diff --git a/lib/mpv/player/player_native.dart b/lib/mpv/player/player_native.dart
index 5aa076e6..5a44b4c9 100644
--- a/lib/mpv/player/player_native.dart
+++ b/lib/mpv/player/player_native.dart
@@ -305,11 +305,21 @@ class PlayerNative implements Player {
   }
 
   void _updateSelectedSubtitleTrack(dynamic trackId) {
-    _updateSelectedTrack<SubtitleTrack>(
-      trackId,
-      _state.tracks.subtitle.cast<SubtitleTrack?>().toList(),
-      (selection, track) => selection.copyWith(subtitle: track),
-    );
+    final id = trackId?.toString();
+    SubtitleTrack? selectedTrack;
+
+    if (id == null || id == 'no') {
+      // Explicitly set SubtitleTrack.off so episode navigation can detect "subtitles off"
+      selectedTrack = SubtitleTrack.off;
+    } else {
+      selectedTrack = _state.tracks.subtitle.cast<SubtitleTrack?>().firstWhere(
+            (t) => t?.id == id,
+            orElse: () => null,
+          );
+    }
+
+    _state = _state.copyWith(track: _state.track.copyWith(subtitle: selectedTrack));
+    _trackController.add(_state.track);
   }
 
   void _updateSelectedTrack<T>(
diff --git a/lib/screens/season_detail_screen.dart b/lib/screens/season_detail_screen.dart
index febd8a07..36a302aa 100644
--- a/lib/screens/season_detail_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/season_detail_screen.dart
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ class _SeasonDetailScreenState extends State<SeasonDetailScreen> with ItemUpdata
   List<PlexMetadata> _episodes = [];
   bool _isLoadingEpisodes = false;
   bool _watchStateChanged = false;
+  // Capture keyboard mode once at init to avoid rebuild dependency
+  bool _initialKeyboardMode = false;
 
   /// Get the correct PlexClient for this season's server
   PlexClient? _getClientForSeason(BuildContext context) {
@@ -55,6 +57,8 @@ class _SeasonDetailScreenState extends State<SeasonDetailScreen> with ItemUpdata
     super.initState();
     // Initialize the client once in initState
     WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
+      // Capture keyboard mode once to avoid rebuild dependency when mode changes
+      _initialKeyboardMode = InputModeTracker.isKeyboardMode(context);
       _client = _getClientForSeason(context);
       _loadEpisodes();
     });
@@ -165,7 +169,7 @@ class _SeasonDetailScreenState extends State<SeasonDetailScreen> with ItemUpdata
                     client: _client,
                     isOffline: widget.isOffline,
                     localPosterPath: localPosterPath,
-                    autofocus: index == 0 && InputModeTracker.isKeyboardMode(context),
+                    autofocus: index == 0 && _initialKeyboardMode,
                     onTap: () async {
                       await navigateToVideoPlayerWithRefresh(
                         context,
diff --git a/lib/widgets/video_controls/video_controls.dart b/lib/widgets/video_controls/video_controls.dart
index 81dc7d0e..406bcdd7 100644
--- a/lib/widgets/video_controls/video_controls.dart
+++ b/lib/widgets/video_controls/video_controls.dart
@@ -1266,18 +1266,16 @@ class _PlexVideoControlsState extends State<PlexVideoControls> with WindowListen
         final key = event.logicalKey;
         final isPlayPauseKey = _isPlayPauseKey(event);
 
-        // Handle play/pause via focus when navigation is enabled (TV/gamepad)
-        // When navigation is disabled, the global handler (_handleGlobalKeyEvent) handles it
-        if (_videoPlayerNavigationEnabled || isMobile) {
-          if (_isPlayPauseActivation(event)) {
-            widget.player.playOrPause();
-            _showControlsWithFocus(requestFocus: _videoPlayerNavigationEnabled);
-            return KeyEventResult.handled;
-          }
-          // Swallow other play/pause events (e.g., key up/repeat) to prevent focus side effects
-          if (isPlayPauseKey) {
-            return KeyEventResult.handled;
+        // Always consume play/pause keys to prevent propagation to background routes
+        // On TV/mobile, handle play/pause here; on desktop, the global handler does it
+        if (isPlayPauseKey) {
+          if (_videoPlayerNavigationEnabled || isMobile) {
+            if (_isPlayPauseActivation(event)) {
+              widget.player.playOrPause();
+              _showControlsWithFocus(requestFocus: _videoPlayerNavigationEnabled);
+            }
           }
+          return KeyEventResult.handled;
         }
 
         // Handle Back/Escape: show controls if hidden, navigate back if visible