"tax_query" parameter not working with WP_Query

I’ve a customized publish sort known as ‘episode’. Hooked up to ‘episode’ I’ve a customized taxonomy known as ‘video_type’ that comprises two phrases: “bonus-footage” and “episode”; “episode” comprises two baby phrases “season-1” and “season-2” (different seasons will likely be added sooner or later). I need to seize solely the newest publish of the ‘episode’ sort however not embrace any posts from the ‘bonus-footage’ time period. Beneath is the code I am utilizing for this:

<?php
$some_args = array(
    'tax_query' => array(
        'taxonomy' => 'video_type',
        'phrases' => 'bonus-footage',
        'area' => 'slug',
        'include_children' => true,
        'operator' => 'NOT IN'
     ),
    'posts_per_page' => 1,
    'post_type' => 'episode',
);

$s = new WP_Query( $some_args );

if ( $s->have_posts() ) : $s->the_post();
    // Do one thing with this publish.
endif;
?>

The question works as anticipated if a publish in one of many ‘season’ phrases is the most recent, but when a publish in “bonus-footage” is the most recent, then it is loading that one. In different phrases my “tax_query” parameters seem to haven’t any have an effect on on the question. Am I not formatting the “tax_query” correctly or am I lacking one thing else?

I’ve additionally tried setting “tax_query” as beneath:

'tax_query' => array(
        'taxonomy' => 'video_type',
        'phrases' => 'episode',
        'area' => 'slug',
    'include_children' => true,
        'operator' => 'IN'
),

however I am nonetheless getting the identical end result.