diff --git a/src/card.ts b/src/card.ts
index 2ddf493a..523f4cc8 100644
--- a/src/card.ts
+++ b/src/card.ts
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ import { supportsFeature } from './utils/ha/update.js';
 import { isValidMediaShowInfo } from './utils/media-info.js';
 import { View } from './view.js';
 import pkg from '../package.json';
+import { ViewContext } from 'view';
 
 /** A note on media callbacks:
  *
@@ -184,8 +185,9 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
   // Automated refreshes of the default view.
   protected _updateTimerID: number | null = null;
 
-  // Information about the most recently loaded media item.
-  protected _mediaShowInfo: MediaShowInfo | null = null;
+  // Information about loaded media items.
+  protected _currentMediaShowInfo: MediaShowInfo | null = null;
+  protected _lastValidMediaShowInfo: MediaShowInfo | null = null;
 
   // Array of dynamic menu buttons to be added to menu.
   protected _dynamicMenuButtons: MenuButton[] = [];
@@ -331,7 +333,11 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
       for (const action of actions) {
         // All frigate card actions will have action of 'fire-dom-event' and
         // styling only applies to those.
-        if (!action || action.action !== 'fire-dom-event' || !('frigate_card_action' in action)) {
+        if (
+          !action ||
+          action.action !== 'fire-dom-event' ||
+          !('frigate_card_action' in action)
+        ) {
           continue;
         }
         const frigateCardAction = action as FrigateCardCustomAction;
@@ -925,6 +931,15 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
   }
 
   protected _changeView(args?: { view?: View; resetMessage?: boolean }): void {
+    const changeView = (view: View): void => {
+      if (View.isMediaChange(this._view, view)) {
+        this._currentMediaShowInfo = null;
+      }
+      this._view = view;
+      this._generateConditionState();
+      this._resetMainScroll();
+    };
+
     if (args?.resetMessage ?? true) {
       this._message = null;
     }
@@ -945,21 +960,19 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
       }
 
       if (camera) {
-        this._view = new View({
-          view: this._getConfig().view.default,
-          camera: camera,
-        });
-        this._generateConditionState();
-        this._resetMainScroll();
+        changeView(
+          new View({
+            view: this._getConfig().view.default,
+            camera: camera,
+          }),
+        );
 
         // Restart the update timer, so the default view is refreshed at a fixed
         // interval from now (if so configured).
         this._startUpdateTimer();
       }
     } else {
-      this._view = args.view;
-      this._generateConditionState();
-      this._resetMainScroll();
+      changeView(args.view);
     }
   }
 
@@ -987,6 +1000,15 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
     this._changeView({ view: e.detail });
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Add view context to the current view.
+   * @param ev A ViewContext event.
+   */
+  protected _addViewContextHandler(ev: CustomEvent<ViewContext>): void {
+    this._changeView({
+      view: this._view?.clone().mergeInContext(ev.detail),
+    });
+  }
   /**
    * Called before each update.
    */
@@ -1592,7 +1614,7 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
    */
   protected _resetMainScroll(): void {
     // Reset the scroll on the main div to the top.
-    this._refMain.value?.scroll({top: 0});
+    this._refMain.value?.scroll({ top: 0 });
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1614,19 +1636,11 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
     if (!isValidMediaShowInfo(mediaShowInfo)) {
       return;
     }
-    let requestRefresh = false;
-    if (
-      this._view?.isGalleryView() &&
-      (mediaShowInfo.width != this._mediaShowInfo?.width ||
-        mediaShowInfo.height != this._mediaShowInfo?.height)
-    ) {
-      requestRefresh = true;
-    }
 
-    this._mediaShowInfo = mediaShowInfo;
-    if (requestRefresh) {
-      this.requestUpdate();
-    }
+    this._lastValidMediaShowInfo = this._currentMediaShowInfo = mediaShowInfo;
+
+    // An update may be required to draw elements.
+    this.requestUpdate();
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1702,8 +1716,8 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
     }
 
     const aspectRatioMode = this._getConfig().dimensions.aspect_ratio_mode;
-    if (aspectRatioMode == 'dynamic' && this._mediaShowInfo) {
-      return `${this._mediaShowInfo.width} / ${this._mediaShowInfo.height}`;
+    if (aspectRatioMode == 'dynamic' && this._lastValidMediaShowInfo) {
+      return `${this._lastValidMediaShowInfo.width} / ${this._lastValidMediaShowInfo.height}`;
     }
 
     const defaultAspectRatio = this._getConfig().dimensions.aspect_ratio;
@@ -1776,16 +1790,14 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
       style="${styleMap(cardStyle)}"
       @action=${(ev: CustomEvent) => this._actionHandler(ev, actions)}
       @ll-custom=${this._cardActionHandler.bind(this)}
-      @frigate-card:message=${this._messageHandler}
-      @frigate-card:change-view=${this._changeViewHandler}
+      @frigate-card:message=${this._messageHandler.bind(this)}
+      @frigate-card:view:change=${this._changeViewHandler.bind(this)}
+      @frigate-card:view:change-context=${this._addViewContextHandler.bind(this)}
       @frigate-card:media-show=${this._mediaShowHandler}
       @frigate-card:render=${() => this.requestUpdate()}
     >
       ${renderMenuAbove ? this._renderMenu() : ''}
-      <div 
-        ${ref(this._refMain)}
-        class="main"
-      >
+      <div ${ref(this._refMain)} class="main">
         ${this._cameras === undefined && !this._message
           ? until(
               (async () => {
@@ -1807,9 +1819,12 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
         }
       </div>
       ${!renderMenuAbove ? this._renderMenu() : ''}
-      ${!this._message && this._getConfig().elements
+      ${!this._message &&
+      (!this._view?.isAnyMediaView() || this._currentMediaShowInfo) &&
+      this._getConfig().elements
         ? // Elements need to render after the main views so it can render 'on
-          // top'.
+          // top', but only if the view is a non-media view or the media is
+          // already loaded.
           html` <frigate-card-elements
             ${ref(this._refElements)}
             .hass=${this._hass}
@@ -1925,8 +1940,8 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
    * @returns The Lovelace card size in units of 50px.
    */
   public getCardSize(): number {
-    if (this._mediaShowInfo) {
-      return this._mediaShowInfo.height / 50;
+    if (this._lastValidMediaShowInfo) {
+      return this._lastValidMediaShowInfo.height / 50;
     }
     return 6;
   }
diff --git a/src/components/live.ts b/src/components/live.ts
index 4b767caa..70b74a11 100644
--- a/src/components/live.ts
+++ b/src/components/live.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ import {
   WebRTCCardConfig,
 } from '../types.js';
 import { stopEventFromActivatingCardWideActions } from '../utils/action.js';
-import { contentsChanged, errorToConsole } from '../utils/basic.js';
+import {
+  contentsChanged,
+  errorToConsole,
+} from '../utils/basic.js';
 import { getCameraIcon, getCameraTitle } from '../utils/camera.js';
 import { homeAssistantSignPath } from '../utils/ha';
 import { getFullDependentBrowseMediaQueryParameters } from '../utils/ha/browse-media.js';
@@ -52,7 +55,7 @@ import {
   dispatchExistingMediaShowInfoAsEvent,
   dispatchMediaShowEvent,
 } from '../utils/media-info.js';
-import { View } from '../view.js';
+import { dispatchViewContextChangeEvent, View } from '../view.js';
 import { AutoMediaPlugin } from './embla-plugins/automedia.js';
 import { Lazyload } from './embla-plugins/lazyload.js';
 import {
@@ -226,7 +229,7 @@ export class FrigateCardLive extends LitElement {
             ev.stopPropagation();
           }
         }}
-        @frigate-card:change-view=${(ev: CustomEvent<View>) => {
+        @frigate-card:view:change=${(ev: CustomEvent<View>) => {
           if (this._inBackground) {
             ev.stopPropagation();
           }
@@ -448,10 +451,13 @@ export class FrigateCardLiveCarousel extends LitElement {
       .evolve({
         camera: Array.from(this.cameras.keys())[selectedCameraIndex],
 
-        // Reset the target so thumbnails will be re-fetched.
+        // Reset the target.
         target: null,
         childIndex: null,
       })
+      // Don't yet fetch thumbnails (they will be fetched when the carousel
+      // settles).
+      .mergeInContext({ thumbnails: { fetch: false } })
       .dispatchChangeEvent(this);
   }
 
@@ -582,7 +588,11 @@ export class FrigateCardLiveCarousel extends LitElement {
         .label="${title ? `${localize('common.live')}: ${title}` : ''}"
         .titlePopupConfig=${config.controls.title}
         transitionEffect=${this._getTransitionEffect()}
-        @frigate-card:carousel:settle=${this._setViewHandler.bind(this)}
+        @frigate-card:media-carousel:select=${this._setViewHandler.bind(this)}
+        @frigate-card:carousel:settle=${() => {
+          // Fetch the thumbnails after the carousel has settled.
+          dispatchViewContextChangeEvent(this, { thumbnails: { fetch: true }});
+        }}
       >
         <frigate-card-next-previous-control
           slot="previous"
diff --git a/src/components/media-carousel.ts b/src/components/media-carousel.ts
index d99ca9de..f1b31b7e 100644
--- a/src/components/media-carousel.ts
+++ b/src/components/media-carousel.ts
@@ -363,6 +363,16 @@ export class FrigateCardMediaCarousel extends LitElement {
         @frigate-card:carousel:select=${(ev: CustomEvent<CarouselSelect>) => {
           this._slideResizeObserver.disconnect();
           this._slideResizeObserver.observe(ev.detail.element);
+
+          // Pass up the media-carousel select event first to allow parents to
+          // initialize/reset before the media info is dispatched.
+          dispatchFrigateCardEvent<CarouselSelect>(
+            this,
+            'media-carousel:select',
+            ev.detail,
+          );
+
+          // Dispatch media info.
           this._dispatchMediaShowInfo();
         }}
         @frigate-card:carousel:media-show=${this._storeMediaShowInfo.bind(this)}
diff --git a/src/components/surround-thumbnails.ts b/src/components/surround-thumbnails.ts
index 897d081c..2b6978a8 100644
--- a/src/components/surround-thumbnails.ts
+++ b/src/components/surround-thumbnails.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,17 @@ import { dispatchFrigateCardErrorEvent } from './message.js';
 import './surround.js';
 import { ThumbnailCarouselTap } from './thumbnail-carousel.js';
 
+interface ThumbnailViewContext {
+  // Whetherr or not to fetch thumbnails.
+  fetch?: boolean;
+}
+
+declare module 'view' {
+  interface ViewContext {
+    thumbnails?: ThumbnailViewContext;
+  }
+}
+
 @customElement('frigate-card-surround-thumbnails')
 export class FrigateCardSurround extends LitElement {
   @property({ attribute: false })
@@ -64,7 +75,8 @@ export class FrigateCardSurround extends LitElement {
       !this.config ||
       this.config.mode === 'none' ||
       this.view.target ||
-      !this.browseMediaParams
+      !this.browseMediaParams ||
+      !(this.view.context?.thumbnails?.fetch ?? true)
     ) {
       return;
     }
@@ -147,7 +159,7 @@ export class FrigateCardSurround extends LitElement {
             .target=${this.view.target}
             .selected=${this.view.childIndex}
             .cameras=${this.cameras}
-            @frigate-card:change-view=${(ev: CustomEvent) => changeDrawer(ev, 'close')}
+            @frigate-card:view:change=${(ev: CustomEvent) => changeDrawer(ev, 'close')}
             @frigate-card:thumbnail-carousel:tap=${(ev: CustomEvent<ThumbnailCarouselTap>) => {
               // Send the view change from the source of the tap event, so the
               // view change will be caught by the handler above (to close the drawer).
diff --git a/src/components/thumbnail.ts b/src/components/thumbnail.ts
index ca224410..30450b60 100644
--- a/src/components/thumbnail.ts
+++ b/src/components/thumbnail.ts
@@ -282,8 +282,8 @@ export class FrigateCardThumbnail extends LitElement {
                   view: 'timeline',
                   target: this.target,
                   childIndex: this.childIndex ?? null,
-                  context: {},
                 })
+                .removeContext('timeline')
                 .dispatchChangeEvent(this);
             } else if (recording) {
               this.view
@@ -291,7 +291,9 @@ export class FrigateCardThumbnail extends LitElement {
                   view: 'timeline',
                   target: null,
                   childIndex: null,
-                  context: {
+                })
+                .mergeInContext({
+                  timeline: {
                     window: {
                       start: fromUnixTime(recording.start_time),
                       end: fromUnixTime(recording.end_time),
diff --git a/src/components/timeline.ts b/src/components/timeline.ts
index de70feb1..d88cf68d 100644
--- a/src/components/timeline.ts
+++ b/src/components/timeline.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import { customElement, property } from 'lit/decorators.js';
 import { classMap } from 'lit/directives/class-map.js';
 import { createRef, ref, Ref } from 'lit/directives/ref.js';
 import { isEqual } from 'lodash-es';
+import { ViewContext } from 'view';
 import { DataSet } from 'vis-data/esnext';
 import {
   DataGroupCollectionType,
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ import {
   isTrueMedia,
   multipleBrowseMediaQuery,
 } from '../utils/ha/browse-media';
-import { View, ViewContext } from '../view';
+import { View } from '../view';
 import { dispatchFrigateCardErrorEvent, dispatchMessageEvent } from './message.js';
 import './surround-thumbnails.js';
 
@@ -81,12 +82,18 @@ interface FrigateCardTimelineItem extends TimelineItem {
   source?: FrigateBrowseMediaSource;
 }
 
-interface TimelineViewContext extends ViewContext {
-  // The selected timeline window.
-  window?: TimelineWindow;
+interface TimelineViewContext {
+   // The selected timeline window.
+   window?: TimelineWindow;
 
-  // The date of the last event fetch.
-  dateFetch?: Date;
+   // The date of the last event fetch.
+   dateFetch?: Date;
+}
+
+declare module 'view' {
+  interface ViewContext {
+    timeline?: TimelineViewContext;
+  }
 }
 
 type TimelineMediaType = 'all' | 'clips' | 'snapshots';
@@ -867,8 +874,8 @@ export class FrigateCardTimelineCore extends LitElement {
               ?.evolve({
                 target: thumbnails?.target ?? null,
                 childIndex: thumbnails?.childIndex ?? null,
-                context: this._generateViewContext(true),
               })
+              .mergeInContext(this._generateTimelineContext(true))
               .dispatchChangeEvent(this);
           }
         });
@@ -1174,7 +1181,7 @@ export class FrigateCardTimelineCore extends LitElement {
 
     // Regenerate the thumbnails after the selection, to allow the new selection
     // to be in the generated view.
-    const context = this.view.context as TimelineViewContext | null;
+    const context = this.view.context?.timeline;
     const timelineWindow = this._timeline.getWindow();
 
     if (context?.window) {
@@ -1222,8 +1229,8 @@ export class FrigateCardTimelineCore extends LitElement {
         ?.evolve({
           target: thumbnails?.target ?? null,
           childIndex: thumbnails?.childIndex ?? null,
-          context: this._generateViewContext(false),
         })
+        .mergeInContext(this._generateTimelineContext(false))
         .dispatchChangeEvent(this);
     }
   }
@@ -1234,9 +1241,10 @@ export class FrigateCardTimelineCore extends LitElement {
    * the window is preserved if it is already in the context.
    * @returns The TimelineViewContext object.
    */
-  protected _generateViewContext(addWindow: boolean): TimelineViewContext {
-    const currentContext = this.view?.context as TimelineViewContext | undefined;
-    const newContext: TimelineViewContext = {};
+  protected _generateTimelineContext(addWindow: boolean): ViewContext {
+    const currentContext = this.view?.context?.timeline;
+    const newContext: TimelineViewContext = {}
+
     if (addWindow && this._timeline) {
       newContext.window = this._timeline.getWindow();
     } else if (currentContext?.window) {
@@ -1245,7 +1253,7 @@ export class FrigateCardTimelineCore extends LitElement {
     if (this._data.lastFetchDate) {
       newContext.dateFetch = this._data.lastFetchDate;
     }
-    return newContext || null;
+    return Object.keys(newContext) ? {timeline: newContext} : {};
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/components/viewer.ts b/src/components/viewer.ts
index b193f29e..3a932472 100644
--- a/src/components/viewer.ts
+++ b/src/components/viewer.ts
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ export class FrigateCardViewerCarousel extends LitElement {
       .label="${this.view.media.title}"
       .titlePopupConfig=${this.viewerConfig?.controls.title}
       transitionEffect=${this._getTransitionEffect()}
-      @frigate-card:carousel:select=${this._setViewHandler.bind(this)}
+      @frigate-card:media-carousel:select=${this._setViewHandler.bind(this)}
       @frigate-card:media-show=${this._recordingSeekHandler.bind(this)}
     >
       <frigate-card-next-previous-control
diff --git a/src/declarations.d.ts b/src/declarations.d.ts
index 59c79d0c..22731a0d 100644
--- a/src/declarations.d.ts
+++ b/src/declarations.d.ts
@@ -1,2 +1,7 @@
 declare module '*.scss';
 declare module '*.jpg';
+declare module "view" {
+  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-empty-interface
+  interface ViewContext {
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/view.ts b/src/view.ts
index 8f2ee4bd..8b5cc665 100644
--- a/src/view.ts
+++ b/src/view.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
+import { ViewContext } from 'view';
 import {
   FrigateBrowseMediaSource,
   FrigateCardUserSpecifiedView,
   FrigateCardView,
   FRIGATE_CARD_VIEWS_USER_SPECIFIED,
-  FRIGATE_CARD_VIEW_DEFAULT
+  FRIGATE_CARD_VIEW_DEFAULT,
 } from './types.js';
 import { dispatchFrigateCardEvent } from './utils/basic.js';
 
-// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-empty-interface
-export interface ViewContext {}
-
 export interface ViewEvolveParameters {
   view?: FrigateCardView;
   camera?: string;
@@ -63,6 +61,26 @@ export class View {
       : FRIGATE_CARD_VIEW_DEFAULT;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Detect if a view change represents a major "media change" for the given
+   * view.
+   * @param prev The previous view.
+   * @param curr The current view.
+   * @returns True if the view change is a real media change.
+   */
+  public static isMediaChange(prev?: View, curr?: View): boolean {
+    return (
+      !prev ||
+      !curr ||
+      prev.view !== curr.view ||
+      prev.camera !== curr.camera ||
+      // When in the live view, the target/childIndex are the events that
+      // happened in the past -- not reflective of the actual live media viewer.
+      (curr.view !== 'live' &&
+        (prev.target !== curr.target || prev.childIndex !== curr.childIndex))
+    );
+  }
+
   /**
    * Clone a view.
    */
@@ -96,6 +114,28 @@ export class View {
     });
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Merge view contexts.
+   * @param context The context to merge in.
+   * @returns This view.
+   */
+  public mergeInContext(context: ViewContext): View {
+    this.context = { ...this.context, ...context };
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Remove a context key.
+   * @param key The key to remove.
+   * @returns This view.
+   */
+  public removeContext(key: keyof ViewContext): View {
+    if (this.context) {
+      delete(this.context[key]);
+    }
+    return this;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Determine if current view matches a named view.
    */
@@ -168,6 +208,18 @@ export class View {
    * @param target The target dispatching the event.
    */
   public dispatchChangeEvent(target: EventTarget): void {
-    dispatchFrigateCardEvent(target, 'change-view', this);
+    dispatchFrigateCardEvent(target, 'view:change', this);
   }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Dispatch an event to change the view context.
+ * @param target The EventTarget to send the event from.
+ * @param context The context to change.
+ */
+export const dispatchViewContextChangeEvent = (
+  target: EventTarget,
+  context: ViewContext,
+): void => {
+  dispatchFrigateCardEvent(target, 'view:change-context', context);
+};