diff --git a/backend/app/plex/client.py b/backend/app/plex/client.py
index 50365f94..842b405a 100644
--- a/backend/app/plex/client.py
+++ b/backend/app/plex/client.py
@@ -78,9 +78,10 @@ class PlexClient:
     # --- Catalog mirror (P1) ---
     def section_items(
         self, key: str, item_type: int, start: int = 0, size: int = 200
-    ) -> tuple[list[dict], int]:
+    ) -> tuple[list[dict], int | None]:
         """A page of a section's top-level items. type 1 = movie, 2 = show. Returns
-        (items, total_size)."""
+        (items, total_size); the total is None when the answer carries none, so a container that
+        says "0" (a genuinely empty section) stays distinguishable from one that says nothing."""
         mc = self._get(
             f"/library/sections/{key}/all",
             params={
@@ -93,7 +94,8 @@ class PlexClient:
                 "X-Plex-Container-Size": size,
             },
         )
-        return mc.get("Metadata", []) or [], int(mc.get("totalSize", mc.get("size", 0)) or 0)
+        total = mc.get("totalSize", mc.get("size"))
+        return mc.get("Metadata", []) or [], None if total is None else int(total)
 
     def children(self, rating_key: str) -> list[dict]:
         """Direct children (show → seasons, season → episodes)."""
diff --git a/backend/app/plex/sync.py b/backend/app/plex/sync.py
index c84a053f..c7712cad 100644
--- a/backend/app/plex/sync.py
+++ b/backend/app/plex/sync.py
@@ -418,7 +418,10 @@ def _paginate(plex: PlexClient, key: str, item_type: int, progress: dict | None
     if progress is not None:
         # A truthy `total` we reached = a trustworthy complete listing. `total` unknown/zero-with-rows
         # (a Plex that doesn't report totalSize) is treated as NOT complete, so prune stays conservative.
+        # `total` itself is kept for a caller to whom a server that SAID 0 is news it can trust (the
+        # watch reconcile); an empty mirror or overlay must not read it so (E32 S2).
         progress["complete"] = bool(total) and start >= total
+        progress["total"] = total
 
 
 # The section listing exposes at most the top ~20 cast (Plex's own cap); a stored cast longer than this
@@ -671,9 +674,11 @@ def resync_collection(db: Session, plex: PlexClient, lib: PlexLibrary, rk: str)
     meta = plex.metadata(rk) or {}
     col = _upsert_collection(db, by_rating_key(db, PlexCollection, rk), rk, lib.id, meta)
     Model = PlexItem if lib.kind == "movie" else PlexShow
-    new_members = {
-        str(c.get("ratingKey")) for c in plex.collection_children(rk) if c.get("ratingKey")
-    }
+    children = _believed_children(plex, rk, meta)
+    if children is None:
+        db.flush()
+        return col
+    new_members = {str(c.get("ratingKey")) for c in children if c.get("ratingKey")}
     current = db.execute(select(Model).where(Model.collection_keys.contains([rk]))).scalars().all()
     for row in current:  # drop rk from rows that are no longer members
         if row.rating_key not in new_members:
@@ -686,6 +691,22 @@ def resync_collection(db: Session, plex: PlexClient, lib: PlexLibrary, rk: str)
     return col
 
 
+def _believed_children(plex: PlexClient, rk: str, meta: dict) -> list[dict] | None:
+    """A collection's members, or None when the answer is not believed: no members from a collection
+    whose own listing counts some (`childCount`) is a glitch, not a collection emptied — the same
+    empty-answer rule as the collection listing's (E32 review). Rebuilding on it showed the
+    collection empty until the next sync."""
+    children = plex.collection_children(rk)
+    count = str(meta.get("childCount") or "0")
+    if children or not count.isdigit() or int(count) == 0:
+        return children
+    log.warning(
+        "Plex listed no members for a non-empty collection; keeping its membership",
+        extra=logs.event("plex.sync.collection_children_empty", collection=rk),
+    )
+    return None
+
+
 def delete_collection_local(db: Session, lib: PlexLibrary, rk: str) -> None:
     """Local cleanup after a collection is deleted from Plex: strip rk from members + drop the row."""
     Model = PlexItem if lib.kind == "movie" else PlexShow
@@ -697,6 +718,19 @@ def delete_collection_local(db: Session, lib: PlexLibrary, rk: str) -> None:
     db.flush()
 
 
+def _rebuild_membership(
+    db: Session, lib: PlexLibrary, membership: dict[str, list[str]], kept: set[str]
+) -> None:
+    """Rebuild collection_keys on every member row of this library (clear + set), carrying over the
+    keys of a collection whose empty answer was not believed (`_believed_children`)."""
+    for Model in (PlexItem, PlexShow):
+        for row in db.execute(select(Model).where(Model.library_id == lib.id)).scalars():
+            held = [k for k in (row.collection_keys or []) if k in kept]
+            keys = [*membership.get(row.rating_key, []), *held]
+            row.collection_keys = list(dict.fromkeys(keys)) or None
+    db.flush()
+
+
 def _sync_collections(db: Session, plex: PlexClient, lib: PlexLibrary, stats: dict) -> None:
     """Mirror a library's collections + membership. Reads never touch Plex afterwards. Membership is
     written as `collection_keys` on member movies (plex_items) / shows (plex_shows). A full reconcile:
@@ -718,6 +752,7 @@ def _sync_collections(db: Session, plex: PlexClient, lib: PlexLibrary, stats: di
         )
         return
     seen: set[str] = set()
+    kept: set[str] = set()  # collections whose empty children answer is not believed
     membership: dict[str, list[str]] = {}  # member rating_key -> [collection rating_key, ...]
     for meta in cols:
         rk = str(meta.get("ratingKey") or "")
@@ -725,7 +760,10 @@ def _sync_collections(db: Session, plex: PlexClient, lib: PlexLibrary, stats: di
             continue
         _upsert_collection(db, existing.get(rk), rk, lib.id, meta)
         seen.add(rk)
-        for child in plex.collection_children(rk):
+        children = _believed_children(plex, rk, meta)
+        if children is None:
+            kept.add(rk)
+        for child in children or []:
             crk = str(child.get("ratingKey") or "")
             if crk:
                 membership.setdefault(crk, []).append(rk)
@@ -734,9 +772,4 @@ def _sync_collections(db: Session, plex: PlexClient, lib: PlexLibrary, stats: di
     for rk, col in existing.items():
         if rk not in seen:
             db.delete(col)
-    # Rebuild collection_keys on every member row of this library (clear + set).
-    for row in db.execute(select(PlexItem).where(PlexItem.library_id == lib.id)).scalars():
-        row.collection_keys = membership.get(row.rating_key) or None
-    for row in db.execute(select(PlexShow).where(PlexShow.library_id == lib.id)).scalars():
-        row.collection_keys = membership.get(row.rating_key) or None
-    db.flush()
+    _rebuild_membership(db, lib, membership, kept)
diff --git a/backend/app/plex/watch_sync.py b/backend/app/plex/watch_sync.py
index e6043bbd..72d6a9d0 100644
--- a/backend/app/plex/watch_sync.py
+++ b/backend/app/plex/watch_sync.py
@@ -75,9 +75,9 @@ def _scan_plex_states(
 ) -> tuple[dict[int, tuple[str, int, datetime | None, datetime | None]], int, bool]:
     """Scan the enabled movie/show sections and return ``{item_id: (status, pos, watched_at,
     prog_at)}`` for every mirrored leaf Plex holds a watch signal for, the scanned-leaf count, and
-    whether EVERY section's walk reached the server's total. Shared by the one-time import and the
-    full reconcile (both need Plex's whole current picture). The last one matters to the reconcile
-    alone: it reads "absent from the scan" as "Plex un-watched it", which a walk cut short by a
+    whether EVERY section's walk reached the server's total (or the server said it holds none).
+    Shared by the one-time import and the full reconcile (both need Plex's whole current picture).
+    The last one matters to the reconcile alone: it reads "absent from the scan" as "Plex un-watched it", which a walk cut short by a
     Plex hiccup does not mean (see `_paginate`)."""
     item_id_by_rk = _rk_to_id(db)
     wanted = _enabled_section_keys(db)
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ def _scan_plex_states(
             continue
         item_type = _TYPE_MOVIE if stype == "movie" else _TYPE_EPISODE
         progress: dict = {}
+        before = scanned
         for meta in _paginate(plex, key, item_type, progress):
             scanned += 1
             item_id = item_id_by_rk.get(str(meta.get("ratingKey") or ""))
@@ -103,7 +104,10 @@ def _scan_plex_states(
             )
             if res is not None:
                 out[item_id] = res
-        complete = complete and bool(progress.get("complete"))
+        # A section the server SAYS is empty (total 0, nothing listed) is complete too: without this
+        # one genuinely empty library kept every run "incomplete" and un-watches never synced again.
+        said_empty = progress.get("total") == 0 and scanned == before
+        complete = complete and (bool(progress.get("complete")) or said_empty)
     return out, scanned, complete
 
 
@@ -637,12 +641,14 @@ def run_plex_watch_reconcile(db: Session) -> dict:
                     if ch:
                         total["applied"] += 1
 
-                if complete:
+                # A whole scan that listed nothing at all is not "Plex un-watched everything" either:
+                # every section can say 0 only when the server lost its libraries, never as news.
+                if complete and scanned:
                     total["cleared"] += _clear_unwatched(db, link.user_id, plex_states)
                 else:
                     total["incomplete"] = total.get("incomplete", 0) + 1
                     log.warning(
-                        "the Plex scan ended before the server's total; nothing is cleared this run",
+                        "the Plex scan was cut short or listed nothing; nothing is cleared this run",
                         extra=logs.event("plex.watch.reconcile_incomplete", user_id=link.user_id),
                     )
 
diff --git a/backend/app/sync/playlist_merge.py b/backend/app/sync/playlist_merge.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7d530055
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/sync/playlist_merge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+"""The 3-way merge of a YouTube-linked playlist, as a pure function: what each side gains and loses
+so neither loses an item, the merged order, and the reorder moves YouTube needs to reach it. No I/O —
+`sync/playlists.py` reads both sides, calls `merge_plan`, and writes the outcome."""
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+
+def _reorder_moves(current: list[str], desired: list[str]) -> int:
+    """Count the playlistItems.update moves an insertion-sort would need to turn
+    `current` order into `desired` order (both already the same set of video ids).
+    Items already in place are skipped; this matches what apply_push actually executes."""
+    model = list(current)
+    moves = 0
+    for i, want in enumerate(desired):
+        if i < len(model) and model[i] == want:
+            continue
+        j = model.index(want, i)
+        model.pop(j)
+        model.insert(i, want)
+        moves += 1
+    return moves
+
+
+@dataclass
+class MergePlan:
+    """The 3-way merge of a linked playlist: what each side gains and loses so neither side
+    loses an item, plus the merged order. `final` is the id set both sides end up with."""
+
+    final: list[str]  # merged order (local order, YouTube-only adds appended)
+    add_to_yt: list[str]  # local-adds to push out to YouTube
+    add_to_local: list[str]  # YouTube-adds to pull into Siftlode
+    remove_from_yt: list[str]  # items deleted locally that are still on YouTube
+    remove_from_local: list[str]  # items deleted on YouTube that are still local
+    reorders: int  # estimated YouTube playlistItems.update moves to reach `final`
+    baseline_known: bool
+
+
+def merge_plan(
+    baseline: list[str] | None,
+    local: list[str],
+    youtube: list[str],
+    unavailable: set[str] | None = None,
+) -> MergePlan:
+    """Pure 3-way merge. Classify each id against the last-synced `baseline`:
+    - in local but not youtube, not deleted → add to YouTube (a local-add)
+    - in youtube but not local, not deleted → add to Siftlode (a YouTube-add)
+    - in baseline but gone from local → a genuine local delete → propagate to YouTube
+    - in baseline but gone from youtube → a genuine YouTube delete → propagate to Siftlode
+    With NO baseline (first-ever merge) we can't tell an add from a delete, so we UNION both
+    sides (never delete) — the lossless default. Merged order: local order first, YouTube-only
+    additions appended in their YouTube order.
+    `unavailable` = known un-ingestable-but-live YouTube ids: dropped from the YouTube side up
+    front so they're never re-classified as a YouTube-add (they can't ingest) nor as a local
+    delete (they were never local) — otherwise such a video would make the playlist never
+    converge. They stay in place on YouTube, untouched by this merge."""
+    un = set(unavailable or ())
+    L = list(dict.fromkeys(local))
+    Y = [v for v in dict.fromkeys(youtube) if v not in un]
+    Lset, Yset = set(L), set(Y)
+    if baseline is None:
+        add_to_yt = [v for v in L if v not in Yset]
+        add_to_local = [v for v in Y if v not in Lset]
+        remove_from_yt: list[str] = []
+        remove_from_local: list[str] = []
+        final = L + [v for v in Y if v not in Lset]
+    else:
+        B = set(baseline)
+        deleted_local = B - Lset  # was synced, removed on our side
+        deleted_yt = B - Yset  # was synced, removed on YouTube's side
+        gone = deleted_local | deleted_yt
+        remove_from_yt = [v for v in Y if v in deleted_local]
+        remove_from_local = [v for v in L if v in deleted_yt]
+        add_to_yt = [v for v in L if v not in Yset and v not in gone]
+        add_to_local = [v for v in Y if v not in Lset and v not in gone]
+        final = [v for v in L if v not in gone] + [v for v in Y if v not in Lset and v not in gone]
+    final_set = set(final)
+    # On YouTube, after membership reconciliation the order is current-kept + inserts appended;
+    # the reorder pass then moves items into `final`.
+    after_membership = [v for v in Y if v in final_set] + add_to_yt
+    reorders = _reorder_moves(after_membership, final)
+    return MergePlan(
+        final=final,
+        add_to_yt=add_to_yt,
+        add_to_local=add_to_local,
+        remove_from_yt=remove_from_yt,
+        remove_from_local=remove_from_local,
+        reorders=reorders,
+        baseline_known=baseline is not None,
+    )
diff --git a/backend/app/sync/playlists.py b/backend/app/sync/playlists.py
index bde36501..255b4bbf 100644
--- a/backend/app/sync/playlists.py
+++ b/backend/app/sync/playlists.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """YouTube playlist sync, both directions. Read: mirror each user's own YouTube playlists
 into local `source='youtube'` playlists (kept fresh by the scheduler). Write-back: two-way sync
-local edits with YouTube (`plan_merge` / `merge_playlist`), behind the optional write scope.
+local edits with YouTube (`plan_merge` / `merge_playlist`), behind the optional write scope; the
+pure 3-way merge they run is `sync/playlist_merge.py`.
 
 YouTube's special Watch Later / History playlists are not exposed by the Data API and are
 never synced. Videos in a playlist that aren't in our shared catalog yet are fetched and
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ import hashlib
 import json
 from collections.abc import Callable, Iterator
 from contextlib import AbstractContextManager, contextmanager
-from dataclasses import dataclass
+
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from typing import TypeVar
 
@@ -21,8 +22,9 @@ from sqlalchemy.pool import NullPool
 from app import logs, progress, quota
 from app.auth import has_read_scope
 from app.models import Channel, Playlist, PlaylistItem, User, Video
+from app.sync.playlist_merge import merge_plan
 from app.sync.runner import token_users
-from app.sync.subscriptions import vanished
+from app.sync.subscriptions import blank_listing, refuse_blank_listing, vanished
 from app.sync.videos import apply_video_details, parse_dt
 from app.youtube.client import YouTubeClient, YouTubeError
 
@@ -376,6 +378,9 @@ def pull_user_playlists(db: Session, user: User) -> dict:
                     # The next scheduled run refreshes it.
                     continue
                 ids = list(yt.iter_my_playlist_video_ids(ytid))
+                if blank_listing(ids, p.get("item_count")):
+                    log.warning("YouTube listed no items for non-empty playlist %s; kept", pl.id)
+                    continue
                 # Ingest first — it commits — so the row lock below is held from the dirty check
                 # to the commit that replaces the items.
                 _ensure_videos(db, yt, ids)
@@ -407,90 +412,6 @@ def _local_video_ids(db: Session, pl: Playlist) -> list[str]:
     )
 
 
-def _reorder_moves(current: list[str], desired: list[str]) -> int:
-    """Count the playlistItems.update moves an insertion-sort would need to turn
-    `current` order into `desired` order (both already the same set of video ids).
-    Items already in place are skipped; this matches what apply_push actually executes."""
-    model = list(current)
-    moves = 0
-    for i, want in enumerate(desired):
-        if i < len(model) and model[i] == want:
-            continue
-        j = model.index(want, i)
-        model.pop(j)
-        model.insert(i, want)
-        moves += 1
-    return moves
-
-
-@dataclass
-class MergePlan:
-    """The 3-way merge of a linked playlist: what each side gains and loses so neither side
-    loses an item, plus the merged order. `final` is the id set both sides end up with."""
-
-    final: list[str]  # merged order (local order, YouTube-only adds appended)
-    add_to_yt: list[str]  # local-adds to push out to YouTube
-    add_to_local: list[str]  # YouTube-adds to pull into Siftlode
-    remove_from_yt: list[str]  # items deleted locally that are still on YouTube
-    remove_from_local: list[str]  # items deleted on YouTube that are still local
-    reorders: int  # estimated YouTube playlistItems.update moves to reach `final`
-    baseline_known: bool
-
-
-def merge_plan(
-    baseline: list[str] | None,
-    local: list[str],
-    youtube: list[str],
-    unavailable: set[str] | None = None,
-) -> MergePlan:
-    """Pure 3-way merge. Classify each id against the last-synced `baseline`:
-    - in local but not youtube, not deleted → add to YouTube (a local-add)
-    - in youtube but not local, not deleted → add to Siftlode (a YouTube-add)
-    - in baseline but gone from local → a genuine local delete → propagate to YouTube
-    - in baseline but gone from youtube → a genuine YouTube delete → propagate to Siftlode
-    With NO baseline (first-ever merge) we can't tell an add from a delete, so we UNION both
-    sides (never delete) — the lossless default. Merged order: local order first, YouTube-only
-    additions appended in their YouTube order.
-    `unavailable` = known un-ingestable-but-live YouTube ids: dropped from the YouTube side up
-    front so they're never re-classified as a YouTube-add (they can't ingest) nor as a local
-    delete (they were never local) — otherwise such a video would make the playlist never
-    converge. They stay in place on YouTube, untouched by this merge."""
-    un = set(unavailable or ())
-    L = list(dict.fromkeys(local))
-    Y = [v for v in dict.fromkeys(youtube) if v not in un]
-    Lset, Yset = set(L), set(Y)
-    if baseline is None:
-        add_to_yt = [v for v in L if v not in Yset]
-        add_to_local = [v for v in Y if v not in Lset]
-        remove_from_yt: list[str] = []
-        remove_from_local: list[str] = []
-        final = L + [v for v in Y if v not in Lset]
-    else:
-        B = set(baseline)
-        deleted_local = B - Lset  # was synced, removed on our side
-        deleted_yt = B - Yset  # was synced, removed on YouTube's side
-        gone = deleted_local | deleted_yt
-        remove_from_yt = [v for v in Y if v in deleted_local]
-        remove_from_local = [v for v in L if v in deleted_yt]
-        add_to_yt = [v for v in L if v not in Yset and v not in gone]
-        add_to_local = [v for v in Y if v not in Lset and v not in gone]
-        final = [v for v in L if v not in gone] + [v for v in Y if v not in Lset and v not in gone]
-    final_set = set(final)
-    # On YouTube, after membership reconciliation the order is current-kept + inserts appended;
-    # the reorder pass then moves items into `final`.
-    after_membership = [v for v in Y if v in final_set] + add_to_yt
-    reorders = _reorder_moves(after_membership, final)
-    return MergePlan(
-        final=final,
-        add_to_yt=add_to_yt,
-        add_to_local=add_to_local,
-        remove_from_yt=remove_from_yt,
-        remove_from_local=remove_from_local,
-        reorders=reorders,
-        baseline_known=baseline is not None,
-    )
-
-
 def plan_merge(db: Session, user: User, pl: Playlist, *, live=None) -> dict:
     """Compute (without writing) what a two-way sync of this playlist would do: create vs
     update, how many items each side gains/loses, reorders, and the quota estimate (YouTube
@@ -518,6 +439,7 @@ def plan_merge(db: Session, user: User, pl: Playlist, *, live=None) -> dict:
             snippet = yt.get_playlist_snippet(pl.yt_playlist_id)
     rename = bool(snippet) and (snippet.get("title") or "") != pl.name
     yt_ids = [it["video_id"] for it in current]
+    refuse_blank_listing(yt_ids, (snippet or {}).get("item_count"))
     mp = merge_plan(parse_baseline(pl), local, yt_ids, parse_unavailable(pl))
     ops = len(mp.add_to_yt) + len(mp.remove_from_yt) + mp.reorders + (1 if rename else 0)
     return {
@@ -664,6 +586,8 @@ def merge_playlist(db: Session, user: User, pl: Playlist, *, live=None) -> dict:
             current = list(yt.iter_playlist_items_with_ids(pl.yt_playlist_id))
         item_id_by_vid = {it["video_id"]: it["item_id"] for it in current}
         yt_ids = [it["video_id"] for it in current]
+        # A merge would read "YouTube lists none of them" as "YouTube deleted them all".
+        refuse_blank_listing(yt_ids, (snippet or {}).get("item_count"))
         # Re-attempt ingestion of ids previously marked un-ingestable that are still on YouTube: a
         # video that has since become available (e.g. private→public) should re-enter the merge, not
         # stay skipped forever. Those that still won't ingest remain filtered (`effective_unavailable`).
@@ -802,8 +726,11 @@ def repull_playlist(db: Session, user: User, pl: Playlist) -> dict:
     with YouTubeClient(db, user) as yt:
         snippet = yt.get_playlist_snippet(pl.yt_playlist_id)
         if snippet is None:
-            raise YouTubeError("Playlist no longer exists on YouTube")
+            raise YouTubeError(
+                "Playlist no longer exists on YouTube", reason="playlistNotFound", path="playlists"
+            )
         ids = list(yt.iter_my_playlist_video_ids(pl.yt_playlist_id))
+        refuse_blank_listing(ids, snippet.get("item_count"))
         _ensure_videos(db, yt, ids)
         _lock_or_gone(db, pl)
         pl.name = snippet.get("title") or pl.name
diff --git a/backend/app/sync/subscriptions.py b/backend/app/sync/subscriptions.py
index 4621dbfa..b950566e 100644
--- a/backend/app/sync/subscriptions.py
+++ b/backend/app/sync/subscriptions.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from app import logs
 from app.models import Channel, Subscription, User
 from app.utils import normalize_description
-from app.youtube.client import YouTubeClient, best_thumbnail
+from app.youtube.client import YouTubeClient, YouTubeError, best_thumbnail
 
 log = logs.get_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ def should_prune(fetched_count: int, existing_count: int) -> bool:
     has — taking each row's `deep_requested` flag with it — in a single run. Someone who genuinely
     unsubscribed from everything simply keeps their rows until a sync that returns something.
 
-    Pure so it can be tested without a database; `import_subscriptions` is the only caller."""
+    Pure so it can be tested without a database; its callers are `import_subscriptions` and, through
+    `vanished`, every mirror that drops what the remote no longer lists."""
     return fetched_count > 0 or existing_count == 0
 
 
@@ -128,6 +129,23 @@ def vanished[K, V](existing: dict[K, V], listed: Collection[K]) -> list[V]:
     return [row for key, row in existing.items() if key not in listed]
 
 
+def blank_listing(listed: Collection, count: object) -> bool:
+    """The same rule one level down: no members from a container whose own listing counts some (a
+    playlist's `itemCount`) is a blip, not a list emptied. Replacing or merging on it deleted every
+    mirrored item and reset the merge baseline (E32 review)."""
+    return not listed and isinstance(count, int) and count > 0
+
+
+def refuse_blank_listing(listed: Collection, count: object) -> None:
+    """`blank_listing` for a user-started pull or push: refused as retryable ("try again")."""
+    if blank_listing(listed, count):
+        raise YouTubeError(
+            "YouTube listed no items for a playlist it counts as non-empty",
+            reason="emptyAnswer",
+            path="playlistItems",
+        )
+
+
 def import_subscriptions(db: Session, user: User) -> dict:
     """Pull all subscriptions for `user`, upsert channels + subscription links, prune
     channels the user has unsubscribed from on YouTube, and fetch channel details for
diff --git a/backend/app/youtube/client.py b/backend/app/youtube/client.py
index 8ecacb94..c2eae421 100644
--- a/backend/app/youtube/client.py
+++ b/backend/app/youtube/client.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ _DEAD_GRANT = "invalid_grant"
 
 # What a refused YouTube action means to the person who asked for it — the three things they can
 # act on differently: wait for tomorrow's budget, reconnect the account, or try again later.
-YouTubeRefusal = Literal["quota", "reconnect", "unavailable"]
+YouTubeRefusal = Literal["quota", "reconnect", "unavailable", "gone"]
 
 
 def refusal_reason(exc: YouTubeError) -> YouTubeRefusal:
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ def refusal_reason(exc: YouTubeError) -> YouTubeRefusal:
     the account would still read as connected, with no connect button to press."""
     if is_quota_refusal(exc):
         return "quota"
+    if exc.reason == "playlistNotFound":
+        # The list itself is gone (deleted on YouTube): neither a retry nor a reconnect helps.
+        return "gone"
     if exc.path == "oauth2/token":
         return "reconnect" if exc.reason == _DEAD_GRANT else "unavailable"
     if not exc.path and exc.reason != "transport":
@@ -423,16 +426,22 @@ class YouTubeClient:
         return resp.json() if resp.content else {}
 
     def get_playlist_snippet(self, playlist_id: str) -> dict | None:
-        """The snippet (title/description) of one playlist, or None if it no longer
-        exists. 1 unit (OAuth, so private playlists work)."""
+        """The snippet (title/description) of one playlist plus its `item_count` (what an empty
+        item listing is checked against), or None if it no longer exists. 1 unit (OAuth, so
+        private playlists work)."""
         data = self._get(
             "playlists",
-            {"part": "snippet", "id": playlist_id, "maxResults": 1},
+            {"part": "snippet,contentDetails", "id": playlist_id, "maxResults": 1},
             cost=1,
             allow_key=False,
         )
         items = data.get("items", [])
-        return items[0].get("snippet") if items else None
+        if not items:
+            return None
+        return {
+            **(items[0].get("snippet") or {}),
+            "item_count": items[0].get("contentDetails", {}).get("itemCount"),
+        }
 
     def update_playlist_title(self, playlist_id: str, title: str) -> None:
         """Rename a playlist on YouTube. 50 units."""
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_empty_listing_guards.py b/backend/tests/test_empty_listing_guards.py
index 8c3942c7..139200a6 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_empty_listing_guards.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_empty_listing_guards.py
@@ -4,14 +4,26 @@ Every mirror here reconciles: what the remote no longer lists is removed locally
 (`_prune_stale`) and the subscriptions (`should_prune`) had long refused to do that on an empty
 listing that contradicts what we hold — a 200 with no items is a blip far more often than a user
 who removed everything. Two mirrors did not: the Plex collections (a row carries the user-set
-`editable` flag, and every member its keys) and the YouTube playlist mirrors. These hold both.
+`editable` flag, and every member its keys) and the YouTube playlist mirrors. These hold both — and,
+one level down (E32 review), a collection's members and a playlist's items: an empty answer that
+contradicts the remote's own count is not believed either.
 """
 
+import pytest
 from sqlalchemy import select
 
-from app.models import Playlist, PlexCollection, PlexItem, PlexLibrary
+from app.models import (
+    Channel,
+    Playlist,
+    PlaylistItem,
+    PlexCollection,
+    PlexItem,
+    PlexLibrary,
+    Video,
+)
 from app.plex import sync as plex_sync
 from app.sync import playlists as plsync
+from app.youtube.client import YouTubeError
 
 
 class _Plex:
@@ -25,6 +37,9 @@ class _Plex:
     def collection_children(self, rk):
         return self._children.get(rk, [])
 
+    def metadata(self, rk):
+        return next((c for c in self._collections if c.get("ratingKey") == rk), {})
+
 
 def _library_with_a_collection(db):
     lib = PlexLibrary(plex_key="4", title="Movies", kind="movie")
@@ -62,9 +77,40 @@ def test_a_listing_with_something_in_it_still_prunes_what_it_no_longer_has(db):
     assert db.get(PlexItem, movie.id).collection_keys is None
 
 
+def test_no_members_from_a_collection_plex_counts_as_non_empty_keeps_its_members(db):
+    lib, movie = _library_with_a_collection(db)
+    stats = {"collections": 0}
+    bond = {"ratingKey": "c1", "title": "Bond", "childCount": 2}
+    plex_sync._sync_collections(db, _Plex([bond], {"c1": []}), lib, stats)
+    db.commit()
+    db.expire_all()
+    assert db.get(PlexItem, movie.id).collection_keys == ["c1"]
+
+
+def test_a_collection_plex_counts_as_empty_does_lose_its_members(db):
+    lib, movie = _library_with_a_collection(db)
+    stats = {"collections": 0}
+    bond = {"ratingKey": "c1", "title": "Bond", "childCount": 0}
+    plex_sync._sync_collections(db, _Plex([bond], {"c1": []}), lib, stats)
+    db.commit()
+    db.expire_all()
+    assert db.get(PlexItem, movie.id).collection_keys is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(("count", "kept"), [(2, ["c1"]), (0, None)])
+def test_a_collection_resync_believes_an_empty_member_list_only_with_a_zero_count(db, count, kept):
+    lib, movie = _library_with_a_collection(db)
+    bond = {"ratingKey": "c1", "title": "Bond", "childCount": count}
+    plex_sync.resync_collection(db, _Plex([bond], {"c1": []}), lib, "c1")
+    db.commit()
+    db.expire_all()
+    assert db.get(PlexItem, movie.id).collection_keys == kept
+
+
 class _YT:
-    def __init__(self, playlists: list[dict]):
+    def __init__(self, playlists: list[dict], snippet: dict | None = None):
         self._playlists = playlists
+        self._snippet = snippet
 
     def __call__(self, *_):
         return self
@@ -84,6 +130,12 @@ class _YT:
     def iter_my_playlist_video_ids(self, _ytid):
         return []
 
+    def get_playlist_snippet(self, _ytid):
+        return self._snippet
+
+    def get_videos(self, _ids):
+        return []
+
 
 def test_an_empty_playlist_answer_keeps_the_youtube_mirrors(db, make_user, monkeypatch):
     user = make_user()
@@ -109,3 +161,72 @@ def test_a_playlist_answer_with_something_in_it_still_drops_a_vanished_mirror(
         db.execute(select(Playlist.yt_playlist_id).where(Playlist.source == "youtube")).scalars()
     )
     assert "PL1" not in ytids
+
+
+def _mirror_with_an_item(db, user, **kw):
+    db.add(Channel(id="UC_pl", title="C"))
+    db.flush()
+    db.add(Video(id="v1", channel_id="UC_pl", title="One"))
+    pl = Playlist(user_id=user.id, name="Mixes", yt_playlist_id="PL1", **kw)
+    db.add(pl)
+    db.flush()
+    db.add(PlaylistItem(playlist_id=pl.id, video_id="v1", position=0))
+    db.commit()
+    return pl
+
+
+def _items(db, pl):
+    db.expire_all()
+    return (
+        db.execute(select(PlaylistItem.video_id).where(PlaylistItem.playlist_id == pl.id))
+        .scalars()
+        .all()
+    )
+
+
+def test_no_items_from_a_playlist_youtube_counts_as_non_empty_keeps_the_mirror_items(
+    db, make_user, monkeypatch
+):
+    user = make_user()
+    pl = _mirror_with_an_item(db, user, source="youtube")
+    listing = [{"id": "PL1", "title": "Mixes", "item_count": 1}]
+    monkeypatch.setattr(plsync, "YouTubeClient", _YT(listing))
+    plsync.pull_user_playlists(db, user)
+    assert _items(db, pl) == ["v1"]
+
+
+def test_a_playlist_youtube_counts_as_empty_is_emptied(db, make_user, monkeypatch):
+    user = make_user()
+    pl = _mirror_with_an_item(db, user, source="youtube")
+    listing = [{"id": "PL1", "title": "Mixes", "item_count": 0}]
+    monkeypatch.setattr(plsync, "YouTubeClient", _YT(listing))
+    plsync.pull_user_playlists(db, user)
+    assert _items(db, pl) == []
+
+
+def test_a_reset_to_youtube_refuses_a_blank_listing_and_keeps_the_items(db, make_user, monkeypatch):
+    user = make_user()
+    pl = _mirror_with_an_item(db, user, source="youtube")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(plsync, "YouTubeClient", _YT([], {"title": "Mixes", "item_count": 1}))
+    with pytest.raises(YouTubeError) as err:
+        plsync.repull_playlist(db, user, pl)
+    db.rollback()
+    assert err.value.reason == "emptyAnswer"
+    assert _items(db, pl) == ["v1"]
+
+
+def test_a_reset_of_a_deleted_playlist_says_it_is_gone(db, make_user, monkeypatch):
+    user = make_user()
+    pl = _mirror_with_an_item(db, user, source="youtube")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(plsync, "YouTubeClient", _YT([], None))
+    with pytest.raises(YouTubeError) as err:
+        plsync.repull_playlist(db, user, pl)
+    assert err.value.reason == "playlistNotFound"
+
+
+def test_a_push_plan_refuses_a_blank_listing_rather_than_reading_it_as_all_deleted(db, make_user):
+    user = make_user()
+    pl = _mirror_with_an_item(db, user, source="local")
+    with pytest.raises(YouTubeError) as err:
+        plsync.plan_merge(db, user, pl, live=([], {"title": "Mixes", "item_count": 1}))
+    assert err.value.reason == "emptyAnswer"
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_playlist_merge.py b/backend/tests/test_playlist_merge.py
index f4061664..8059e320 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_playlist_merge.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_playlist_merge.py
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ import pytest
 
 from app.models import Channel, Playlist, PlaylistItem, Video
 from app.sync import playlists as pl_mod
+from app.sync.playlist_merge import merge_plan
 from app.sync.playlists import (
-    merge_plan,
     merge_playlist,
     parse_baseline,
     parse_unavailable,
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_plex_client.py b/backend/tests/test_plex_client.py
index 94262c1a..8d0f9e34 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_plex_client.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_plex_client.py
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ def test_a_section_page_asks_for_guids_and_reports_the_server_total(plex):
 
     plex.routes["/library/sections/7/all"] = {"Metadata": [], "size": 0}
     assert plex.section_items("7", 2) == ([], 0)
+    # No total at all is not "0": the caller must not read it as a complete, empty section.
+    plex.routes["/library/sections/7/all"] = {"Metadata": []}
+    assert plex.section_items("7", 2) == ([], None)
 
 
 def test_related_flattens_the_hubs_and_degrades_to_empty(plex):
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_plex_watch_reconcile.py b/backend/tests/test_plex_watch_reconcile.py
index 08afa814..fdfb09d0 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_plex_watch_reconcile.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_plex_watch_reconcile.py
@@ -13,11 +13,13 @@ from app.plex import watch_sync
 
 class _FakePlex:
     """A PlexClient stand-in: one movie section whose listing reports `total` (more than it hands
-    over = a walk cut short), and a record of every write the reconcile sends back to Plex."""
+    over = a walk cut short), plus any `more` sections as `(type, leaves, total)` — listed AFTER
+    the movies — and a record of every write the reconcile sends back to Plex."""
 
-    def __init__(self, leaves: list[dict], total: int | None = None):
-        self.leaves = leaves
-        self.total = len(leaves) if total is None else total
+    def __init__(self, leaves: list[dict], total: int | None = None, more=()):
+        self.listings = {"1": ("movie", leaves, len(leaves) if total is None else total)}
+        for i, (stype, extra, extra_total) in enumerate(more, start=2):
+            self.listings[str(i)] = (stype, extra, extra_total)
         self.calls: list[tuple] = []
 
     def __enter__(self):
@@ -27,10 +29,11 @@ class _FakePlex:
         return False
 
     def sections(self):
-        return [{"type": "movie", "key": "1"}]
+        return [{"type": stype, "key": key} for key, (stype, _l, _t) in self.listings.items()]
 
     def section_items(self, key, item_type, start, size):
-        return self.leaves[start : start + size], self.total
+        _stype, leaves, total = self.listings[key]
+        return leaves[start : start + size], total
 
     def scrobble(self, rk):
         self.calls.append(("scrobble", rk))
@@ -136,6 +139,45 @@ def test_a_scan_cut_short_clears_nothing(db, monkeypatch, world):
     assert out["cleared"] == 0 and out["incomplete"] == 1
 
 
+_LISTED = [
+    {"ratingKey": "m3"},
+    {"ratingKey": "m4", "viewCount": 1, "lastViewedAt": 1_700_000_000},
+    {"ratingKey": "m5", "viewOffset": 120_000, "lastViewedAt": 1_700_000_000},
+]
+
+
+def test_a_genuinely_empty_second_section_still_lets_the_reconcile_clear(db, monkeypatch, world):
+    # The server SAYS the shows section holds 0: that is a complete listing, not a hiccup — before
+    # the E32 review it read as "incomplete" forever and un-watches never synced again.
+    state, rows = world
+    _local_states(state)
+    db.commit()
+    out = _run(db, monkeypatch, _FakePlex(_LISTED, more=[("show", [], 0)]))
+    assert "m1" not in rows()
+    assert out["cleared"] == 1 and "incomplete" not in out
+
+
+def test_a_cut_short_section_is_not_rescued_by_a_complete_one_after_it(db, monkeypatch, world):
+    # Completeness is every section's, not the last one's: movies cut short (5 said, 3 handed),
+    # then a complete shows listing — m1 may simply not have been reached.
+    state, rows = world
+    _local_states(state)
+    db.commit()
+    shows = [{"ratingKey": "s1"}]
+    out = _run(db, monkeypatch, _FakePlex(_LISTED, total=5, more=[("show", shows, 1)]))
+    assert rows()["m1"] == ("watched", 0, True)
+    assert out["cleared"] == 0 and out["incomplete"] == 1
+
+
+def test_a_listing_without_a_total_is_never_complete(db, monkeypatch, world):
+    state, rows = world
+    _local_states(state)
+    db.commit()
+    out = _run(db, monkeypatch, _FakePlex(_LISTED, more=[("show", [], None)]))
+    assert rows()["m1"] == ("watched", 0, True)
+    assert out["cleared"] == 0 and out["incomplete"] == 1
+
+
 def test_an_empty_listing_is_not_a_library_of_unwatched_titles(db, monkeypatch, world):
     state, rows = world
     state("m1", status="watched", synced_to_plex=True)
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_source_size.py b/backend/tests/test_source_size.py
index f0388bcf..1a09835d 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_source_size.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_source_size.py
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ BIG_MODULES: dict[str, int] = {
     "app/routes/admin.py": 864,
     "app/routes/auth.py": 1353,
     "app/routes/downloads.py": 1237,
-    "app/sync/playlists.py": 843,
 }
 
 COMPLEX: dict[str, list[int]] = {
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_youtube_refusals.py b/backend/tests/test_youtube_refusals.py
index b4043757..15f67b55 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_youtube_refusals.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_youtube_refusals.py
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ from app.youtube.client import YouTubeError, refusal_reason
         (YouTubeError("No refresh token; user must re-authenticate"), "reconnect"),
         (YouTubeError("m", reason="transport"), "unavailable"),
         (YouTubeError("m", reason="backendError", path="subscriptions"), "unavailable"),
+        # A playlist deleted on YouTube: neither a retry nor a reconnect helps (it said "reconnect").
+        (YouTubeError("m", reason="playlistNotFound", path="playlists"), "gone"),
+        (YouTubeError("m", reason="emptyAnswer", path="playlistItems"), "unavailable"),
     ],
 )
 def test_a_failure_is_sorted_by_what_the_user_can_do(exc, reason):
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/errors.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/errors.json
index 6c5f37fa..60517e95 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/errors.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/errors.json
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@
   "youtube": {
     "quota": "Today's YouTube budget for this instance is spent. It resets at midnight Pacific time — try again then.",
     "reconnect": "Google no longer accepts this account's YouTube connection. Sign out and sign in with Google again to reconnect it.",
-    "unavailable": "YouTube didn't accept that just now. Please try again."
+    "unavailable": "YouTube didn't accept that just now. Please try again.",
+    "gone": "This playlist no longer exists on YouTube"
   },
   "refused": {
     "account_no_access": "That account no longer has access",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/errors.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/errors.json
index 6630b03d..598455bb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/errors.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/errors.json
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@
   "youtube": {
     "quota": "Ennek a példánynak elfogyott a mai YouTube-kerete. Csendes-óceáni idő szerint éjfélkor újraindul — akkor próbáld újra.",
     "reconnect": "A Google már nem fogadja el ennek a fióknak a YouTube-kapcsolatát. Jelentkezz ki, majd lépj be újra Google-lel az összekötéshez.",
-    "unavailable": "A YouTube most nem fogadta el. Próbáld újra."
+    "unavailable": "A YouTube most nem fogadta el. Próbáld újra.",
+    "gone": "Ez a lejátszási lista már nem létezik a YouTube-on"
   },
   "refused": {
     "account_no_access": "Ennek a fióknak már nincs hozzáférése",