diff --git a/backend/routers/discovery.py b/backend/routers/discovery.py
index d36cfcb..655b20a 100644
--- a/backend/routers/discovery.py
+++ b/backend/routers/discovery.py
@@ -207,6 +207,10 @@ def dismiss_discovery_video(
     dq = db.query(DiscoveryQueue).filter_by(user_id=current_user.id, channel_id=channel_id).first()
     if dq:
         dq.seen = True
+
+    from ..routers.videos import _update_affinity
+    _update_affinity(db, current_user.id, video, -3.0)
+
     db.commit()
 
 
diff --git a/backend/routers/videos.py b/backend/routers/videos.py
index ee86c91..076dcdf 100644
--- a/backend/routers/videos.py
+++ b/backend/routers/videos.py
@@ -37,8 +37,7 @@ def _update_affinity(db: Session, user_id: int, video: Video, delta: float):
             existing.score = max(existing.score + delta, -20.0)
             existing.updated_at = datetime.utcnow()
         else:
-            if delta > 0:
-                db.add(UserTagAffinity(user_id=user_id, tag=tag, score=delta))
+            db.add(UserTagAffinity(user_id=user_id, tag=tag, score=delta))
 
 
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Layout.jsx b/frontend/src/components/Layout.jsx
index 00fbbcb..cea54cf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Layout.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Layout.jsx
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ function BottomNav({ newCount }) {
             to={tab.to}
             end={tab.end}
             className={({ isActive }) =>
-              `relative flex-1 flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-0.5 transition-colors ${
+              `relative flex-1 flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-0.5 transition-colors outline-none ${
                 isActive ? "text-accent" : "text-zinc-500"
               }`
             }
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Channel.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/Channel.jsx
index d9f09a8..7659bbf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Channel.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Channel.jsx
@@ -164,9 +164,9 @@ export default function ChannelPage() {
           <div className="flex justify-end">
             <SortPicker value={videoSort} onChange={setVideoSort} options={VIDEO_SORTS} />
           </div>
-          <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-4 gap-4">
+          <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
           {sortVideos(videos, videoSort).map((v) => (
-            <VideoCard key={v.youtube_video_id} video={{ ...v, channel_name: channel.name }} />
+            <VideoCard key={v.youtube_video_id} video={{ ...v, channel_name: channel.name }} variant="list" />
           ))}
           </div>
         </>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/ContinueWatching.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/ContinueWatching.jsx
index 3caf653..123b5fe 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/ContinueWatching.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/ContinueWatching.jsx
@@ -34,14 +34,12 @@ export default function ContinueWatchingPage() {
       ) : (
         <>
           <p className="text-sm text-zinc-500 -mt-2">{videos.length} video{videos.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""} in progress</p>
-          <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-4 xl:grid-cols-5 gap-4">
+          <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
             {videos.map((v) => (
               <VideoCard
                 key={v.youtube_video_id}
-                video={{
-                  ...v,
-                  is_watched: false,
-                }}
+                video={{ ...v, is_watched: false }}
+                variant="list"
               />
             ))}
           </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Discovery.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/Discovery.jsx
index b4434f7..b25c6ac 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Discovery.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Discovery.jsx
@@ -324,11 +324,12 @@ export default function DiscoveryPage() {
         </>
       ) : (
         <>
-          <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-4 xl:grid-cols-5 gap-4">
+          <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
             {visibleVideos.map((v) => (
               <VideoCard
                 key={v.youtube_video_id}
                 video={{ ...v, is_recommended: true }}
+                variant="list"
                 onDismiss={handleDismissVideo}
               />
             ))}
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Following.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/Following.jsx
index 3ef680a..de99733 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Following.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Following.jsx
@@ -1006,8 +1006,8 @@ export default function Following() {
             <p className="text-zinc-500 text-sm">No videos indexed yet — hit Sync all to pull the latest from YouTube.</p>
           ) : (
             <>
-              <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-4 gap-4">
-                {sortedFeed.map((v) => <VideoCard key={v.youtube_video_id} video={v} />)}
+              <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
+                {sortedFeed.map((v) => <VideoCard key={v.youtube_video_id} video={v} variant="list" />)}
               </div>
               {hasMoreFeed && (
                 <div className="flex justify-center mt-2">
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/History.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/History.jsx
index fb7b7f3..30f3325 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/History.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/History.jsx
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ export default function History() {
         </div>
       ) : (
         <>
-          <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-4 xl:grid-cols-5 gap-4">
+          <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
             {videos.map((v) => (
-              <VideoCard key={v.youtube_video_id} video={v} />
+              <VideoCard key={v.youtube_video_id} video={v} variant="list" />
             ))}
           </div>
           <div className="flex items-center justify-center gap-3 pt-2">
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Home.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/Home.jsx
index 7a2eeac..38cce0b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Home.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Home.jsx
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export default function Home() {
   const [dismissed, setDismissed] = useState(new Set());
   const [shuffleKey, setShuffleKey] = useState(0);
   const [duration, setDuration] = useState("");
-  const [viewMode, setViewMode] = useState(() => localStorage.getItem("home-view-mode") ?? "grid");
+  const [viewMode, setViewMode] = useState(() => localStorage.getItem("home-view-mode") ?? "list");
 
   const toggleViewMode = () => {
     const next = viewMode === "grid" ? "list" : "grid";
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Liked.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/Liked.jsx
index cdb687f..8a01251 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Liked.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Liked.jsx
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@ export default function LikedPage() {
           </p>
         </div>
       ) : (
-        <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-4 xl:grid-cols-5 gap-4">
+        <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
           {sortLiked(videos, sort).map((v) => (
-            <VideoCard key={v.youtube_video_id} video={v} />
+            <VideoCard key={v.youtube_video_id} video={v} variant="list" />
           ))}
         </div>
       )}
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Queue.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/Queue.jsx
index 77684b0..c16b4f2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Queue.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Queue.jsx
@@ -36,11 +36,12 @@ export default function QueuePage() {
       ) : (
         <>
           <p className="text-sm text-zinc-500 -mt-2">{videos.length} video{videos.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""} saved</p>
-          <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-4 xl:grid-cols-5 gap-4">
+          <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
             {videos.map((v) => (
               <VideoCard
                 key={v.youtube_video_id}
                 video={v}
+                variant="list"
                 onRemoveFromQueue={() => {
                   toggleQueue(v.id).then(() => qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["queue"] }));
                 }}
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/SearchResults.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/SearchResults.jsx
index d1351fe..1edee8c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/SearchResults.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/SearchResults.jsx
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ export default function SearchResults() {
               {hasMore ? `${visibleCount} of ${videos.length}` : videos.length}
             </span>
           </h2>
-          <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-4 xl:grid-cols-5 gap-4">
+          <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
             {visibleVideos.map((v) => (
-              <VideoCard key={v.youtube_video_id} video={v} />
+              <VideoCard key={v.youtube_video_id} video={v} variant="list" />
             ))}
           </div>
           {hasMore && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Watch.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/Watch.jsx
index 05e958e..efdb36c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Watch.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Watch.jsx
@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ function DescriptionBox({ text }) {
 
   return (
     <div
-      className="bg-zinc-900 rounded-xl p-4 cursor-pointer select-none"
+      className="bg-zinc-900 rounded-xl p-3 sm:p-4 cursor-pointer select-none"
       onClick={() => hasMore && setExpanded(v => !v)}
     >
-      <p className="text-sm text-zinc-300 whitespace-pre-line leading-relaxed">
+      <p className="text-[13px] text-zinc-300 whitespace-pre-line leading-relaxed">
         {linkify(displayed)}
       </p>
       {hasMore && (
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ function Chip({ onClick, active, disabled, children }) {
       onClick={onClick}
       disabled={disabled}
       className={[
-        "flex items-center gap-1.5 px-4 py-2 rounded-full text-sm font-medium transition-colors",
+        "flex items-center gap-1 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-xs font-medium transition-colors",
         active ? "bg-zinc-100 text-zinc-900 hover:bg-white" : "bg-zinc-800 text-zinc-300 hover:bg-zinc-700",
         disabled && "opacity-40 cursor-not-allowed",
       ].filter(Boolean).join(" ")}
@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@ export default function Watch() {
       <div className={theater ? "flex flex-col gap-6" : "flex flex-col xl:flex-row gap-6"}>
 
         {/* ── Left: video + info ───────────────────────────────────────────── */}
-        <div className={theater ? "w-full flex flex-col gap-4" : "flex-1 min-w-0 flex flex-col gap-4"}>
+        <div className={theater ? "w-full flex flex-col gap-3 sm:gap-4" : "flex-1 min-w-0 flex flex-col gap-3 sm:gap-4"}>
 
           {/* Player */}
           <div className={theater ? "w-full aspect-video bg-black overflow-hidden shadow-2xl" : "w-full aspect-video bg-black rounded-2xl overflow-hidden shadow-2xl"}>
@@ -887,11 +887,11 @@ export default function Watch() {
           )}
 
           {/* Title */}
-          <h1 className="text-xl font-bold text-white leading-snug">{title}</h1>
+          <h1 className="text-base sm:text-xl font-bold text-white leading-snug">{title}</h1>
 
           {/* Meta + actions row */}
           <div className="flex items-center justify-between flex-wrap gap-3">
-            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-zinc-500 flex-wrap">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-zinc-500 flex-wrap">
               {date && <span>{date}</span>}
               {video?.view_count > 0 && <><span>·</span><span>{formatViews(video.view_count)}</span></>}
               {video?.like_count > 0 && <><span>·</span><span>{formatViews(video.like_count).replace(" views", "")} likes</span></>}
@@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ export default function Watch() {
 
 
             {/* Actions */}
-            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 flex-wrap">
               {!dlComplete && !isDownloading && !downloadMut.isPending && (
                 <select
                   value={selectedQuality ?? "best"}
@@ -1048,9 +1048,9 @@ export default function Watch() {
             <Link to={`/channels/${video?.channel_id}`} className="shrink-0">
               {channel?.thumbnail_url ? (
                 <img src={channel.thumbnail_url} alt={channelName}
-                  className="w-11 h-11 rounded-full object-cover" />
+                  className="w-9 h-9 sm:w-11 sm:h-11 rounded-full object-cover" />
               ) : (
-                <div className="w-11 h-11 rounded-full flex items-center justify-center font-bold text-white text-base shrink-0"
+                <div className="w-9 h-9 sm:w-11 sm:h-11 rounded-full flex items-center justify-center font-bold text-white text-base shrink-0"
                   style={{ backgroundColor: avatarColor(channelName) }}>
                   {channelName?.[0]?.toUpperCase()}
                 </div>
@@ -1084,7 +1084,7 @@ export default function Watch() {
 
           {/* Tags */}
           {tags.length > 0 && (
-            <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5">
+            <div className="hidden sm:flex flex-wrap gap-1.5">
               {tags.map(tag => (
                 <span key={tag} className="px-2.5 py-1 rounded-full bg-zinc-800/80 text-zinc-500 text-xs">
                   {tag}
@@ -1107,7 +1107,7 @@ export default function Watch() {
           )}
 
           {/* Keyboard shortcuts hint */}
-          <p className={`text-xs text-zinc-700 text-center ${theater ? "max-w-4xl mx-auto w-full" : ""}`}>
+          <p className={`hidden sm:block text-xs text-zinc-700 text-center ${theater ? "max-w-4xl mx-auto w-full" : ""}`}>
             Space/K · pause &nbsp;·&nbsp; F · fullscreen &nbsp;·&nbsp; M · mute &nbsp;·&nbsp; ←/→ seek 5s &nbsp;·&nbsp; ↑/↓ volume &nbsp;·&nbsp; ,/. speed &nbsp;·&nbsp; T · theater
           </p>