I used AI to provide a solution for the episode group to address the issue of inconsistent episode counts across different countries and regions. Currently, the functionality of the episode group can only rearrange and regroup existing episodes. Of course, the AI's response is for reference only.

I. Data Model Expansion: Introducing Regional Episode Versions Extend the existing episode data structure to include a region-specific episode grouping system for each series. Allow multiple regional episode configurations while retaining an Original Version as the baseline.

1. Core Field Design Base Episodes (Original Version) Maintain the existing season and episode structure (e.g., official season count, episode runtime, original episode numbers) as a global benchmark. Regional Episode Versions Region Code: Associate with ISO 3166 country/region codes (e.g., , , ), supporting labels like "North American Version," "Japanese Version," or "China Mainland Version."usjpcn Version Type: Categorize differences (e.g., "Split Version," "Merged Version," "Reordered Version") to clarify logic compared to the original. Season-Episode Mapping Rules: Define how episodes in the regional version correspond to the original (see "Mapping Mechanisms" below). Metadata: Record contributors, update timestamps, and review status (to ensure data credibility).
2. Data Input and Management Community Contribution Flow Add a "Regional Episode Versions" tab in TMDB’s editing interface, allowing users to create independent groupings for specific regions. For example: The Japanese version merges original Episodes 1-2 into Episode 1; define Season 1, Episode 1 in the version to map to original Episodes 1-2.jp The China Mainland version splits an episode into multiple parts; re-number and map to original episodes in the version.cn Review Mechanism Regional versions must pass TMDB admin review to ensure logical consistency with the original (e.g., disallow cross-season merging). II. Mapping Mechanisms: Establish Cross-Regional Episode Correlations Use an episode mapping table to resolve regional differences, enabling bidirectional tracing between original and regional episodes.
3. Mapping Types 1:1 Mapping: Regional episodes match the original exactly (e.g., most countries using the base version). N:1 Mapping: Regional version merges multiple original episodes into one (e.g., Japan merging 2 episodes into 1). 1:N Mapping: Regional version splits one original episode into multiple parts (e.g., the U.S. splitting 1 episode into 2). Reordered Mapping: Regional version rearranges episode order (e.g., inserting specials into main seasons), requiring both sequence and original correspondence records.
4. Data Structure Example For a Japanese merged version, the mapping table could look like:

json {
"region": "jp",
"season_mapping": [
{
"season_number": 1, // Regional season number
"original_season": 1, // Corresponding original season
"episode_mapping": [
{
"episode_number": 1, // Regional episode number
"original_episodes": [1, 2] // Maps to original Episodes 1-2
},
{
"episode_number": 2,
"original_episodes": [3] // Maps to original Episode 3
}
]
}
]
}
III. Feature Design: Support Multi-Version Switching and Display

1. Frontend Interaction Enhancements Automatic Region Detection Default to the regional version based on the user’s IP address or account settings. Manual Switching Interface Add a "Regional Version" selector on the series page, allowing users to view episode structures for other regions (e.g., "View U.S. Version Episodes"). Difference Annotations Label discrepancies from the original version in episode lists (e.g., "This episode combines content from original Episodes 1-2").
2. Data Exposure and API Support Series Details Page Show the current region’s season and episode count, with a link to compare against the original version. Extended API Endpoints Add a parameter to endpoints like for developers to fetch regional data:regiontv/{tv_id}/season/{season_number} bash GET https://api.themoviedb.org/3/tv/123/season/1?region=jp
   

IV. Scenario Adaptation and Boundary Handling

1. Special Case Management No Regional Data: Default to the original version and prompt users: "No independent episode configuration exists for this region." Shared Regional Versions: Group regions with identical episode structures (e.g., for Southeast Asia).region: 'se-asia' Non-Regional Versions: Differentiate non-regional variants (e.g., "Director’s Cut," "International Version") using a separate field to avoid confusion with regional logic.type
2. Data Consistency Maintenance Original Version Priority: Regional versions must be based on the original; they cannot exist independently (e.g., no 凭空 adding non-existent original episodes). Change Notification System: Alert regional version maintainers to update mappings when the original episodes are modified (e.g., new specials added). V. Implementation Path Recommendations Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Launch support for 1-2 typical regions (e.g., the U.S. and Japan) for merging/splitting episodes, refining mapping logic through user feedback. Community Engagement Promote the feature on TMDB forums and encourage contributions for commonly streamed regions (e.g., Netflix’s region-specific releases). Tooling Support Develop a visual "Episode Mapping Builder" to simplify creating regional versions (e.g., drag-and-drop original episodes to form merged episodes).

This approach allows TMDB to flexibly handle regional episode variations without disrupting existing data architecture, balancing user personalization with global data consistency and traceability.