diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 3b9a9f1..07bff4d 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "siteforge",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "2.45.1",
+  "version": "2.45.2",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",
diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index 02ca7c0..6d7ccd2 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -829,7 +829,8 @@ function PodcastHighlightsSection({ content }: { content: SiteContent }) {
     { key: 'primary', title: content.seriesTitle, links: links.filter(link => laneOf(link) === 'primary') },
     { key: 'second', title: content.secondSeries?.title?.trim() || 'Second Series', links: links.filter(link => laneOf(link) === 'second') },
     { key: 'general', title: 'More Highlights', links: links.filter(link => laneOf(link) === 'general') },
-  ].filter(group => group.links.length > 0)
+  ].filter(group => group.key === 'primary' || group.links.length > 0)
+  // Always open on the current series, even if it has no highlights yet
   const active = groups.find(group => group.key === activeKey) ?? groups[0]
   const isExpanded = expanded[active.key] === true
   const shown = isExpanded ? active.links : active.links.slice(0, HIGHLIGHTS_PREVIEW_COUNT)
@@ -858,6 +859,7 @@ function PodcastHighlightsSection({ content }: { content: SiteContent }) {
           </div>
         )}
         <div className="episode-list">
+          {shown.length === 0 && <p className="finished-books-empty">No highlights for this series yet.</p>}
           {shown.map(link => <HighlightCard key={link.id} link={link} />)}
         </div>
         {active.links.length > HIGHLIGHTS_PREVIEW_COUNT && (