diff --git a/backend/app/plex/sync.py b/backend/app/plex/sync.py
index b4dd20fa..acdb5e5a 100644
--- a/backend/app/plex/sync.py
+++ b/backend/app/plex/sync.py
@@ -304,7 +304,12 @@ def _apply_facet_fields(row, meta: dict) -> None:
     row.originally_available_at = _date(meta.get("originallyAvailableAt"))
     row.genres = _tags(meta, "Genre")
     row.directors = _tags(meta, "Director")
-    row.cast_names = _tags(meta, "Role", limit=20)
+    # The listing carries only the top ~20 cast, so re-applying it would DOWNGRADE an already-enriched
+    # full cast (up to 24, grown by the rich backfill/info-page enrich) — and since a sync never clears
+    # `people_enriched_at`, nothing would regrow it, silently breaking the person-page cast filter for
+    # names past the top ~20. Only take the listing's cast before the row is enriched; keep it after.
+    if row.people_enriched_at is None:
+        row.cast_names = _tags(meta, "Role", limit=20)
     people = list(dict.fromkeys((row.directors or []) + (row.cast_names or [])))
     row.people_text = " ".join(people) or None
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_plex_detail.py b/backend/tests/test_plex_detail.py
index 481ebee8..cf471222 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_plex_detail.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_plex_detail.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ from app.db import get_db
 from app.main import app
 from app.models import PlexItem, PlexLibrary, PlexShow, User
 from app.plex import detail
-from app.plex.sync import _enrich_people_batch
+from app.plex.sync import _apply_facet_fields, _enrich_people_batch
 
 # A full Plex metadata dict: an explicit IMDb Rating entry (must win over audienceRating), an IMDb Guid,
 # a tagline, and a two-person cast (one with a CDN headshot → proxied, one without → thumb None).
@@ -101,6 +101,31 @@ class _StubClient:
         return self._meta
 
 
+def test_apply_facet_fields_preserves_enriched_cast_names():
+    """A full sync must NOT downgrade an already-enriched full cast back to the listing top-20 — since
+    sync never clears people_enriched_at, nothing would regrow it and the person-page filter would lose
+    the names past the listing cap (regression guard for E5 S5b's enrich gating)."""
+    # The cheap listing's top few cast + the (always-present) director.
+    thin = {"Role": [{"tag": "Al Pacino"}, {"tag": "James Caan"}], "Director": [{"tag": "Francis Ford Coppola"}]}
+
+    # Not-yet-enriched row: the listing cast IS applied.
+    fresh = SimpleNamespace(people_enriched_at=None, directors=None, cast_names=None)
+    _apply_facet_fields(fresh, thin)
+    assert fresh.cast_names == ["Al Pacino", "James Caan"]
+
+    # Enriched row: the fuller stored cast is KEPT, not overwritten by the thin listing.
+    from datetime import datetime, timezone
+    enriched = SimpleNamespace(
+        people_enriched_at=datetime.now(timezone.utc),
+        directors=["Francis Ford Coppola"],
+        cast_names=["Marlon Brando", "Al Pacino", "James Caan", "Diane Keaton"],
+    )
+    _apply_facet_fields(enriched, thin)
+    assert enriched.cast_names == ["Marlon Brando", "Al Pacino", "James Caan", "Diane Keaton"]
+    # people_text is rebuilt from the (updated) directors + the PRESERVED full cast.
+    assert "Diane Keaton" in enriched.people_text and "Francis Ford Coppola" in enriched.people_text
+
+
 def test_enrich_people_batch_persists_detail(db):
     lib = PlexLibrary(plex_key="1", title="Movies", kind="movie", enabled=True)
     db.add(lib)
@@ -251,3 +276,26 @@ def test_show_detail_serves_from_row(db, monkeypatch):
     assert body["imdb_url"] == "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747/"
     assert [c["name"] for c in body["cast"]] == ["Bryan Cranston"]
     assert resp.json()["related"] == []
+
+
+def test_show_detail_lazy_fills_when_unenriched(db, monkeypatch):
+    """A not-yet-enriched show is filled from the live meta on first view (imdb/full_cast persisted +
+    stamped) so subsequent views serve from the row."""
+    lib = PlexLibrary(plex_key="2", title="Shows", kind="show", enabled=True)
+    db.add(lib)
+    db.flush()
+    show = PlexShow(rating_key="s1", library_id=lib.id, title="A Show")
+    db.add(show)
+    db.commit()
+    user = _user(db, "showfill@example.com")
+    db.commit()
+
+    # _show_enrichment returns (live meta, no related) → the fill branch runs.
+    monkeypatch.setattr(browse, "_show_enrichment", lambda db_, rk: (RICH_META, []))
+    resp = _get(db, user, monkeypatch, "/api/plex/show/s1")
+    assert resp.status_code == 200, resp.text
+    assert resp.json()["show"]["imdb_id"] == "tt0068646"
+    db.refresh(show)
+    assert show.imdb_id == "tt0068646"  # persisted for next time
+    assert show.people_enriched_at is not None
+    assert [c["name"] for c in show.full_cast] == ["Marlon Brando", "Al Pacino"]