diff --git a/lib/models/plex_metadata.dart b/lib/models/plex_metadata.dart
index 25e45c20..cf9347a1 100644
--- a/lib/models/plex_metadata.dart
+++ b/lib/models/plex_metadata.dart
@@ -112,6 +112,9 @@ class PlexMetadata with MultiServerFields {
   // Clear logo URL (extracted from Image array, but serialized for offline storage)
   final String? clearLogo;
 
+  // Square background art URL (extracted from Image array, used for near-square hero layouts)
+  final String? backgroundSquare;
+
   /// Global unique identifier across all servers (serverId:ratingKey)
   String get globalKey => serverId != null ? buildGlobalKey(serverId!, ratingKey) : ratingKey;
 
@@ -186,6 +189,7 @@ class PlexMetadata with MultiServerFields {
     this.serverId,
     this.serverName,
     this.clearLogo,
+    this.backgroundSquare,
   });
 
   /// Create a copy of this metadata with optional field overrides
@@ -242,6 +246,7 @@ class PlexMetadata with MultiServerFields {
     String? serverId,
     String? serverName,
     String? clearLogo,
+    String? backgroundSquare,
   }) {
     return PlexMetadata(
       ratingKey: ratingKey ?? this.ratingKey,
@@ -296,35 +301,48 @@ class PlexMetadata with MultiServerFields {
       serverId: serverId ?? this.serverId,
       serverName: serverName ?? this.serverName,
       clearLogo: clearLogo ?? this.clearLogo,
+      backgroundSquare: backgroundSquare ?? this.backgroundSquare,
     );
   }
 
-  /// Extract clearLogo from Image array in raw JSON
-  static String? _extractClearLogoFromJson(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
+  /// Extract an image URL by type from the Image array in raw JSON
+  static String? _extractImageFromJson(Map<String, dynamic> json, String imageType) {
     if (!json.containsKey('Image')) return null;
 
     final images = json['Image'] as List?;
     if (images == null) return null;
 
     for (var image in images) {
-      if (image is Map && image['type'] == 'clearLogo') {
+      if (image is Map && image['type'] == imageType) {
         return image['url'] as String?;
       }
     }
     return null;
   }
 
-  /// Create from JSON with clearLogo extracted from Image array
+  /// Create from JSON with Image array fields extracted
   factory PlexMetadata.fromJsonWithImages(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
-    // Extract clearLogo before parsing
-    final clearLogoUrl = _extractClearLogoFromJson(json);
-    // Add it to the json so it gets parsed
+    final clearLogoUrl = _extractImageFromJson(json, 'clearLogo');
     if (clearLogoUrl != null) {
       json['clearLogo'] = clearLogoUrl;
     }
+    final backgroundSquareUrl = _extractImageFromJson(json, 'backgroundSquare');
+    if (backgroundSquareUrl != null) {
+      json['backgroundSquare'] = backgroundSquareUrl;
+    }
     return PlexMetadata.fromJson(json);
   }
 
+  /// Returns the best hero art path based on the container's aspect ratio.
+  /// Uses backgroundSquare when the container is closer to 1:1 than 16:9.
+  String? heroArt({required double containerAspectRatio}) {
+    // Threshold = midpoint of 1:1 (1.0) and 16:9 (~1.78) ≈ 1.39
+    if (containerAspectRatio < 1.39 && backgroundSquare != null) {
+      return backgroundSquare;
+    }
+    return art;
+  }
+
   // Helper to get the display title (show name for episodes/seasons, title otherwise)
   String get displayTitle {
     final itemType = type.toLowerCase();
diff --git a/lib/models/plex_metadata.g.dart b/lib/models/plex_metadata.g.dart
index eb2a598e..d934f63b 100644
--- a/lib/models/plex_metadata.g.dart
+++ b/lib/models/plex_metadata.g.dart
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ PlexMetadata _$PlexMetadataFromJson(Map<String, dynamic> json) => PlexMetadata(
   extraType: (json['extraType'] as num?)?.toInt(),
   primaryExtraKey: json['primaryExtraKey'] as String?,
   clearLogo: json['clearLogo'] as String?,
+  backgroundSquare: json['backgroundSquare'] as String?,
 );
 
 Map<String, dynamic> _$PlexMetadataToJson(PlexMetadata instance) => <String, dynamic>{
@@ -110,4 +111,5 @@ Map<String, dynamic> _$PlexMetadataToJson(PlexMetadata instance) => <String, dyn
   'extraType': instance.extraType,
   'primaryExtraKey': instance.primaryExtraKey,
   'clearLogo': instance.clearLogo,
+  'backgroundSquare': instance.backgroundSquare,
 };
diff --git a/lib/screens/discover_screen.dart b/lib/screens/discover_screen.dart
index 7dbfffd6..629b1148 100644
--- a/lib/screens/discover_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/discover_screen.dart
@@ -1264,7 +1264,7 @@ class _DiscoverScreenState extends State<DiscoverScreen>
                   }
                 },
                 itemBuilder: (context, index) {
-                  return _buildHeroItem(_onDeck[index]);
+                  return _buildHeroItem(_onDeck[index], heroHeight);
                 },
               ),
               // Bottom gradient that extends past hero bounds to ensure seamless blend
@@ -1380,7 +1380,7 @@ class _DiscoverScreenState extends State<DiscoverScreen>
     );
   }
 
-  Widget _buildHeroItem(PlexMetadata heroItem) {
+  Widget _buildHeroItem(PlexMetadata heroItem, double heroHeight) {
     final isEpisode = heroItem.isEpisode;
     final showName = heroItem.grandparentTitle ?? heroItem.title;
     final screenWidth = MediaQuery.of(context).size.width;
@@ -1406,7 +1406,7 @@ class _DiscoverScreenState extends State<DiscoverScreen>
           clipBehavior: Clip.none,
           children: [
             // Background Image with fade/zoom animation and parallax
-            if (heroItem.art != null || heroItem.grandparentArt != null)
+            if (heroItem.art != null || heroItem.backgroundSquare != null || heroItem.grandparentArt != null)
               ClipRect(
                 child: AnimatedBuilder(
                   animation: _scrollController,
@@ -1429,9 +1429,10 @@ class _DiscoverScreenState extends State<DiscoverScreen>
                         final client = _getClientForItem(heroItem);
                         final mediaQuery = MediaQuery.of(context);
                         final dpr = PlexImageHelper.effectiveDevicePixelRatio(context);
+                        final containerAspect = screenWidth / heroHeight;
                         final imageUrl = PlexImageHelper.getOptimizedImageUrl(
                           client: client,
-                          thumbPath: heroItem.art ?? heroItem.grandparentArt,
+                          thumbPath: heroItem.heroArt(containerAspectRatio: containerAspect) ?? heroItem.grandparentArt,
                           maxWidth: mediaQuery.size.width,
                           maxHeight: mediaQuery.size.height * 0.7,
                           devicePixelRatio: dpr,
diff --git a/lib/screens/media_detail_screen.dart b/lib/screens/media_detail_screen.dart
index 0f357a37..48033a14 100644
--- a/lib/screens/media_detail_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/media_detail_screen.dart
@@ -1853,14 +1853,17 @@ class _MediaDetailScreenState extends State<MediaDetailScreen> with WatchStateAw
                       SizedBox(
                         height: headerHeight,
                         width: double.infinity,
-                        child: metadata.art != null
+                        child: (metadata.art != null || metadata.backgroundSquare != null)
                             ? Builder(
                                 builder: (context) {
+                                  final containerAspect = size.width / headerHeight;
+                                  final heroArtPath = metadata.heroArt(containerAspectRatio: containerAspect);
+
                                   // Check for offline local file first
                                   if (widget.isOffline && widget.metadata.serverId != null) {
                                     final localPath = context.read<DownloadProvider>().getArtworkLocalPath(
                                       widget.metadata.serverId!,
-                                      metadata.art,
+                                      heroArtPath,
                                     );
                                     if (localPath != null && File(localPath).existsSync()) {
                                       return Image.file(
@@ -1879,7 +1882,7 @@ class _MediaDetailScreenState extends State<MediaDetailScreen> with WatchStateAw
                                   final dpr = PlexImageHelper.effectiveDevicePixelRatio(context);
                                   final imageUrl = PlexImageHelper.getOptimizedImageUrl(
                                     client: client,
-                                    thumbPath: metadata.art,
+                                    thumbPath: heroArtPath,
                                     maxWidth: mediaQuery.size.width,
                                     maxHeight: mediaQuery.size.height * 0.6,
                                     devicePixelRatio: dpr,
diff --git a/lib/services/download_manager_service.dart b/lib/services/download_manager_service.dart
index e0119170..cff9e81b 100644
--- a/lib/services/download_manager_service.dart
+++ b/lib/services/download_manager_service.dart
@@ -916,6 +916,11 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
         await _downloadSingleArtwork(serverId, metadata.art!, client);
       }
 
+      // Download square background art
+      if (metadata.backgroundSquare != null) {
+        await _downloadSingleArtwork(serverId, metadata.backgroundSquare!, client);
+      }
+
       // Store thumb reference in database (primary artwork for display)
       await _database.updateArtworkPaths(globalKey: globalKey, thumbPath: metadata.thumb);
 
@@ -977,6 +982,11 @@ class DownloadManagerService {
     if (metadata.art != null) {
       await _downloadSingleArtwork(serverId, metadata.art!, client);
     }
+
+    // Download square background art
+    if (metadata.backgroundSquare != null) {
+      await _downloadSingleArtwork(serverId, metadata.backgroundSquare!, client);
+    }
   }
 
   /// Download chapter thumbnail images for a media item