Creates a Plex playlist with random episodes from multiple TV shows while keeping the episodes in order for each show.

random_episode_playlist.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

'''
Description:  Creates a Plex playlist with random episodes from multiple TV shows
              while keeping the episodes in order for each show.
Author:       /u/SwiftPanda16
Requires:     plexapi
'''

import random
from plexapi.exceptions import NotFound
from plexapi.server import PlexServer


# ## EDIT SETTINGS ##

PLEX_URL = 'http://localhost:32400'
PLEX_TOKEN = 'XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX'

LIBRARY = 'TV Shows'
SHOWS = [
    'Show Title 1',
    'Show Title 2',
    'Show Title 3',
]
PLAYLIST_TITLE = 'Shuffled Episodes'


# ## CODE BELOW ##

# https://stackoverflow.com/a/10645233
def interleave(*args):
    iters = sum(([iter(arg)] * len(arg) for arg in args), [])
    random.shuffle(iters)
    return map(next, iters)


def main():
    plex = PlexServer(PLEX_URL, PLEX_TOKEN)

    # Get tv shows library
    tvshows = plex.library.section(LIBRARY)
    # Get all episodes for each show
    episodes = [tvshows.get(title).episodes() for title in SHOWS]
    # Interleave episodes in random show order
    shuffled_episodes = list(interleave(*episodes))

    # Check for existing playlist and delete it
    try:
        plex.playlist(PLAYLIST_TITLE).delete()
    except NotFound:
        pass

    # Create a new playlist
    plex.createPlaylist(PLAYLIST_TITLE, items=shuffled_episodes)


if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()