err.message : t('player.playback_error'));
+        return;
+      }
       await failPlayerLoading(err instanceof Error && err.message ? err.message : (t('player.playback_error') || 'Playback failed'));
     }
-  }, [stateRef, showPlayerLoading, failPlayerLoading, playInEmbeddedMpv, nextRetrySource, setLoadingStatus]);
+  }, [stateRef, showPlayerLoading, failPlayerLoading, playInEmbeddedMpv, nextRetrySource, setLoadingStatus, onEpisodePlaybackFailed]);
 
   const handleNativePlayerError = useCallback(async (message: string) => {
     const nextSource = nextRetrySource(playingStreamRef.current);
@@ -903,8 +924,12 @@ export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdat
       );
       return;
     }
+    if (openSourcePickerOnFailureRef.current && playingMetaRef.current && playingEpisodeRef.current && onEpisodePlaybackFailed) {
+      await onEpisodePlaybackFailed(playingMetaRef.current, playingEpisodeRef.current, message);
+      return;
+    }
     if (!playerLoadingOverlayRef.current?.error) await failPlayerLoading(message);
-  }, [failPlayerLoading, handlePlay, nextRetrySource]);
+  }, [failPlayerLoading, handlePlay, nextRetrySource, onEpisodePlaybackFailed]);
 
   const showEpisodeTransitionLoading = useCallback((meta: Meta, episode: Video, stream: Stream) => {
     const title = playerDisplayTitle(meta, episode, stream);
@@ -944,11 +969,19 @@ export function usePlayer({ stateRef, activeProfile, updateState, onProfileUpdat
     closePlayer,
     handlePlay,
     onPlayerError: handleNativePlayerError,
+    onEpisodePlaybackFailed,
     showEpisodeTransitionLoading,
   });
 
   const notifyFirstFrame = useCallback(() => {
-    setPlayerLoadingOverlay((prev) => (prev?.error ? prev : null));
+    if (firstFrameHandoffPendingRef.current) return;
+    firstFrameHandoffPendingRef.current = true;
+    requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+        firstFrameHandoffPendingRef.current = false;
+        setPlayerLoadingOverlay((prev) => (prev?.error ? prev : null));
+      });
+    });
   }, []);
 
   const dismissSubtitleWarning = useCallback(() => {
diff --git a/src/hooks/usePlayerNativeEvents.ts b/src/hooks/usePlayerNativeEvents.ts
index 2647ddc..373281e 100644
--- a/src/hooks/usePlayerNativeEvents.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/usePlayerNativeEvents.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ export function usePlayerNativeEvents({
   closePlayer,
   handlePlay,
   onPlayerError,
+  onEpisodePlaybackFailed,
   showEpisodeTransitionLoading,
 }: {
   stateRef: React.MutableRefObject<AppState>;
@@ -30,8 +31,9 @@ export function usePlayerNativeEvents({
   playingNextEpisodeRef: React.MutableRefObject<Video | null>;
   prefetchedNextEpRef: React.MutableRefObject<{ episodeId: string; stream: Stream } | null>;
   closePlayer: () => Promise<void>;
-  handlePlay: (stream: Stream, meta?: Meta, episode?: Video | null, resumeAtSeconds?: number, totalDurationSeconds?: number, sourceCandidates?: Stream[]) => Promise<void>;
+  handlePlay: (stream: Stream, meta?: Meta, episode?: Video | null, resumeAtSeconds?: number, totalDurationSeconds?: number, sourceCandidates?: Stream[], openSourcePickerOnFailure?: boolean) => Promise<void>;
   onPlayerError: (message: string) => Promise<void>;
+  onEpisodePlaybackFailed?: (meta: Meta, episode: Video, message: string) => Promise<void> | void;
   showEpisodeTransitionLoading: (meta: Meta, episode: Video, stream: Stream) => void;
 }) {
   const episodeTransitionActiveRef = useRef(false);
@@ -111,10 +113,11 @@ export function usePlayerNativeEvents({
           } catch {}
         }
         if (!chosenStream) {
-          if (!closingPlayerRef.current) await onPlayerError(t('player.no_playable_url'));
+          if (!closingPlayerRef.current && onEpisodePlaybackFailed) await onEpisodePlaybackFailed(meta, nextEp, t('player.no_playable_url'));
+          else if (!closingPlayerRef.current) await onPlayerError(t('player.no_playable_url'));
           return;
         }
-        try { await handlePlay(chosenStream, meta, nextEp, undefined, undefined, sourceCandidates); } catch {}
+        try { await handlePlay(chosenStream, meta, nextEp, undefined, undefined, sourceCandidates, true); } catch {}
         } finally {
           episodeTransitionActiveRef.current = false;
         }
@@ -165,10 +168,11 @@ export function usePlayerNativeEvents({
           }
         } catch {}
         if (!chosenStream) {
-          if (!closingPlayerRef.current) await onPlayerError(t('player.no_playable_url'));
+          if (!closingPlayerRef.current && onEpisodePlaybackFailed) await onEpisodePlaybackFailed(meta, ep, t('player.no_playable_url'));
+          else if (!closingPlayerRef.current) await onPlayerError(t('player.no_playable_url'));
           return;
         }
-        try { await handlePlay(chosenStream, meta, ep, undefined, undefined, sourceCandidates); } catch {}
+        try { await handlePlay(chosenStream, meta, ep, undefined, undefined, sourceCandidates, true); } catch {}
         } finally {
           episodeTransitionActiveRef.current = false;
         }
@@ -178,5 +182,5 @@ export function usePlayerNativeEvents({
       .catch(() => undefined);
 
     return () => { cancelled = true; unlisteners.forEach((fn) => fn()); };
-  }, [handlePlay, stateRef, closingPlayerRef, playingMetaRef, playingStreamRef, playingEpisodeRef, playingNextEpisodeRef, prefetchedNextEpRef, episodeTransitionActiveRef, showEpisodeTransitionLoading]);
+  }, [handlePlay, stateRef, closingPlayerRef, playingMetaRef, playingStreamRef, playingEpisodeRef, playingNextEpisodeRef, prefetchedNextEpRef, episodeTransitionActiveRef, showEpisodeTransitionLoading, onEpisodePlaybackFailed]);
 }
diff --git a/src/screens/DetailScreen.tsx b/src/screens/DetailScreen.tsx
index 073d36a..650257d 100644
--- a/src/screens/DetailScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/DetailScreen.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { ArrowLeft, Play } from 'lucide-react';
-import { coreDetailEpisodePlan, prewarmYoutubeTrailerConfig } from '../core/engine';
+import { coreDetailEpisodePlan } from '../core/engine';
+import { prewarmYoutubeTrailerConfig } from '../core/effectRunner';
 import { coreSupportsResource } from '../core/addonManifest';
 import { loadAddons } from '../core/libraryOps';
 import { appPrefs, prefBool, prefString } from '../core/appPrefs';
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ interface Props {
   onBack: () => void;
   initialEpisode?: Video | null;
   autoShowStreams?: boolean;
+  playbackFailure?: string | null;
 }
 
 function orderStreamsByPrefs(streams: Stream[], prefs: Record<string, unknown>): Stream[] {
@@ -71,7 +73,7 @@ function streamText(stream: Stream): string {
 }
 
 
-export function DetailScreen({ meta, state, onDispatch, onPlay, onNavigateDetail, onNavigateGenre, onBack, initialEpisode, autoShowStreams }: Props) {
+export function DetailScreen({ meta, state, onDispatch, onPlay, onNavigateDetail, onNavigateGenre, onBack, initialEpisode, autoShowStreams, playbackFailure }: Props) {
   const detail = state.detail;
   const [bgError, setBgError] = useState(false);
   const [selectedSeason, setSelectedSeason] = useState(initialEpisode?.season ?? 1);
@@ -326,7 +328,7 @@ export function DetailScreen({ meta, state, onDispatch, onPlay, onNavigateDetail
   const castMembers = useMemo(() => buildCastMembers(displayMeta).slice(0, 12), [displayMeta]);
 
   const directorLinks = useMemo(
-    () => (displayMeta.links ?? []).filter((l) => l.category.toLowerCase().includes('director')).slice(0, 2),
+    () => (displayMeta.links ?? []).filter((l) => String(l.category ?? '').toLowerCase().includes('director')).slice(0, 2),
     [displayMeta.links],
   );
 
@@ -384,6 +386,7 @@ export function DetailScreen({ meta, state, onDispatch, onPlay, onNavigateDetail
           selectedSeason={selectedSeason}
           selectedEpisode={selectedEpisode}
           showSources={showSources}
+          playbackFailure={playbackFailure}
           streams={streams}
           episodePlan={episodePlan}
           similarItems={similarItems}
@@ -591,6 +594,7 @@ export function DetailScreen({ meta, state, onDispatch, onPlay, onNavigateDetail
             isLoadingStreams={!!detail.isLoadingStreams}
             isLoadingEpisodes={detail.isLoading && filteredEps.length === 0}
             availableAddons={detail.availableAddons ?? []}
+            playbackFailure={playbackFailure}
             streamAddonCount={streamAddonCount}
             onBackToEpisodes={() => setShowSources(false)}
             onEpisodeClick={handleEpisodeClick}
@@ -612,6 +616,7 @@ export function DetailScreen({ meta, state, onDispatch, onPlay, onNavigateDetail
             isLoading={!!detail.isLoadingStreams}
             availableAddons={detail.availableAddons ?? []}
             failedAddons={detail.failedAddons ?? []}
+            playbackFailure={playbackFailure}
             streamAddonCount={streamAddonCount}
             onPlay={(stream) => onPlay(stream, displayMeta, null, undefined, streams)}
             onAddonChange={(addon) => onDispatch(JSON.stringify({ type: 'detailSelectedAddonChanged', addon }))}