excerpt of the videoplayer watchdog

player.js

// Setting the watchdog is done with the following. the app uses ReactJS as a framework.
// this is just the relevant part of the code.

componentDidMount() {
  this.watchdog = setInterval(this.checkPlayerHealth, 500);
}

checkPlayerHealth = () => {
  const delay = this.video.currentTime - this.state.debug.lastCheck;
  if (!this.video.paused && delay < 0.1 // prob freezing
    && new Date().getTime() - this.state.debug.lastUserAction > 200 // not triggered by user action
    && new Date().getTime() - this.state.debug.lastRevival > 5000 // not already being revived
  ) {
    this.revivePlayer();
  }
}

revivePlayer = () => {
  // option 1, too visible
  this.video.currentTime = this.video.currentTime + 10;
  setTimeout(() => {
    this.video.currentTime = this.video.currentTime - 10;
  }, 30);

  // option 2 that mimics seek() with same time - does not work
  this.video.currentTime = this.video.currentTime;

  // option 3, not working
  this.video.pause();
  setTimeout(() => {
    this.video.play();
  }, 30);
}